Dutch. 36. Entrepreneur. Boundless explorer.
Tall, lean, with a sense of style that effortlessly merges femininity with a playful boyishness, Jeannette Huisman is a vibrant energy, always on the move and always seeking out the next adventure. It’s a love for surprises and allowing things to come on your path that drive her to see her travels as true moments of exploration, opting for discovering by doing rather than researching everything online. Part of the game is jumping in the deep end not knowing whether you’ll be able to swim, and it is exactly in this way that Jeannette’s begun some of the biggest projects of her life. Whether it was making the change from law to photography, setting up the two photo studios she has in Amsterdam or starting a family of her very own, Jeannette’s desire for adventure and new experiences breathes life into all that she touches.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being healthy and having a relaxed mind open to new ideas, much of which is nurtured by my being able to explore and opening myself up to random encounters. With the studios, photography, friends and family, it can sometimes be difficult to get into the mindset. I sometimes struggle to set boundaries for myself and then when I do, I’m the first one to cross them. This is why my travels are so important to me. When I’m away for work, temporarily removed from my life in Amsterdam and all the roles I play here (mother, daughter, lover, photographer and studio owner) then I have more freedom for myself, to explore and live on my time.
Where would you most like to live?
I love where I live now, in the middle of the city in an old house with big windows, high ceilings and all the weird cracks and sounds that go with it. But I have this recurring dream of walking around in a wooden house with floor-to-ceiling glass, overlooking a lake with nothing else other than water and pine trees in the horizon. I think this back-and-forth attitude between the chaos of a city and the calm of the country will always be something I seek out – both inspire me in different ways.
When and where were you happiest?
Travelling around the world for more than two years with my greatest love, Yves. Exploring new places, feeling free, getting to know each other, finding out more about life, how we would like to live it, making memories together and starting a family. Essentially, that was the reason for our return to the Netherlands after exploring so much of Australia, New Zealand and Asia; I found out I was pregnant with our son. We now have two children, and with each pregnancy came a photo studio with it. If I look back now, maybe I would have done things differently, but that’s the whole point of not overthinking things and being open to new ideas: you just go out and do it, and it doesn’t even matter if things don’t work out because in the end all of it is a learning experience. With all the support from Yves and my family, I know that no matter what I set out to do, it will all be worth it.
Like her attitude towards photography and travelling, when it comes to fashion Jeannette exudes a palpable self-confidence. From some of the more eccentric outfits she remembers wearing in her youth (read: bright orange velvet leggings, and a fabulous purple crop-top and flared jeans set), to the sophisticated combination of silhouettes in her closet as a grown woman, there is a clear deliberateness to her choices. As is the case with jewelry: when she finds a piece, it is forever.
To discover more about Jeannette's photography and the studios, click on the following links:
Jeannette Huisman
Studio Sarphaat
Studio Spijkerkade
All images © Jeannette Huisman
