Through the lens of Stan Musilek, beauty is both a philosophy and a pursuit. As the founder of Musilek Studios, with spaces in San Francisco and Paris, he has spent decades capturing images that challenge and celebrate the feminine form. His work, marked by a thoughtful yet dictatorial process, has earned him both artistic acclaim and commercial success—a rare combination in an industry where compromise often feels inevitable. In this candid conversation, Stan reflects on a career shaped by the influences of photography legends like Helmut Newton and Guy Bourdin while maintaining his distinctive vision. With characteristic dry wit and European sensibility, he discusses everything from his disdain for influencer culture to his simple secret for success: “Think first, shoot later.” Whether orchestrating high-stakes commercial shoots or pursuing personal projects, Stan’s enduring drive remains the same—to create something that tops the last shot.

What inspired or motivated you in your career?

Women.

What is your work philosophy?

Think first, shoot later.

Where do you seek inspiration?

Memories and experiences.

What aspect of photography do you most enjoy?

It fluctuates. Currently, I’m really enjoying printing large format prints of my personal work.

How would you describe your process?

Thought out, streamlined, and dictatorial.

Who is or was your greatest mentor?

No mentor per se.

Who were some of your greatest past influences?

Helmut Newton, Chris von Wangenheim, and Guy Bourdin.

What is your most outstanding professional achievement?

Maybe becoming independently wealthy by taking pictures and doing something I would do anyway.

Who among your contemporaries today do you most admire?

I’ve seen some interesting images shot by Johnny Dufort and Nadia Cohen.

Who have been some of your favorite people or clients you have worked with?

I have made many friends through my work and have been fortunate in that aspect, with the exception of one or two “trouble clients.” I’m not one to start name-dropping; it feels too much like a thank-you speech at the Oscars. I think I hear the music getting louder.

What are the most important ingredients you require from a client to work successfully?

A realistic budget in the context of the planned visuals and the courage to be a bit irreverent.

Can you talk about the collaboration process with your models?

There used to be a natural progression of meeting on a commercial shoot and then collaborating on personal or editorial projects. It’s a little more challenging these days, particularly due to my intense dislike of influencer culture.

How is nude photography a unique challenge when compared to traditional portraiture?

There’s a different kind of small talk on set. ;)

You were born in Europe before moving to the USA. How has your time here differed from your days in Europe? Were you able to access a new variety of clients or collaborators?

Yes, my work was well-received; the studio ended up being very successful commercially.

What is the greatest satisfaction you get from your work?

It depends on whether it is commercial or personal. Commercially, the satisfaction comes from producing something that goes beyond the client’s initial expectation. In my personal work, it is more of an ongoing satisfaction; there is always the motivation to create something that tops the last shot. Happy accidents, curiosity, what ifs...?

What advice would you give to young photographers starting out today?

That is a difficult question. The process of establishing yourself has changed dramatically in recent years. I was happy to see, for decades, that all of my first assistants who survived the Stan Musilek “boot camp” went on to have careers of their own. It was based on their exposure to advertising agencies and design firms we shot for and the visuals we created. The world no longer exists in that form.

What interests do you have outside of your work?

You mean besides philatélie and heraldry?

How do you balance your time between your two studios in San Francisco and Paris?

It is pretty much 50-50, but I’m always trying to be in California in winter. ;)

How do you define success?

Working with fun people on inspired shoots for good money.

What would you change if you had to do it all over again?

I would outlaw conference calls on speakerphone.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

As far away as possible from Elon Musk.

Stan Musilek was born in Prague before Prague was cool. As a child, he turned his mother’s pantry into a dark room and relentlessly photographed the neighbors. Eventually, his family fled Czechoslovakia for Germany, where he studied mathematics at Heidelberg University. He then moved to the United States, earning an MFA in photography from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and playing as a midfielder for the University of San Francisco’s men’s soccer team, winning the Division I NCAA championship. Stan soon opened his own studio in San Francisco. A second studio eventually followed this in Paris. He has won numerous awards throughout his career and loves making his clients laugh.

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Discover other creatives in the Graphis Journal #384.