Taking a different vantage point

Chris Gottenbos spent almost 20 years in security services, protecting and advising high-net worth individuals and their families. After travelling the world for work, late 2019 he headed towards a new destination as a professional photographer. I visited him during a photoshoot and had a chat about how he’s looking at work life through a different lens. 

Photography has been a passion of yours for a long time. Do you remember the first time you held a camera?

My father’s passion for photography rubbed off on me. Dad was an avid amateur photographer, member of a photo club and he processed and printed his own black and white films. At the age of 12, my mum and dad gave me a camera and a 24 exposures film roll. My first ‘coverage’ comprised a fire brigade’s parade.

How did photography become a hobby?

The birth of our daughter Leonie, spurred me to get a high-quality Minolta SLR camera, which produced really nice results. Instead of using convenient automatic settings, my dad encouraged me to use manual settings and gave me two vintage 1958 photography books to get acquainted with the ins and outs. Finally, in 2016 I went to college to study photography, part-time for two years.

How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect your plans, and what was your Plan B?

My original plan was to set up shop in lobbies of large office buildings for portrait photography, by way of extending the coffee corner services. After two very successful days of shooting we went into lockdown and gone were the clients and my plan. Fortunately, my photography studies had a broad scope. The next day, I wrote to all large realtors in the area, and soon I started shooting real estate. Then came product photography for a variety of companies, e.g. a packaging manufacturer, a nut bar, dairy and cheese shop.

I don’t know many people that like being photographed. How do you bring out the best in people?

Like many others, I’d rather be behind the camera than in front of it. It is key to have lighting, camera, tripods, etc. set up before the client arrives. Secondly, never rush things, although I must say that the first photos are often the best ones. It’s not the camera which takes the picture, but the photographer. The most important ingredients for the best shots are: being genuinely interested in the other person, having a positive demeanor with a sense of humour and applying a human and kind approach.

"Everyone can take photos, but not everyone is a photographer."

What is the most special photo you have ever taken? And why?

That would be this photo I took in South Africa in 2011. During that trip, I mainly shot quick photos from a moving bus and often I’d only see the results after I got home. But with this shot I anticipated that this would be ‘the one’. I saw the potential of the scene, the boy, the minimalism, the shadows, the simplicity, the colours and my vantage point. I waited for the right moment and pressed the shutter. I can still look at it for hours and mesmerize.

What or who is your source for inspiration?

Lots of photographers, but Ed van der Elsken is my favorite. He presented seemingly ordinary and everyday photos, but upon taking a closer look, the use of colours, the objects and composition are simply amazing.

What is your advice to anyone who is considering a career change, in this case to become self-employed?

Take some time to research and explore. But after that, mainly follow your instincts and gut feel.

We might perceive such change as risky, but let’s face it, when taking out a mortgage, nine out of ten people have not fully read every detail of the terms and conditions, and haven’t fully grasped all risks. One signs the bank papers and counts on having repaid the debt in 30 years.

If you’re behind the idea 100% and are prepared to put in the effort, then go for it.

"The joy and happiness of pursuing your idea is just priceless."