Interview: Photographer Roger Sanders (The Netherlands)

Modellenland

4 nov 2022

Can you tell us a little about you?

Hi to all you readers, my name is Roger Sanders. I was born in 1971 in a small village called Tegelen situated in the North of Limburg a Southern County of The Netherlands. I am married and love animals And of course I like photo and videography.

How and when did you get into photography?

In 2012 I started with aireal photography combined with 360 virtual reality photography. Also in that same year I visited the photographers paradise Photokina Cologne in Germany. There I found a workshop in models photography which was taught by top photographer Benjamin Wong from Montreal Canada. There I stood with my Canon 70D and a kit lens, Wong threw a remote trigger to me and insisted me to shoot with him. The model was none other then Ophelia Overdose from Germany. Up till now I had only taken some photographs of buildings and interiors, so there I stood with sweaty palms shooting away. For the hour that I stood there shooting away, I kept saying to myself by every shot it is just a bit of fun. When I came home after a long exciting, sensational and nerve wrecking day and put the photo's on my PC something came over me, and at that moment i realised. I stared at the photo's in front of me on the screen and straight away I was hooked on proverbial photography.

What does photography mean to you?

To be honest with you photography has become a way of life for me. It gives me inner peace and it is very therapeutic. To use my creative thoughts combined with the camera, to create something beautiful fills me up with joy. So yes it means a lot to me.

Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.

This is a very hard question to answer. I personally think it’s smoking of Art but if you would ask another 1000 people will they say the same? The answer is no you would get a 1000 different opinions. I think personally that my work is different and stands out in the way I post-process my photographs. But ultimately it is a matter of taste, I guess.

Where do you get inspiration from?

I take inspiration out of life that surrounds me. I try to capture a feeling that

I have within a certain moment. This could be me being in nature, walking

around in a city, down in the countryside or being in inside a beautiful building. It could be the person in front of me trying to capture there personality and inner beauty. Basically all the diversities around me.

Do you think in advance what you want in the picture?

Generally yes I do, but when it comes down to practice it often works out different. You need to be able to improvise, to adapt to any kind of circumstances. I think this is the essence of creativity.

Studio, on location or both?

My preference has to be location, simple because it is easier to get certain idea's / theme's shown better on the end product when combined with the right location. I am very fortunate to have my own studio space which definitely has it own advantages. One thing is for sure if you understand what light is, then it doesn't really matter where you take your photographs as you can use any type of background in your composition.

Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?

I think it’s somewhere between .

What has been your most memorable session and why?

The most memorable photo shoots are those of people with a backpack of life. The people without self confidence, or think they are not beautiful. For me it's a great feeling if I can change their minds through a photo shoot.

Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens?

Canon Favorite lens 70/200mm f2.8 but also the 35mm 1.8

What is one piece of advice you would like to offer a new photographer looking to start their own business?

Most important thing is that the world of photography is not made out of a bed of roses. As a photographer you need to stay focused and work hard to get your name out there. If you want to work on a high level you need to want to put the afford in as success doesn't come by itself. You need to be able to work together with other people even though that sometimes means you need to give more then you take.

What do you think of our new magazine?

In one word TOP!!!!! It is an amazing magazine which offers a stage for photographers, models, makeup and hair stylists, song writers and designers. People with an creative mind and view.

Photographer Roger Sanders @rogersandersphotography