Welcome to the online presence of Steve Marais. Here you can be yourself. Each carousel tells its own miniature story. Click for next, hover to pause. Make sure you have a look at the portfolio and shop pages.

Marais is a multi-award-winning visual consultant and artist working in photography, with a focus on diversity and cultural projects, based in Berlin but always ready to pack his yellow camera case and travel to any continent. A fan of digital photography and so-called "shit-cams," there’s no reliance on AI or even Photoshop. Also a writer, creator of the iconic @heavyferal zine, wanderer, experimental filmmaker, blogger, self-taught editorial/web designer, thrill-seeker and adventure finder. 

Selected Works

TOM ALL OVER MY BODY (2025)
Art Basel 2025 - In Collaboration with Julian Zigerli & Tom of Finland Foundation

Photo/video project celebrating diverse masculinity and making it accessible to everyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. The cast of eight wear matching "pornstaches," flipping the idea of masculinity as "toxic" into something lighthearted and fun.

It also encourages touch and connection, breaking down taboos around physicality between friends and strangers, no matter their gender or orientation.

Case Study: UGG's "Feel Seen Feel Heard" Pride Campaign

When UGG approached me to shoot the European leg of their 2024 Pride campaign, "Feel Seen Feel Heard," the objective was clear: to capture the authentic, vibrant, and defiant joy of the LGBTQ+ community. This case study explores the development of this campaign, and why I am proud of this work. 

Brand: UGG / Project: Pride Campaign 2024 / Location: Germany, France & UK / Year: 2024 / Photo: Steve Marais / Production: @saltwaterfilms / Talent: @isshehungry @prinxchiyo @johnsizzle @lynkslynkslynks @gg.palmer @thedivineldn @body_language_bln @stellasnacks

Case Study: Rainbow Wool

The story behind the award-winning campaign featuring Bill Kaulitz
Project Overview: A photographic campaign for "Rainbow Wool," an initiative by the agency Serviceplan for the German sheep farm Schäferei Stücke. The campaign's objective was to create a new revenue stream for the farm and make a statement about inclusivity and LGBTQ+ rights.

Agency: Serviceplan Innovation
My Role: As lead photographer, my role was to capture all key subjects—the farmers, the celebrity ambassador, and the (fornicating) sheep—to tell a cohesive and powerful story for a multi-platform launch.

Case Study: Capturing 'Constellations' for Feeld

Project Overview: I was commissioned to photograph the launch campaign for ‘Constellations,’ a new feature for the progressive dating app Feeld. Feeld is a platform designed for open-minded individuals to explore dating and relationships beyond traditional norms. The ‘Constellations’ feature is a direct reflection of this ethos, allowing users to link their profile with up to five partners, creating a transparent and honest representation of their relationship network. My role was to create a series of still images that could capture the spirit of these multi-person connections for the campaign's launch.

Dominic West for Jameson: My first time photographing a Hollywood celebrity

West is a British actor best known for his roles in The Wire, The Affair, and The Crown, celebrated for portraying complex and charismatic characters. I got the chance to shoot with him between takes for Jameson Irish Whiskey. 

Body Love

 Location: Cape Town, South Africa / Year: 2023 / Photo: @showstevethemoney / Styling @yes_dear_mandy / Talents: @fatti_smith_ - @tjngoma - @volwassende_fro_mens - @nwabisa_dumeduze / Make-up: @makaira_mua / Art Direction: @raphael_blues

Lampoon Magazine #28 / Hemp Stories, Prototipo Studio

Publication: Lampoon Magazine issue #28 [The working issue] Project Title: [Hemp Stories] / Brand: Prototipo Studio / Location: Germany / Year: 2023 / Photo: @stevemarais / Styling: @camille.franke / Makeup: @sabinapinsone / Hair: @dennis_brandt / Production: @gingistudio / Casting: @hienlecasting / Models: @illiakulishov - @dave_waldorf -@emma.groeper - @emmakroeg - @ddenisonn - @jasper.lasse - Maxie Elizabeth - Barbara Kepa

MEN, TOGETHER PART 1 (2022)
Content warning: Contains adult themes and frontal nudity

Ongoing series in three sections depicting men together, celebrating friendship, connection, and the freedom of the body. It embraces nudity, physicality and togetherness in a homosexual context as something natural, easy, and positive. A number of images went viral after being published in a stunning 40-page editorial (including cover) in UK-based Yummy Magazine (issue 2).

TOM ALL OVER MY BODY - Still Images (2025)
In collaboration with Julian Zigerli & Tom of Finland Foundation

Published in GAYLETTER Magazine issue 21

These images form part of a larger project celebrating diverse masculinity and making it accessible to everyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. The cast of eight wear matching "pornstaches," flipping the idea of masculinity as "toxic" into something lighthearted and fun. It also encourages touch and connection, breaking down taboos around physicality between friends and strangers, no matter their gender or orientation.

→ Full portfolio