photoINTERNATIONAL – Platform for photography

The camera is the tool used by photographers to use light and shadow to illuminate the subjects that are close to their hearts. Their works have the power to depict complex themes in a visual and emotional way and to make viewers think. Photography brings different perspectives into focus, encourages dialog on cultural, political and environmental issues and captures stories and events for future generations. We want to provide even greater support for creative artists in their work and expand our commitment to photography as an art form beyond national borders in order to make an essential contribution to intercultural understanding. With more events and a hybrid platform for curated photography that enables photographers to inspire people all over the world with their passion.

Images that are actually seen

In the world's largest photo gallery, photographers can create their own digital profile and thus present curated works to a wide audience, discuss them and sell them without any effort. photoINTERNATIONAL takes care of the complete promotion and administration for the website: from performance marketing to the portfolio of the photographers to framing and delivery of the ordered images. Thanks to the return of our loyal audience to photo24, we have already been able to finance the planning and implementation from our own resources. As a co-owner of photoINTERNATIONAL, you will help us to launch the digital platform and make it fly - and thus give even more people access to photographic art. But that's not all. 

Passion without borders: Exhibitions in major European cities

Every year since 2005, more than 250 photographers have shown their work at photoSCHWEIZ, providing art enthusiasts with a representative overview of photographic work in our country. The event has become an annual fixture in the photography scene as a place to present, exchange ideas, learn more or simply be inspired. After photoSCHWEIZ and photoMÜNCHEN in 2017, we would like to export our cult(ur)event to other European cities with photoAMSTERDAM, photoMAILAND and photoSTOCKHOLM and give this fascinating art form a new physical home as well as a new virtual one.

Our shared vision

• Global platform for photographers
• Vibrant community for art lovers
• Increased visibility for artists and their work
• Direct interaction and buying opportunities
• Professional education and training
• Exhibitions in selected major cities
• 52 weeks a year

You can support us with this

• Development and expansion of the digital platform
• Enlargement of the community
• Events in Amsterdam, Milan and Stockholm
• Promotion of new talents

Our digital platform is the heart of our vision

The platform offers a carefully curated selection of photographs. Photographers can present their profiles with their work, workshops and seminars on our platform, giving them the opportunity to make their art accessible to a wide audience. An integrated e-commerce section allows visitors to purchase these artworks directly, creating a direct connection between artists and art lovers. Educational offerings in the form of online workshops and tutorials promote learning and the further development of photographic skills. Our platform is also a lively forum for exchange within the community. With personalized recommendations, a user-friendly interface, SEO optimization and social media integration, we maximize the visibility and reach of our content. Data protection and secure payment methods are always at the forefront to ensure the trust of our users. With this interactive and secure platform, developed by an EPFL spin-off, we can now build on the successful analog products and scale internationally, ensuring that photographers and art lovers get their money's worth: Discovering new things, deepening knowledge and creating access for all.

Become a co-owner of photoINTERNATIONAL now

Help make the art form of photography more accessible. With a hybrid platform for everyone interested in art and photography. As part of the photoFAMILY, you can have a say in the expansion of our photography exhibitions. At the same time, you will benefit from our exclusive VIP passes, special prints/NFTs promotions and artist dinners at all our events. We look forward to committed co-owners who are actively involved and proud to be a part of the shows. As part of the photoFAMILY, you can have a say in the expansion of our photography shows. At the same time, you will benefit from our exclusive VIP passes, special prints/NFTs promotions and artist dinners at all our events. We look forward to committed co-owners who are actively involved and proud to be a part of the shows.

We are

...an experienced team with know-how in the international event and cultural scene.

Our managing director and founder Michel Pernet has been living photo for 18 years and has produced more than 1,000 events in a wide variety of fields. For years, his creativity has created unique moments that remain with their audience for a long time and enrich the cultural scene.

Selina Widmer, our exhibition manager, manages the events with her organizational talent. She never ceases to amaze and surprise us with an answer to every question and, if necessary, a creative solution.

Angela Amsler is our creative graphics genius, her multimedia thinking enriches our social media channels with exciting content - always to the point and beautifully packaged.

Our founder Peter G. Kurath is the financial brain behind photo. With a steady hand, he guides us through the numbers - especially during the pandemic - and creates a framework that lets us implement production efficiently.

Marc Olivier Pittner is our tech brain. He is responsible for the entire digital platform and contributes his knowledge of AI, social media, digital marketplaces and interfacing admin tools on a daily basis.

In Switzerland, we can rely on our tried-and-tested team of curators. For internationalization, we rely on local curatorial and production teams.

Why your commitment is worthwhile

With the capital you bring into our company, we can finance the international roll-out of our digital platform for curated photography. A digital platform that we have successfully tested in Switzerland and Munich and that works as a business model with curated photographer profiles, a store, seminars and interaction. Certainly also because we support it with an annual retrospective with over 200 exhibitors and many showcases in between.

How do we implement this roll-out? By involving new creative cities year after year. Specifically: six in the next three years. On the digital platform, with integration of the most important photographers in each city and local features. But also in real life with showcases and exhibitions. This is how we network with the local creative scene and local photographers. And create awareness and credibility for our platform among the public. 

We would be delighted if you would join us on this inspiring journey as a co-owner. We can grow faster with you than alone.

How it all began

When we first staged a photography exhibition in 2005 with the intention of providing a popular platform for photography, an art form then snubbed by museums and cultural institutions, far removed from academic know-it-allism, we did not imagine that, 18 years later, photoSCHWEIZ would be by far the largest and most important photo exhibition in Switzerland, featuring over 250 photographers.

While initially eyed critically by cultural journalists and ignored by high culture, we have succeeded in creating a regular audience of several thousand visitors over the years. The initial resistance from the established photography scene, who thought we were a bit too popular, actually spurred us on to prove them wrong.

We focused on young talents, took a completely new approach to presentation with a unique scenography, placing the exhibited works on 100% recyclable polystyrene cubes, and we geared our event towards a happening. When we launched the series "The View of Others" in 2008 - with special exhibitions on blind photographers, prison inmates or patients of a psychiatric clinic - and the photoFORUM in 2010, where we were able to attract international star photographers such as Peter Lindbergh, James Nachtwey, René Burri and Greg Gormann, the photography establishment also began to take an interest in us.

This was our breakthrough. Since then, we have added new modules every year to the core exhibition, such as the photoSCHOOL with countless workshops and seminars, the photoWALK through Zurich's neighbourhoods, the photoINDUSTRY with commercial partners or, since 2016, the Photographer of the Year Award in collaboration with our Swiss Photo Academy.