About me
I’m Pieter Janssen, a professional photographer based in Porto, Portugal. Originally from The Netherlands, so if you’re looking to practice your Dutch while learning photography, you’ve come to the right place!
My journey into photography began in 1981 with a small 35mm film camera, entirely manual, which sparked my passion for the craft. Over time, I upgraded to my first SLR, marking the point where my hobby began to take a more serious direction.
In 2000, I couldn’t resist embracing digital photography with my first digital camera, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F505—a revolutionary 1.9-megapixel device with memory cards from 1MB to a whopping 64MB.
While living in Hong Kong during the early 2000s, I made the bold decision to leave my regular job and pursue photography professionally. This was no easy feat, especially since marketing myself was completely unfamiliar territory. It took time, but eventually, I built the foundations of a photography career.
My journey continued when I moved to Vietnam in 2005, first in Hanoi and then Hoi An from 2012 onward. One of my personal career highlights was working with the Dutch Embassy during the visit of the future King and Queen of the Netherlands to Hanoi, where I had the privilege of capturing their meetings with the Vietnamese president and prime minister, as well as their cultural engagements.
In April 2024, I relocated to Porto, Portugal, where I continue my work as a professional photographer.
My work has been featured in a variety of publications, including books, magazines, travel brochures, and advertising campaigns. In Hanoi, I had the honor of exhibiting my photography in several galleries.
In addition to my photography, I’ve been passionate about teaching since 2008. My photography courses gained momentum after moving to Hoi An, where I founded Hoi An Photo Walks. Over the years, I’ve led countless photo tours, helping others discover and develop their own photographic skills.
The tours
These days, I focus primarily on teaching photography, though I still take on occasional assignments. My approach to teaching is casual, informative, and most importantly, fun. I believe that learning should be enjoyable, and it’s essential that everyone walks away with new knowledge—while having a great time. Above all, my goal is to ignite your passion for photography.
I like to think of my tours as more than just lessons—they’re a journey. Not only will you learn how to master your camera or smartphone, but you’ll also embark on an adventure where you become immersed in a world ready to be explored through your lens.
A visit to Porto isn’t complete without experiencing Kiki Photo Tours. It’s a unique opportunity to not only improve your photography skills but also capture memories in a way that will enhance all your future travels.
Reviews
You can check out reviews of my tours in Vietnam on Tripadvisor and Google — they’re full of happy faces and glowing feedback!
However, since I’ve recently made the move to Porto, I can’t bring those lovely reviews with me. Looks like I’m starting from scratch here, so if you’re one of the first to leave a review, you’ll be helping me build my new “reputation empire” in Porto. Think of it as a fresh start — just like a new camera lens, but with fewer blurry moments. Or more, if you do it on purpose, like I do.
