My first paid jobs were posed newborn photo shoots. Quickly I realized that making photos of the moments which are normally not being photographed are much more beautiful than the posed ones. Like hugging the baby when a bit sad, when struggling with the tiny buttons to dress the baby or just the quick kiss by the brother or sister. All kinds of moments when you really capture emotions and thats what I am enjoying a lot. 4 years ago I became mother for the first time and photos are far more valuable to me than before. So many funny, unexpected, cozy and definitely ‘frustrating’ family moments, which are every day different. I really enjoy having my oldest son around (4 years) when he comes of the toilet, while pulling up his pants up to to his armpits…. Or my youngest son (2 years) trying to put a sandwich at once in his mouth. These kind of moments have made my decision to specialise in documentary family photography incorporating Day In My Life Photography.

I cannot say exactly where my passion for photography originated. For me, photos are valuable because of the memories they carry and the stories they can tell. My father used to have a darkroom in the attic, a mysterious place where my sister and I were not allowed to just come. But because of this darkroom and my father's hobby, I am lucky that there are entire albums full of photos with stories from my childhood. Besides the memories, I also have photos that belong to these memories. A precious possession, if you ask me. In the spring of 2019, I decided to change course. I felt I was just working and when I came home in the evening I had little energy left for other things. More balance was needed. In addition, I wanted to do more with my passion, photography. In recent years I have followed various photography courses and workshops. Also, I followed a part-time course in Photo Art at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp for 3 years. But now it was time to move on. I started to work less and to focus more on photography. That gives me energy, I can use my creativity and I can touch people in a positive way with that!

Friends tell me I am a man with many hobbies. "You do everything, don't you?" Well, I can't deny that. I have a curious mind and I try a lot of different things and some things stick with me. That's how I started skateboarding, (wind)surfing, riding a motorcycle, learned to fix this motorcycle, and rebuild an old moped. Broadening my mind and learning different skills is what gives me energy. However varied these hobbies might seem, what I experience by mastering new skills is the rough, pure, and real sense of life. Jumping off a curb with your skateboard has something pure. No focus and you will fall, too tense and you will fall, a foggy head, and you will fall. This means there has to be some kind of balance between focus and relaxation. Unimportant elements of the day will disappear into the background and you only live this very moment, and that is 'real'. With my photography, I am looking for these pure and real moments. When I take pictures, I capture life how it is and goes. This means that in a family shoot everyone is allowed to decide for themselves what they wear that day, or how tidy the house is. Life consists of so many things that have to be done, that are supposed to be or that are not allowed. Leave it! Let it flow, it doesn't matter, beautiful moments arise everywhere, I'll capture them.

This is me, Natasja, married and mother of 3 young, sweet girls. Living in Breda with our cats and reptiles. My hobbies are hand lettering, reading, sports, and photography. I once graduated as a chemical analyst and worked in various laboratories for more than 7 years. In 2010 our first child was born and for the time being, I decided to stay home for her and later her sisters. After a few years, I thought it was time to make some space for myself and my creativity. I started taking a basic photography course. With this I could do what I like: photography. And also learn a lot there. After following the basic photography course in 2014 at the School for Photography, I decided to do the Photography course in 2016 as well. I proudly completed this at the beginning of 2017. Then the question is always asked; "What do you want to do with it?" I mainly followed both courses because I get a lot of positive energy from photography. And with a clear assignment in mind, it works just a little more effectively. By doing things that you like, that give you energy, you are more positive in life.