After her childhood, Helga moved to The Hague to study fine art at the Royal Academy of Arts in the city known for its clean, Dutch design. And she seems to have fallen in love with the city, as she still lives there - now with her husband, two sons and three cats. The full house suggests that quiet moments have become a rarity. But that's not a problem for Helga, on the contrary: the hustle and bustle of everyday life inspires her to be even more structured and focused in her work.
The foundation for her photography career was laid with the founding of her web & design studio jt design, as her clients increasingly asked for her support with photography. Through her work on her blog about interiors and green living and her Instagram account, she quickly developed her very own photography style.
"I always want to develop further as a photographer and learn a lot," says Helga, "At the moment I am experimenting with fine art photography, which I really enjoy!"
"I've always had a great passion for vintage and interior styling," Helga continues. This is also clearly evident in her Instagram feed , which is characterized by flower arrangements on changing, stylish antique furniture. Every now and then a cat even scurries into the picture. Since the family moved into a small house, Helga had to learn to be even more creative with the available space. So she began to create small still lifes with plants and flowers in every corner of her house; a style that characterizes most of her work today.
"I recognized the details and beauty of each flower and plant and looked for a way to create stories out of them. For me, they really do have their own personalities! Just like our cats, who are my constant companions in the house. Out of their curiosity (and probably because they enjoy being the center of attention), they just started posing in front of the camera every now and then."
Instagram is a very important part of Helga's work. What's special about it: The direct feedback and contact with her community is inevitable! Most of her subscribers are interior and plant lovers or designers, but many artists also follow her to get inspiration for their drawings and works. "I really value the feedback from my followers. For example, I was very touched when someone told me that my photos had a very uplifting effect after a bad day. That's just the best!" When asked about her three favorite accounts, she found it difficult to decide: "Oh, only three!? There are so many that I admire! I love @shnordic ; she has a fascinating style. @eluch 's photos have a great atmosphere and her travel photos are incredible. When I'm looking for cooking inspiration, I check out @ohhoneycz - her food photos look absolutely delicious!"
Helga really appreciates all the opportunities that Instagram offers photographers like her. For her, Instagram is one of the best platforms for starting promising collaborations. For example, Helga has been commissioned by companies to take photos for their company websites or social media. "Some great lifestyle magazines have already taken my photos. But above all, my favorite collaboration would never have happened without Instagram: the collaboration with PICKMOTION!"
Finally, we were able to find out where Helga gets all the beautiful plants that we can admire in her pictures: "I usually buy them in a small flower shop around the corner or at the local market. But I also like to pick them straight from the garden or get them from a friend's colorful garden. Lately, I've been experimenting and recently ordered flowers online. The possibilities that the Internet offers us are really limitless!"
