Are you going to plan a photoshoot on Curaçao? There are moments that stay with you. The light on those beautiful beaches, the colours of Otrobanda or Pietermaai.
I live on Curaçao with my family. I know the quiet streets, the many beaches, the authentic colours and sunsets – and the hidden spots where it is still peaceful.
This article is for you if you are planning a photoshoot on Curaçao. Whether you want a family photoshoot, a portrait for yourself or simply want to capture a moment that feels real.
Here you find my approach, my tips and my view on photography on this island. No checklists. Just 100 % inspiration and information, straight from someone with real experience on Curaçao.
Why Curaçao is perfect for photoshoots
Curaçao is where I feel at home, where we have learned to slow down – but always with a camera in hand. I know where the light falls best, when the morning colours the sea and how the sun sets at Daaibooi Beach, Playa Porto Marie or Directors Bay.
But it is not only about what I see. It is mainly about what I 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. That is exactly what the island offers.
I deliberately do not work in a studio. Outside something happens that you cannot direct. No hassle with lights or backdrops, just being together at a beautiful spot. A location that matches who you are, light that works and someone in front of the lens who dares to show themselves. That is what it is about.
Whether you plan a family photoshoot, a shoot with your partner or a solo session, Curaçao gives you the space to capture it as it feels. There is a place for everyone. 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?
On Curaçao there is plenty of 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 friends, every shoot starts with who you are. No fixed script or forced poses. Just calm, light and movement. How you are together is what I capture.
In a family photoshoot I often choose a spot where children can simply be children. They may run, hang, climb or throw sand over their feet – it all belongs. It is exactly in those moments that the images you want to keep are created. Pure and spontaneous photos of children are the ones you will want to look at again.
For duo and loveshoots it is about connection. No staged play, but spontaneous moments that show who you are as a couple. A moment when you forget the camera and laugh about something only you hear. You do not have to force anything. Just being yourself is more than enough.
Planning a photoshoot with friends or extended family? 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 planning a portrait shoot? That can happen anywhere. Otrobanda, Punda, by the water or just somewhere along the way. 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 Curaçao at its most beautiful?
Curaçao is beautiful almost all year round. I have done many shoots here and the weather is quite predictable. Apart from the occasional short shower it is nearly always sunny and pleasant for photoshoots. Those showers usually pass quickly.
There is no single “best moment” for a shoot on Curaçao, only the moment that fits you. Some people love the warm glow at sunset, others prefer the fresh morning light. And if it rains? Then we simply choose a new moment.
I help you decide. We talk about what suits you, what kind of images you have in mind and which season catches that feeling best. If I have doubts about the weather or 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 on Curaçao?
Curaçao is a large island. That is why it matters where you go when you plan a photoshoot. Luckily I know. Not from a list of “nice spots” I looked up, but from experience. I have been to many beautiful locations.
No crowded tourist places. No spots where three other photographers stand on a Saturday afternoon. Instead quiet stretches of beach, a walking path along the water, a colourful empty house or a place where you can be alone for a while.
We decide together what you are looking for. You do not have to come up with a location yourself. Give me an idea and I help you choose. If the light or wind is better somewhere else at another time, I tell you honestly.
Do you want the photoshoot near where you are staying, perhaps at your resort? Or at a place you have never been? Everything is possible. I think along with you and arrange the rest.
How do you plan a photoshoot with me?
Planning a photoshoot does not have to be complicated. No ten-step application forms or contracts you have to read three times. You send me a message, we get in touch and together we plan a moment that feels right.
I work made-to-measure, with a clear starting package as a base. We look at who will be in front of the camera, what setting fits and what is important to you. Most people do not know exactly what they want and that is completely fine. I help with that.
Before the shoot I send you a clear confirmation with all practical information: date, location, the time when the light is best. Also what is handy to bring or wear. Not as a rule, but as a helpful suggestion.
During the shoot I take my time. No ticking clock. No rush. Clients often say they like that: you can land, get used to it and find your own pace. That goes for adults as well as children.
What I often hear from people? That I am calm. Clear. That I see what works. And that they felt seen, even if they were nervous beforehand. Maybe that comes from being a father of three young children myself. I know what it is like to be out with a family. And I know that things sometimes turn out differently than planned – and that is perfectly okay.
Want to know in advance what a shoot costs or what is included? Read what a photoshoot costs at ByFoekema.
What does a shoot with me look like?
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. Or we find a spot where you can sit. We talk. The children can explore and 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 family at Blue Bay gave their ten-year-old daughter a photoshoot as a gift. At the same time they wanted a few family images. Anna and Jasmijn – two sisters – shone from the very first moment.
What I felt immediately: this was a special connection. Anna understood that the evening was about her, but she stayed completely herself. Maybe it worked so well because I am also the father of a nine-year-old girl – and two more aged seven and two. You recognise that openness, that energy, that childlike feeling.
With a few gentle directions, jokes and short stories Anna got into a flow. She moved naturally, showed herself and had fun. The images that came from it are perhaps the most beautiful portrait photos of a young lady I have ever made here. And Jasmijn? She followed effortlessly. What a duo.
I am proud of what we created together. And especially of how it felt: light, real and free. Exactly how I hope every photoshoot can be.
Ready to plan your photoshoot on Curaçao?
For me a photoshoot is not about perfect pictures. 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.
If 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.
Plan your photoshoot here and let me help you make it a relaxed and lasting memory.