Merry Christmas and a happy newyear!

Hi guys

It's been a while!

2013 was a real rollercoaster. I'm looking forward to a new start, I need it!

A short list of my 2013, the goods, but also the bads as well:

- 2013 was my last year of college. I graduated magna cum laude. I can call myself now a social worker! 

- I started with my first job in a pupil guidance center. It's only temporary, so in February I have to look for something new.

- Me and my boyfriend settled in a new place and now live together in our own appartement. A next step was taken in our relationship  <3

- I started the new studies sciences of culture on the Open University in Antwerp. Not cultural studies, because it's not about the modern culture(s), but about culture in the meaning of art, literature, cultural history of Europe, etc.

- I started at the academy with the course drawing. Finally I'm back at the level of drawing where I was when I was a teenager. I love it when I see myself getting better by every drawing.

- And what I will remind the most of 2013 is that my mum passed away. It's hard to have her not in my life anymore. I have moments that her loss haunts me in my sleep, but also in my daily thoughts. There are moments I'm having a hard time, but also moments I'm really doing fine. Ups and downs. But every time I talk about her, tears fill my eyes. I wish she could see me grow from a young girl to a woman. She may not be here, but I feel her by the way she gives me her power to succeed in the things I do. I hope she found peace, because she really had a hard life to live. That she may find the happiness she never had. Forever in my heart, forever on my mind, forever my number one <3

I hope 2014 will be a good year for me. I really lost my happiness after mamma passed away. But after all, I can say I see life different now. I won't take anything for granted. Next to that, every person that walks into my life is someone I cherish. Mamma was so good to the people around her. I never met someone so gentle and loving, even though her self-care was not really how it should be. She cared and looked after everybody else, but herself. She learned me to give every person in your life a chance and to be gentle at. Everyone you meet has influence on you. Be kind, be gentle, treat them like you want to be treated. Don't judgde, but try to see what they see and maybe you'll understand. Take care for the people next to you.

The things I wish you guys in 2014:
- Family and friends that give you the support and love you need

- An individual attitude that is open, solidary (even with people that aren't really present in your living environment) and has no fear for the unknown, but rather is sincerely interested in the other (one).

- A society that becomes less profit-oriented and consumptive, but above all more human.- and animal friendly. We must stop acting like we are superiour to nature. We are all equal and should have respect for our (natural) environment.

Every year I try to contribute to that, I hope you guys too.

For every battle you have to conquer in 2014, never forget that life is a rollercoaster and there will come a moment you will see the bright side again. And if you don't know why you should stand up for yourself, do it for the person(s) you have lost and for the persons you still have around you. Don't be blind and never forget what for a wonderful person you are. Every person is beautiful in their own way! And never forget to reflect and think by every step you take. Don't do something just because that's you. People that always try to be a better person, not only for themselves, but also for the people around them (and not only for your family and friends, look further!) know what life is about. It's not about having a carreer that pays good money, having the best grades, having a certain image, etc. Finally you will see that that is not what life is about. Do not regret on your deathbed that you didn't care enough, because that is one of the things people that are dying regret the most. Don't put your energy in things that aren't actually really necessary.

With this strong, but loving words I want to end my message.

I hope talking to you guys soon!
This time (and I say it alot, I know), I'll try to write more over here.

Big kiss

Killian, my first male model

New pictures - time!
Last week I took some photo's with Killian Janssens as a model.
Let me know what you think.

It's one of the first time I worked with a male model.
Definitely a different way of working than with a woman.
Location was at my place. 

Angela

First time I worked with Angela. 

It was nice to work with her!

The photos were took in the park Hof van Leysen in Antwerp. 

The make - up was done by Monika Firmanty. 

Photogenic Chelsea

On a very hot day in July, I went out shooting with Chelsea.
Her spontaneous and photogenic way of posing is really lovely.
We went for a playful look in the nature and at one of the playgrounds of the little town Schelle.

Silke Sailor!

Silke is not only one of my best friends, but also one of my favorite models!
Here she goes for a sailor retro look and I love it!
The pictures were took in the port of Antwerp. 

I'm back!

Hey you!

After a long time of absence, I'm finally back.

I have a really heavy period after me. Like I already said in my last post, I lost my lovely mum. I miss her so so bad, but the tears get fewer day by day.
Next to that I also have some people who do not make my life easier as it comes. I try to let it go and not let it hurt me too much, but it's easier to say than to do.

Step by step I pick up my life as it was used to be.
I finally have my bachelor diploma in social work. In September I start working in a CLB (Centrum Leerlingen Begeleiding = pupil guidance center).
I also go and live together with my boyfriend. We are already together for 4 years, so we know each other for a long time. In October we will live in Hemiksem in a new and spacious apartment. We finally take a step further in our relationship.
I'm looking forward to those new steps, but it also brings a lot of stress with it. I'm also a bit sad that mamsie isn't there to support me and to see me grow every day.

The last month I also restarted my photography. Next posts will contain the pictures of models Silke, Chelsea and Angela. Taking photographs and meeting new people by it is a way to liberate myself and to be busy.
This Wednesday I start with some vacationwork. I go clean by some companies in the port of Antwerp. I think it is good I have something to do. Taking photographs is nice, but not something I can do every day. Next to that, I'm in need of some money, what I do not become by taking photographs with my lovely models (unfortunately..).

I hope you like the new pictures.
As you know, I'm always open for some feedback, so let me know what you think!

Big love
PG

Mamsie

Hello everyone

It's been a while...
Well, my mom passed away.

It's been a very hard time for me.
I called her mamsie, because mama didn't sound cute and sweet enough.
Mamsie was my number one, my best friend.
Now she's not here anymore, I feel like my life isn't complete.

Mamsie had Creutzfeldt - Jakob, one of the most awful diseases I've ever seen.
She worked as a nurse in a hospital, on geriatrics.
She nursed old people, sometimes also people that had dementia.
The fact that she now was one of the people she would nurse, was something I could not believe.
My mom was such a fighter and she was so independent. Now she was so helpless..

I'm thinking of writing her some letters, because I wanted to tell her much more than I already did.
Maybe I'll post them here.

I do not have a lot of pictures of her.
She really did not like a camera too close near her, but this picture is one of us that make me smile, even it's like almost twenty years old:



I love u mamsie <3