Welcome to Showcase Benelux, brought to you by Production Paradise. This issue features some of the leading photographers, directors, photo & film production companies, studios, services for photo and film production and equipment rental working out of Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. 

More creative professionals and facilities for photographic and film production are available in our Amsterdam (Photo / Film) and Brussels (Photo  / Film) directories.

Brands and publications including Heineken, Lexus, Tommy Hilfiger, Vogue, Mango, Coca-Cola, Fiat, Goldbergh, and Another Magazine among others, have trusted these professionals with their latest advertising campaigns and editorial shoots.

Be sure to catch our recommended events:

• Silver Lake Drive - a solo-exhibition by Alex Prager featuring a retrospective of more than ten years of work by the American photographer and filmmaker. Until 4th September at Foam museum, Amsterdam.
• Photobook Belge - an exhibition offering an overview of the evolution of the Belgian photobook from the mid-19th century to today. Until 6th October at FoMu, Antwerp.

Our cover image was shot by Liselore Chevalier. Liselore is represented by The Next Chapter. 

A-light provides a professional 200m² sound stage for video and photography shoots, surrounded by an extra 200m² of functional spaces like a dressing and production room. The company also rents basic lighting packages and provides a lighting service.

"Because we have more than 10 years of experience, we can fairly say that we have the backbone you can rely on. We offer you a high-quality studio service at a good price, keeping your costs as low as possible. Our creative and flexible way of working gives you the direct and professional workflow you need. Or, as our customers have said: "The studio is just right: not too small, not too big, with a good sound quality ... and no fuss!"

A -Light studio is located in the heart of Antwerp, with public transport and lots of facilities nearby. The main international railway station is only a five-minute walk and the Antwerp airport terminal and main motorways can be easily reached.

For 10 years already, Mindbox has been producing photo and film shoots in Belgium and abroad - with love and enthusiasm, the company has built a large location database that includes Belgium's treasures and secret places and a strong team that knows how to service an excellent production.

Mindbox knows the importance of being hands-on and flexible on set - they know how to adapt to any kind of production, fashion, catalogue or commercial shoots.

Mindbox can help clients with art buying, location scouting, casting, local crew, camera, production and styling equipment, and of course, a good cup of tea and delicious food.

Clients include Another Magazine, C&A, Dust, H&M Home, i-D Magazine, Instyle, Komono, Love Magazine, L'Officiel, Lola Liza, Mango, Raf Simons, Samsonite, Terre Bleue, Vogue (Italy, Netherlands, Turkey and US), Willy Vanderperre and Wrangler.

Studio 202 is a magnificent modern event space with an area of 900m², housed in a New York-style former industrial building. It is very easily reachable thanks to its location in the heart of Brussels, a stone's throw from Avenue Louise, Boulevard Général Jacques, and the Ixelles ponds.

It consists of five splendid modular spaces: Welcome Area, Atrium, Daylight, Mezzanine and Blackbox.

The studio offers a vast range of possibilities and is suited equally well for events ranging from 20 to 200 people. Everything is easily adaptable depending on guest numbers, needs and budget.

Wesley Dombrecht is a Belgium-based, Dutch commercial and artistic food photographer who started his career as a chef, food stylist and recipe developer. He now specialises in food, drink and still life photography.

With a deep understanding of food and ingredients coupled with an eye for styling and beauty, Wesley has developed his own style. He operates out of his studio in Belgium and works for a range of different Belgian food companies.

Wesley's personal work has won a lot of international awards, including first place in the TIFA 2017 and Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year Awards 2017 with his image ’Smoked Mackerel’. His personal work is also sold by Italian gallery InArte Werkkunst.

Services include image content for commercial food companies, books and magazines; food, liquid, packaging and packshot photography; food styling and retouching.

"As the first space in Brussels offering creatives access to a wide range of infrastructures and facilities, such as a photo studio, exhibition space, sound studio and shared office space, 254forest facilitates trans-disciplinarity and co-creation, cooperation and co-production on a daily basis.

Our large, bright photo studio is walking distance from Brussels's south train station and offers a comfortable spacious studio to work in, where high-end equipment meets high-end service. We can offer you help on your production, extraordinary catering, and with the collaborative nature of 254Forest, assist you in getting the right people for any of your creative or professional needs."

Studio Ballena is a high-end commercial photo studio in Belgium with two large fully equipped studios, one near Brussels and one between Brussels and Gent, as well as a professional team working both in studio or on location.

Offering a full service approach to clients including an in-house food and set stylist with an eye for detail and a large selection of tableware and set accessories, Studio Ballena is a valued partner for many brands and agencies. By always using the latest technologies and equipment, an edge in efficiency and quality is guaranteed for all projects.

Post-production work is taken care of by the team in a fully colour calibrated workflow from camera to print. They provide mouth-watering photography to food and drinks companies as well as brand and marketing agencies for use in advertising, packaging, social media and publishing to support marketing campaigns and branding.

Recent projects include some of the most delicious Belgian food specialties.

Welcome to Showcase Belgium, brought to you by Production Paradise. This issue features some of the leading photo and film production services and talents, currently working out of Belgium.

You can find more creative professionals and facilities for photographic and film production in our Brussels Photo and Film directories.

Be sure not to miss our recommended events:

• Camille Picquot’s photography and video exhibition, featuring three photography series - Domestic Flight, Total Ground and Images du dedans, and the film Hollow Hours. Until 24h October at FoMu, Antwerp.
• L'ombre des jours /The Shadow of Days - a photography exhibition by Thomas Chable, documenting the reality of post-occupation in the Horn of Africa. Until 4th November at Contretype, Brussels.

Our cover image was shot by Alexander Popelier. 

If you’re looking for a photographer who talks commercial yet walks the fine line between advertising and art, Lieven Dirckx is your man. Light is his medium. This results in a highly stylised approach, in which he is always looking for a sharp edge to blend with the beautiful, keeping the eye entertained at all times.

These graphic, bold images emanate instant star quality, which have earned Lieven the moniker ‘the Belgian Irving Penn’. To him, photography is about embracing the moment and making it live on forever.

Mindbox has been producing photo and film shoots in Belgium and abroad for 10 years. With love and enthusiasm, the company has built a large location database and a strong team that knows how to service an excellent production.

Mindbox knows the importance of being hands-on and flexible on set. The team know how to adapt to any kind of production, fashion, catalogue or commercial shoots.

Mindox can help clients with art buying, location scouting, casting, local crew, camera, production and styling equipment as well as good food.

Clients include Another Magazine, C&A, Dust, H&M Home, i-D Magazine, Instyle, Komono, Love Magazine, L'Officiel, Lola Liza, Mango, Raf Simons, Rolf Benz, Samsonite, Terre Bleue, Vogue (Italy, Netherlands, Turkey and US), and Willy Vanderperre.