Phase 3: Portrait
- afkemarijevanmarrum
- Jul 28
- 2 min read
The publisher always includes an author bio and portrait photo with each book, so I needed professional photos on short notice. Luckily, Sita Koning from Fotoshootz was able to fit me in quickly. What a fun experience it turned out to be!
As a complete photoshoot rookie, I arrived at Sita’s studio with a few random outfits and the self-confidence of a soggy dishcloth. No practiced poses, my hair still in "I-had-to-work-this-morning" mode, and my mind preoccupied with a certain supermarket’s weekly planning. That was the state I was in when I introduced myself to Sita.
After a short chat about how the photos would be used, it was time for makeup. I’d never had a shoot with makeup before, but I sat down in full trust across from what looked like a battlefield of makeup tools — highly organized chaos. Sita navigated the arsenal of brushes and jars with expert ease, using items I couldn’t even name. She clearly knew exactly what she was doing, while I sat there like a cooperative lab rat, clueless about the transformation underway.
After makeup, I mumbled something about “maybe doing something with my hair,” quickly adding the classic: “But I can totally do it myself, don’t worry.” We hadn’t agreed on anything in advance, after all. Sita gave me that calm, knowing look of someone who’s seen this play out before and replied dryly, “I’m happy to do it — no problem.” Before I could protest, she had already disappeared downstairs to her car, returning moments later with what looked like an entire salon in one heavy bag. Moments later, curling irons were heating up and my head was something close to a construction site.
Once the beauty transformation was complete, it was time for the stool. Big light, black background — you know the drill. Between clicks, Sita showed me the photos in progress, like we were having a live feedback session about my face. “Nice expression in this one,” she’d say, while I mostly thought: My forehead barely fits in the frame. Uh-oh. Double chin.
After a few more rounds of shooting, reviewing, and tweaking, she showed me another batch of shots — pointing out subtle details in posture, expression, lighting — things I’d completely missed at first. And gradually… I started to see it too: some of these are really good. Not a flawless set, not a dramatic makeover, but photos in which I actually recognize myself. Open, strong, and much better than I’d expected when I walked into the studio that morning, totally unprepared.
The photos are fantastic, and the experience was unexpectedly fun — thank you for your time and your craftsmanship!
Wat denken jullie? Zwart-wit of kleur?
Zwart-wit
Kleur
Tagbox is a fast-paced, young adult action story in which the protagonist discovers that the boundary between game and reality is questionable; the danger is real. The story paints a recognizable, almost tangible dystopia: our own world, just a few missteps away from the safety we know, where a seemingly innocent game escalates into a cruel one.
form of control and entertainment.
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