Born in the small lumber town of Aberdeen, Washington, in 1934
He took up photography at the age of fourteen.
Moved to California after graduation from High school and briefly attended the Los Angeles Art Center School.
In 1956 he moved to New York where he supported himself by taking jacket covers for Columbia, RCA, and Atlantic Records,
Friedlander had begun to portray jazz, blues and gospel performers
His first one man show at the George Eastman House in 1963.
Guggenheim Fellowships 1960,1961,1977
National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships 1972, 1977
Medal of the City of Paris 1981
One man shows at Museum of Modern Art 1972, 1974, 1991
He has been married to Maria DePaoli since 1958. The have a son Erik, a daughter, Anna and a grandson, Giancarlo Roma