Mike V
At an early age, one of my favourite uncles gave me a 35mm camera, and taught me all the tricks I needed to know. For years, I dragged that camera, and future cameras, with me wherever I went. Visiting family and friends, holidays, city breaks, festivals, etc. During that time, I grew fond of a wide variety of architecture, but Calatrava has always been my favourite architect. I can spend hours looking at his fluid and organic designs.
During my time in the Dutch Army I was given the opportunity to start my bachelor's in photography from AKV St. Joost. After my army career, I spent several years in the retail industry as regional and marketing manager. Meanwhile, I received my degree in photography, paving the way for my dream: starting my photography business.
In 1998 I slowly started to take photography jobs whilst being employed by the third-largest telecom provider in the Netherlands. Even though I was diagnosed with cancer in 1999, having recovered after 6 months, two operations and three chemotherapies, I quit my job to focus on my photography business fulltime in 2000.
The photography-side of the business specialises in architecture, interiors, products, and corporate events. I have been lucky to be able to work for Philips Lighting, Tesla Motors, RTL Broadcasting, SBS Broadcasting, Black Hole Recordings, Tiësto, Armada Music, Awakenings, Extrema Outdoor, the Dutch Government, including the Ministry of Defence.
When the financial crisis hit in the late 2000s, I had to combine my business with a job again. In 2014, I moved abroad where I started a job in IT with one of the largest IT service providers. Over the years I have been able to extend my business with additional services: knowledge management, customer experience, service delivery.
