I have always loved the style where you hang a selection of black & white family portraits in a group in the hallway.  This small selection from the Family Pugh shoot would be a great start! The crazy thing is I don't have many portraits of my own family because I am always the one behind the camera! 
The Mann Family chose to mix it up for their shoot, and we made our way from the stunning grounds of the Rijks Museum into the canals where we laughed, walked and had a generally relaxed time shooting images for their Xmas newspaper home. Not only did I think this was a great idea, but I also loved the way the family shone in these portraits. 
Those who know me well, will know how proud I am of my exceptional wife Anya Haarhoff. She was interviewed by Vogue recently for an article promoting women's equality in the workplace. The photo that was chosen by the editor isn't in this lot , but regardless of my bias, she looks great in all of them!
You can see from the jackets that it was a chilly day in late November when Ashley and Scott gathered up the troops and ventured in to the canal district for this pre-Christmas family portrait session.
Some of the warmth may fade at that time of year, but the beauty never does. It just changes with each season. 
Kudos to Clare. Any parent who can muster their partner and six teenagers to jump up and and have a quick photoshoot
​in the park while youve got them all together... priceless! 
I'm always keen to make a shoot happen even at short notice, or in challenging conditions; like this rainy Amsterdam afternoon!
The magic combination of effortless family fun, late summer evenings and some obliging historical backdrops: Priceless! These amazing memories and many more captured as Amsterdam squeezes out the last of the indian summer for the Van Zyl family shoot.
With smiles like these even a brick wall makes a fantastic backdrop for a portrait! It's not always about canals, historic buildings and picture perfect views. In fact it's always all about just you!
I've known the Nowicki family for so many years as our kids went to the same school since Pre K! So it was a great pleasure when they asked If I could take their family portraits before they headed back to the states for a new chapter. Wishing them good luck and wonderful memories of their time in Amsterdam.
I love to welcome the family dog on a shoot! It completes the unit, adds some fun and certainly makes the pictures so cute you could frame them! The Fraas crew made it look easy (actually it is pretty easy), with their casual smiles and loveable characters.
What a great shoot! I really enjoyed the time spent walking the canals with Ilona, Mike and their very sweet family.
Taya, was the ultimate picture of enthusiasm, Liam kept me entertained (and educated) on the intricacies of the solar system and I can not believe that Luca maintained his composure for the whole time 
The other half of the two beauties below, Bernard and Julius are not only true gentleman but they are fantastic company and would make any camera smile when they look at the lens like this!
Last time I took photos of these two, little Charlie was still inside her mum's tummy! There is nothing more precious than capturing such a lovely image of mother and daughter. I hope this is a photo that they will go on to cherish for many years to come.
What a wonderful family the Tariq team are! Each bringing something special to the party and together creating a very pretty picture to compliment the beautiful Prinsengracht. We chose the perfect time of day for this shoot with a lovely soft light highlighting the colours and bringing a touch of warmth to us and the images.
There is no greater challenge than shooting a wedding, with a long list of required shots, an eager entourage of beautiful people keen to be captured, and no chances for a 'take two'. It's easy to imagine I could have been a bit nervous before this big event. But on the day that Keith and Susan were wed, I was welcomed into the personal moments, the touching and tearful snippets, the tender and meaningful pieces that made up the day and night. I loved this shoot and the joy of the day I was able to capture.
Krishna and Ruby honored me with the privilege of taking their family portraits not once but three times. We shot in the Tulip fields, we shot at a beautiful traditional windmill just outside Amsterdam  - and we took some classic photos in around the seven bridges of the canal district in Amsterdam. I loved each shoot and particularly these fearless little superstars who were quick to bring every photo to life.
My portrait clients in Amsterdam are from all over the globe. The lovely Keiseker family (heralding from the rather large island off the west coast of New Zealand) really knew how to make me laugh with their classic Aussie approach to life and wonderfully friendly personalities. Yet another family looking for some shots in the canal district before heading away from beautiful Amsterdam. I know they will take many fond memories and some super cool photos, with them!
Myla and Paige have been best buddies since they were born - just a few weeks apart. They live in different countries at the moment, but they never miss an opportunity to get together and have some crazy fun wherever they are. This particular time was on the edge of autumn. The sky was full of rain and the ground covered in mushy leaves - the perfect ingredients for smiles and enthusiasm from kids!
Lee & Jocasta live just around the corner from one of my favourite spots in the city. We started with a walk in the sun, then went back to their beautiful home for some really cool shots around the house. Kids are certainly wonderful when outside in the canal district, but they really come alive when  given the comfort of their own space at home.
When one of my best friends celebrated a very special birthday, I was more than happy to take some pictures of the occasion! 
​Big group photos are always fun, especially when you have 5 seconds to push the shutter button and then run from the tripod and make it look like you were always part of the crowd!
The Hannon crew decided that blue sweatshirts and jeans was the way to go for this shoot. Which funnily enough was exactly what I chose to wear that day! So the four of us looked quite the team as we wandered the canals snapping some great shots of this period in their life. 
There is always something inspiring for me about creatives, so when invited to document her latest project, I jumped at the chance to capture Danielle Sweeney at work in her Amsterdam studio. The light poured in through the huge windows and playing around with different lenses and angles we got so many great shots.    ​
Amsterdam is a special place whatever your reason for being there.
If you live in the canal district and these beautiful backdrops are your backyard you are even more lucky!

With the end of the season spilling this magical light across the city, we met at Carmen's house in the middle of the city and took a walk around some of my favourite areas in Amsterdam.

​I couldn't resist playing with the golden light throughout this shoot and some of the effects make for my favourite pics ever!
There is no best season for a portrait shoot, but just like every family, each brings its own special quality & character to the day. 
This stunning location has always fascinated me for its amazing colour and richness of nature. It was certainly a contrast to the previous shoot we did together in the central canal district of Amsterdam. For a misty day, with single figure temperatures, we captured some really special shots, showing just how lovely this family is!
When I see siblings as comfortable with themselves and and friendly with each other as this, it makes me confident for our future! 
This shoot from last spring was on such a bright day; it was one of those mornings when the Amsterdam canals seems to sparkle with light and shadow. The result was a vibrant series, with lovely rich tones and plenty of smiles. Rob and Katy breezed through the shoot and bought it all together in such a relaxed and carefree way. 
Meet Dex, A French bulldog with plenty of energy!
He's not even a teen yet (in puppy terms) at just over a year old. So it was hard to pin him down, with so many distractions in the bustling landscape of  Vondel Park. However, the occasional doggy treat, cuddles and a tennis ball helped us to keep him close and snap some beautiful shots of him.
​Of course his owner Claudia photo bombed a couple of pics too!
Bernard and Floor got married and then celebrated in one of my favourite happy places; on a boat!
If you want romantic, personal & beautiful it is all laid on in a vintage boat on the canals of Amsterdam.
In and out of stone bridges, gliding peacefully on the still water, with swans floating by.
It was such a pleasure to shoot this auspicious occasion.
May they take this much love with them throughout their entire journey together.
I find all photography sessions rewarding,
but I must admit there is a special enjoyment to be had from spending time with someone as cute as this! 
Freya was so smiley and bright eyed that I couldn't help but be lifted by her lovely nature. 
We did this shoot at her home so she was calm, relaxed and comfortable, surrounded by all the things she knows.
Half way through the shoot, Freya took a little nap while we had a coffee. 
With just window light and some cuddly blankets this was a beautiful shoot.
I've always wanted to do a photo shoot at NDSM, Amsterdam,
So when Elise asked asked if we could take their family portraits at that awesome location -  I was clearly up for it!
As usual it was more than just the location that makes the shoot, The brief was 'candid' so you don't want to plan much, but with the help of a soccer ball, some bubbles and this beautiful family we delivered a portfolio of shots that really nailed it. Complete with graffiti, industrial art and a view of Amsterdam that was anything but cliche.  
​If all of my shoots had this much edge I would be razor sharp!
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. ​The important thing is not to stop questioning.
- Albert Einstein
This was such a fun shoot!
I set up a photo-booth outside the 8th grade graduation party. 3 shots in 6 seconds, , 3, 2, 1, smile!
​These characters didn't really need the props to bring life and fun to the photos - but they certainly helped!​​
Niriti and Rajeev, your shoot left me with a smile on my face that only comes from being with people as lovely as the three of you.
Vrishin brought his special smile to the shoot and these pictures hold a charm that reflects what I saw in your family.
​We chatted, we laughed and we had some crazy ideas for shots - and we took some really lovely portraits of your beautiful family.

"Education is the passport to the future, ​for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today".
​- ​Malcom X
​Another year of school completed and a many years of surprises and successes ahead for these amazing students of ISA.
It was truly a pleasure to watch everyone having so much fun with the photo booth props and I loved that the parents were equally crazy getting into the spirit! Congratulations on finishing lower school and best of luck with the future!
Barry and Brandie, your family has a contagious happiness that I just loved being around!

Your three boys charmed me with their individual characters! Choosing Artis as your shoot location was a stroke of genius. I'm sure you would agree that it gave us a beautiful playground of shoot sites while we enjoyed the spectacles and casual strolling. 
Wouldn't it be marvellous, to meet there again, 20 years from now, & capture the same images of your boys and the two of you!
I wish you every success and happiness.
Greg and Jessica took this one outside the box and helped Isadora celebrate her 8th Birthday with some real adventure!
I was blown away with how brave these kids were while dangling 30 feet off the ground strapped to a wire by their harness. Fun Forest in Amsterdamse Bos can certainly be added to the list of cool places to take your kids.
This tough bunch of adventurers deserved their cake by the end of this very cool party.
​Congratulations Isadora!
"I was looking for an experienced photographer to take a few pictures of me for my professional website. Simon immediately came to mind as he has taken photos for other friends, and he has a wonderful client portfolio. I felt very comfortable communicating my needs to Simon. On the day of our photo shoot, he was extremely thorough and conscientious. He worked with me to create the right backdrops and visuals for the shots. Without prompting, he even took photos of images that could be used on my website. I was thrilled with the final images and follow up. I would highly recommend him if you need a corporate shot, are looking to develop your website, or want to a fabulous family photographer!".    
- Anisha Abraham, MD, MPH
Thank you for the amazing testimonial Anisha! It was a pleasure working with you on this shoot. The images in your portfolio really represent the true nature of your professional approach and are very welcoming to your clients. Wishing you the best of luck!
One of my favourite things about shooting on location is that there are always surprises, always changes, and each shoot has its own special uniqueness.
In a city as vibrant as Amsterdam, it is inevitable that now and then you'll need to wait for tourists to clear out of the frame, but this passing boat was welcome to bring a superb splash of Netherlands to this great shot!
​
Ian and Riann chose to do their shoot later in the day and the late afternoon sun was really special as it filtered through the elm trees and sparkled on the canals. 

This was a really lovely morning shoot and it was so nice to spend time with this happy and beautiful family. The girls have infectious smiles and you can see how playful they are in this photo! Blue, black, white and brown are always easy colours to work with so it was no surprise this portfolio looked so pretty amongst the green of the summer leaves and iconic facades of the canal houses.

​Finding a big pile of peony petals brought a magic moment into the shoot which is a nice reminder that sometimes a little prop can add a super touch!

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Email

simon@years2come.com