Avenaim's Jewish parents left Egypt and went to Paris, France, during the Suez Canalcrisis in the 1950s and later emigrated to the United States where he was born.[1] As a teenager, Avenaim got his first camera – an all-manual 35mmExakta that his father had brought over from Paris.[2] He was raised in Chicago, Illinois.[3]
In 2003 Avenaim produced a piece for ZugaPhoto.TV discussing "lighting techniques for photographing celebrities".[10] Avenaim appeared on the ZugaPhoto.TV DVD How to Take Great Pictures which was released in 2004.[11] In 2003, Avenaim was at work on a compilation book project of nude portraits titled Naked Truth.[12][13] In 2004 Avenaim led a live photoshoot and workshop at the PhotoImaging & Design Expo (PIDE) in San Diego, California,[14] and at the 2005 PIDE conference he gave a two-part seminar on his celebrity portrait work and lighting techniques.[15]
J. Walter Thompson agency chose Avenaim to photograph country music singer Toby Keith for their 2005 advertising campaign for Ford trucks and sport utility vehicles.[16] Avenaim's photograph of Donald Trump appears on the cover of the 2005 book Donald Trump: Master ApprenticebyGwenda Blair.[17]Naked Truth was not yet published in 2006, and at the time Avenaim was also working on a book project titled LUMINOSITY: The Fine Art of Photographing Celebrities.[18] Photographer Rolando Gomez cited a lighting technique he learned from Avenaim in his 2006 book Garage Glamour: Digital Nude and Beauty Photography Made Simple.[19] Avenaim is sponsored as an "Elite Photographer" by Lexar Media. And a "Master Photographer" by Mamiya cameras and Profoto lighting.[20][21][22]
^Gary Bernstein, Gary Ignotofsky (directors) (January 19, 2004). "The Photography Network presents: How to Take Great Pictures". ZugaPhoto.TV. Bela Media.
^Record News Services (February 4, 2003). "Looking Snappy In The Buff". Waterloo Region Record. p. E8.
^"PhotoImaging & Design Expo 2005 Gears Up, Builds on Success of Debut Show: Annual Photo and Imaging Expo Raises the Bar on Industry Conferences and Expositions". Business Wire. Business Wire, Inc. August 9, 2004.
^Studio Photography & Design staff (February 1, 2005). "Conference schedule: Calendar". Studio Photography & Design. Cygnus Business Media.
