Susanne Kölmel, 1998 I worked with Suzanna Koeller from 1996-2004 on many great stories for German Vogue. Suzanna used to send me Polaroids of the accessories or jewelry we were to shoot for a story. She’d say, Ilan, put the Polaroids under your pillow and when you get up the next morning, you’ll have a great idea.Suzanna always came to New York from Munich (where all the publishing was done) to shoot with a bunch of photographers. She had an amazing ability to inspire photographers and creative artists by balancing her own strong point of view with her strong belief in letting us do our thing.Sometimes she had a hard time selling my photos to the Editor in Chief. I decided once that instead of shooting shoes in a studio, I would take them to a flea market on Broadway and Grand Street or on Broome Street in downtown New York. I mixed the shoes with the other stuff that was sold at the market. Mind you,the expensive YSLs or Dior’s did not look so glamorous in that setting.Then came changes at German Vogue, including a new Editor in Chief, and off was Suzanna to do freelance work after 20 years or so at the magazine.

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