Clémentine Schneidermann was born in Paris, France, in 1991. After receiving her education in Switzerland, she immigrated to Wales around 2012 to study documentary photography at the University of South Wales in Newport. Schneidermann is established as a documentary and fashion photographer.
Photographer Clémentine Schneidermann was born in Paris, France, in 1991. Initially, she studied at the Centre for Applied Art of Vevey in Switzerland. Schneidermann then immigrated to Wales for further academic pursuits in the arts. From 2012-14, she studied for a Masters in Documentary Photography at the University of South Wales in Newport. In 2021, she completed a practice-based PhD at the University of South Wales in Cardiff, with the thesis Photographing Children in a Social Context: Narratives and Strategies.
One of the first photography works that captivated Schneidermann at a young age was a book of travel photography through the ex-Soviet Union by Swiss female photographer Magali Koenig Schneidermann's own photographic work focuses on tailored assignments and long-term projects, centred on social documentary, exploring societal dynamics, small communities, the nuances of childhood and youth, and the interplay between selfhood, identity, and cultural expression. Her methodology is rooted in innovative approaches, playful engagement, and cooperation. Her oeuvre embodies a unique blend of realistic depiction and deliberate enactment, challenging the traditional objectivity associated with documentary visuals. Armed with a deep understanding of the locale and strong empathy towards her subjects, Schneidermann acts more as a facilitator than a detached observer. This approach enables her participants to reshape how they are viewed.
Her practice encompasses various forms, but primarily focuses on fashion and documentary photography. Her work frequently includes fashion and editorial projects, and collaborations with British and European magazines, such as Crack Magazine, Dazed, Entorse, M le Magazine du Monde, Middleplane, Self Service, Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin, and Vogue Italia. She has also worked with fashion brands such as Alexander McQueen, Gucci, and Tiger of Sweden. Schneidermann’s projects are often based in Wales. Her series It’s Called Ffasiwn (the Welsh word for 'fashion'), confronts common views about community and daily life in the former mining town of Merthyr Vale. In an ongoing project since 2015, in Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil, she has been collaborating with creative director Charlotte James and local youth clubs, capturing children in their unique costumes, such as Gothic attire and green fur shawls. The project teaches sewing and photography, allowing self-styling and creative expression. Despite the economic challenges following the collapse of the mining industry, Schneidermann's images highlight the region's youthful optimism, countering prevailing negative stereotypes. Subsequently, working with Alexander McQueen, Schneidermann and her team created a series of workshops (including photography, casting direction, customisation, embroidery, creative writing, and sketchbooks) for young people in the South Wales Valleys. This project, interpreting the Autumn Winter 2020 collection, inspired by Welsh Folklore and designed by Sarah Burton, culminated in a book, photographs, and a short film.
Schneidermann is also recognised for her documentary photography. In 2019, she published a monograph exploring the vibrant Elvis Presley fan community in Porthcawl, Wales, through her series I Called Her Lisa Marie (also the title of the monograph) and the travel diary, Johnny B. Goode. Capturing fans and their families from 2013 to 2017, Schneidermann's photography highlighted the solace and flamboyance found in celebrating Elvis's life and music, including a journey from Wales to Memphis. Her second monograph, Sète #20 (2020) with text by Christian Caujolle, was based on a photographic residency in France. Schneidermann's work has appeared in other publications and photobooks, including Azimut: Une marche photographique en France (2020), which collected works by 31 photographers who took photos while walking through France.
Beyond her photographic work, Schneidermann is involved in various other activities. She co-founded Ffasiwn Stiwdio, a photographic art studio specialising in educational workshops, producing publications and films, and curating exhibitions in collaboration with young communities. Schneidermann has also received numerous awards, primarily in the UK. In 2018, she won the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize, awarded by the National Galleries of Scotland, for her series Laundry Day, which explored social distancing, quarantine, self-isolation, and widespread national lockdowns. For two consecutive years, in 2019 and 2020, she won the Art Council Wales prize. In addition to occasionally being a visiting lecturer at UK universities, Schneidermann regularly exhibits in the UK. From 2021 to 2023, she was part of a group exhibition The Rule of Art? at the National Museum Cardiff, which showcased a 500-year span of diverse art forms to explore themes of representation, identity, and culture. Featuring new acquisitions, such as Chris Ofili's prints and works by Old Masters, such as Rembrandt, it juxtaposed historical and contemporary societal challenges. Clémentine Schneidermann splits her time between Paris, France and Cardiff, Wales. In the UK public domain, her work is held in several collections, including the National Museum of Wales and the Martin Parr Foundation.