At sixteen he starts an apprenticeship under the Berlin photographer Yva, famous for her fashion, portrait and nude photography.

In 1957 he moves to Paris.
In the sixties and seventies, he provides regular contributions to the French, American, Italian and English editions of Vogue, also for Elle, Marie-Claire, Jardin des modes, U.S. Playboy, Nova, Queen, and Stern.

Since 1981 a resident of Monte Carlo.

1975 First solo exhibition, Galerie Nikon, Paris.

1976 Prize of the Art Directors Club, Tokyo, for the best photography of the year.

1977/78 Prize of the American Institute of Graphic Arts for his first book, White Women.

1978/79 Gold Metal of the Art Directors Club, Germany, for the best journalistic photograph.

1989 Named Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture, Jack Lang.
Receives the "Photographers Award for Outstanding Achievements and Contributions to Photography During the Sixties and Seventies" from the Photographic Society of Japan.
The French Prime Minister, Jacques Chirac, presents him with the "Grand Prix national de la ville de Paris".
"Fashion Photographs & Portaits", Metropolitan Teien Museum, Tokyo.
"Fashion Photographs & Portraits", Seibu Art museum, Funabashi, Japan.
"Helmut Newton, Nuevas Imágenes", Fundación Caja de Pensiones, Madrit.
"Helmut Newton in Moscow", Puschkin Museum & Perwaia Galeria, Moscow.
"Fashion Photographs & Portraits", Prefectural Museum of Art, Fukuoka, Japan.
"New Images", Galleria d' arte moderna, Bologna.

1989/90 "New Images", Carlsberg Glyptothek Gallery, Kopenhagen.

1990 Presented the "Grand Prix national de la photographie" by Jack Lang.
Kunstoforum Galerie, Vienna.
Hochschule fùr Graphic und Buchkunst, Leipzig.
"Fashion Photography & Portraits", The Museum of Modern Art, Shiga, Japan.

1991 "World Image Award" for the best portrait photograph, New York.
"Biennale", Lyons.
Museum of Modern Art, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia.
"Naked & Dressed", Hamilton Gallery, London.

1992 Awarded the Grosses Bundesverdienstkreuz by the Federal Republic of Germany.
Named Chevalier des Arts, Lettres et Science by S.A.S. Princess Caroline of Monaco.
"Íaked & Dressed in Hollywood", Pascal de Sarthe Gallery, Los Angeles.
"Helmut Newton", Goro International Exhibition, Tokyo.
"Archives de Nuit", Crédit Foncier de France, Head Office, Paris.

1993 "Helmut Newton", Carla Sozzani Gallery, Milan.
Centre culturel français de Rome, Rome.
"Archives de Nuit", Villa Medici, Rome.

1993/94 "Helmut Newton. Aus dem photographischen Werk", Deichtorhallen, Hamburg.
Josef-Albers- Museum, Bottrop.
Fotomuseum Winterthur, Winterthur.
Castelo di Rivoli, Turin.
Museum Quadradt, Bottrop.