Country: Netherlands 🇳🇱
I am an aspiring professional wildlife and conservation photographer & filmmaker from the Netherlands.
While growing up on the Dutch countryside I developed a passion for nature and wildlife. With a degree in marketing and economics and speaking four languages I have worked for several international companies at sales- and customer service departments. A few years ago, I got a wake-up call in the form of mental- and physical health problems.
A very difficult period in my life for which, in hindsight, I am grateful as it forced me to overthink my life. I picked up a camera and I started photographing animals in zoos.
In 2017 I was nominated as a finalist for the National Geographic Photo Award. It was a great honor and huge motivation for me to continue my journey in becoming a professional wildlife photographer. I decided to leave the corporate world to follow my passion for wildlife photography. Nature healed me and now it was time for me do something in return.
Still searching for a direction in my life, I got the opportunity to do a few internships as a zookeeper in France and learn more about wildlife conservation and animal caretaking.
In 2022 I made a 6 months life changing journey through South Africa. I started my journey as a volunteer at a big cat sanctuary, where I worked as one of the main caretakers. I visited Kruger National Park twice and I volunteered at a reserve as a content creator. Besides spending time in Kruger National Park, one of the highlights of my journey was joining the Endangered Wildlife Trust to film cheetahs being relocated from South Africa to Mozambique. Witnessing the enormous conservation work and seeing what can be achieved in the field was a wonderful and eye-opening experience. I knew then that this is what I want to do, becoming a conservationist and combining wildlife photography with documentary conservation photography & filmmaking.
In 2024 I returned to South Africa for 4 months, where I joined the Endangered Wildlife Trust again, this time as a volunteer participating in a lion survey in Kruger National Park.
I have seen with my own eyes that great things can be achieved by joining forces. If my work can help make a positive difference in the life of these animals, even if it is only a small difference, I would be extremely grateful.
While growing up on the Dutch countryside I developed a passion for nature and wildlife. With a degree in marketing and economics and speaking four languages I have worked for several international companies at sales- and customer service departments. A few years ago, I got a wake-up call in the form of mental- and physical health problems.
A very difficult period in my life for which, in hindsight, I am grateful as it forced me to overthink my life. I picked up a camera and I started photographing animals in zoos.
In 2017 I was nominated as a finalist for the National Geographic Photo Award. It was a great honor and huge motivation for me to continue my journey in becoming a professional wildlife photographer. I decided to leave the corporate world to follow my passion for wildlife photography. Nature healed me and now it was time for me do something in return.
Still searching for a direction in my life, I got the opportunity to do a few internships as a zookeeper in France and learn more about wildlife conservation and animal caretaking.
In 2022 I made a 6 months life changing journey through South Africa. I started my journey as a volunteer at a big cat sanctuary, where I worked as one of the main caretakers. I visited Kruger National Park twice and I volunteered at a reserve as a content creator. Besides spending time in Kruger National Park, one of the highlights of my journey was joining the Endangered Wildlife Trust to film cheetahs being relocated from South Africa to Mozambique. Witnessing the enormous conservation work and seeing what can be achieved in the field was a wonderful and eye-opening experience. I knew then that this is what I want to do, becoming a conservationist and combining wildlife photography with documentary conservation photography & filmmaking.
In 2024 I returned to South Africa for 4 months, where I joined the Endangered Wildlife Trust again, this time as a volunteer participating in a lion survey in Kruger National Park.
I have seen with my own eyes that great things can be achieved by joining forces. If my work can help make a positive difference in the life of these animals, even if it is only a small difference, I would be extremely grateful.