Editorial portrait

You have a strong story. An interview with someone who has done something remarkable. A report about a local hero. A profile of an entrepreneur who does things differently. What you need now is a portrait that grabs the reader and pulls them into that story.

That is where I come in. As a photographer with plenty of experience in both street photography and studio portraits, I deliver images that strengthen your publication. Images that fit your story, your house style, your deadline. And that keep readers with your article. I have photographed for BEP Magazine in Nijmegen, for various publications by NWST NeWSTories and for local newspapers, online and in print.

Get in touch with me

Why magazines and other publications work with me

I am available quickly. Deadlines are sacred in the media, I know that. If you publish tomorrow, the photo has to be made today. I plan flexibly and think in solutions. Often I can be on location within a day or a few days.

I see compositions straight away. My background in street photography has trained me to see quickly what works. I do not need long to think about the best angle, the right moment or the strongest composition. I see it, I make it. That saves time and keeps shoots efficient.

I bring my studio with me. Not every location has good light. Not every room looks photogenic. No problem. With my mobile studio setup I create the lighting that is needed anywhere. From boardroom to factory floor, from cafe to hospital, I adapt to what your story asks for.

I understand editorial work. As an author of books and columns I know how images support text. A portrait does not stand alone, it is part of a larger story. I bring that knowledge to every project. The result is images that fit seamlessly with what you write.

Read on after the examples below.

A police officer stands in the street in front of a modern blue building.

Two men talking in a storeroom surrounded by colourful toys and materials.

Two men shaking hands in an office, with coffee, a notebook and a computer on the table.

A woman giving a presentation, standing in front of a poster reading De Levende Tuin.

Six people walking along a path in blue jackets, with green trees behind them.

Two men in jeans and safety harnesses work in a factory with large metal pipes, one holding a pipe and the other looking towards the camera, inside a hall with an open door and trees outside.

Two women laughing and talking together, one sitting on a bench and the other standing beside her, outside with greenery behind them.

A group of people in a cafe or restaurant, some seated at the table, others standing or perched on a ledge, while a woman on the left speaks. Colourful bunting hangs from the ceiling.

My experience, for your publication

Over the past few years I have worked for magazines such as BEP Magazine in Nijmegen and for various publications by NWST NeWSTories. I have photographed for regional newspapers, company magazines and online platforms. From entrepreneurs and councillors to artists and volunteers, I made portraits that brought stories to life.

That experience means you do not have to spend hours explaining what you need. We understand each other quickly. You tell me the story, I see the image. Or I am the proverbial fly on the wall. We make an appointment, we make the photo, done. No fuss, no endless shoots, just good work delivered on time.

My background in street photography gives me an extra advantage: I am alert to unexpected moments. A laugh breaking through a serious conversation. A glance drifting off. A spontaneous gesture. Those moments make a portrait human and honest. And I catch them, because I train myself to see them.

Flexible in style, consistent in quality

Every story asks for a different approach. Some portraits need to be businesslike and strong. Others warm and approachable. Others again ask for a documentary feel with natural light. I adapt to what your publication needs.

Black and white or colour? Close-up or with context? Studio quality or natural light? We discuss what suits your story and I make sure you get what you need. Including variations for both print and online use, because a spread in your magazine asks for a different composition from a square photo for social media.

That flexibility does not mean you get something different every time. The quality stays consistent. Technically sound, well lit, sharp where it needs to be. Images you can use straight away without spending hours on them.

Fast delivery, clear communication

After the shoot I deliver quickly. No days of waiting for your material. Often you have a selection in your inbox the same day. High resolution, ready to publish. Not raw files for your editors to work through, but edited photos that can go straight into the layout.

I communicate clearly about what you can expect. How many images do you get? In what format? When will they arrive? Those agreements are binding. If I say you will have it at 18:00, you have it at 18:00.

Whether you are a local newspaper portraying a neighbour or a national magazine interviewing a well-known name, I adapt my approach to your scale and your audience. My experience runs from small publications to larger ones, from print to online.

For local papers I often work quickly and pragmatically. We have half an hour, we make the portrait, I deliver the same day. For magazines I take more time for preparation and execution. Where it helps we think together about location, styling and atmosphere. Both approaches deliver images suited to what you need.

A series of photos of a woman speaking and presenting at a gathering, with an audience and a screen behind her.

You hire more than just a photographer

As an author I understand how editorial teams work. I know how important a good headline is, how essential the first paragraph, how crucial the right image. That knowledge makes working together easier. Nobody has to explain to me why a particular portrait does not work or what the tone of an article is. I read it, I get it, I make it.

It also means I think along about what a story needs. Sometimes a classic portrait is the best choice. Sometimes a series of images that tell a story together. Sometimes a combination of portrait and surrounding detail. I think along without imposing.

Practical matters count. What does it cost? How long is a shoot? What exactly do you get? I am happy to answer those beforehand, so you know where you stand. No surprises afterwards, no ambiguity about rights or usage.

I work with clear agreements; the price is set on request, based on the assignment. Whether it is a single portrait or a photo series, a one-off assignment or an ongoing collaboration, we make agreements we both keep.

You see that reliability in the delivery too. What I promise, I deliver. On time, at the right quality, without fuss. Because your deadline is my deadline.

The value of experience

With The Observer I published my own work and learned how important a good image is to a publication. That experience as a publisher gives me perspective on what editors need. It is not about the prettiest photo, but about the photo that works best. The one that strengthens the story, grabs the reader, fits the tone.

My street photography sharpens my eye. I see quickly what works, what does not, where the light is good, where the composition holds. That speed is valuable in editorial work, where time is scarce and the result still has to be there.

My studio experience gives technical reliability. I know how to set light, how to expose, how to position. That grounding is always there, including on location in less than ideal conditions.

Author of The Observer, Straatfotobijbel (in Dutch), De Wet van de Straat (in Dutch), and various e-books for Yoast.com.

Editor at Smulweb.nl, de Internet Pleinen and About:blank blogmagazine.

Columnist for Focus Magazine, Photofacts.nl and various other publications, offline and online.

How we work together

It starts with a short conversation or an email. You tell me the story. Who is the person? What is the tone? What should the image convey? I listen or read, ask a few questions, and propose an approach. Simple, quick, clear.

We plan the shoot. Often that can be within a few days, sometimes sooner. I come to the location or we meet at my studio in Wijchen. I bring what is needed: cameras, lenses, lighting if it helps. We make the portrait. That usually does not take long; a good editorial portrait normally happens within half an hour to an hour.

After the shoot I select and edit. You get a set of images ready for publication. High resolution, in the right formats, technically sound. You can get on with the layout straight away. No waiting, no fuss.

The publications I work for

Magazines looking for narrative portraits. Company magazines that want to picture staff or clients. Online publications that need images for interviews and features. Newspapers that need quality quickly. I am happy to work for all of them.

What those assignments share is that they ask for speed and reliability. For someone who understands what editorial work means. Who switches gear quickly, stays flexible, and delivers what was promised.

Ready for your next publication?

Do you have an interview coming up that needs a strong portrait? A feature that calls for images with impact? A story that should come to life with the right face beside it? Let us talk.

I am happy to think along about how best to picture your story. We discuss the approach, the planning, what you can expect. And then we simply make it. Efficiently, professionally, without fuss.

Get in touch. We can often move quickly, so last-minute assignments are usually no problem either. Tell me what you need and I will see how I can help.

Michiel Heijmans Fotografie
mail@michielheijmans.com
+31 6 263 263 16

A police officer stands on a zebra crossing in front of a modern blue office building, with cars on the road and a cloudy sky.

A black and white portrait of a young woman with long light brown hair, laughing, in a black t-shirt against a plain background.

A woman with blonde hair in a black lace top looks into a mirror and smiles.

A woman with brown hair and glasses sits on a wooden bench in a green park, looking at the camera with a smile.

A woman in a forest ranger uniform in a field with grass and trees behind her.

People inline skating in a sports hall, seen from the knees down, in black and white.

Three inline skaters together during a training session, wearing helmets and protective gear.

A group of people on roller skates practising indoors, all wearing protective gear, in front of a wall with sports graphics.

A woman stands behind the counter of an antiques and curiosities shop with jewellery and accessories. Behind her, shelves full of books, decorative objects and a black poster with white lettering.

A woman sits on a red plastic chair on a brick-paved street. She wears a black dress with colourful patterns, a black coat with white dots, black tights and pink soles. She has grey hair and glasses.

A black and white portrait of a smiling woman with shoulder-length wavy hair in a black top.

A woman with brown curly hair poses in front of a wall with an artwork, beside a piano with a sheet of German text, wearing a black dress and jewellery.