A Pedicure Shop, Paris

aged 16 (1928 – 1929)

First photographs: cobblestones

At 16 Doisneau took up amateur photography, starting with cobblestones before moving on to children and then adults.

1929

Graduates from the École Estienne in engraving and lithography

Having entered the École Estienne at 13, Doisneau graduated in 1929 with diplomas in engraving and lithography; he also took classes in figure drawing and still life.

late 1920s

Lettering artist and photographer at Atelier Ullmann

At the end of the 1920s Doisneau found work as a draughtsman and lettering artist at Atelier Ullmann, a pharmaceutical advertising studio; there he became a camera assistant and then a staff photographer.

1931

Assistant to the photographer André Vigneau

In 1931 Doisneau left both the studio and advertising to become assistant to the modernist photographer André Vigneau.

1932

Sells his first photo story to Excelsior

In 1932 Doisneau sold his first photographic story to Excelsior magazine.