Creating moods with Marie-Thérèse Kierkels

Who is behind Blond Beeld?

Marie-Thérèse is a freelance photographer, who in addition to her work has plenty of time to go searching for beautiful and vibrant subject matter, so she can create postcards and posters. She also loves looking for vintage things, taking French lessons and nurturing her passion for France and the sea. Marie-Thérèse says: "For 15 years, I've been driving to the sea alone almost every month to take photos, regardless of the weather."

An enlightening career

Marie-Thérèse Kierkels discovered her passion for photography in the '80s. "I bought my first camera and became fascinated with taking black and white photos," she says. Her career began in the darkroom, where she developed photos for pop concerts and photo stores. In 2004, Marie-Thérèse made the switch to newspapers and magazines, which taught her a lot and took her to special places. "Some projects were really cool, but also confrontational," she says. For example, she photographed the wreckage of flight MH17.

During such emotional events, Marie-Thérèse had to switch off her feelings and focus on her work. "With my camera in my hands, I felt like an outsider and I managed to set my emotions to one side," she shares.

A bag full of photography gear

Preparation is essential for Marie-Thérèse, but she admits that she often discovers other great subject matter on location. Fortunately, she always has her photography gear in her bag, so she can react to this. About her style she says: "I think that my style is illustrative; I want to establish a particular mood."

When Marie-Thérèse worked for a photo agency, she had to be able to move quickly and immediately identify the right moods. "You have to deliver something good," she explains. "Sometimes that was difficult because you weren't always satisfied with the result, but other times it was the case." In her current freelance work, Marie-Thérèse has more time to work on this aspect, which is helping her to further develop her signature style.

Scheveningen beach

Marie-Thérèse has various favourite pieces, but the photo 'Scheveningen beach' is definitely her top favourite. "I love this photo because of the atmosphere and the sea," she says. "It shows people dancing on the beach at Scheveningen, with the twinkle of the coast line." This photo reflects her love for the sea and her talent for capturing special moments.