His relationship with the ocean began in the water. A professional surfer from the 1990s into the early 2000s, Laurent spent years travelling between France and Hawaii, developing an intimate understanding of powerful and demanding waves. In 1998, he finished second on the European professional surfing tour.

That experience eventually led him behind the camera.

With a natural photographic eye and a desire to capture surfing from within the action, Laurent pioneered a distinctive approach to underwater surf photography, placing himself inside the barrel and following surfers from behind to create an immersive perspective never seen before.

His images of some of the world’s leading surfers—including Shane Dorian, Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, Bruce Irons, Benjamin Sanchis and Justine Dupont—have appeared in international surf publications and on magazine covers. His work has taken him into some of the world’s most challenging and iconic surf environments, from Pipeline and Jaws in Hawaii to Nazaré in Portugal and Mavericks in California.

From photography, Laurent naturally moved into film and cinematography. His experience as a surfer and underwater photographer became the foundation of a highly physical and instinctive approach to filmmaking—one that allows him to place the camera directly inside the environment and at the heart of the action.

On HBO’s 100 Foot Wave, Laurent was responsible for all of the water cinematography throughout all three seasons. His work on the series earned him three Emmy Awards for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program, in 2022, 2023 and 2025.

Today, Laurent works internationally across documentary, commercial, editorial and action productions, with a particular focus on the ocean, underwater environments and extreme sports.