“Narrative, cinematic portraiture doesn’t just represent people. It invites your audience to care. It opens a door to empathy.And empathy inspires action.”
— Ilya van Marle

If you were to create a portrait of someone you truly know, how would you frame their essence?

I believe the most impactful portraits don’t rely on grand gestures or monumental moments. Instead, they find their strength in the subtle details – the quiet moments of reflection, the fleeting glance, the unguarded expression. This is the art of creating impactful portrait photography, where every image holds a story within its frame. That’s portrait photography with narrative tension. Giving your story a cinematic heartbeat.

Patrick van Luijk. Patrick is the founder of BioCheck, a reintegration and vitality centre that focuses, among other things, on sustainable and rapid recovery from burnout and chronic fatigue.
“I've always had a quiet fascination with how images work as a strategic tool. Images transform abstract goals and visions into tangible, emotionally powerful, and visually powerful moments that anchor and reinforce the strategic message. It's all ab
A woman with dark hair tied back, wearing a khaki satin shirt, and small hoop earrings, smiling subtly against a dark background.
Two women with short dark hair wearing pink lingerie and white knee-high boots, standing next to each other in a room with a deep red wall, a water cooler, and an iron with an ironing board in the background.
A vintage-style living room with a chandelier, ornate wallpaper, and framed portraits on the wall. A family of four, including two children and two adults, are engaging in playing cards or a game on the floor, with one girl in a black dress dancing o
Portrait of Arjan Ederveen, Dutch actor and comedian, with a playful glint in his eyes and an expressive, slightly mischievous smile. His relaxed posture and animated facial features suggest a blend of wit, theatrical flair, and warm eccentricity.
Portrait of Kofi Annan by Ilya van Marle, former UN Secretary-General, depicted with a calm and wise expression. His thoughtful gaze and gentle smile reflect decades of diplomatic leadership and a lifelong commitment to peace and human dignity.
An elderly man with white hair, wearing a gray striped shirt and brown vest, sitting at a wooden table reading a document in a room with wood-paneled walls and a stone fireplace. There is a clock on the wall, a lamp, a coat rack with jackets, and a b
Advertisement photography for SharePeople. The Netherlands. Four colleagues in a lively office space celebrate together, surrounded by a burst of colorful confetti. They laugh, cheer, and gesture enthusiastically, with party decorations.
Police woman sitting on a bench in a locker room, holding a shirt, with locker, water bottle, and boots nearby.
Portrait of Epke Zonderland, Dutch Olympic gymnast, captured with a composed yet determined expression. His athletic build and confident posture reflectHe is holding a long, crumpled piece of white cloth or paper, with gloves on the floor beside him.
A man in a black suit bends over a dollhouse in a hotel lobby. A woman in a red dress with black heels and tights holds a black purse and walks past the reception desk. Two women work at computers behind the desk, while another man in dark clothing t
A group of children and adults gathered outdoors, with some dressed in summer clothes and hats, looking at a woman with glasses and a straw hat holding a tablet. The scene appears to be a social gathering or celebration in a yard with trees in the ba
Black-and-white photo of a middle-aged man with glasses, wearing a zip-up jacket, standing against a concrete wall with holes, holding his chin thoughtfully.