Are you planning a photoshoot in Otrobanda, at the Handelskade or in Pietermaai? There are places that immediately do something to you. The brightly coloured façades leaning against each other. The water of the Handelskade softly moving under the sun. The narrow streets of Pietermaai where time seems to stand still for a moment.
I live on Curaçao with my family as a photographer. I know these neighbourhoods like no one else. I know how the morning light softly slides over the walls of Pietermaai. How the Handelskade in the late light turns into a warm mirror of water and colours. And how Otrobanda lives with its open doors, its stairs and its authentic details that you only really see when you walk there.
This article is for you if you are planning a photoshoot on Curaçao in one of these locations. Whether you come with your family, with your partner, for a portrait or simply want to capture a moment that feels real.
Here you find my approach, my tips and my vision. No lists. Just 100 % inspiration and information, straight from the heart of someone with photography experience on Curaçao.
Why these locations are perfect for a photoshoot
When we think of a photoshoot on Curaçao we quickly think of one of the beautiful beaches as the backdrop. But Otrobanda, the Handelskade and Pietermaai each have their own character. And that is exactly what makes them so special for photography.
At the Handelskade the water runs directly along the quay. The iconic row of coloured buildings reflects in the water and gives everything a depth you cannot plan. You walk there relaxed. There is space, but it feels intimate. The light changes constantly and creates soft shadows that work perfectly for spontaneous moments.
In Otrobanda you find narrow streets full of life. Old walls with history, brightly coloured doors and details that you only notice when you are really there. It feels lively and authentic. Here photos are created between the buildings and the daily movements around you.
Pietermaai is calmer. Restored buildings, small balconies with flowers and streets that feel almost intimate. The sea is close by and the breeze creates a calm atmosphere. The light often falls evenly and softly, which gives a natural calm that you see back in the images.
It is not only about what you see. It is mainly about what you feel. When you plan a photoshoot with people, families, couples or children, you want space and calm. Light that does not force itself but moves with you. And that is exactly what you find in these places.
I deliberately do not work in a studio. Outside something happens that you cannot direct. Just being together in a street, along the water or between the coloured houses. A location that fits who you are. Light that works. And someone in front of the lens who dares to show themselves.
Whether you plan a family photoshoot, a shoot with your partner or a solo session – these places offer the space to capture it as it feels. Real and unforced. In a way that still touches you when you look at the photos ten years later.
What kind of photoshoots can you do here?
In these locations there is enough natural space to plan a photoshoot. I use that space to capture people at their best. Whether it is a family photoshoot, a portrait shoot, a love shoot or a moment with family or friends – every shoot starts with who you are.
In a family photoshoot I often choose a spot where children can simply be children. They may run along the quay, play between the coloured houses or sit on a small step for a moment. It is exactly in those moments that the images you want to keep are created. Pure and spontaneous photos.
For a duo or couple photoshoot it is about connection. No staged play, but spontaneous moments that characterise you as a couple. A laugh while you walk along the Handelskade, a hand you hold without realising it. You do not have to force anything. Just being yourself is more than enough.
A photoshoot with family or friends? I photograph them in a relaxed way. We mix things up and do activities together. That is when the best images often appear. Nothing has to be perfect. Everything can be light.
And a portrait shoot? That works perfectly here. Against a coloured façade in Otrobanda, by the water or just in a quiet street in Pietermaai. We find a spot that matches your personality. I make sure you recognise yourself in the photos that last. Calm, without hurry and always with attention.
When is it most beautiful in Otrobanda, the Handelskade or Pietermaai?
These places are beautiful almost all year round. I have done many shoots here. The weather is quite predictable. Apart from the occasional short shower it is sunny and pleasant. And those showers never last long.
There is no single “best moment”. Only the moment that fits you. Some people love the soft morning light that makes the façades of Pietermaai glow. Others prefer the warm light later in the day at the Handelskade, when the water makes everything even more beautiful. Or the lively afternoon in Otrobanda.
I help you choose. We discuss what you have in mind and which light captures that feeling best. If I have doubts about the weather or the light, I tell you honestly. Because a good shoot starts with the right moment – not with the first available date in the calendar.
Where can you plan a photoshoot in these areas?
Curaçao is large, but in Willemstad it is important to know where to be. I know the quiet corners in Otrobanda, the best spots at the Handelskade and the streets of Pietermaai where it still feels real. No crowded tourist attractions. No places where three other photographers are standing.
We decide together what you are looking for. You do not have to come up with a location yourself. Give direction and I help you choose. If the light is better somewhere else at another time, I tell you honestly.
Do you want the photoshoot near where you are staying? Or at a place you have never been? Everything is possible. I think along with you and arrange the rest.
What does a shoot with me look like in these streets?
Most people feel a bit nervous beforehand. That is normal. You are not out with your family or partner for a photoshoot every day. And the idea of someone pointing a camera at you does not help. I know that. So we do it differently.
We walk. We talk. Children can explore. You do not have to do anything. No poses to hold, no “click and done”. I watch, feel the moment and sometimes gently adjust. But mostly I let things happen.
Some photos I take while you laugh. Others in the quiet. When you look away for a second or hold someone without realising it. And suddenly it is there. Those are the images that stay.
I do not give orders. I guide. With attention for who you are and what is happening. Whether you are a couple, a family or on your own.
What clients often say afterwards? That it was much more relaxed than they expected. That they recognise themselves. That it never felt uncomfortable, not even for the person who was not really looking forward to it.
A photoshoot experience that stays with you
Every story stays somewhere. But one shoot still comes up from time to time. A young man who wanted to propose on Curaçao with me as photographer, right by the Handelskade. They were on Curaçao for a few days and we had already discussed everything before the trip.
On the day of the proposal we met at a place that was very recognisable for both of them – I approached them unnoticed as a tourist – it almost felt like an undercover operation. For the man it was clear who I was, I made myself known with a nod – he was now in the position to ask the question of questions.
I immediately felt part of the special moment – of which you hope and wish that everything goes well. These kinds of moments matter, they are remembered for a lifetime – and how beautiful it is that you can capture this as a photographer. After a short moment the young man went down on one knee and asked the question.
The images that came from it are exactly how I hope every photoshoot can be: emotion with beautiful light, real moments, freedom and joy. They see themselves back. And that is the most beautiful compliment there is.
Ready to plan your photoshoot?
A photoshoot in Otrobanda, at the Handelskade or in Pietermaai is not about perfect pictures for me. It is about people. About moments you could not plan but that suddenly happen. And about photos that still touch you in a few years.
f after reading this article you think: yes, I want to plan a photoshoot – just send me a message. Whether you already know exactly what you want or you have no idea yet, we will look together at what works. You only have to bring yourself.