Melanie Rijkers

Fine Art Photographer since 1996. Studio: Artstudio23.com
Contemplative photography - Miksang teacher - social media marketing expert - storytelling
Follow me @mery71 (Twitter) or /Artstudio23 (Facebook)


Portfolio:

PURE Proud young mothers

100% Photoshop free portraits of proud young mothers age 16-22.

Layla, 17 “Layla, 17”

100% Photoshop free portraits of proud young mothers age 16-22.

Ilona, 18 “Ilona, 18”

100% Photoshop free portraits of proud young mothers age 16-22.

Jillanka, 20 “Jillanka, 20”

100% Photoshop free portraits of proud young mothers age 16-22.

Justyna, 17 “Justyna, 17”

100% Photoshop free portraits of proud young mothers age 16-22.

Diana, 17 “Diana, 17”

100% Photoshop free portraits of proud young mothers age 16-22.

Amiso, 17 “Amiso, 17”

100% Photoshop free portraits of proud young mothers age 16-22.

Weia ,18 “Weia ,18”

100% Photoshop free portraits of proud young mothers age 16-22.

Suzanne, 17 “Suzanne, 17”

100% Photoshop free portraits of proud young mothers age 16-22.

Esther, 19 “Esther, 19”

100% Photoshop free portraits of proud young mothers age 16-22.

Angel, 19 “Angel, 19”

100% Photoshop free portraits of proud young mothers age 16-22.

Vanessa, 20 “Vanessa, 20”

100% Photoshop free portraits of proud young mothers age 16-22. Exhibition poster & flyer, April/May 2009

Lyme disease #wemustfindacure

Young mother Sarhea (Saar) suffers from Lyme disease. It was diagnozed way too late, so now she can't walk anymore and needs a PEG-pump to survive as her swallowing muscles don't work anymore. She has a chronic brain inflammation which when treated with antibiotics causes very heavy pains. Still she fights to stay at home and take care of her young children, a bog of now 2 and a girl of 5 years old. Like Yolanda Foster she states: #wemustfindacure and she wants to share her story with the world to gain more awareness of what a tick bite can do to a (young)body...
http://www.facebook.com/zonietsaar

PEG-tube saved my life “PEG-tube saved my life”

Saar just after getting a PEG. Without she can't eat and she would die.

Antibiotics “Antibiotics ”

Saar suffering when the medicins reach her brain....

I love my daughter “I love my daughter”

Saar taking care of her daughter. Saar is dressed in her wedding dress, to pose with it once more. (to experience the happiness again she felt on her wedding day)

I love my son “I love my son”

Saar and her son at the indoor swimming pool - all vribrant and alive racing around in her electric wheelchair

I love my husband “I love my husband”

Her hubby taking her through the splash part of the pool - having fun times three! But without him holding her, she would drown.

In hospital “In hospital”

When in hospital Saar get's physio therapy to strengthen her muscles.

Exhausted “Exhausted”

Saar feels exhausted often... no oxygen can help, nor resting. She often cannot sleep, is herxing (getting cramps, severe pains in her brain) and aching all over.

It's me! “It's me!”

Saar getting into her wedding dress once more. She wished to relive the happy feeling of her wedding day and was so happy when we dressed her up and took photos in her back yard. Photography = therapy ?

Love & Marriage “Love & Marriage”

Saar posing proudly in her wedding dress a few years after her wedding. Happiness keeps her going, as is her love for her family. It was very good to give her this feeling of love and happiness just by being there and helping her with her dress and photography.

Taking a shower “Taking a shower”

After her swim the nanny showers her. Saar cannot sit up straight without help, so she's sitting on the nanny's lap while getting herself cleaned and shampood.