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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

postal address

Michel Mees PhotographyCopernicuslaan 1002561 VL Den HaagThe Netherlands

contact

+316 5432 4254www.michelmees.nlmees.michel@gmail.com Te

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