How Visual Storytelling Builds Strong Brand Images
When it comes to startup photography in Amsterdam, capturing the right balance between professionalism and personality is key.
Recently, I had the opportunity to photograph Gabriel Ferraz, CEO of Creem.io, and co-founder Alec Erasmus.
Creem.io is a fast-scaling tech startup helping creators and brands connect with their audiences, and their leadership team wanted images that reflect innovation, authenticity, and strong founder identity.
For today’s founder portraits, we stepped away from a studio environment and chose the streets and canals of Amsterdam. As a startup photographer, I believe that powerful branding photography should go beyond staged shots. It should tell a story.
Urban Branding Photography: The Amsterdam canals and historic architecture provided a natural backdrop that reflects both tradition and modern energy, the perfect metaphor for a disruptive startup in a historic city.
Authentic Founder Portraits: Instead of stiff corporate headshots, we captured moments of laughter, casual walks, and even ice cream breaks. These lifestyle portraits highlight Gabriel and Alec as approachable entrepreneurs while maintaining a professional tone.
Startup Visual Storytelling: Each photo communicates the DNA of Creem.io, innovative, human, and forward-thinking. For startups, this kind of visual branding is as important as a pitch deck or website.
In today’s digital-first business world, entrepreneurs and founders need strong personal branding. Investors, customers, and partners want to connect with real people, not just logos. That’s why startup photography is such a powerful tool:
Build Trust: Professional portraits signal credibility to investors and clients.
Strengthen Brand Identity: Consistent, high-quality imagery aligns with the startup’s mission and values.
Boost Online Presence: SEO-optimized images and authentic founder photos increase visibility across websites, LinkedIn, and press features.
I’m Jakob Voges, a photographer specializing in authentic brand and advertising photography in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam has become a European hub for startups and scale-ups, and with it, the demand for professional startup photography has grown. From LinkedIn profiles to pitch decks, lifestyle founder portraits are shaping how entrepreneurs are perceived globally.
As a photographer for startups, I specialize in helping founders, co-founders, and entrepreneurs tell their story visually. Whether it’s lifestyle branding photos in Amsterdam, professional team portraits, or storytelling-driven photography for your website, the goal is always the same: to create images that inspire trust, connection, and growth.
This project with Creem.io’s CEO and co-founder was more than a photoshoot. It was about building a strong visual identity for a brand that is reshaping the creator economy. Their portraits now serve as a visual asset for their website, press coverage, and investor relations.
If you are a startup founder, entrepreneur, or scale-up team in Amsterdam and want to elevate your brand with powerful founder portraits and startup photography, I’d love to work with you.
