Bram De Jaegher

Photographer

“LOVE WHAT YOU DO AND SHINE IN YOUR CRAFT”

Hi Bram, how are you?

Hi guys! I’m doing well! Pretty busy, but alive 😊

For the people who don’t know you yet, how would you describe what you do?

So, for the people who don’t know me: I’m a 25-year-old photographer based in Brussels. I work at BRUZZ as a social media content creator and photographer. I mainly shoot portraits and live concerts.

How did photography first enter your life , was it always something you wanted to pursue?

I’ve always been very interested in images. Watching cartoons and films were things I loved as a kid. Still do, actually. Whenever we went on vacation with my parents, I was always interested in my dad’s camera, but never that much. When I was 16, I started going to a lot of concerts and always wanted to take sick pictures with my phone. I wasn’t happy with the results, so I think around 2023 I tried using my dad’s old camera, and the rest is history, I guess.

Your first exhibition “Hip Hop Through My Eyes” is coming up on May 23rd. What does this moment mean to you personally?

Indeed! This Saturday will be very exciting. I’ll be sharing my best portraits and concert photos at my very first expo. It really means a lot to me. It feels like proof of all the hard work I’ve put in, but more importantly, of all the beautiful people I got to meet. It’s more of a celebration of the community.

Are you nervous?

But yes, I’m reallyyyy nervous. You never know if people will like it or how many people will take the time to come check it out. So while writing this, I’m already starting to get nervous haha.
How has the process of creating this exhibition been for you?
The idea actually came very organically. It had always been a dream of mine to do an expo. A friend ofmine did one and told me I should do it too. One day, I was at the bar Chez Lutgarde and saw someone’s pictures hanging on the wall. I just asked the guy behind the bar if it would ever be possible for me to do an expo there. He immediately said I could do one very soon. I was shocked, but at the same time I already started thinking about what kind of expo I wanted to make. That was pretty clear: my biggest love, hip-hop.

You said “hip hop shaped me”. In what ways has the culture influenced who you are today?

Indeed, hip-hop shaped me. I come from a place where walking in line was always seen as the way to live. You had to live up to people’s expectations. Hip-hop taught me that you actually don’t need to give a single f*ck. You can do what you want and what you like. It also taught me more about self-confidence, my mindset, and even the way I dress. Hip-hop is very present in my daily life. My expo is actually a big thank you to the culture and community that shaped me as a photographer and as a person.

You work a lot with portraits, how do you usually make people feel comfortable in front of your lens?

Making people feel comfortable in front of your camera is definitely not the easiest thing to do. I mainly shoot artists or people I’ve never met before the shoot. What I always do, and it sounds cliché, is just be myself. I think people who really know me would tell you I’m a pretty calm and respectful guy. When your model feels that, they automatically become more comfortable. Another thing that helps is that you’re creating something together. You both want to make the best photo possible. That only works when there’s some kind of teamwork.

You’re from Brussels, what’s your favourite place in the city?

Cliché, but my favorite place in the city is where I live. Super chill, nice apartment, nice cafés within a five-minute walk. It’s in the center, so I’m close to everything. But that’s also the dangerous part: I’m always late because of that mindset lol.

And a very important question: where do we get good coffee or lunch in Brussels according to you?

For coffee: I love RARE, but also KOUL in Molenbeek and KOSTO.

Is there a photo you’re particularly proud of, and why?
I really like my photos of Freddie Gibbs, Damso and Zwangere Guy. All artists I listened to when I was a teenager. Being able to shoot them was a really big and proud moment for me. Moments I couldn’t believe at first.

You work around music, radio and live events a lot, what do you like about that world?

I really like the music world. For people who don’t work in it, everything looks like glitter and glamour, but it isn’t. The artists we all look up to are also just normal people. And for me, the most beautiful thing about this job is getting a glimpse of that side of an artist. Seeing them simply being human.

Is there something about the Belgian scene that you think is underrated?

I love the Belgian scene, but in my opinion it has become too commercial. If you look at DJs, rappers, soul singers, and others... they deserve wayyyy more recognition for what they do for the community and the underground scene. For me, they are the real sound of Belgium.

If you could try any other job in the world for 24 hours what would you do?

You know what, I really don’t want another job. I love this stuff soooo much. But if I really had to choose, I’d be a football player. That was my biggest dream when I was a kid.

Tell us something to inspire the culture!

Something to inspire people... I would tell everyone to love what they do. It’s cliché, I know. But when you do something you love, you stop looking at the clock and just keep working until you’ve created something dope. When you do something you love, you also stop caring that much about what other people think. Photography has become a part of me, and I really hope that never changes. On the other hand: don’t let anyone tell you that you have to be a videographer, graphic designer and photographer all at once. That’s impossible. For me personally, it’s better to shine in one craft!!!