Franck Berthuot, also known as Frankie Bees, was born and raised in Paris and has been living and working in Hawaii for more than a decade. Closely connected to the ocean, he initially established himself as an action sports photographer, capturing athletes in the powerful and iconic waves of Maui.
Following a back injury sustained while surfing, Franck returned to the water with a renewed perspective, using photography as both a physical and creative reconnection to his environment. This transition marked a shift in his practice, moving beyond action-driven imagery toward a more editorial, expressive and fashion-oriented photographic language.
His work progressively evolved toward photographing women in raw natural settings, where body, landscape and light interact with a strong emphasis on fashion, form and attitude. His current body of work explores high-contrast black-and-white photography, combining natural light with controlled artificial lighting to create images that are graphic, sculptural and atmospheric.
Under the project name Fankee Bees, I have collaborated closely with Franckee across multiple projects for different clients, building a long-term professional relationship rooted in both collaboration and friendship. Over the years, I have worked on the development of his visual identity, the design and implementation of his websites and portfolios, as well as the design of several photography books, ensuring a coherent and consistent visual language across all touchpoints.
This ongoing collaboration reflects a shared sensibility and a mutual understanding of image, narrative and form, as well as a common passion for the ocean and watersports, allowing Franck’s work to be presented through clear, restrained and carefully crafted design systems that support the strength of the photography while allowing it to fully express its character.
