– michel mees photography –
dave clarke – techno dj / hilversum / 2005
prins claus plein – the hague / 2010
tomáš sedláček – economist / prague / 2013
airsoft player – assendelft / 2014
chip and dale – lente kabinet / amsterdam / 2013
hallo venray – rockband / amsterdam / 2013
margarita de bourbon de parme – princess / wassenaar / 2014
sophie oluwole – philosopher / amsterdam / 2014
near olst / 2014
paul verhoeven – director / the hague / 2004
emilia vancini – jazz singer / the hague / 2014
luchtmachtdagen – volkel / 2013
horse riders – kijkduin / 2013
robin – military lawyer / utrecht / 2012 nataschja – lieutenant (navy) / den helder / 2012 marline – royal netherlands marechaussee / the hague / 2012 ferdy – airforce / firefighter / eindhoven / 2012 bas – group commander / infantry / stoe / 2012
monomyth – rockband / kijkduin / 2013
industrialyzer – technoproducer / amsterdam / 2009
armin van buuren – superstar dj / koudekerk aan den rijn / 2000
bernhard von lippe-biesterfeld – prince / soestdijk / 2004
luchtmachtdagen – volkel / 2013
luchtmachtdagen – volkel / 2013
walking the dog – den haag / 2013
dirk slagter – biologist / haarlem / 2012
alva noë – philosopher / amsterdam / 2012
taxi drivers – the hague / 2013
alicja gescinska – philosopher / antwerp / 2014
about
Michel Mees (Drunen, 1969) has been dragging his camera bags to nightclubs, hotels and palaces for more than two decades now. Palaces you said? Yep. That’s where this versatile photographer from The Hague found His Royal Highness Prince Bernhard in front of his lens. ‘It’s one of the advantages of being a photographer’, Mees smiles. ‘You go through doors that remain closed for others’. Music being his big love it was hardly surprising Michel Mees started his career pressed against the edge of local concerthall stages, making snapshots of new bands. While still attending the Royal Academy of Art, his phone started ringing with offers of work. Magazines were keen to pick up this talented dude from The Hague. Since then Michel Mees has snapped his shutter in front of hundreds of dj’s & musicians, including Armin van Buuren, Alice Cooper and Tiësto. For a good portrait he travels as far as Uzbekistan. But you wouldn’t do him credit by naming Mees a music photographer. He’s much more. His bulky portfolio includes commercial work, (travel) reportages and lots of portraits.
His intuitive and repo-like style was formed by the time pressure that often goes with music photography. ‘Unless you’re lucky you will only get a few minutes for a portrait’, Mees points out. ‘I like that challenge. You have to make do with the props you find in the twenty square meters around the hotel.’ What makes Mees’ pictures stand out is the feeling of spontaneity in his pictures. Like you are accidentally witnessing the decisive moment, together with the photographer. However, the casual nature of his shots can be deceiving. Sometimes it involves hours of preparation. Mees: ‘I try to grab that special moment. Like a still from a movie.’ clients
AD / Armin van Buuren / BeYourself Music / Binnenlandse Zaken / Bionieuws / Black Hole Recordings / Dave Clarke / de ontwerpvloot / Eatris / Elsevier / ID&T / Jalapeno Records London / Johan Gielen / Fabrique / Filosofie Magazine / Gemeente Amsterdam / Gemeente Den Haag / Gemeente Utrecht / Kraak & Smaak / Marcel Woods / Marco V / Marjolein Rams / Gonzo-Circus / Laaktheater / Lava / Logius / Ministerie van Defensie / OOR magazine / O-Groep / Ontwerpwerk / Raza / Resource / Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed / Scope Magazine / Sino Records / Speedy J / Steve Rachmad / Tappan / Volkskrant / VWS
Michel Mees Photography Copernicuslaan 100 2561 VL Den Haag The Netherlands contact
+316 5432 4254 www.michelmees.nl mees.michel@gmail.com
Tekst René Passet Ontwerp Joost Dekker Grafisch ontwerper
postal address