Biography:

Originally from Périgueux, France, Lionel studied photography for three years in Toulouse before starting his career in 1994 as an intern at Vandystadt, the Paris agency known as a benchmark in sports photography. During the week, he archived the work of masters like Simon Bruty and Bob Martin. On weekends, he shot sporting events and sharpened his own eye.

In 1997, he joined Abaca Press in Paris, and in 2000 the agency sent him to Los Angeles as its correspondent. He spent 20 years there with his family.

His artistic approach, sharp attention to detail, technical mastery and quick reflexes, all honed in sports, set him apart. His work covers portraits, corporate assignments, sports, entertainment, film festivals and politics. On the red carpet, he’s known for polished framing and spectacular close-ups.

Starting with Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003, he covered 17 Super Bowls in a row. In 2019, Time Magazine ran his double-page photo of Tom Brady and Julian Edelman celebrating their win over the Los Angeles Rams.

He has covered the Olympic Games, the FIFA and Rugby World Cups, the Paris-Dakar Rally, the US Open, Roland-Garros, the Cannes, Toronto and Venice film festivals, the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys and Golden Globes, a presidential inauguration, the Met Gala and Paris and New York Fashion Weeks. His clients include L’Équipe, Paris Match, Le Figaro, Richard Mille, Boucheron, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Lacoste and Fox Studios.

USA