Photographer
About the photographer
Sebastian Philipp is a Vienna-based photographer with roots in Berlin. His work is grounded in the tradition of reportage photography — from international projects in Lebanon and South Sudan to an approach he brings to all photographic genres he touches. Whether producing authentic brand and advertising imagery, creating compelling portraits in real-life settings, or documenting the atmosphere of an event, his focus remains the same: capturing the decisive moment with empathy and precision.
„Photography allows me to capture magical moments that we rarely perceive consciously in everyday life. It’s as if time stands still — as if we catch a glimpse of one among millions of fragments that, together, form our image of the world.“
Sebastian Philipp
Sebastian Philipp came to photography later in life. He first studied journalism and communication science at the University of Vienna. In the 1990s, he helped build Datenwerk as Creative Director — Austria’s first internet agency at the time. After working in Vienna’s startup scene, Sebastian Philipp eventually decided to change careers. Shortly after his 40th birthday, in 2009, he turned his calling into a profession and became a photographer.
„Pressing the shutter at the decisive moment — that’s what drives me in photography. That instant when everything comes together in a single frame: a special moment that appears with such intensity for only a split second. Add to that the right light and a composition that helps tell a story.”
Sebastian Philipp
What Sebastian Philipp values in reportage photography is the challenge of improvisation — sometimes in the role of a silent observer, other times through direct and open communication. Many of his portraits emerge 'on the fly' during his reportages and documentary work.
„It’s often the completely unposed moments that lead to the most authentic images: a fleeting glance into the camera, a quiet flirtation with the viewer to come.“
Sebastian Philipp
In his lifestyle and advertising photography, Sebastian Philipp is committed to the highest possible level of authenticity. Alongside professional models, he often photographs people who are directly connected to the product being promoted or the idea being conveyed. He uses techniques inspired by reportage photography, allowing him to bring genuine emotion into play from an observational standpoint — a key factor when working with non-professional models.
Other focal points of his work include portrait, event, and press photography, which he has produced for clients such as American Express, the Vienna Philharmonic, the City of Vienna, the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB), Erste Bank, Kinderfreunde, Caritas Austria, the Red Noses Clowndoctors, as well as various press and advertising agencies.
The Decisive Moment 🎬
This short documentary accompanies the photographer Sebastian Philipp on a journey of discovery through the 19th Arrondissement of Paris. The film provides touching insights into the working methods and thought processes of the self-taught photographer who turned his passion into a profession. Between his wanderings through Paris, Philipp tells of his reportage work in Vienna and his travels to Lebanon and South Sudan. He speaks of his approach to reportage photography and the photos taken during the course of these projects.
The Decisive Moment 🎬
"The Decisive Moment" portrays the person behind the camera: Why did he become a photographer? How did he train himself? How do his views on people influence his work? What does it mean for him as a photographer to be able to pause the world for a decisive moment – and why is he more interested in happiness than drama in photography?
The Decisive Moment 🎬
Direction & Production: Dominic Kubisch
Cinematography & Color Grading: Manuel Prett
Editing & Dramaturgy: Daniel Rutz
Music & Sound Design: Jón H. Geirfinnsson
On-Set Sound: Leon Philipp
Set Assistant: Alissar Najjar
Translation: David Perrin