Mario Heller

Photo: Birgit von Bally

For commissions or to request further information, please contact:

mail@marioheller.ch

+49 176 750 313 73

Mario Heller is a Swiss photojournalist and photo editor based in Berlin. Before turning to photography, he worked as a pastry chef. He graduated from MAZ Swiss School of Journalism in 2015.

His work focuses on long-form reportage from remote or politically complex regions, including Barentsburg, Narva, Nakhchivan, and the Armenian village of Hawresk in northern Iraq. In 2026, he was named Swiss Press Photographer of the Year. His work has also received the LensCulture Critics' Choice Award and the Swiss Storytelling Photo Grant, among others.

Since 2023, he has been a member of Panos Pictures in London, which distributes his stories internationally. Since 2021, he works part-time as a staff photographer and photo editor at Tagesspiegel in Berlin. Between 2018 and 2020, he contributed to Bild am Sonntag. His reportages have appeared in The Guardian, Die Zeit, Süddeutsche Zeitung, NZZ, Republik, Newsweek, and de Volkskrant, among others. Alongside his editorial work, he collaborates with NGOs and commercial clients including UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Exhibitions & Prizes

Experience & Education

Member of Panos Pictures (UK)
2023 – present

Member of Panos Pictures (UK)

Full Member of the Agency with Global Representation.

Photo Editor at Tagesspiegel (GER)
2021 – present

Photo Editor at Tagesspiegel (GER)

Photographing portraits and stories in Berlin, editing pictures for the daily newspaper and defining its unique look. Research photos for the online version and different magazines of the company.

Photography Director at LOLA Magazine in Berlin (GER)
2019 – present

Photography Director at LOLA Magazine in Berlin (GER)

Photographing and writing features for the print and web version of the magazine. Defining the visual appearance of the magazine together with the editor-in-chief. Selecting photos for the publications and assign photographers.

Artist in Residence at Lyceum Alpinum in Zuoz (CH)
2020 – 2021

Artist in Residence at Lyceum Alpinum in Zuoz (CH)

Editorial support for the German class of producer Winterthur. Helping teenagers to discover the potential of photography, and to see the world differently. Running workshops and working together on their own stories.

Photo Editor at BILD am SONNTAG in Berlin (GER)
2018 – 2020

Photo Editor at BILD am SONNTAG in Berlin (GER)

Preparing portraits and stories in Berlin, editing pictures for the daily newspaper and defining its unique look. Working with the editorial team and the art direction on different projects. Researching and selecting photos for the publication and assign photographers.

Photo Editor at mmpro in Berlin (GER)
2017 – 2018

Photo Editor at mmpro in Berlin (GER)

Producing stories and writing texts to accompany photos. Coordinating photographers. Sourcing and selecting photos for newspapers like "Der Schweizer" Journalistenschule. Producing stories and writing texts to accompany with the editorial team and others from the office.

Photographer at Aargauer Zeitung in Aarau (CH)
2015 – 2017

Photographer at Aargauer Zeitung in Aarau (CH)

Producing stories for picture layouts of the daily issues of the newspaper. Working in a small editorial team and covering different types of stories.

Photographer for Kinderdorf Pestalozzi in Thailand
2015

Photographer for Kinderdorf Pestalozzi in Thailand

Embedded reporting on the Syrian crisis on the Greek-Macedonian border with Peter Käser. Following different minorities and their struggle for freedom. Co-editing support for the German class at Lyceum Alpinum and Winterthur. Helping teenagers to discover the potential of photography, and to see the world differently. Running workshops and working together on their own stories.

Study at MAZ – Die Schweizer Journalistenschule in Lucerne (CH)
2013 – 2015

Study at MAZ – Die Schweizer Journalistenschule in Lucerne (CH)

Studying photo journalism at the MAZ under Peter Käser and Christoph Köppel. Learning about photography, storytelling and journalism. Working on projects and long-term documentary work. Getting to know how to shoot events to daily newspapers and magazines.