Maxim VDN (van den Nieuwenhuijzen). Franco-Belgian photographer based in Shanghai, China for more than 6 years.
I'm a commercial photographer specializing in advertising, architecture, documentaries, portraits & luxury events. Throughout my career, I've grown alongside some talented and well-known photographers. Today I work independently, and my work is published worldwide.
What characterizes my photography style? I believe travel broadens the mind. I've lived and traveled in different countries since my youngest age. My collection of experiences have had a massive impact on how I perceive the world. Through these experiences, I've developed an elegant and unique style as a visual storyteller.
As a professional, it's vital to build strong business relationships. I am versatile, passionate, and understand my clients' needs. These qualities create a bond of complete trust and respect with my clients.
I'm comfortable working in French, English, and Chinese. Available for bookings worldwide.
https://www.instagram.com/maximvdnphoto/
https://www.instagram.com/maximvdnstudio/
https://www.maximvdn.com/
David - I have to say Maxim, there is a stark contrast between your personal work and your commercial. Is this intentional, perhaps a personal reactive reflex?
Maxim - I would say that my personal came first, that's how I started photography and that's what I liked to shoot before. Then slowly found my path in the commercial photography industry, lost time for personal work but that's still what I like to do when I have time. Either organize sessions with models when I can find some and when I'm inspired, if not and I feel like taking photos I just walk around the cities or wherever I'm to relax.
David - I can see from the files you have given me that you still shoot Medium Format film (please people, click and see how gorgeous these they are up close) as someone who shot film in my formative years but have since moved on from it I would love to hear your reasoning behind this choice?
Maxim - I'm young enough to have started photography when it was already the digital era. At the beginning I had no interest at all in film photography, it's only when I came to China seven years ago and after a one year break of photography that I got curious to try. At that time it was dead cheap in China to shoot film (Kodak Portra 400 was like 5 Euro at that time) so I bought for 10 Euro a Russian camera, then a Pentax K1000 and a friend told me to try medium format so I bought a Mamiya RZ67 Pro II for street photography. At the beginning I was like complaining how it was similar to 35mm until one day I took it out properly and shot that portrait of the old lady. I was really blown away and then basically couldn't get away from medium format. Then the more I was working commercially the more I loved to shoot medium format film as it was just at the total opposite in terms of process and slowness of it. Then I didn't shoot any 35mm for a while, then I started to get into large format 4x5 which is happening but a very slow and complex process. Then I went back to 35mm and would shoot Pentax 67 with Kodak Portra 400 and Voigtlander Bessa R2M with Ilford HP5+.
David - Let’s talk travel, does the place you are in affect your photography? Do you find yourself searching for something different dependent on location?
Maxim - Very hard question, Shanghai is a city that doesn't inspire me at all. They keep destroying everything that is old or historic to rebuild brand new shopping mall and compounds. New things don't really attract me. I used to go down those old in destruction areas to shoot when I lived in downtown. Right after the Covid outbreak in 2020 my wife and I decided to move in the suburbs of the city. Then one day I tested a camera of a friends and around there lot of people to urban farming on any little piece of land that they find. So for the past 3 years I've been shooting in those areas when I had time to kill. Got another 10 rolls to developed and then maybe I can wrap my first personal project. Other places I shoot are usually when I travel around the country and have couple days shoot then I would take a camera to kill some time and change my mind.
David - Is there one place on this insane lump of rock and water that has influenced your photography and the mindset behind it most and if so, how so?
Maxim - Fun story but I grew up in the house of Jacque Henri Lartigue, my grandpa used to work in finance for Agfa and was a photography passionate, so even if my parents aren't into it at all it was maybe destiny.
David - How do you believe the place affects the people? I can see you have a strong connection to both in your work.
Maxim - That's a hard question. I do believe that the longer you spend somewhere the more you look like the people from there. Even if physically I'm not Asian, after spending eight years in Asia I'm for sure a different person than when I arrived from Europe back in the days. How I believe I would mostly say governments have big impact especially here in China where there is only a single voice, then culture and traditions are another big reason for it, especially in a country like China where they are so old, so deeply implanted and sometimes with so much non-sense but that's another topic to debate about. Hope that kinda answers the question.
David - Last one. I will indulge myself on this one and if you remember, was the crux of our first conversation. What do you consider Beautiful?
Maxim - What is beautiful to me is what catches my eye. Beauty is something superficial. But if it catches my attention then it must be beautiful in a way for me to spend some time looking at it.
Thank you for your time Maxim, seeing your success inspires me greatly. You have a wonderful family and I wish you all nothing but happiness.