Michael Max Reinhardt was born in Los Angeles, California in 1938. He is the grandson of the theatre and motion picture director Max Reinhardt, his father, Wolfgang was also a film producer and screenwriter. Michael is the oldest of three children.

In 1953 he moved with his family to Munich, Germany where he graduated from a German Gymnasium in 1959. He went on to attend law school in France and received his French law degree in 1964. The following year, he moved to Paris where he joined a French law firm while working on his doctorate, which he obtained in 1966. In 1967 he was hired to run the French model agency Dorian Leigh. It was during this time that he became fascinated with taking pictures. He also became friends with the photographer Louis Faurer who had seen some of his early images and encouraged him to take up photography professionally. Faurer and, to some extent Robert Frank with whom he also became acquainted at the time, later became his mentors.

Subsequently his career as a fashion photographer began in Paris, France where he regularly worked for such publications as Vingt Ans, Elle, Marie Claire, Jardin des Modes. and Vogue. In 1970 he returned to the Untied States.

As a commercial photographer in New York for over thirty years, he worked for, amongst many others, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, The New York Times, Glamour, Elle, Life, Esquire, Sports illustrated, Revlon, Max Factor, Estee Lauder, L’Oreal, Calvin Klein  and Bloomingdales on a regular basis.

Michael has three children and now lives with his wife, Tammi and their youngest son in Pacific Palisades, California. He and his eldest son, own Cheebo, a restaurant on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.

He continues to work on various fine art photography and art-related projects. His latest show of images from the late seventies and early eighties entitled “East End Memories” took place at Gallery B in Sag Harbor New York on August 28, 2009.   

Other shows in which he participated:

Musicares May 24, 2010

Jammin” and Wailin A celebration of Bob Marley in Art, Words and Images February 6th-20th

The Costume Institute of The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Model as Muse May 6th, 2009-August 9, 2009