Horst A. Friedrichs was born in Frankfurt in 1966. He graduated from the Munich Film Academy and, since 1990, has worked as a free-lance photojournalist for clients such as Geo, Stern, Merian, Der Spiegel, Die Zeit and The New York Times. He has travelled extensively and worked in Venezuela, Pakistan, Mali, Japan and many other regions.

In 1997, Friedrichs moved to London where he now lives and works. The photo books Troubadoure Allahs (Allah’s Troubadours) (1999) and Dona Maria und ihre Träume (Dona Maria and her Dreams) (2006) were published by Frederking & Thaler that also brought out his collection of photos and essays Mali – Reise durch ein magisches Land (Mali – Journey through a Magical Country) in 2008. In the same year, he received the Lead Award for the best Reportage Photography of the Year for his work Hundert Jahre Einsamkeit (One Hundred Years of Solitude) that was published in Geo magazine.

His in-depth photographic study on the culture of the Mods has been published by Prestel in August 2009. Another book about "Rockers" is planned for 2010.

Friedrichs’ pictures have been shown at exhibitions in England, Austria, Germany, Morocco and Greece. Friedrichs has been represented by the Anzenberger Agency since 2005.