Store Update

Jan 08, 2026

The store is coming along. I'm about 80% finished with it. Just need to 'kick the tires' and button up anything that is misbehaving. I ordered a small batch of folded cards from a printer to see how their quality is, and if it's good I'll order some more designs for the store. I'm super excited to have gotten this far! I'd hoped to launch a week ago, and was going to do so without a store, but I think the store is a pretty important component that'll be worth the extra week or two.

Social Media

Dec 28, 2025

I've set up a couple new accounts for social media. I still need to go in and fill them with some content, so be sure to bookmark them for future use.

Instagram
Facebook

Keep an eye out for them to be updated in the very near future!

I'm Back!

Dec 27, 2025

donvanderloo.com has been resurrected! Years ago I used this domain as a portfolio site for web development and design when I was job searching. I found a new job and let the site go (along with my coding skills - ugh!). I've since found a renewed passion for photography and was able to get my domain name back. I mean, really, how many people want to use my name as their domain - it's not like there was a bidding war to get it. Anyway ...

I hadn't written a line of code in almost eight years, so the first few weeks of the four month journey to build this site was re-learning and re-discovering a 'language' that used to be first nature to me but proved to be a massive struggle at the onset. Slowly but surely it's coming back to me, and here we are.

So what's happened over the last eight years? Well, I bought my first digital camera with a kit lens and walked around with that for about a year just taking photos of whatever. I learned about filters and started messing around with them, then sold my kit lens on eBay and was able to buy a couple other lenses with the proceeds. I used them for a couple of years, sold one, bought another, sold another, bought another until I finally felt that my kit was rounded with the perfect arsenal to capture any shot. I purchased a single lightbox that I use sparingly for portraiture, but studio photography has never appealed to me. I'd rather spend my day walking around outdoors feeling cool morning air in my lungs than sit in a dark studio breathing recycled, filtered air.

I joined some photo groups and signed up on Instagram to get inspiration and showcase my works. I entered a few low key shows and won a couple of awards and have sold a few of my images. I've developed somewhat of a following and a style that has become recognizable as my 'brand', so-to-speak, using vintage lenses and an approach to composition that pushes the boundaries of acceptable in photography. A couple times a year I go on what I call my 'Photo Safaris' when I take my camera, a few lenses and a couple changes of clothes and spend two or three days wandering around beaches and towns taking photos of whatever.

I've written two books that you can view on my 'Books' page. The first is a compilation of mostly landscape photography and second is a collection of those boundary pushing photos taken with my vintage lenses. I printed them off for display in my home, but have had multiple inquiries to buy and am exploring a way to get the price down to a palatable number for my audience where I can still eek out a small profit for my time. More to come on that, hopefully, in the future.

So that's what's been going on in my world for the last few years. I'm super excited to have the site up and running, and look forward to meeting new people, exploring new worlds and continue challenging myself as a photographer. While you're here, sign up for my mailing list. I PROMISE I won't bombard you with a bunch of crap. I only intend to use it to announce new blogs, photos and events that I'll be participating in. I will absolutely not solicit anything or send ads of any kind, and you're free to opt out at any time.

Thank you to all who have followed and encouraged me on my photographic journey. I look forward to my continued growth with the love and support that you've all shown throughout the years.