Claus was born in 1947 in Cologne. There he worked as a teacher and a headmaster. He has been retired since 2009. Since then, He has devoted himself intensively to photography He has set up a photo studio with a professional lighting system. His main focus is portrait photography.He also documented the reconstruction of a dilapidated manor house. He and his wife founded a theatre in an old factory. A good opportunity for Claus to take pictures of the old factory and to familiarise himself with theatre photografy. The factory opened uo opportunities for art exhibitions, in which Claus took part.