New Work: Fleur

I recently had the opportunity to photograph the smart and stunningly beautiful Fleur who has her eyes set on a modeling career in the near future. I for one have no doubts whatsoever that she will achieve whichever goal she sets her eyes on. The future is female!:)

Listening to a lot of Arctic Monkeys and Franz Ferdinand’s first record.

New Work: Maarten

My friend Maarten is possibly the one person that I have photographed the most. The very first “proper” portrait I took was of him. This was about 20 years ago when I was still at uni and simultaneously taking a course in photography at the local art house. I didn’t really know Maarten and had never hung out with him, I only knew him as the flatmate of a friend of mine. When I got an assignment to “take someone’s portrait” I knew exactly what to do. I phoned Maarten and asked if he’d be willing to sit for me. Fortunately, he agreed:) Yet when I showed up, he wasn’t there and I left feeling rather disappointed as I had been so excited about this shoot.

When I got home though, the phone rang and it was Maarten. He apologized and explained that he was held up at work which why he was late, but he was home now and if I still wanted to do the shoot I was very welcome to come by? I agreed, of course. I got there, rang the doorbell and when he opened the door the first thing I noticed was that his hair was tied up in all these tiny little Bjork-type knots. In an instant I knew I’d get my shot and that we would be vast friends for a long time to come.:)
I am still taking his picture to this day.

I just finished reading Mark Lanegan’s “Sing Backwards and Weep” and damn, that was one hell of a read. Obviously, listening to *anything by Mark Lanegan now.

New Work: Waiting for winter to pass

It’s been a rather gloomy winter, or more to the point; I’ve been feeling rather gloomy this winter. One way out of this feeling is to have fun with friends. Which is why I asked my friend Maarten to come over and sit for me. While having a glass of rose or two, of course.;)

Listening to Cat Power ‘The Greatest” and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy ‘Ease Down the Road’.

New Work: Alice

I recently did a quick photoshoot with one of my colleagues, Alice, who needed some new LinkedIn headshots. As we lived nowhere near each other, but obviously worked in the same place, we decided to use the downstairs restaurant as a perfect place to shoot. Neither of us wanted to convey a restaurant vibe which is why we decided to stick to the outer edges of the space, steering clear of tables and the clientele. Here she is perched on a little bench next to the window with a simple, narrow wall behind her. I’m not usually a fan of big smiley pictures, but I thought she looked she looked really pretty and genuine in this one.

She got a new job pretty soon after this shoot.:)

Kathalijne Photography on Facebook

I’ve been posting content on different pages for a while now, f.e. on my own website, Instagram, here and on Facebook. You can find me at: Kathalijne Photography or at www.kathalijne.com. Drop me a line some day, I would love to hear from you:)

And hope to see you there:)

Listening to: Carrie & Lowell by Sufjan Stevens

New Work: Diana

I am not sure how things changed, but change they did:) This whole year has been super busy and there is still lots more to do even though the year is drawing to a close fast. At the moment, I’m rounding off one shoot and preparing another one for later this week. The initial two week Instagram take over at the CX Company has morphed into me being one of their official Instagrammers. And, of course, there’s still the hunt for a new apartment.

As for new work, about three weeks ago, I was approached by Schrijf-Schrijf to shoot four different portraits of Diana. She was interviewed for the “KansenKrant” and they needed some accompanying photographs. I met up with her at her office in the Bijlmer, Amsterdam. The office was a little on the dark side simply due to the autumn weather, so we did most of the work outside in the parking lot.

Listening to: Neil Young

New Work – NZa

About two months ago I was asked by Utrecht based graphic design company Taluut to shoot several portraits for the Nza (Nederlandse Zorgautoriteit which roughly translates into the Dutch Healthcare Authority). When I started the final design hadn’t been decided on yet and so we thought it best to shoot in both portrait and landscape style. Naturally, a square design was chosen in the end;) Unfortunately, not all the portraits made it into the report. Here are a few of my favorites that didn’t make the cut.

It was a fun assignment that took me all across the Netherlands in a very short amount of time. Driving across the NL in autumn with the radio blasting… there are definitely worse ways to spend your day:)

Right now I am working on a few different assignments amongst which another series of 3 portraits for 3 different magazines published by FCB. More to follow soon…

Listening to: Kitty, Daisy & Lewis and Courtney Barnett

New Work: Annual Report Maag Lever Darm Stichting

Two months ago, I was asked by Schrijf-Schrijf to take portraits for the annual report of the Maag Lever Darm Stichting (MLDS). The MLDS is an independent organisation that has been trying to prevent and fight stomach, colon and liver diseases as well to provide information and support for people dealing these diseases, for the past 30 years. In order to do so they have been raising funds and cooperating closely with researchers, the government, patients and volunteers.

My job was to photograph 6 duo’s who were somehow related; a former cancer patient and his wife, two men from the Board of Trustees, someone who donates money together with someone who donates his time by going door-to-door collecting money, two researchers, et cetera. I met them at home, at the train station or at their place of work and in different cities across the Netherlands. Thanks for letting me borrow the car, mom:)

Single image: a former colon cancer patient and his main supporter, his lovely wife, photographed in their home.

Series of images, from left to right: two supporters who cycle the ‘Zuiderzeeklassieker’ each year in order to raise funds, a donator and a volunteer, two members of the Board of Trustees.

Listening to: Alex Turner and FFS

New Work: I’m where you are

A couple of months ago, a really good friend of mine came to visit the Netherlands together with his beautiful, and pregnant, wife. I had the pleasure of spending time with them and photographing them at his parents house. It’s been quite a few years since I did my last pregnancy shoot and this was only the 4th ever.

It’s so cool to see a friend again after both of us lived abroad for a couple of years and to see him now as a married man and parent-to-be.

I did not realize it at the time of the shoot, but things changed for me as well. The shoot brought me out of a photography funk and general career doubt. Less than two weeks later I started a new job; in a new line of work and in a new city. Change is apparently good as photography work has been flowing since as well:)

There was one thing in particular that stuck in my mind all through last year; somebody told me that trying to get somewhere in the photography business can feel like wading through heavy, sticky mud and you may get stuck for a while, but you’ll never reach the other side unless you continue. Well, that was pretty much my mantra for the entire year;)

About a month after the shoot a beautiful baby girl was born. Good days, indeed:)

Listening to Shocking Blue, Black Hotels and Daryll-Ann

Instagram

I’ve been posting a mix of old and new, commissioned or i-phone pics on Instagram for a while now. You can find me at kathalijnedotcom. Would love to see you there as well 🙂

kathalijnedotcom

Ai, looking at that live shot of Elle Bandita sure makes me want to take her portrait as well, what a cool chick!:)

Listening to O.V. Wright and Mark Lanegan