A Quiet Tribute to the Human Behind the Character by Susanne Middelberg

In this portrait series, I portray people who move me through what they do — actors, dancers, writers, performers. People who bring stories to life on stage, on screen, or on the page. They inspire me not only through their craft, but even more so through who they are. What matters most to me is the personal connection I share with them, and the mutual willingness to truly connect.

I invite them into my studio, away from their usual surroundings, so I can show them simply as human beings — without roles, without distractions. In this intimate setting, I can fully focus on the person in front of me. I seek honesty and vulnerability in my portraits. It is precisely that vulnerability that makes us human. It opens the door to empathy, to softness, to connection.

What fascinates me most is capturing the coexistence of opposing qualities within a single person. Strength and gentleness. Confidence and doubt. Light and shadow. I look for a raw simplicity — a sense of humanity and authenticity.





Susanne Middelberg
Susanne Middelberg is a German photographer known for her powerful and emotionally rich portraits, which explore themes of vulnerability and human complexity. After initially studying modern dance at the Higher School for Arts in Arnhem, she transitioned into photography, graduating in 1998 from the Academy for Visual Arts. Middelberg has since established a career as a freelance photographer, specializing in portrait and theater-dance photography. Her work often captures the dualities within people—strength and fragility—and she believes that showing vulnerability in her subjects fosters connection and understanding.

Middelberg's photographic style is described as intense, honest, and picturesque, and she is particularly inspired by the human condition. Her approach focuses on revealing the layers of personality in her subjects, aiming to touch viewers through this emotional depth. She has received numerous awards for her work, including prizes from The Canon Master, the Monochrome Awards and the Px3 Prix de la Photographie Paris.

In addition to her portraits, Middelberg has been commissioned for various projects, including work for theater posters. She has exhibited her work in galleries across the Netherlands and internationally, including in New York and Boston. Her projects have earned her a solid reputation in the photography world, winning accolades like the MUSE Photography Awards for her Daylight series, where she emphasized natural light and raw emotion to portray her subjects. Middelberg cites Jan Saudek, Stephan Vanfleteren, and Richard Learoyd as major influences on her work. Her philosophy as a photographer is to remain authentic and continuously learn from others.
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