Ever seen an amazing festival photo from Ultra Miami, Tomorrowland, or some other epic location? Ever wonder to yourself “Who takes these photos?” More likely than not, the answer is Rutger Geerling, photographer to the stars. A legend in his own right, he is the person responsible for capturing many of these timeless moments.
Just this past week, Rutger gave us all a glimpse into his life and story. In a two-hour podcast, Rutger details and chronicles his entire journey. He touches on his humble beginnings as a public administration major. He then goes into how he moved into the dance world after working as a photographer for snowboarders.
The talented photographer goes on into great detail regarding his relationship with some of the biggest names in the genre. He speaks on traveling with Hardwell. Snapping photos of Tiësto before super-stardom. Hanging out with Armin van Buuren and experiencing the loneliness and darker side of the DJ profession. Following Martin Garrix from main stage to main stage. He also speaks to many universal topics such as work/life balance, finding your passion, and how patience and perseverance pay off.
Back in 2015, he released a book titled “This Is My Church.” While similar, it mostly provides the glamour and splendor of what he does. His podcast appears geared more towards the real and often times unspoken topics of professional success. Here is a quick video showcasing his book:
Rutger’s podcast provides a necessary reflection on the idea of stardom, all from the man behind the camera. Hopefully, this will be the first in a series of releases. Check out the full interview below.
Note: The video is spoken in Dutch. To read along, click ‘Settings’ then change subtitles to be translated to ‘English.’ Be sure to click ‘CC’ for closed-captioning.
