Smells Like Quarantine Spirit: Marieke Macklon

Today I am proud to present an interview with fellow namesake and fellow (half) Dutchie: Marieke Macklon! Marieke and I go back quite some time. I first met her when I was still in high school. She was already taking amazing pictures back then, and I remember thinking she was the coolest, because she was able to take pictures at an All Time Low show in Amsterdam. And I really really liked them at the time. She moved to the UK about 10 years ago, but we were able to keep in touch through social media. Last year, we were finally able to meet up again when I visited Liverpool for a festival. And now we are lucky to be living in the same country again. Marieke is a freelance photographer, among many other things, and she has already done some pretty cool stuff. I checked in with her during this lockdown to see what had changed for her, with gigs and festivals being cancelled across the country.

Hey Marieke - how are you doing? And how are you spending your time in lockdown?

Marieke: I'm doing alright! I'm currently in my flat in the lovely creative and historic city of Liverpool, where I spend most of my quarantine days catching up with friends and family via video chat, scrolling through eBay to find thrift treasures, playing guitar, listening and discovering new music, binge-watching Netflix, etc. In order to keep me fully sane and close to normality as much as possible, I've started doing photoshoots via FaceTime with musicians and so far, the results have been pretty marvellous.

What do you do exactly?

I'm a freelance music and portrait photographer, videographer and video director. I also lead the Green Man Festival Photo Team, which takes places every last weekend of August. It's by far my favourite weekend of the year. so I'm absolutely gutted that no festivals are taking place this year.

How would 2020 have looked like for you, if there would have been no Corona crisis or lockdown situation? Anything in particular you were really excited about?

I would have been getting ready for the Green Man festival and the overall festival season, organising and doing photoshoots, producing and directing music videos, booking in photographers for The Zanzibar Club in Liverpool and I was really looking forward to spent my one-holiday-a-year in Canada, doing a roadtrip through BC. However that magical trip has been postponed till next year!

Have you been able to create alternative plans for the rest of the year? Or are things still quite uncertain?

Yes, sort of. However nothing is fully set in stone yet. As a freelancer, there is always a level of uncertainty, because you don't know when you'll be hired next. However, a handful of shoots, tours and gigs have been moved to the late summer and Autumn time. So I can't wait to get my hands dirty again and get back into it.

What's the situation currently like in the UK? Generally speaking, but are you for example also able to receive funding from the government?

The situation in the UK has been an absolute rollercoaster. I am thankfully receiving some funding from the government, which covers my rent, bills and grocery shopping. I feel very fortunate and relieved that there is some support out there for freelancers like myself.

Where do you currently get inspiration from? Are you still able to be creative, or not?

Instagram currently has been an absolute delight of inspiration. There are so many great creatives out there, boosting each other with positivity and motivation, showing people that you can be creative during lockdown.

I, myself, have been focused on photoshoots using FaceTime. These shoots have allowed me to get back into a sort of working mode and connect with amazing people. I truly feel like myself when I'm working, so to have found a type of outlet that lets me be creative, think of ideas and art direct the client on the other side of the FaceTime call certainly makes this whole lockdown a lot easier.

Do you have any tips for people that are in a similar situation?

If you're also a photographer or interested in photography, I would say to give those FaceTime shoots a try! It allows you to be completely creative and to connect with more amazing people. Plus, it's just a lot of fun and it keeps you busy.

How can people support you right now?

By either buying prints, booking me in for future photo / video shoots, tours or booking me in for a FaceTime photoshoot. You can contact me via macklonphoto@gmail.com or instagram (@mariekemacklon), should you wish to enquire about booking me in for a photoshoot.

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