Chris Saunders

Chris Saunders is a South African photographer and filmmaker who moves between Paris and Johannesburg, and whose career reflects that same sense of movement between worlds. He began in fashion, editorial, and advertising photography, building the technical foundation and visual instincts that would carry into his later work, before shifting toward documentary projects centered on African subcultures.

That shift marked a turning point in his practice. Rather than treating documentary work as separate from his commercial background, Saunders brought an optimistic, vivid visual sensibility to his subjects, resulting in images that feel celebratory rather than purely observational. Much of his output explores social diversity within contemporary culture, with a particular focus on performance and dance as vehicles for that exploration, treating movement and expression as ways of understanding identity and community.

Over the course of his career, Chris has been commissioned by numerous well-known global publications, and continues to collaborate with major agencies, record labels, musicians, and brands. He works comfortably in both directing and photography capacities, giving him range across different kinds of projects while maintaining the same core interest: using his lens to explore and celebrate diversity in modern culture.