Whilst employed as a button and belt salesman in Berlin, Alfred Eisenstaedt taught himself photography and worked as a freelance photojournalist.

In 1929 he received his first assignment that would launch his professional career – the Novel Prize ceremony in Stockholm. He then became a full-time photojournalist for the Pacific and Atlantic Picture Agency, later part of the Associated Press.

In 1935 he moved to the United States where he freelanced for Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Town and Country to name a few and in 1936 he was hired as one of four staff photographers for LIFE magazine. He remained at LIFE for the next 40 years and was active as a photojournalist into his eighties.

In 1988 he was honoured with an Infinity Master of Photography Award.

Because he was not associated with a particular kind of event or geographic area, he was a generalist and was a favourite among editors, not only for his quick eye but also for his ability in making good photographs of any event or situation.