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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{AFC submission|d|cv|3=http://|declinets=20140609023425|decliner=Joe Decker|ts=20140607225948|u=Kylajwoods|ns=1188|small=yes}}{{AFC submission|d|bio|u=69.120.253.188|ns=118|decliner=Chris troutman|declinets=20140606060256|ts=20140605121339}}
{{afc comment|1=Matched phrases:

titanic expedition laffont organized several high profile exclusives for sygma including world leaders such as fidel castro hollywood celebrities such as raquel welch tom cruise nicole kidman faye dunaway harrison ford and celebrated musicians such as (36 words, 251 characters)

visa pour l'image the visa team received the spotlight award at the lucie awards in 2008 curator of the eddie adams show at visa pour l'image perpignan france 2005 jury member (31 words, 175 characters)

coverage of some of the biggest news events of our time including the gulf war the american invasion of grenada the o j simpson trial the oklahoma (27 words, 146 characters)

john lennon 's last photo session as director of photography for look magazine 1978 1979 she worked with world renowned photographers richard avedon annie leibovitz helmut newton sebastiã£o salgado douglas
streisand john lennon's last photo session as director of photography for look magazine 1978 1979 she worked with world renowned photographers richard avedon annie leibovitz helmut newton sebastiao salgado douglas
(24 words, 163 characters)

helmut newton sebastiã£o salgado douglas kirkland and lauren greenfield laffont's 1992 book in the eye of desert storm received the leica medal of excellence for photographic books under laffont's direction
helmut newton sebastiao salgado douglas kirkland and lauren greenfield laffont's 1992 book in the eye of desert storm received the leica medal of excellence for photographic books groups and associations
(24 words, 155 characters)

pulitzer prize for photography laffont awarded the golden career award from fotofusion 2006 laffont received the life achievement award from the griffin museum 2009 honorary positions edit international advisory
pulitzer prize in photography laffont awarded the golden career award from fotofusion 2006 laffont received the life achievement award from the griffin museum 2009 contact eliane for career opportunities
(19 words, 125 characters)

in the life of africa curator in the eye of desert storm nikon house 1991 board of directors mediastorm multimedia 2005 board of directors eddie adams workshop 1987 board
overseas press club 1985 2008 curator in the eye of desert storm nikon house 1991 board of directors mediastorm multimedia 2005 board of directors the eddie adams workshop since
(19 words, 116 characters)

year competition university of missouri 1979 and 2006 jury member world press photo foundation 2006 jury member overseas press club 1985 2008 2010 photo editor day in the life book
the year competition university of missouri 1979 2006 jury member world press photo foundation 2006 jury member overseas press club 1985 2008 2010 curator in the eye of desert storm
(16 words, 97 characters)

promoted to vice president of editorial content in 2000 laffont joined hachette filipacchi media as editorial director supervising the photographic production in the u s and developing the photo division
responsible for global editorial strategy and direction in 2001 laffont joined hachette filipacchi media as editorial director supervising the photographic production of the group in the us and developing the
(12 words, 102 characters)

[[User:Joe Decker|j⚛e decker]][[User talk:Joe Decker|<sup><small><i>talk</i></small></sup>]] 02:34, 9 June 2014 (UTC)}}

{{AFC comment|1=Lots of URLs; general lack of [[WP:RS|reliable sources]]. Fails [[WP:GNG]], [[WP:ANYBIO]], and [[WP:TONE]]. Entire "tributes" section should be cut. <font face="copperplate gothic light">[[User:Chris troutman|<span style="color:#36454F">Chris Troutman</span>]] ([[User talk:Chris troutman|<span style="color:#36454F">talk</span>]])</font> 06:02, 6 June 2014 (UTC)}}

{{AFC comment|1=If a reviewer could accept this as a Start-Class article, that would be very helpful. Somehow I can't move pages right now. ''Thanks, ''[[User:Lixxx235|<span style="color:blue;text-shadow:orange 0.3em 0.3em 0.3em;font-family:Comic Sans MS">'''Lixxx235'''</span>]]<sup>[[User talk:Lixxx235|<span style="text-shadow:green 0.2em 0.2em 0.2em">Got a complaint?</span>]]</sup> 15:33, 4 June 2014 (UTC)}}

{{AFC comment|1= Continued removal of decline notices indicating copyright violations will be treated as disruptive. If you are the copyright owner of the text that appears in this article from the subject's old LinkedIn profile, you may find [[WP:Donating copyrighted materials]] a productive path forward. --[[User:Joe Decker|j⚛e decker]][[User talk:Joe Decker|<sup><small><i>talk</i></small></sup>]] 23:32, 7 June 2014 (UTC)}}

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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Eliane Laffont
| image =
| residence = Manhattan, New York
| caption =
| occupation = Editor & creative director
| name = Eliane Laffont
| occupation = Editor and creative director
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| spouse = [[Jean-Pierre Laffont]] <br />(1966&ndash;present)
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| children = 1 daughter
| awards = Life Achievement Award from the Griffin Museum & the Golden Career award from Fotofusion
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'''Eliane Laffont''' is a New York based editor, creative director, image consultant and entrepreneur. She notably opened the U.S. office of [[Gamma (agency)|Gamma Press Images]] with her husband Jean-Pierre Laffont in 1968 and was a co-founder of the breakaway Sygma Photo News Agency, the largest photography agency in the world.<ref>{{cite web|last=Zhang|first=Michael|title=Millions of Photos from the Sygma Archive May Soon be Destroyed|url=http://petapixel.com/2011/02/25/millions-of-photos-from-the-sygma-archive-may-soon-be-destroyed/|publisher=PetaPixel|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref>
'''Eliane Laffont''' is a New York-based editor, creative director, image consultant and entrepreneur. She notably opened the U.S. office of [[Gamma (agency)|Gamma Press Images]] with her husband [[Jean-Pierre Laffont]] in 1968 and in 1973 co-founded the breakaway [[Sygma (agency)|Sygma Photo News Agency]], the largest photography agency in the world.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Zhang|first1=Michael|title=Millions of Photos from the Sygma Archive May Soon be Destroyed|url=http://petapixel.com/2011/02/25/millions-of-photos-from-the-sygma-archive-may-soon-be-destroyed/|website=petapixel.com|publisher=Peta Pixel|accessdate=June 26, 2014}}</ref> Laffont currently serves as a senior consultant for [[Visa pour l'Image]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visapourlimage.com/index.do;jsessionid=HOmJjQ9-flwbduccGJE6h8Mp |title=Visa pour l'Image Perpignan 2014 |website=www.visapourlimage.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719104613/http://www.visapourlimage.com/index.do;jsessionid=HOmJjQ9-flwbduccGJE6h8Mp |archive-date=2014-07-19}}</ref>


== Early life ==

Laffont was born in [[Burgundy (historical region)|Burgundy]], [[France]], and raised in [[North Africa]], where she attended school in [[Casablanca]], [[Morocco]]. She completed her studies in [[Paris]], where she received dual [[philosophy]] and [[political science]] degrees.
== Early Life ==

Laffont was born in [[Burgundy (historical region)|Burgundy]], [[France]], however in her youth she was raised in [[North Africa]], where attended school in Casablanca. She completed her studies in Paris, where she received dual philosophy and political science degrees.
In 1965, Laffont, along with close friends Michèlle Ray, Marline Libersart and Betty Gérard, competed in a 30,000 mile endurance race from [[Tierra del Fuego]] to [[Alaska]] for [[Renault]]<ref>{{cite web|title=The Renault 4 Takes Over Track|url=http://fr.renaultclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Renault-4-T2.pdf|website=http://fr.renaultclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Renault-4-T2.pdf|publisher=Renault|accessdate=9 June 2014}}</ref>. Beginning in June, they travelled from Ushuaia, through to Central America via the Pan American Highway, then Las Vegas and Canada to Anchorage, where the journey ended.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rugged Drive French Girls Drove Just For Adventure|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/26298619/|accessdate=9 June 2014|publisher=The Modesto Bee and News-Herald|date=24 December 1965}}</ref>
In 1965, Laffont, along with close friends Michèle Ray, Martine Libersart and Betty Gérard, completed a 30,000 mile endurance race from [[Tierra del Fuego]] to [[Alaska]] for [[Renault]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Renault 4 Takes Over Track|url=http://fr.renaultclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Renault-4-T2.pdf|website=fr.renaultclassic.com|publisher=Renault|accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref> They travelled from Ushuaia, through to Central America, from Las Vegas and Canada to Anchorage, where the journey ended.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rugged Drive French Girls Drove Just For Adventure|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/26298619/|accessdate=June 9, 2014|publisher=The Modesto Bee and News-Herald|date=December 24, 1965}}</ref>
In 1966, Eliane moved to the [[United States]] and married [[photojournalist]] [[Jean-Pierre Laffont]].


== Career ==
In 1966, Eliane married [[Jean-Pierre Laffont]] and moved to the U.S.
=== Gamma Press Images ===
In 1968 Eliane and Jean-Pierre Laffont opened the first U.S office of Gamma Press Images. Originally a French photo agency, [[Gamma (agency)|Gamma]] rose to prominence in May 1968 because of the documentation of the uprising in Paris and the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bretton|first1=Laure|title=France's Gamma photo agency on brink of collapse|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-gamma-idUSTRE56R2TE20090728|website=reuters.com|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=June 9, 2014|date=July 28, 2009}}</ref> The first client that Laffont had was with John Durniak, the director of photography from ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'',<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rosen|first1=Sara|title=Eliane Laffont: Only In America|url=http://glitteratiincorporated.com/blogs/the-click/12923145-eliane-laffont-only-in-america|website=glitteratiincorporated.com|publisher=Glitterati|accessdate=June 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601103926/http://glitteratiincorporated.com/blogs/the-click/12923145-eliane-laffont-only-in-america|archive-date=June 1, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> who once said in ''[[Popular Photography]]'' magazine that "Eliane Laffont was the pioneer of 'the French Connection' of the new wave of photo agencies".


=== Sygma Photo News Agency ===
== Career ==
{{Main|Sygma (agency)}}
Eliane and Jean-Pierre Laffont left Gamma and, in 1973, co-founded the breakaway agency Sygma Photo News Agency. Laffont initially served as general manager, and then as president of [[North America]] for three decades. Before Sygma was acquired in 1999, the agency had grown into the largest photo agency in the world.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lewell|first1=John|title=Corbis Acquires Top News Photo Agency|url=http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/print.php/138141|website=internetnews.com|publisher=Internet News|accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref> In 1998, ''Photographer's Forum'' magazine announced that "Sygma is now the largest and most successful photo news agency (in America) and Eliane Laffont has become one of the&nbsp;... most respected businesswomen in the photography community."


In June 1999, it was announced that Bill Gates' Corbis Images had attained Sygma, resulting in Corbis Sygma.<ref>{{cite news|title=Corbis to Acquire A Photo Agency|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/15/business/corbis-to-acquire-a-photo-agency.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=June 9, 2014|date=June 15, 1999}}</ref> Laffont continued to oversee operations within Corbis Sygma's U.S. operations, and was appointed director of Corbis Sygma/ New York.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Walker|first1=David|title=Laffont Bids Adieu To Sygma|url=http://business.highbeam.com/2025/article-1G1-69392497/laffont-bids-adieu-sygma|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721165259/http://business.highbeam.com/2025/article-1G1-69392497/laffont-bids-adieu-sygma|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 21, 2014|website=business.highbeam.com|publisher=Photo News District|accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref> Later, she was promoted to vice-president of editorial content.
In 1968


In 2001, Laffont left Corbis Sygma.
== Career Highlights ==


=== Hachette Filipacchi Media ===
* 2006 Laffont received the "Golden Career" award from Fotofusion
In 2000 Laffont joined [[Hachette Filipacchi Media]], the New York subsidiary of Hachette Filipacchi Médias, one of the world's largest magazine publishers.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rover|first1=Carla|title=5Qs: Hachette Filipacchi's Steve Goldner on Social ROI as KPI|url=http://digiday.com/platforms/5qs-hachette-filipacchis-steve-goldner-on-social-roi-as-kpi/|website=digiday.com|date=May 17, 2011|publisher=[[Digiday]]|accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref> Laffont became editorial director, supervising the photographic production in the U.S, and developing the photo division into three sections: photojournalism, photo illustration and photo reportage.
* 2009 Laffont was awarded the ''Life Achievement Award'' from the Griffin Museum<ref>{{cite web|title=4th Annual Focus Awards|url=http://www.griffinmuseum.org/focus_awards-4th.htm|publisher=Griffin Museum of Photography|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref>


== Honorary Positions ==
=== 2000s ===
Laffont actively contributes to the photography community, and still serves as a Senior Consultant for [[Visa pour l'Image]], the largest international festival of photojournalism, in [[Perpignan]], France. Arnold Drapkin, the director at Palm Beach Photo describes Laffont as "a towering figure in photojournalism and documentary photography, she is responsible for discovering and nurturing more photographers, helping to keep their dreams alive (and pay the rent), and inspiring them with her brand of tough love, to do their best creative work."


Currently, Laffont and her husband reside in New York City. They have one daughter, Stephanie, and two granddaughters, Sparrow and Silvie.
* International Advisory Committee and jury member, W. Eugene Smith Award<ref>{{cite web|title=Fund Organization|url=http://smithfund.org/fund-organization|publisher=W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref>
* Jury member, National Press Photographer's Association, [[Pictures of the Year International|Pictures of the Year Competition]], [[University of Missouri]], 1979 and 2006.
* Jury member, [[World Press Photo|World Press Photo Foundation]], 2006<ref>{{cite web|title=Judges|url=http://www.poyi.org/63/judges.html|publisher=Picture of the Year International|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref>
* Jury member, Overseas Press Club, 1985-2008-2010<ref>{{cite web|title=Award Sponsors and Judges|url=https://www.opcofamerica.org/news/award-sponsors-and-judges|publisher=Overseas Press Club of America|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref>
* Photo editor, "Day in the Life" book series<ref>{{cite web|title=Photos from Home|url=https://www.popphoto.com/how-to/2008/12/photos-home?page=full|publisher=PopPhoto.com|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref>
* Director of Photography, "''A Day in the Life of Africa''" - 2002<ref>{{cite web|title=Indepth Art News: A Day in the Life of Africa|url=http://www.absolutearts.com/artsnews/2002/10/21/30397.html|publisher=Absolutearts.com|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref>
* Curator, "In the Eye of Desert Storm", Nikon House - 1991<ref group="Sygma Photographers">{{cite book|title=In the Eye of Desert Storm|date=1991|publisher=Harry N Abrams|isbn=0810924900|pages=186}}</ref>
* Board of directors, MediaStorm Multimedia<ref>{{cite web|title=Eliane Laffont: Advisory Board|url=http://mediastorm.com/contributor/eliane-laffont/76|publisher=MediaStorm|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref> - 2005
* Board of directors, Eddie Adams Workshop<ref>{{cite web|title=Board of Directors|url=http://www.eddieadamsworkshop.com/board-of-directors/|publisher=Eddie Adams Workshop|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref> - 1987
* Board of directors, The Alexia Foundation<ref>{{cite web|title=Alexia Foundation: About|url=http://www.alexiafoundation.org/about|publisher=Alexia Foundation|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref> - 2003
* Senior consultant of the international photojournalism festival: "''Visa pour l'Image''"<ref>{{cite web|title=Tom Kennedy Announces Alexia Foundation Grant Entry Deadline|url=https://nppa.org/news/1184|publisher=NPPA|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref>. The visa team received the "''Spotlight Award''" at the Lucie Awards in 2008.
* Curator of the "Eddie Adams Show" at "Visa pour l'Image", Perpignan, France - 2005
* Jury member of Getty Images grants program - 2006<ref>{{cite web|title=Grant Judges|url=http://imagery.gettyimages.com/getty_images_grants/recipients.aspx?date=9-2006&grant=editorial&who=Judges|publisher=Getty Images|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref>
* U.S. judge for "AFJ" (French Association for Women Photojournalists) - 2003, 2004<ref>{{cite web|title=Kristen Ashburn wins Canon Female Photojournalist Award 2004|url=http://www.photographyblog.com/news/kristen_ashburn_wins_canon_female_photojournalist_award_2004|publisher=Photography Blog|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref>
* Contributing editor, "American Photo" - from 2001 to 2008<ref>{{cite web|title=American Photo May/June 2009|url=http://ken-gilbert.com/nsop/photomags/americanPHOTO/American_PHOTO_2009-06_www.fantamag.com.pdf|publisher=Fanta Mag|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref>
* Jury member, CHIPP(China International Photo Contest) - 2008<ref>{{cite web|title=Jury Members of the 4th CHIPP|url=http://www.chipp.cn/content/2008-12/30/content_1917.htm|publisher=CHIPP|accessdate=7 April 2014}}</ref>


== Tributes ==
== Career overview ==
* 1968: Founded Gamma Press Images
* 1973: Founded Sygma Photo Agency
* 1978-1979: Director of photography for ''[[Look (American magazine)|Look]]'' magazine<ref>{{cite web|title=Eliane Laffont: Only in America|url=http://glitteratiincorporated.com/blogs/the-click/12923145-eliane-laffont-only-in-america|publisher=Glitterati Incorporated|accessdate=April 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601103926/http://glitteratiincorporated.com/blogs/the-click/12923145-eliane-laffont-only-in-america|archive-date=June 1, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1979: Jury member, National Press Photographer's Association, [[Pictures of the Year International|Pictures of the Year Competition]], [[University of Missouri]]
* 1987: Board of directors, Eddie Adams Workshop<ref>{{cite web|title=Board of Directors|url=http://www.eddieadamsworkshop.com/board-of-directors/|publisher=Eddie Adams Workshop|accessdate=April 7, 2014|archive-date=April 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429133246/http://www.eddieadamsworkshop.com/board-of-directors/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1999: Appointed director of Corbis/Sygma
* 2000: Editorial director for Hachette Filipacchi Media
* 2001-2008: Contributing editor for ''American Photo''<ref>{{cite web|title=American Photo May/June 2009 |url=http://ken-gilbert.com/nsop/photomags/americanPHOTO/American_PHOTO_2009-06_www.fantamag.com.pdf |publisher=Fanta Mag |accessdate=April 7, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720093941/http://ken-gilbert.com/nsop/photomags/americanPHOTO/American_PHOTO_2009-06_www.fantamag.com.pdf |archivedate=July 20, 2014 }}</ref>
* 2003: On the board of directors for the Alexia Foundation<ref>{{cite web|title=Alexia Foundation: About|url=http://www.alexiafoundation.org/about|publisher=Alexia Foundation|accessdate=April 7, 2014|archive-date=May 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512223048/http://www.alexiafoundation.org/about|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2003 - 2004: U.S. judge for French Association for Women Photojournalists<ref>{{cite web|title=Kristen Ashburn wins Canon Female Photojournalist Award 2004|url=http://www.photographyblog.com/news/kristen_ashburn_wins_canon_female_photojournalist_award_2004|publisher=Photography Blog|accessdate=April 7, 2014}}</ref>
* 2005: On the board of directors at MediaStorm Multimedia,<ref>{{cite web|title=Eliane Laffont: Advisory Board|url=http://mediastorm.com/contributor/eliane-laffont/76|publisher=MediaStorm|accessdate=April 7, 2014}}</ref> curator of the "Eddie Adams Show" at "Visa pour l'Image", Perpignan, France
*2006: Jury member of [[World Press Photo|World Press Photo Foundation]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Judges|url=http://www.poyi.org/63/judges.html|publisher=Picture of the Year International|accessdate=April 7, 2014}}</ref> jury member of Getty Images grants program<ref>{{cite web|title=Grant Judges|url=http://imagery.gettyimages.com/getty_images_grants/recipients.aspx?date=9-2006&grant=editorial&who=Judges|publisher=Getty Images|accessdate=April 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723102518/http://imagery.gettyimages.com/getty_images_grants/recipients.aspx?date=9-2006&grant=editorial&who=Judges|archive-date=July 23, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> & jury member for the National Press Photographer's Association's ''Pictures of the Year International''.
*2008: Jury member for CHIPP (China International Photo Contest)<ref>{{cite web|title=Jury Members of the 4th CHIPP|url=http://www.chipp.cn/content/2008-12/30/content_1917.htm|publisher=CHIPP|accessdate=April 7, 2014}}</ref>


== Awards ==
"Eliane Laffont was the pioneer of "the French Connection" of the new wave of photo agencies". - ''Written in Popular Photography Magazine, 1980 by John Durniak, Director of Photography of Time Magazine.''
* The Leica Medal of Excellence was awarded for the 1992 picture book 'In the Eye of Desert Storm', featuring 24 photographers from Sygma agency.
* In 2008 the Spotlight Award was given to the Visa pour l'Image consultants at the Lucie Awards.
* In 2009 Laffont was awarded the Life Achievement Award from the Griffin Museum<ref>{{cite web|title=4th Annual Focus Awards|url=http://www.griffinmuseum.org/focus_awards-4th.htm|publisher=Griffin Museum of Photography|accessdate=April 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012181741/http://www.griffinmuseum.org/focus_awards-4th.htm|archive-date=October 12, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>


== Notable positions ==
"A towering figure in photojournalism and documentary photography, she is responsible for discovering and nurturing more photographers, helping to keep their dreams alive (and pay the rent), and inspiring them with her brand of tough love, to do their best creative work." - ''Arnold Drapkin, Palm Beach Photo, December 2000''
* International Advisory Committee and jury member, W. Eugene Smith Award<ref>{{cite web|title=Fund Organization|url=http://smithfund.org/fund-organization|publisher=W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund|accessdate=April 7, 2014}}</ref>
* In 1985, 2008 and 2010, Laffont served as jury member for the Overseas Press Club<ref>{{cite web|title=Award Sponsors and Judges|date=April 22, 2010|url=https://www.opcofamerica.org/news/award-sponsors-and-judges|publisher=Overseas Press Club of America|accessdate=April 7, 2014}}</ref>
* Photo editor, "Day in the Life" book series<ref>{{cite web|title=Photos from Home|url=https://www.popphoto.com/how-to/2008/12/photos-home?page=full|publisher=PopPhoto.com|accessdate=April 7, 2014}}</ref>
* Director of Photography for "''A Day in the Life of Africa''", published in 2002<ref>{{cite web|title=Indepth Art News: A Day in the Life of Africa|url=http://www.absolutearts.com/artsnews/2002/10/21/30397.html|publisher=Absolutearts.com|accessdate=April 7, 2014}}</ref>
* Curator of "In the Eye of Desert Storm", published by Nikon House in 1991<ref>{{cite book|title=In the Eye of Desert Storm|date=1991|publisher=Harry N Abrams|isbn=0810924900|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780810934603/page/186 186]|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780810934603/page/186}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


=== Notes ===
== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140601103926/http://glitteratiincorporated.com/blogs/the-click/12923145-eliane-laffont-only-in-america Eliane Laffont: Only In America] at The Click by Glitterati Incorporated

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Laffont, Eliane}}
{{reflist|group=Sygma Photographers}}
[[Category:American magazine editors]]
[[Category:Women magazine editors]]
[[Category:American photojournalists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Latest revision as of 03:56, 3 March 2024

Eliane Laffont
Occupation(s)Editor and creative director
Spouse(s)Jean-Pierre Laffont
(1966–present)
Children1 daughter
AwardsLife Achievement Award from the Griffin Museum & the Golden Career award from Fotofusion

Eliane Laffont is a New York-based editor, creative director, image consultant and entrepreneur. She notably opened the U.S. office of Gamma Press Images with her husband Jean-Pierre Laffont in 1968 and in 1973 co-founded the breakaway Sygma Photo News Agency, the largest photography agency in the world.[1] Laffont currently serves as a senior consultant for Visa pour l'Image.[2]

Early life

[edit]

Laffont was born in Burgundy, France, and raised in North Africa, where she attended school in Casablanca, Morocco. She completed her studies in Paris, where she received dual philosophy and political science degrees.

In 1965, Laffont, along with close friends Michèle Ray, Martine Libersart and Betty Gérard, completed a 30,000 mile endurance race from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska for Renault.[3] They travelled from Ushuaia, through to Central America, from Las Vegas and Canada to Anchorage, where the journey ended.[4] In 1966, Eliane moved to the United States and married photojournalist Jean-Pierre Laffont.

Career

[edit]

Gamma Press Images

[edit]

In 1968 Eliane and Jean-Pierre Laffont opened the first U.S office of Gamma Press Images. Originally a French photo agency, Gamma rose to prominence in May 1968 because of the documentation of the uprising in Paris and the Vietnam War.[5] The first client that Laffont had was with John Durniak, the director of photography from Time,[6] who once said in Popular Photography magazine that "Eliane Laffont was the pioneer of 'the French Connection' of the new wave of photo agencies".

Sygma Photo News Agency

[edit]
Main article: Sygma (agency)

Eliane and Jean-Pierre Laffont left Gamma and, in 1973, co-founded the breakaway agency Sygma Photo News Agency. Laffont initially served as general manager, and then as president of North America for three decades. Before Sygma was acquired in 1999, the agency had grown into the largest photo agency in the world.[7] In 1998, Photographer's Forum magazine announced that "Sygma is now the largest and most successful photo news agency (in America) and Eliane Laffont has become one of the ... most respected businesswomen in the photography community."

In June 1999, it was announced that Bill Gates' Corbis Images had attained Sygma, resulting in Corbis Sygma.[8] Laffont continued to oversee operations within Corbis Sygma's U.S. operations, and was appointed director of Corbis Sygma/ New York.[9] Later, she was promoted to vice-president of editorial content.

In 2001, Laffont left Corbis Sygma.

Hachette Filipacchi Media

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In 2000 Laffont joined Hachette Filipacchi Media, the New York subsidiary of Hachette Filipacchi Médias, one of the world's largest magazine publishers.[10] Laffont became editorial director, supervising the photographic production in the U.S, and developing the photo division into three sections: photojournalism, photo illustration and photo reportage.

2000s

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Laffont actively contributes to the photography community, and still serves as a Senior Consultant for Visa pour l'Image, the largest international festival of photojournalism, in Perpignan, France. Arnold Drapkin, the director at Palm Beach Photo describes Laffont as "a towering figure in photojournalism and documentary photography, she is responsible for discovering and nurturing more photographers, helping to keep their dreams alive (and pay the rent), and inspiring them with her brand of tough love, to do their best creative work."

Currently, Laffont and her husband reside in New York City. They have one daughter, Stephanie, and two granddaughters, Sparrow and Silvie.

Career overview

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  • 1968: Founded Gamma Press Images
  • 1973: Founded Sygma Photo Agency
  • 1978-1979: Director of photography for Look magazine[11]
  • 1979: Jury member, National Press Photographer's Association, Pictures of the Year Competition, University of Missouri
  • 1987: Board of directors, Eddie Adams Workshop[12]
  • 1999: Appointed director of Corbis/Sygma
  • 2000: Editorial director for Hachette Filipacchi Media
  • 2001-2008: Contributing editor for American Photo[13]
  • 2003: On the board of directors for the Alexia Foundation[14]
  • 2003 - 2004: U.S. judge for French Association for Women Photojournalists[15]
  • 2005: On the board of directors at MediaStorm Multimedia,[16] curator of the "Eddie Adams Show" at "Visa pour l'Image", Perpignan, France
  • 2006: Jury member of World Press Photo Foundation,[17] jury member of Getty Images grants program[18] & jury member for the National Press Photographer's Association's Pictures of the Year International.
  • 2008: Jury member for CHIPP (China International Photo Contest)[19]

Awards

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  • The Leica Medal of Excellence was awarded for the 1992 picture book 'In the Eye of Desert Storm', featuring 24 photographers from Sygma agency.
  • In 2008 the Spotlight Award was given to the Visa pour l'Image consultants at the Lucie Awards.
  • In 2009 Laffont was awarded the Life Achievement Award from the Griffin Museum[20]

Notable positions

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  • International Advisory Committee and jury member, W. Eugene Smith Award[21]
  • In 1985, 2008 and 2010, Laffont served as jury member for the Overseas Press Club[22]
  • Photo editor, "Day in the Life" book series[23]
  • Director of Photography for "A Day in the Life of Africa", published in 2002[24]
  • Curator of "In the Eye of Desert Storm", published by Nikon House in 1991[25]

References

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  1. ^ Zhang, Michael. "Millions of Photos from the Sygma Archive May Soon be Destroyed". petapixel.com. Peta Pixel. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  2. ^ "Visa pour l'Image Perpignan 2014". www.visapourlimage.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2014.
  3. ^ "The Renault 4 Takes Over Track" (PDF). fr.renaultclassic.com. Renault. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  4. ^ "Rugged Drive French Girls Drove Just For Adventure". The Modesto Bee and News-Herald. December 24, 1965. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  5. ^ Bretton, Laure (July 28, 2009). "France's Gamma photo agency on brink of collapse". reuters.com. Reuters. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  6. ^ Rosen, Sara. "Eliane Laffont: Only In America". glitteratiincorporated.com. Glitterati. Archived from the original on June 1, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  7. ^ Lewell, John. "Corbis Acquires Top News Photo Agency". internetnews.com. Internet News. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  8. ^ "Corbis to Acquire A Photo Agency". The New York Times. June 15, 1999. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  9. ^ Walker, David. "Laffont Bids Adieu To Sygma". business.highbeam.com. Photo News District. Archived from the original on July 21, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  10. ^ Rover, Carla (May 17, 2011). "5Qs: Hachette Filipacchi's Steve Goldner on Social ROI as KPI". digiday.com. Digiday. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  11. ^ "Eliane Laffont: Only in America". Glitterati Incorporated. Archived from the original on June 1, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  12. ^ "Board of Directors". Eddie Adams Workshop. Archived from the original on April 29, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  13. ^ "American Photo May/June 2009" (PDF). Fanta Mag. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 20, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  14. ^ "Alexia Foundation: About". Alexia Foundation. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  15. ^ "Kristen Ashburn wins Canon Female Photojournalist Award 2004". Photography Blog. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  16. ^ "Eliane Laffont: Advisory Board". MediaStorm. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  17. ^ "Judges". Picture of the Year International. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  18. ^ "Grant Judges". Getty Images. Archived from the original on July 23, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  19. ^ "Jury Members of the 4th CHIPP". CHIPP. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  20. ^ "4th Annual Focus Awards". Griffin Museum of Photography. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  21. ^ "Fund Organization". W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  22. ^ "Award Sponsors and Judges". Overseas Press Club of America. April 22, 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  23. ^ "Photos from Home". PopPhoto.com. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  24. ^ "Indepth Art News: A Day in the Life of Africa". Absolutearts.com. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  25. ^ In the Eye of Desert Storm. Harry N Abrams. 1991. pp. 186. ISBN 0810924900.
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