After studying literature at Cornell University, Richard Kalvar worked in New York as an assistant to fashion photographer Jérôme Ducrot. It was the extended trip with a camera in Europe in 1966 that made him decide to become a photographer. Kavlar moved from New York to Paris where he joined Vu photo agency. He then co-found the Viva agency in 1972, and five years later became a Member of Magnum Photos.