For Ramakers, the excitement in shooting portraits
stems from meeting new people, talking with them, learning from them, and
striking up a relationship. And then, of course, getting the perfect shot
that’s natural and real. From all his subjects, he finds shooting top
executives the most interesting.
“These people are never boring,” he says, “They’ve
done something with their lives and they’re fascinating to listen to.
“American clients hire me because they think that European photographers
are different from US photographers, which I believe is true. I think we’re
more natural. American brochures are very slick, and the gap between fashion
and portrait photography disappears from their work. I like to shoot people
as themselves. I don’t ask a stylist to create a persona that this
person is not.”
