Hadewij
Photography and back office
"My photos show your home at its best, but as it really is. That way, nobody gets a surprise at the viewing."
From hobby to more than a thousand homes.
I'm Hadewij. At Makelaar in Amsterdam I take all the property photos and run the back office. If you call the office, chances are I'm the first person you speak to.
Micha and I met more than twenty years ago at Café Luxembourg on the Spui. When he became an estate agent in 2008, I started photographing his properties. At first as a hobby, alongside my job in hospitality at restaurant Incanto on the Muntplein, with a view of the Munttoren, the Amstel and Hotel de l'Europe. I looked at how homes were presented on funda, got started myself and learned by doing. Later I took a few courses to master the craft even better. Since 2020 I've been working full-time at the office.
First the light, then the camera.
Before I come to take photos, I ask at what time of day the sun comes in most beautifully. In one home that's the morning, in another the late afternoon, and a living room with a few rays of sunshine looks so much more alive in a photo. Once inside, all the curtains go open first. I gather loose bits and pieces in the bathroom, because I photograph that last, with artificial light. Then I move some furniture, straighten the cushions and make it cosy, with a few nice bottles of olive oil in the kitchen or soap dispensers in the bathroom.
Beautiful, but honest. The best compliment is when buyers walk in and the home is exactly like the photos, and not suddenly smaller than they thought. Not long ago, a seller called me, even though he'd already received the photos by email, just to say how happy he was with how his studio looked in the pictures.
At the office, I keep an eye on the diary. Every viewing has to be on the right day and time, so nobody ends up in front of a closed door, and I make sure Micha, Erik and Lisa get on their bikes on time. When someone calls asking "I'm going to sell my home, now what?", I calmly explain everything that's involved.
Good at things that stand still.
I sometimes say I'm good at things that stand still. Photographing people is a different craft altogether. Still, I can't help myself out on the street: a bird with its wings spread over the water, a view along the canal towards the Westertoren, or a funny sign by Street Art Frankey. And if a neighbour's cat comes to see what's going on during a shoot, it ends up in a photo too. Not for funda, but for us.
I also love to dance. I take classes in jazz dance, musical and commercial, and I prefer small concerts where there's still room to dance.
What you can expect from me.
Hadewij, at work and out on the street.
Feel free to get in touch.
A question about the photo day, an appointment, or how selling or buying works? Feel free to call or email me, I'm happy to help. Get in touch.
Email HadewijOr call +31 20 845 5878 · info@makelaarinamsterdam.nl
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