Evely Duis

Acclaimed for her distinctive technique and creative flair, Dutch fashion and portrait photographer and Canon Ambassador Evely Duis specialises in high-end commercial campaigns, editorials and conceptual photography and is renowned for capturing alluring shots that exude glamour and style.

Growing up in a small village in the Netherlands, her passion for photography was sparked at a young age. "I started attending weekly art classes when I was about six years old," Evely explains. "I began to develop my creativity. I even made a camera from a shoebox in my lessons! Photography just caught my eye and I felt as though this was the thing I wanted to do."

Today, Evely has garnered a reputation for her vibrant fashion and portrait photography and has worked for a number of high-profile companies and brands around the world. Taking inspiration from photographers such as Lara Jade and Annie Leibovitz, her creativity knows no bounds.

"I get inspiration everywhere," she says. "Sometimes it's from a magazine or a movie, sometimes it's from a fashion item. It could be my personal vision that I want to create. I combine everything and create something fresh from my ideas. Then I get to work on my mood board and my research, and it grows from there."

Evely's love of fashion has also seen her take up sewing. "It was a skill I wanted to develop," she says. "I don't usually do the styling on shoots, but I love that you can make something beautiful and inspire people. That's what I love about my work – that I can make people happy."

In recent years, education has also become an important part of Evely’s career. “I regularly give workshops, masterclasses and presentations, sharing my workflow from concept and lighting through to editing, colour management and print. More recently, I've expanded my productions by combining both photography and video, allowing clients to create hybrid campaigns with a consistent visual style.”

And when asked what else she hopes to achieve, Evely says for her, there is no end goal. "There is always more to achieve and more to learn, and that's what I love about what I do."

How would you describe your photographic style?

"Everything I do with my photography is created. I plan, make mood boards, get a team together and create something. For me, perfection is being able to create what's in my mind – getting the model who suits the project and the right styling. If I can achieve the end result that was in my head, that is perfection."


What is the most exciting shoot you've ever done?

"Every shoot is so unique. When I graduated, I did a project influenced by fashion. It was very personal – about a relationship that had broken down – and I worked with a big team. I got closure during that project. It was so therapeutic for me. I conveyed my emotions and used my photography as therapy. My heart was 100% in it."


What advice would you give others who want to shoot fashion?

"Connect with people. Have a great time together because that comes across in the images you take. If you don't open yourself up, you don't get as much back. It's so important to have that connection."


What would you say are the biggest challenges with fashion photography?

"My boyfriend sometimes accompanies me to shoots and people assume that he is the photographer. When people see my images, they take me seriously, but when they only see me, they sometimes think, 'Oh, it's just a small girl taking pictures'. I sometimes enjoy this challenge of changing perceptions, though."

Evely Duis