Adrienne Norman, Photographer in Amsterdam

Originally from the United States, Adrienne grew up in a family that loved photography and travel. The magazines National Geographic and LIFE were permanent fixtures in her home and one of the reasons she wanted to become a photographer.

After graduating from The New England School of Photography in Boston, she gained experience by working as an assistant. Her dream however, was to travel through Europe, which she eventually did. During her travels she always returned to Amsterdam, where she was welcome to stay in a squatted warehouse in the Eastern Docklands.

The Amsterdam City Archives purchased a selection of the photos she made of the Docklands and since then she has lived here with her family and works as a professional freelance photographer.
The clients who use her work are extremely diverse and range from large corporations to small business owners, magazines and people from the private sector who want a nice portrait of themselves or their family. Next to her commercial work she also works on long term personal projects that have been exhibited and published in The Netherlands and abroad.

Adrienne won the Juror’s award for the exhibition ‘Chronograph’ curated by Canadian photographer Johan Hallberg-Campbell for Dark Room Gallery, Vermont, USA. Year: 2015

She speaks native English and fluent Dutch, and also has a basic understanding Spanish.

Where are some of your favourite places to shoot in Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is, for me, all about water and the wonderful combination between old and new, all within walking distance from one another.

In the city center we have the famous canals and century old townhouses. As a photographer I have a few personal favorite locations, but love to hear from visitors what their favorite place to be is. The many bars and café’s are also great places to have your photo made. Your typical Amsterdam barkeeper is pretty easy going and doesn’t mind at all.

Behind Central Station is the waterfront of Amsterdam ‘t IJ (pronounced as I) and there you will see impressive examples of the new architecture such as Film Museum EYE, reachable by a short ferry ride.

Photographing people during a ferry ride is another favourite location of mine: you are on the water and in the background an overview of the city ‘skyline’. During the day the ferries are not crowded and during rush hour they are packed with locals on bikes and scooters going home.

If you are looking for something quiet, Amsterdam has numerous city parks where beautiful portraits can be made.

Three words to best describe your style of photography?

Light, Vision, You.