Nikolai von Bismarck

Count Nikolai von Bismarck-Schönhausen was raised in Central London. He is a member of the House of Bismarck, a German noble family headed by his cousin, Carl, Prince of Bismarck. He is the oldest of four children.[1][2] His father is Count Leopold von Bismarck-Schönhausen, the youngest child of Otto Christian Archibald, Prince of Bismarck and Ann-Mari Tengbom, the daughter of Ivar Tengbom.[3][4] His mother is Debonnaire Jane Patterson, the granddaughter of John Roseberry Monson, 10th Baron Monson and the niece of John Monson, 11th Baron Monson.[5] He is a great-great grandson of German Chancellor Otto, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg.[1]

Von Bismarck attended Harrow School, an all-boys boarding school in Harrow, London.[6]

Von Bismarck works as a photographer.[7] When he was sixteen years old he trained with photographer Mario Testino.[6] Working under Testino led to his first professional photoshoot, titled “like a virgin” and was commissioned by Isabella Blow, at which time he was the youngest photographer to shoot for Condé Nast.[8] He studied photography at Parsons Paris School of Art and Design in Paris, France.[9][6]

After graduating from Parsons he worked with Annie Leibovitz for two years.[8] In 2013 he produced a photography exhibit focused on Ethiopia.[10] He photographed Princess Beatrice of York for her official 18th birthday portrait.[6] Most recently he has completed a book of portraits, ‘The Dior Sessions’ published by Rizzoli in 2019, with tailoring by Kim Jones, Artistic Director at Dior Homme.[11][12]

Nikolai’s portraits have appeared in numerous publications, including The Financial Times, The Telegraph, Vogue and the covers of W Magazine, GQ and Harper’s Bazaar. His reportage work has been featured in several publications including the Daily Mirror and The Times.[11][13][14][15][16] [17]

• Official website