Evely Duis is a fashion and portrait photographer from the Netherlands. With more than a decade of professional experience, Evely creates images where fashion, atmosphere, color and emotion become part of the same visual language. Her work is deeply concept-driven: every shoot starts from an idea, but it is shaped through collaboration, connection with the model and a strong personal vision. For Evely, photography is not just about creating a beautiful image, but about putting a piece of herself into every frame.

What is your main field in photography?

I’m a fashion and portrait photographer from the Netherlands. My work is centered around fashion, beauty, portraits and creative concepts, but for me fashion is much more than the clothes I photograph. It is a complete visual world made of styling, mood, color, personality and emotion. Fashion inspires me in many different ways, and I use it as a starting point to create images that feel personal, expressive and full of atmosphere.

When I plan a shoot, I always start from a concept. I don’t just want to recreate an image I’ve seen somewhere else. I want to make it my own, to put a little bit of my heart and soul into it. The final result should not simply be a pretty picture, but an image with a vision behind it, something that reflects both my creative direction and the energy of the people involved.

What equipment do you use?

My equipment is chosen to give me freedom, control and flexibility on set. I work with professional camera gear suited for fashion and portrait photography, but light is the element that really defines the look of my images. For me, light is the most important part of photography. Without light, there is no photograph. It is the first ingredient and the tool that allows me to build the atmosphere, the colors and the balance of the image.

In my workflow, continuous light has become extremely important because it allows me to shoot both still images and short video fragments on the same set. I like to create what I call moving stills: short, atmospheric pieces that feel like an extension of the photograph. With Maxima, I can move smoothly between photo and video without changing the mood or rebuilding the setup.

Which Maxima products have you used?

I use Maxima lights as part of my creative workflow because they give me the control I need over both light and color. With Maxima, I can place light wherever I need it, shape the mood directly on set and keep the same atmosphere when switching from photography to video. This versatility is especially important for fashion work, where the world of the image has to feel coherent, intentional and visually strong.

Maxima helps me create a strong RAW image directly in camera. I know I can correct many things in Photoshop, but because I have that technical knowledge, I prefer to solve the puzzle before editing. I want the light, the colors, the skin tones and the mood to already be as close as possible to the final image while I am shooting.

Can you tell us a little more about your preferred lighting strategy?

My lighting strategy always starts from the atmosphere I want to create. I like to have full control over the light, but I don’t use light only to illuminate the subject. I use it to build the world of the image. The mood, the colors, the balance and even part of the color grading begin directly on set, with the lights I choose and the way I use them.

People often think that I do a lot of Photoshop in my work, but most of the time the atmosphere is already there in the RAW file. I create it with light, with colors, with the styling and with the relationship between the model and the set. For me, color grading does not begin in post-production. It begins while shooting.

The connection with the model and the team is also essential. A photograph is not only something I take by myself; it is a collaboration. The model, styling, makeup, light and concept all have to work together. When the light is right, everyone can feel the mood of the image, and that helps the model and the whole team enter the atmosphere we are creating.

What are the characteristics of Maxima that you enjoyed most?

What I enjoy most about Maxima is the versatility. It gives me the possibility to shoot photo and video on the same set, with the same lighting mood and without interrupting the creative flow. I don’t only shoot photographs; I also create short video fragments, almost like moving stills. Working with continuous light opens a new perspective on photography and allows me to give my clients more complete visual content.

I also appreciate the control Maxima gives me over color. Color is very important in my work, and I want my RAW image to already feel strong, balanced and intentional. With Maxima, I can trust the quality of the light, the skin tones and the colors. It helps me create the atmosphere directly while shooting, so I don’t have to rely too much on post-production to make the image work.

For me, Maxima is not only a technical tool. It is part of the creative process. It helps me work faster, stay flexible, and keep the visual world of the shoot consistent from stills to motion.

What advice would you give to photographers who are developing their own style?

The best advice I can give to new photographers is to create. Create a lot, and really look at what you are doing. Don’t be satisfied too quickly, but also don’t be afraid to make work that may not belong in your portfolio. Even when something is not perfect, it can still be a valuable lesson.

I hope every photographer finds, or continues to develop, their own style. Create not only for clients, but also for yourself. Keep passion in your work, keep your own vision alive, and use that vision to inspire others.