Photography, for me, begins with curiosity and connection. A camera has a funny way of opening doors. You often find yourself in places you never planned to visit or talking to people you might otherwise never have met. I don’t just show up and shoot, I like to connect first. That’s where the strongest images come from: honest moments and nothing forced.

Wine, music and travel tend to sneak into everything I do. They are genuine passions of mine and they naturally find their way into my work as a photographer. Maybe that’s why I enjoy working in places where, people, atmosphere and experience come together. A winemaker sharing a story over a glass, the energy of a live performance, or the buzz of a room full of people meeting and exchanging ideas. My work moves between wine & hospitality, performing arts and all kinds of business gatherings, from networking events to conferences.

Studying at the Fotovakschool in Rotterdam gave me the push to take photography more seriously and develop my own way of seeing and storytelling. Working among the creative minds at Codarts Rotterdam, University of the Arts, keeps that curiosity alive and continues to inspire me.

With a sharp eye for detail and a laugh that’s hard to miss, I make sure you feel right at home in front of my lens. My goal? To connect, to inspire and to surprise - by delivering photographs you might not expect.


Marianne van Velzen