An Untraitional documentary photographer.
I do not take for granted that I only succeeded in the above after 5 years and dozens of - sometimes brutal - rejections. I never expected my goals to be linear from beginning to its final destination, I have never faltered in my steadfast step.
After 9 years of studying in five cities all across The Netherlands, I graduated at one of the best drama-schools in the country. I had emerged victorious! My big dream became reality and the world lay at my feet - and at that precise moment I took a dramatic decision.
During my years of study, I came to an important realisation. I love storytelling and breathing life into stories, but - and here is the crux of the matter - I do not want to take it out of context or expose it, merely because there is a spotlight directed at it.
My epiphany revealed that my future is not rooted in theatre. I would miss the freedom of sharing my own voice and feel limited by the requirement to bend to a director, script or producer.
I want my stories to move, trigger and inspire. I want to be independent, follow my own narrative, but above all: I want to build a stage to tell stories in the real world.
During my studies photography became my safe haven and release. It did not take long for me to register at Company’s House and devote every available second to my company. In Morocco, where I was to record a photo-series,- for a school assignment, would you believe. I officially took the decision to sacrifice everything that I had been working for in the last few years.
I chose happiness and started to work full-time as a documentary photographer and creative entrepreneur.
Apart from being a photographer, I am also a mentor-coach in storytelling entrepreneurship, during which I am using my years of expertise as an educated storyteller to help ambitious businesspeople to separate their brand from the crowd with a personal touch.
Furthermore, I have my own podcast where, through various stories and personal anecdotes, I reveal my true voice.
In short, in my heart and soul I am a storyteller, not easily defined or fitted neatly in one particular box. The same goes for my photographic art.
No mirror in a changing-room
Damaging your freshly polished toenails.
The last bit of toothpaste
‘Home is where the heart is’ in whitewash on cheap wood hung decoratively on the wall
Saying goodbye
There are several things that are beyond me. Those aspects in life that are useless to me or dreadfully annoying, because, in my humble opinion, they do not work the way they ought to. Long story short, these are the things I think are stupid.
Failure to stand to the right on escalators or unnecessary driving on the left lane
3% battery remaining
Mediocrity
‘What’s wrong with voicing your opinion’ and ‘Stay positive!’
‘ready to eat’ avocados with the consistency of a stone
Printers
Nightly roadworks when you are finally able to drive your car at 130 kilometres an hour
The right-wrong and red pen system at schools
The phenomenon ‘Daddy-day’
Pay inequality
I have already been able to work in dozens of European countries, but I would love to go to Latin America some day for a photoreportage
MY WORK IN WORDS
The everyday
Meaningful
Vulnerable
Truth seeking
Artful
Documentary
Emotive
Cinematic
Playful
Authenticity
I hope to, one day, be the owner of my own studio on our own land in the east of The Netherlands.
I would love to carry out my vision and mission internationally, as storyteller.
My muze Paris
My family
Photography
Traveling
The love of my life