Bill Bachmann passed peacefully on to his eternal home on October 11, 2017 after a courageous battle with cancer. Bill was a world-renowned commercial photographer with assignments that took him all over the world for over 40 years. He was a native of Pittsburgh, PA and went to college in New York and London, England. He earned a BS, MFA and MBA before eventually embarking on his free-lance photography career. He amazingly traveled on photography assignments to over 200 countries on all 7 continents, photographed over 1500 magazine covers, directed many national TV commercials, worked with 5 United States Presidents, and produced many well-known ad campaigns for some of the world’s leading advertising agencies. He also was the author of 15 books and many magazine articles. His work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Sports Illustrated, People, Time, USA Today, Inc, Newsweek, Fortune, Playboy, Caribbean Travel & Life, Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast, National Geographic, Popular Photography, Stern, Life, and many other top magazines. He also has worked on campaigns for many of the Fortune 500 companies. Bill was the selected photographer for the most extensive photographic assignment ever undertaken on our planet… a two-year, 72 country shoot sponsored by Kodak Films, where he photographed all of the man-made monuments on Earth. He traveled 8 1/2 times around the world, a total of 214,000 miles, shooting photos and giving numerous worldwide lectures & TV interviews. No other photographer has ever embarked on such an overwhelming assignment that was sponsored by a major client. Bill founded the unique travel group called “Bachmann Tour Overdrive”. He directed BTO trips on all the continents with a wonderful core group of travelers that loved adventure, travel and photography. Bill always felt that BTO was his most gratifying career project! With his prestigious array of 75 stock photo agencies around the planet, his agents regularly sold his images weekly for publication to basically every developed country on Earth. He was each year consistently one of the top five stock photographers in the world and, for over a decade, Bill was considered the “most published photographer on our planet.” Bill was best known as a “people” and “travel” shooter, and had vast experience taking large crews of models, art directors, and assistants on location to produce advertising magazine and TV campaigns. He won many local and international awards, was selected Advertising Photographer of the Year in the People’s Choice Awards, named to Marquis Who’s Who in the World, Photographer of the Year in Asia, and gave hundreds of lectures, seminars and TV guest appearances all over the world. Bill loved his adopted hometown of Orlando, Florida and was based there most of his professional life. He raised two terrific stepsons Jordan and Brandon Wilder in Lake Mary and they gave him much pride. He was preceded in death by his influential parents Ernest & Helen Bachmann, and the accidental death of his big brother, Ed Bachmann. He is survived by one sister, Patricia Hyler, and four nephews: Glenn Bachmann. Donald Rude, David Rude and Ernie Rude, along with two nieces Suzanne Gaynor and Kim Summers. He also has a sister, Connie Beals, and her husband Byron who came to Florida just to help Bill fight the disease. He also leaves behind many special friends that shared his life here. Hopefully they will all live a positive life as Bill always preached to everyone how wonderful and fragile life really is on this planet. Bill lived a joyful and adventurous life. He was known world-wide for his photography, but also his gentle spirit as he traversed the globe capturing images for publication. His energy and persistence are well remembered by friends, clients and fellow travelers alike. His service is in Sanford Florida at the Baldwin & Fairchild Funeral Home on 46-A between Lake Mary and Sanford, Florida. A visitation will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2017 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm with a funeral service to follow at 1:00pm. He will be buried in his mausoleum at the Oaklawn Park Cemetry next to the Baldwin & Fairchild facility after the ceremony. In memory of William (Bill) F. Bachmann, and in lieu of flowers, Bill wishes to give back to local children, their growing minds and to the future of his community. Contributions may be made to The Libertore Fund for Children at www.libfund.org/bachmann
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