Michel Bocandé is a Senegal-born photographer based in Los Angeles, California, whose career spans over four decades and two continents. With a foundation in applied photography from the École Technique de Photographie Appliquée in Toulouse, France, Michel has cultivated a rich and diverse body of work that bridges the worlds of commercial, editorial, and digital photography.
Michel built his early career in Paris, where he worked as a freelance photographer for some of the most prestigious names in fashion, luxury, and entertainment. His clients included iconic brands and publications such as Harper's Bazaar, l'Officiel de la Couture, Nina Ricci, Givenchy, Sony Music, and Warner Music, among many others. He collaborated closely with top creative directors at leading agencies including Publicis, Havas, and McCann Erikson, and was among a select group of 30 photographers chosen to participate in a special exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs at the Pyramid du Louvre in Paris.
In 1992, Michel founded Studio Kooleur in Paris, where he directed advertising photoshoots and video productions, curated events, and mentored the next generation of photo assistants. After relocating to Los Angeles, he established Media Couleur, through which he has continued to create compelling portraits of musicians, actors, and athletes, while also contributing to photojournalism, art direction, and web design projects across the city.
Michel brings to his work a rare combination of technical mastery — including expertise in Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and Illustrator — and a deeply personal artistic vision shaped by a lifetime of cross-cultural experience. Fluent in French, English, and Spanish, he continues to push the boundaries of his craft and embrace new creative challenges. Michel lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Vanessa.