Interview by Alexandre Orlowski

SANDRINE BIZZARO
& RENÉ BOSNE [2b]

 

Sandrine Bizzaro and René Bosne opened 2b management in 2010 with offices in New York and Paris. This boutique agency represents Anton Corbijn , Ellen Von Unwerth, Eric Guillemain, Luigi and Iango, Miles Aldridge, Stephen Kidd and Tom Munro.

 

ANTON CORBIJN

 

U2 by ANTON CORBIJN

 

Sandrine & René, you’ve been partners in crime for over 20 years. How do you make your relationship work on a daily basis?

The agency was created at a dinner table. We were a group of friends having a good time and we decided to open a photo agency. It was at first a human project with no business plan. René and I are different, we did not divide the tasks, it came naturally. We did find the right balance. René takes care of the finances, I like to connect people, make plans and build stories.

 

ELLEN VON UNWERTH

 

CLAUDIA SCHIFFER by ELLEN VON UNWERTH

 

2b Management, named after both your last names’ initials, has grown a reputation to represent some of the most celebrated image-makers in the world. What is your secret to manage successfully such creative powerhouses?

2b  : Bizzaro + Bosne : To  Be
It was fun to see how playing with words ended up representing not just our names but also our intention
- To Be! We were excited to promote artists we respected first as human beings rather than just as potential money makers. When we opened 2b we were boutique and today we are still the same.
We don’t have the desire to grow into a larger business because we really prefer to work with a small group of artists, still able to fit at that dinner table. In other words we like to keep it small and personal. 
This works best for us. Our photographers like to have a personal relationship with their agent and we like to be close to them as well.  So we represent only a few select photographers who we really care for.

 

ERIC GUILLEMAIN

 

LEA SEYDOUX by ERIC GUILLEMAIN

 

Celebrities very often comment on world affairs; Should photographers through their work have a responsibility to do the same? 

Yes they should and they do. It is always important that an artist with influence speak loudly about his/her beliefs.
We used to represent Peter Lindbergh, who supported womens’ rights and causes long before it became fashionable to do so. 
Lindbergh wrote "It should be a duty for every photographer to use his creativity and influence to free women and everyone from the terror of youth and perfection," in the introduction of his book “ Shadows of the Wall” 

 

LUIGI & IANGO

 

KATE MOSS by LUIGI & IANGO

 

Now that you mention Peter Lindbergh. You worked with him for almost 25 years. Tell us about 2b with Peter, and now after Peter.

We opened 2b management with Peter Lindbergh and a group of photographers who were all somehow connected.
At the time there was an Italian Vogue connection between Peter, Ellen, Miles, and Tom. Eric and Stephen used to be Peter’s assistants. Luigi was an long-time collaborator of Peter’s and Anton Corbjin was Peter’s friend. Love and respect was real between all of them.
All this was not calculated.
The connection happened to be there.
We grew up over 2 decades alongside Peter to become the agents we are today . We were sharing a journey, working together, travelling together, sharing our love for photography. Today the master is gone but we want to perpetuate his spirit and not let it die.
Remembering Peter Lindbergh and moving on means sharing our knowledge and experience with the new photographers joining the table, always with the same spirit.
We like to think that expertise and knowledge of photography is still an asset today! 

 

MILES ALDRIDGE

 

'DROP OF RED' by MILES ALDRIDGE

 

Social media has really been a factor in how much brands, and luxury fashion houses, are opening themselves up to the public. How has your business adapted to this new paradigm?

Social Media definitely is changing some rules of our business. The great thing with Instagram is that every artist, every agency, everybody has the opportunity to express themselves in real time, infinitely and easily.  
This democratic tool can also open the door to a lack of quality .What we gain in instant exposure we lose in depth.
At 2b we like to play with social media of course but we do not gamble everything on it.
We like to preserve our authentic relationships, humanity and close community.

 

STEPHEN KIDD

 

JIL SANDER by STEPHEN KIDD

 

In your opinion, do you think it’s a good time to be representing photographers? What is 2b's strength today? 

The timing is always good as long as the photographers fit with the spirit of our family. 
2b's strength is to have built a very close team of precious collaborators since the day we launched (Thuy Tran, Anthony Graneri, Margaux Huguet).
2b's strength is to always represent photographers who are good souls as well as being talented artists.
2b’s strength is that we have always loved generous photography that is respectful of its subject. Photography that transcends fashion and that will become iconic and  timeless. 

 

TOM MUNRO

 

JULIA ROBERTS by TOM MUNRO

 

And in closing, how would you describe the Agent’s Club in three words?

Informative
Engaging
Revealing

  

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