Portraits Brussels photographer - Inspiring Insights and Tips on Portrait Photography Techniques #portrait

A very special headshot portrait photography request

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:31:02 +0200

Ultra low key portraits for a security firm

How to choose your portrait photographer in Brussels?

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 18:16:51 +0200

A professional portrait photographer, what’s that exactly ?

In this digital age, it is all about personal branding.

Almost all professions are now affected by there need to present themselves with a best-in-class professional image.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN A PRO portrait Photographer?

Expertise

Golden rule: Look at his/her portfolio and follow your instinct!

If you see a self-proclaimed “professional” portrait photographer… don't go.

(A 'professional' means a photographer that is experienced ,who knows how to make the best out of every situation. Who handles the model, posing, lighting, background and all circumstances naturally. Who is clear on timing, pricing, post production, insurance, VAT regulations, copyrights, and so on.)

If he/she has no portraits to show you in the style you're looking for. ask.
If he/she prefers to tell you about photographer’s diplomas + XX years of experience, rather than showing you his most recent photos...don't go

Another clue: the best portrait photographers almost never take ID photos. (That's a different business, often done by photography stores at the side)

Note that the quality of a professional shouldn’t be measured on a single photo, but on a selection of photos which must be of constant quality.

An amateur can take one or even a few beautiful photos “accidentally”. A pro is not allowed to make mistakes: (s)he knows and must deliver impeccable quality photos at each shoot, for each client.

Serenity

It’s not easy to trust a stranger, especially when it comes to posing. Supporting you with a professional attitude is just as important as demonstrating the photographers' artistic qualities.

Thanks to a clear and precise communication, a professional portrait photographer will know how to reassure you, before, during and after the shoot.

And last but not least, professional photographers are insured. By signing with them, everyone is protected. Imagine a flash falling onto your head during an undeclared photo shoot…

Conclusion

Your professional portrait is your showcase: on Linkedin and social networks, on your business card, your Outlook, your portfolio, your personal website, your employer’s intranet, etc.

By calling on a professional portrait photographer, you are investing into boosting your confidence and revealing the brightest facets of your personality. It’s up to you to make the right choice while avoiding pitfalls.

In one word, when you’re a pro, you work with a pro.

Look no further

Linkedin portraits ready in 48 hours

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 12:28:55 +0200

We had lots of fun shooting my fifth portrait shoot in the new studio. Studio Kunstkot is my new place close to the European Comissision between Schuman and Merode subway stations.

It is a gallery, a studio and we'll do workshops here on photography.

Here I shoot portraits and head shots every week. Like for you c.v., Linkedin profile or your next lecture. As most people thought photography is expensive, I have an exclusive deal so I can shoot you in a cosy environment, with a change of clothes or a look in that mirror, so you end up with at least a dozen great usable clean professional head shot photographs to be downloaded from our website within 48 hours.

Corruption and sports- a portrait

Sun, 06 Dec 2015 11:50:29 +0100

For this assignment I traveled to Leuven University. This scientist, specialized in sports, gambling, corruption and I don't know what, would wait for me at the university buildings. As I knew the subject I asked him to take a football with him. I traveled by train and took a Blue Bike so we good bike around and look for fitting surroundings. Coming at the university I saw nothing inspiring, except for this green glass entrance to the underground parking. I gave me associations with sports, green lawns, soccer, and fonds, treasures, or whatever. So we decided to just make the portraits there, with a little mobile flashlight, and there it was. The perfect setting!

Portrait of a philosopher

Sun, 06 Dec 2015 11:39:44 +0100

For a Dutch humanist magazine I had to portray this writer and philospher at his home. In just a few minutes we had the right atmoshpere and lighting in his cozy study to make formal portraits and laugh a little. In the end this was the best picture.

A website banner of 50 people photographed in 9 times

Mon, 06 Apr 2015 17:28:34 +0200

This was a nice job, as I may say. The client needed headshots of all coworkers, and maybe a group picture too. After visiting their offices I told them the headshots were no problem, but shooting a large group of 50 people in such a small space with low ceilings could be a problem.

I proposed to shoot the individual headshots, and shoot small group pictures in the same room. These groups were manipulated into one long group, but it was to long for the banner, so in the we came up with this image, fitting their homepage. The black and white choice was mine to, so no styling or make up had to be done, and it makes just a great diverse but professional group of consultants, don't you think?

How to shoot a billionaire

Fri, 01 Aug 2014 21:12:14 +0200

For an assignment from The Wall Street Journal I was asked to photograph a CEO during an interview. This sounds rather simple, but in fact it isn't. CEO's mostly don't have time for photography, and shooting while they are talking and listening with the journalist(s) isn't very spontaneous. I arrived early on the job ( in one of the best hotels of Brussels) when it happened that the interview had started even earlier than that. I entered the room where the interview was taking place and in that small room were already 6 people. The CEO and someone else, in front of two journalists, and backed by two juridical and communication advisers. I crawled on my knees from one journalist to another, hoping to see the interviewees in the eyes. Good for me they were catching nice daylight. After an hour of full concentration, focusing on emotions, gestures, and listening to the Q&A, I thought it would be a good idea not to shoot only the CEO I was asked to shoot, but the other one seemed quite interesting (and funny) too. In the end 'the other one' turned out to be the famous John Malone, an American billionaire and investor. After the interview I asked for a real portrait, but time was finished and I could only do a snap.

Birgit Sippel photographed for Metall Zeitung

Fri, 14 Mar 2014 23:24:36 +0100

Birgit Sippel photographed in Brussels by Sander de Wilde It has been almost four months since I last touched my Blog. I know this is not smart whenever you want to collect 'followers' or just readers, but something changed... I was just too busy and/or had other priorities. Life is to good to spend much time behind a screen, and as a photographer I do this already too often. Anyways, what I'm trying to say is that from my point of view the EU economy is on the rise. The last few months were the busiest of my six years in Brussels, and yes, I'm very happy with that. I have a great set of clients, coming back and bringing in others. And they have great and exciting assignments for me. Like IG metall, who asked me to portray mrs. Sippel ( European Parliament) for a feature. Only problem was there was not a lot of time, it had to be "EU - like" and that morning at 8 o'clock it was damn cold and windy. Still, with a little help of my wireless flashes and a good dose of humor we made this sympathetic image of her in front of the EP. For her it was only 10 minutes in her busy schedule, for me it was another challenge. IG Metall used it in their Metall Zeitung over the entire page. I'll show some other 'latest works' later on. Thanks for being patient with me, later, Sander

Asylumseekers Brussels stay in hotel

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:10:31 +0100

A cheap shabby hotelroom is where this couple stayed for seven months now, waiting for their political asylum in Belgium. Official asylum-stays are full since 2009 and a lot of these political refugees stay on the streets, in prisons or temporary asylums, and even in hotels rented for them by Fedasil, organising the government's aid for asylumseekers. (Together with ngo's like the red cross)

Freya Van den Bossche cut out

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 20:14:56 +0200

Freya van den Bossche was easy to photograph.It's a pity these journals always cut my portraits out of their background. Why bother? De_Standaard_20100929_p14_1339234387 Het_Nieuwsblad_20100929_p8_1998158840