In the vibrant heart of Amsterdam, you will find the talented photographer Marieke Verdenius. One of my favourite creatives who always inspires me with her work, which so seamlessly matches my personal tastes. Whether it is lifestyle, interior, food, nature or still life, Marieke's work is powerful to me because of its simplicity. What sets the photographer apart is her love of natural light. Working with this in a unique way, she knows how to capture the essence of everyday moments like no other. And as you browse through her impressive portfolio, you notice that Marieke's style is consistently calm, timeless and elegant.
Marieke Verdenius: photography that embraces the everyday
In addition to her photography, she shares Marieke likes to share her expertise with others. Thus, she not only gives group workshops, but also personal guidance and mentorship to creatives. Her artistic skills are expressed in both commercial and editorial projects, nationally and internationally.
Since 2017, the talent has also been organising informal gatherings for like-minded creatives, both locally and across borders. 'The Gatherists' is a growing community that values collaboration and support. The forty-second edition is scheduled to take place in Amsterdam, in February 2024.
From De Bijenkorf to KINTO: the story behind Marieke Verdenius' diverse portfolio
Let's talk a little more about Marieke's impressive list of clients. From De Bijenkorf to Marc O'Polo Living and from Crisp Food Service to Japan's KINTO, the photographer has worked with an array of clients. Besides her unerring sense of photography, Marieke also has a talent for storytelling. With her images, she reveals the magic of everyday life and her work is a celebration of beauty in simplicity. Did you know that Marieke has already visited our studios several times? Because I hope you are as inspired as I always am, we asked her a few questions.
'Marieke, first of all: of course we already know you, but our readers may not all know you yet. Tell us a bit about you as a person, and especially about how you got into the photography business. We would also like to hear something about the brands you work for'.
‘My name is Marieke Verdenius and I live and work in Amsterdam. I entered the photography profession via a diversion. After a few years working as a production/editor for a culinary photographer, I worked for Jamie Oliver's magazine, occasionally doing the styling for culinary productions. Photography I did a little bit on the side, but not professionally yet. That came only in 2017 after I left the magazine and started for myself. First with food styling as a focus, but that shifted to photography pretty soon'.
'Where do you get the inspiration for your work?'
‘Actually, it is too much to mention, but mostly nature, museums, magazines and especially by other creatives I work with. In addition, I occasionally stand in a concept store (Atelier Sukha) and that too gives me ideas and inspiration about colour combinations, shapes and materials'.
'Can you tell us a bit more about composition in your photography? How do you find the perfect composition, do you perhaps have any tips for other photographers?'
'I really like clear lines in a composition. It gives peace in an image if you work with a combination of horizontal, vertical and/or diagonal lines. In addition, I think an image should be able to breathe, that is, there should be enough space in the picture where 'nothing' happens. I think the calmness in my images is characteristic. Finally, I really like close-ups of materials, textures and shapes combined with vistas'.
'When you photograph at a location, you probably pay attention to certain aspects. What do you think a suitable location should meet?'
'Space, height, light, perspectives, angles: everything matters with a location. You want to capture the space in the most unique way possible and you do that through your unique perspective'.
'Do you have a golden tip for anyone who would also like to become a successful photographer?'
'Start by studying light, composition and perspectives before working with technical elements. That's also how I started and I'm still very happy with that. Shutter speed, ISO and aperture settings I learned gradually because I had already developed my creative eye'.
'Finally, can you tell us why you enjoy working in the studios of Atelier Oost Amsterdam?'
'You can work there with different settings at the same time because the space is big (and high) enough. In addition, it is nice that there is plenty of daylight and you can use the furniture and props present there'.