hey, I'm maike — a photographer, filmmaker & content creator from düsseldorf, germany.
I got into photography as a teenager after saving up for my first camera and starting a 365-day photo challenge on flickr. since then, creating photos and videos has always been my favorite way to express myself.
these days I work as a video editor and also run my own small business where I create photo and video content — from portraits and travel stories to projects for brands and creators.
always happy to connect, chat, or collaborate — so feel free to reach out.
#selfportrait #selfportraitphotography #photographer #photography #studiophotography #videographer #videography #photography #sonyalpha7iv #fujifilmx100f
I stopped photographing people for a long time.
Not because I stopped loving it, but because somewhere along the way, it started to make me anxious.
Meeting new people, pointing a camera at someone, directing them, being perceived — all of it slowly pushed me further out of my comfort zone until avoiding it felt easier than creating.
But staying inside that comfort zone for too long also means staying away from the things that once made you feel alive creatively.
So I picked up the camera again.
I asked someone to shoot.
And despite the nervousness, it reminded me why I fell in love with portraits in the first place.
I think growth often looks less like confidence and more like doing something even while being uncomfortable.
Maybe this is your sign to start again too.
model: @dillen29
#portraitphotography
#cinematicphotography
#visualstorytelling
#creativejourney
#createeveryday
some places don’t feel new.
they feel familiar.
like your mind finally
goes quiet again.
somewhere between the silence, the movement, and the moments in between, i realized how long it had been since i truly felt present.
not every place changes you.
some simply remind you of who you already are.
maybe that’s what coming home really means.
can't wait to finally come home again.
#filmmakercommunity #travelreel #creativejourney #videography #cinematicvideo
Portrait of Dillen, 2026.
after years of not really shooting portraits anymore, I slowly started feeling afraid of it. so this was my way back in.
I asked @dillen29 if he’d be up for a portrait session. and he was.
what started as “just taking some photos again” turned into a really good creative reset.
getting back into portrait photography, meeting another filmmaker, and just creating without pressure felt like exactly what I needed.
you can watch the full process, behind the scenes, and more images over on my YouTube channel, link in bio.
#portraitphotography #portraitphotographer #cinematicphotography #filmmaking #behindthescenes #photographyprocess #creativejourney #sonyalpha #storytellingphotography
Solitude, 2026.
Once I experienced a different feeling: Solitude.
It was quiet, calm, but not negative, not lonely.
So I tried to capture that feeling in a photograph.
You can watch the while process in my recent video (link in bio). Everything was made possible by @tourboxofficial
#selfportraitphotography #photographer #cinematographer #tourbox #sonyalpha7iv
New video out now.
This one is about trying to capture something you can’t really see, only feel.
It means a lot to me.
Watch it on YouTube.
(link in bio)
#storytelling #filmmakercommunity #photographer #filmmaker #youtubevideo
Can you feel this?
I tried to capture a feeling, not just how it looks, but how it feels.
This was less about the final image and more about the process, slowing down, trusting intuition, and letting the moment guide me.
The full story is coming to YouTube very soon.
This project was edited using @tourboxofficial
it helped me stay in the flow instead of overthinking every step.
#tourbox #drehmittourbox #VisualStorytelling #portraitphotography #photography
A memory in bloom, 2026.
I often miss cherry blossom season, but this time I decided spontaneously to take a few selfportraits.
they reminded me of earlier days, when I used to photograph my two best friends beneath these blossoms.
this photo is for them.
taken on fujifilm x100f.
#fujifilmx100f #cherryblossom #sakura #portraitphotography #fujix
I love a cozy editing session.
good music, warm light, calm atmosphere, perfect for getting into a creative workflow.
the only challenge is my cat sitting directly in front of my desktop.
acting cute.
demanding pets.
and occasionally attempting workplace violence.
do your pets also think they’re your creative director?
#videoediting #editingworkflow #contentcreatorlife #filmmakerlife #creativelife
Daily life through a 23mm lens.
One of the reasons I love the Fujifilm X100F so much is its fixed 23mm lens. It’s a focal length that encourages you to slow down and pay attention to the small things around you.
The light on a wall.
An old car parked on the street.
A single flower on the ground.
Quiet corners that would usually go unnoticed.
For everyday photography, 23mm feels natural. wide enough to include the environment, but still intimate enough to capture details.
Most of these photos were taken during ordinary moments.
Sometimes the most interesting photos are the ones hiding in plain sight.
Do you enjoy shooting with 23mm / 35mm, or do you prefer something wider or tighter? #fujıfılmx100f #23mm #fujifilmphotography #streetphotography #photographersofinstagram
Iceland through the lens of my Fujifilm X100F
A country that feels less like a place and more like another planet: glaciers, waterfalls, endless fields, and animals that seem completely at home in the wild landscape.
From standing in front of a roaring waterfall with my camera in hand, to quiet moments with horses, sheep, and distant figures disappearing into the vast scenery… this trip reminded me why I fell in love with photography in the first place.
The X100F forced me to slow down, move my feet, and truly observe what was around me. No zoom, no distractions, just light, composition, and feeling.
Iceland doesn’t need embellishment.
It already looks like a dream.
Which frame is your favorite?
—
#iceland #fujifilmx100f #icelandtrip #fujifilm_xseries #fujix100f
Cinematic portraits aren’t about expensive gear.
They’re about intention.
Here’s what I focus on:
1. Use negative space
When everything is centered and filled, nothing breathes.
Space creates tension. Space creates mood.
2. Direct the hands
Hands often say more than facial expressions.
If they feel awkward, the image feels awkward.
3. Use side light
Front light shows everything.
Side light reveals shape, shadow and emotion.
4. Change your angle
Eye-level is neutral.
Slightly above or below changes the emotional tone completely.
When I started photography, I focused on perfection.
Now I focus on feeling.
That changed everything.
Save this for your next portrait shoot đź’›
#cinematicportrait #portraitphotography #moodyportrait #photographycomposition #creativeportrait
