HI THERE! I'M BRECHJE.
I'm a documentary photographer, shooting creatively and inspired by movement & nature. I live in Deventer with my husband Timmo and our four children (age 9, 7, 5 and 2 years old).
I've always considered myself a creative, a maker. Be it wood working, painting, knitting or baking. But as a profession I teached. And I was good at it. After working as a substitute teacher at elementary schools for several years, in 2016 I felt it was time to create a job in which I could blend work and raising my family as best as possible. I'm figuring it out as I go along, enjoying the many challenges that it brings.
Photography has had a hold on me ever since I inherited an old analog camera as a kid. I believe I was about nine or ten years old. Back then I mainly had our family dog in front of my lens or I would find my way into the garden capturing the tiniest flowers and bugs. In fact I still feel most creative when I'm in nature and I prefer to shoot in those surroundings too. Meanwhile I've been telling all kinds of different stories through pictures. The story telling part makes it documentaries. I feel very passionate about shooting powerful naked images of women at ALL seasons of life in celebration of their bodies. I have this photo project called 'Women Bare'. Another project of mine represents all the glorious postpartum realness and is called 'Moederlijf'. And something I'm very excited to do more and more is BIRTH photography. I've had the opportunity to shoot some wonderful births already. Which kinda circles my way back to my time as a student at the Midwifery Academy in Amsterdam.
It actually took me quite a bit of time to believe I could make a living out of something I've been doing as a hobby. Motherhood changed a lot for me there. Never before did I feel so strongly about exploring what I loved doing. I consumed things that inspired me, was honest about my insecurities, learnt (a lot!) new things, took steps out of my comfort zone and with encouragement from family and close friends it all fell into place.
Warm Cuppa Tea
Warm Cuppa Tea to me means about taking time to reflect, seeing possibilities, being creative, accepting life's tides and enjoying what comes your way.
"There is a subtle charm in the taste of tea which makes it irresistible and capable of idealisation." - Okakura Kakuzo