Pause · STUDIO WIJCHEN / NIJMEGEN
Pause
Authentic portraits that we simply take the time to create
Many people feel like they don’t look good in photos. They don’t know what to do and feel uncomfortable as soon as a camera is pointed at them.
Maybe you can relate to that. Or maybe the issue lies elsewhere—that you rarely have moments when you truly take a moment to reflect on yourself.
Half-day · 10 black-and-white photos · VAT included
In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we sometimes forget to press it: the pause button.
A moment just for you, a space for reflection and simply being present. Clearing your mind, listening to stories, or sharing your own. Organizing your thoughts. Being yourself.
What happens when you take the time and space to step out of your routine and plan half a day just for yourself? What happens to you when you feel that someone is listening to you, when your mind slowly begins to calm down, and when you then sit down in front of my camera?
That brings a genuine smile, or a resigned, calm expression. Then you’re brought back to your core, to who you are when you stop thinking. Then your eyes become softer, clearer.
In about 4 hours, we’ll set out together to find that Pause. Let’s go in search of that peace together. I invite you to take a step back with me. We can do this by brainstorming your dreams and expectations, by talking things through without feeling the pressure that your plan has to be finalized yet, or perhaps by asking questions and thinking things through out loud together.
When I sense that you're in the right frame of mind, I'll invite you to sit in front of my camera.
What is a " Pause " portrait session?
Pause
Half-day · Studio Wijchen · €492, including VAT
In an in-depth half-day session, we’ll focus on capturing a relaxed photo. Coffee, tea, good conversation—and, above all, don’t worry about ending up with a photo where you actually look like yourself.
If you feel that now is the time to take a moment to reflect, you can reserve a spot here.
The photos from this session are, first and foremost, your summary of our conversation.
You'll see that the first photos we take are completely different from the last ones, even though the elements are the same: the same space, the same props, the same person.
The end result is the photo on the back cover of your (un)written book, the album cover of your next record, or the photo accompanying the introduction to your latest exhibition. I don’t know if we’ll be taking your new profile photo—or the one that’s going to earn you 10K a month—but I do know that it will be a personal photo of you, one in which you recognize yourself and that you can be proud of.
“Ihighly recommend Michiel as a photographer. He knows how to bring out your true, authentic self and capture the perfect moment to give your photos a special meaning.”
Who is " Pause " intended for?
Pause My product is designed for photographers, theater artists, songwriters, and other creatives, among others. It’s for entrepreneurs who need a moment of reflection, and for anyone who’s ready for a Pause.
Driven by an extraordinary passion for photography, extensive entrepreneurial experience, and a genuine interest in real people, I ask the questions you haven’t been asked yet—or, conversely, the questions that have been lingering unanswered in the back of your mind for far too long. And I capture that for you in an authentic portrait.
Why I'm doing this: my journey toward Pause
I’m not a therapist. I won’t help you overcome your traumas. But I can give you the space and peace of mind to stop thinking about them for a while, or to feel that they’re a part of who you are and that it’s okay for them to be there—whatever it is that’s weighing on your mind.
At the end of 2020, I found myself facing the limits of what I could handle. My burnout reared its head and stuck with me for 18 months. It still pops in for coffee every now and then.
At that time, I was forced to sell my stake in my own company and completely change course—first and foremost for the sake of my own mental health and the people around me.
As an operations director, one of my weekly tasks was evaluating people, and for me, that was perhaps the biggest change. In my other passion , street photography, judgment is impossible: I take photos of people I don’t know—people whose lives behind closed doors I know nothing about, whose thoughts and concerns I don’t understand, and whose backpacks I can’t see into. I bring that same lack of judgment to my portrait sessions.
You show what you want to show, and you tell the story you want to tell. You’re under no obligation, and you don’t have to try hard. You just have to be yourself and take a moment to Pause .
I'm sure you'll get a different photo from me.
See you soon?
COST OF A " Pause " PORTRAIT IN WIJCHEN
Are you ready to hit that pause button?
Want to take some time for yourself—just for a few hours? Then I’d love to invite you to my treehouse at Wijchen.
A half-day session of conversation and photography, including 10 black-and-white photos that have been minimally edited to capture the raw essence of our conversation, costs just 492 euro (including VAT). Your therapist is more expensive.
Take a moment to reflect and Pause , and book your session today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pause
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In a typical photo shoot, you walk in, pose a bit, and go home with some photos. At Pause , we start with a conversation. Sometimes it lasts an hour, sometimes a little longer. I ask questions, you talk, and at some point during that conversation, you start to relax. Only when I feel that you’re ready do I pick up my camera. The photos that result, however, are different from what you’re used to.
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That’s exactly who Pause is for: people who prefer to be behind the camera, or who don’t think they look good in photos. That’s precisely when the preliminary conversation makes a difference. When you’re sitting in front of me, relaxed, you look different than you think you do.
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That's definitely possible. Just get in touch and we'll take care of it. Pause makes a great gift for people who normally never do anything for themselves.
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No. Just come as you are. There’s no agenda and no expectations. If you want to talk about something, that’s fine. If you’d rather stay quiet, that’s fine, too. I’ll ask questions as the conversation flows.
The same goes for your clothes and makeup. Just get a good night’s sleep, and keep the rest simple. Wear something comfortable, and feel free to pack a few extra outfits to switch things up. But don’t spend hours standing in front of your closet; when you’re comfortable, you look your best.
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Plan on spending half a day—about four hours. That might sound like a lot, but the time flies by. We’ll have coffee or tea, chat, and take photos. There’s no set schedule and no time pressure.
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In my studio at Wijchen. I call it a treehouse, because that’s kind of what it is. A peaceful spot, just a little off the beaten path, on the Bijsterhuizen business park, with a view of the meadows. You can park right out front.
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You'll receive at least 10 black-and-white photos with minimal editing. I want to keep the photos as natural as possible. No filters, no major retouching. What you see is you.
“Michielis a very compassionate and kind-hearted person who helps you open up completely so you can be yourself. This is evident in the final result, which leaves you speechless. It was a great honor to work with him.”