Interview: Photographer Danyel Weideman (Netherlands)

Can you tell us a little about you?

Hi I am Danyel Weideman, 49 years, and I live in Deventer, the Netherlands. I am a freelance creative art director as well as a photographer. I’m a father of two kids, married and I like to travel, love mountainbiking, listen to my favorite music and love to go to concerts as well.

How and when did you get into photography?

As an art director I have worked with photography my entire career. I bought my first professional camera 4 years ago and started taking a basic photography course. That's how I got enthusiastic with photography.

First when I started, I did all kinds of photography, landscape, nightphotography and portraits. Quickly I found out I like to work with people, so I ended up shooting women in lingerie ;) Which is not very common for a starting photographer.

What does photography mean to you?

In addition to my work as an art director, where I often work behind my computer, photography is a nice counterpart, where I can work with people and realize and develop my own ideas. It gives me a sort of freedom and total control of the ideas I have. Basically, it is just translating your own fantasy into visual language.

Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.

I think that in my work I mainly look for the sensual essence where I want to capture women in their own beautiful way. I make use of beautiful settings, storytelling and especially a lot of attention to color tones. I also do my own styling, which many photographers leave to the model. I look for, buy and always bring my own clothing and lingerie for the model. Everything has to be perfect. To make the image I have in my head.

Where do you get inspiration from?

I mainly look at other beautiful photography. I get my inspiration from my extensive book collection and also a lot from the Internet, for example, Instagram, 500px, Behance, Pinterest etc. My great examples are Marc Lagrange, Guido Argentini and Ruslan Lobanov. They use beautiful locations and models and I like their storytelling too.

Do you think in advance what you want in the picture?

I always well prepared for my photo shoot. If I have an idea, I make a mood board first. A mood board is very important to show the model which kind of shoot you have in mind. It helps her also to get the right poses and mood. I will then look for the right location and model for this shoot. The styling is also very important to me, which I do by myself. During the shoot I also like to improvise, and I take photos that I had not imagined beforehand. That always makes my job so much fun.

Studio, on location or both?

I always work on location. I want to tell a story or fantasy with my photography, that is mostly possible on locations. I spend a lot of time searching for the right location(s) of my shoots. I prefer beautiful houses, hotel suites, Mediterranean beaches and castle locations (eastern Europe) are my preference. Sometimes I shoot with another (friend)photographer to share the costs of the location and model etc.

Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?

Well, at the moment I earn mostly my money with the combination of my work as an art director and freelance photographer. But the way I see myself, it’s more professional than a hobbyist. Sometimes I sell my work to a magazine and next year a French company is selling a calendar of my work.

What has been your most memorable session and why?

I always have so much fun during my shoots with the models, it’s hard to pick one. But one of my best experience was the time ma and some other photographers rented a beautiful mansion in the heart of Sicily. Three days shooting with three of the best (nude)models. Shooting for 7 hours a day and celebrating a hard day of work with a homemade diner and lots of wine and laughs.

Nikon or Canon?

Hahaha nope, I’m a Sony fan. So I have to Sony Alpha III bodies with different lenses. My favorite lenses to shoot boudoir and nude photography are: Sony 85 mm 1.4. and Sigma 50 mm 1.4 and sometimes the Sigma 35 mm 1.4. All prime lenses which I prefer to work with.

What is one piece of advice you would like to offer a new photographer looking to start their own business?

My best advice is to set your goal. When you set your goal, go for it! Don’t let anyone get in your way. Keep your focus and mostly, believe in yourself. Try to be unique in your work and search for your boundaries. And try to stick to your own unique style. But most important, have fun in what you are doing, and you will see how fast it can be going.

What do you think of our new magazine?

I think your magazine is doing a great job for models and photographers. You can get inspired and learn from others. A pleasant magazine to read now and then.

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