Lisa Nienhuis

Your work captures very quiet, emotionally charged moments. What draws you to these silent spaces, and what do you feel they reveal?

I am deeply drawn to quiet, unspoken moments because they hold a kind of truth that words often cannot express. Silence allows emotions to surface in their most honest form. In these still spaces, I feel that every detail, a shadow, a breath, a subtle gesture, reveals something raw and intimate about being human. My images come from a place where emotion is allowed to exist without explanation, and where small moments become powerful stories.

Lisa Nienhuis | Edge Of Night | 2025

How do you recognize the exact moment when a feeling becomes an image for you?

For me, a feeling becomes an image the moment my heart reacts before my mind does. It’s a quiet shift, like something inside me whispers, “Now.” I recognize it through a combination of intuition and emotional resonance. When I sense that a moment holds a truth or tenderness I don’t want to lose, I lift my camera. That immediate, instinctive connection guides my timing far more than any technical decision.

Natural light plays a significant role in your photographs. What does light mean to you emotionally and artistically?

Light feels like a language of its own, gentle, honest, and deeply emotional. It can soften a scene, reveal hidden emotions, or highlight the fragility of a moment. Artistically, natural light grounds my work in authenticity. Emotionally, it reminds me that even the quietest stories carry warmth and depth. Light allows me to paint feelings without altering reality; it becomes part of the emotion I’m trying to capture.

Lisa Nienhuis | Departing Grace | 2025

Eric Guillemain’s words – “Let your heart photograph” – became a turning point for you. How have they shaped the way you approach your work today?

Eric Guillemain’s words “Let your heart photograph” changed everything for me. They reminded me that photography is not about perfection, but about honesty. Since then, I approach my work with much more vulnerability and trust in my own emotional instincts.

This shift also opened my heart to new inspirations. One of the deepest influences has been Johnny Depp’s artistic spirit, the quiet sincerity, the gentleness, the way he creates from a place of truth. He inspired me to understand that art can be both fragile and powerful at the same time. Eric’s words and Johnny’s artistic authenticity together helped me realize that my camera should follow my heart, not rules. It’s from this combination of guidance and inspiration that my visual language has grown.

Your images feel soft, honest, and unforced. How do you stay connected to this authenticity in a world full of noise and expectation?

I stay grounded by working slowly and intentionally. I allow myself to feel first, photograph second. Disconnecting from pressure and comparison helps me stay true to my emotional vision. I remind myself that authenticity comes from presence, not perfection. When I create from sincerity rather than expectation, my images remain soft, honest, and real.

Lisa Nienhuis | Wings Of Spring | 2025

Is there a specific moment or memory that deeply influenced your visual language?

Yes. There was a period in my life filled with quietness, introspection, and emotional healing. During that time, I learned to observe the world differently and more gently, more attentively. That intimate relationship with stillness shaped my visual language. It taught me to see beauty in subtlety, and to capture emotion through simplicity rather than intensity.

How do personal experiences and emotions shape the stories you choose to tell through your images?

My personal experiences are at the heart of everything I create. Every emotion, joy, loss, softness, longing and becomes a lens through which I see the world. These inner landscapes guide me toward the stories I want to tell. My photographs become reflections of my own emotional journey, allowing viewers to feel something familiar, even in the quietest moments.