Miracles happen, and one day, one happened to me. Many years ago, I was sitting at a terrace in a Parisian café when a waitress approached, slightly embarrassed. She said, "Excuse me, madam, Mr. Lorieux, a very famous photographer, would like to take your portrait."
Written by Olga Mayr
I can’t explain how the evening ended—my heart was racing with a mix of embarrassment, pride, and... despair! My jealous companion made a scene, declaring no photos! I wanted to disappear in shame, but at the same time, the insecurities from my 167 cm height melted away like ice in a champagne bucket on our table. I felt like dancing on the table with the bucket, splashing champagne everywhere, calling my mum and shouting it to the world! For the first time in my life, I felt beautiful! I’ll remember that day forever.
Jean-Daniel Lorieux and Olga Mayr in his Parisian home
Jean-Daniel Lorieux in his Parisian home
Surprisingly, Jean-Daniel didn’t come from an artistic family but instead hailed from a line of wealthy engineers and industrialists. His ancestors were Théodore-Marie Lorieux and Ernest Goüin, the president of the General Council of Bridges and Roads and the founder of Batignolles Construction.
"Who would've guessed that after Jesuit school, I wanted to join a monastic order?" Jean-Daniel winks mischievously. "Not many know this, but once I stepped in for Jean-Claude Brialy as a monk in Michel Fermo's play The Doors Are Slamming. The audience was outraged when they saw me instead of the dashing Brialy! But hey, it’s their fault for not reading the posters – it did say so!"
Despite this background, Jean-Daniel pursued the arts, first studying at the National School of Arts and Crafts and later attending René Simon's Dramatic Art Course. Though he initially considered a career in theatre, Jean-Daniel found his calling as a photographer. He volunteered for military service during the Algerian War, where he captured powerful photos that would later shape his career.
Jean-Daniel went to Algeria with his camera—and his cat, D’Artagnan, who was always by his side. One day, during a shooting, the cat jumped in front of him and took a stray bullet. Even now, Jean-Daniel, Knight of the Legion of Honour, gets emotional when he talks about it. That’s why he always has cats in his home. "I took military photographs with the helicopter service, saw too many horrors. I wanted to escape the cruelty of war and focus on the beauty of life," Jean-Daniel reflects. This desire to celebrate life’s vibrancy would define his art.
Jean-Daniel’s photos of models in exotic locales became legendary. He shot in the Bahamas, Seychelles, and the Maldives, capturing tanned, athletic models in striking poses. His subjects exuded strength, joy, and success—idealised beauty in full colour. “At the time, models were slender but healthy and radiant. They looked happy,” he reflects on a golden era in fashion photography.
His own success wasn’t just built on his technical skill but also his personality. His bright, positive energy radiated through his photos, capturing more than just images—he captured moments of happiness.
"We took models to the ends of the Earth... It was a magical, positive time in fashion."
His ad campaigns for brands like Dior, Lanvin, Paco Rabanne, Ricci, and Céline defined success and elegance. Jean-Daniel’s work became synonymous with the height of luxury fashion, mixing beauty, joy, and optimism.It was Jean-Daniel who created the unforgettable image of Stéphanie of Monaco in the music video Comme un ouragan! He redefined the hereditary princess, transforming her into a fierce and rebellious force of nature. I recall how, at the time, every girl aspired to emulate Stéphanie’s signature hairstyle and her bold short jackets adorned with gleaming epaulettes, while teenagers sang, "Love, you passed by like a hurricane." Much like the hurricane he helped create on screen, Jean-Daniel himself is a radiant whirlwind—an embodiment of boundless energy, a deep passion for life, and an unwavering love for beauty.
Jean-Daniel’s versatility extended beyond photography. A close friend of Andy Warhol, he also explored painting in the pop-art style, demonstrating his multifaceted talent.
It was Jean-Daniel who catapulted Cecilia Ciganer-Albeniz (the former wife of Nicolas Sarkozy) into the public eye, as she became his assistant and moved into his private residence on rue Ampère. Their engagement was announced in September 1980 at her parents' home, in the presence of the former First Lady of Indonesia. However, in a twist of fate, the engagement was abruptly called off, and the wedding plans were canceled. No further comment. A love as tempestuous as a hurricane.
"I suppose you could say I’m in pursuit of the sun and beautiful golden fish," Jean-Daniel muses. "The most golden of them all was the top model Tryphona Haut. She was a champion in water skiing and sport fishing! She caught me like a little fish. She was a bit mad, but that’s exactly the kind of woman I adore. We clicked so well that we had a son, Nicholas, who has followed in my footsteps and became a photographer himself."
Nathalie Dione, Olga Mayr, Jean-Daniel Lorieux / Photo by Sergio de Rezende
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