by Yvette Depaepe 
Published the 1st of June 2020

Carola Kayen-Mouthaan  quotes: “The beauty of a person is not on the outside but that comes from within, everyone is beautiful in his own way.”  Her goal is to focus on the beauty of people.  Her passion for Fine Art Photography is to be seen in each of her magnificent portraits. Her own style is undeniable.
Let's listen what this great artist reveals to us through this interview today!

'My Fish'

I live in The Netherlands.  I am 51 years old, happily married and mother of a 29 years old  and 30 years old stepdaughter.  My hobbies are travelling, reading, shopping and going out for dinner.

I didn't have any photographic education in photography but my history and life experiences affected my photography a lot.
I am a very insecure person and have experienced a lot in recent years, including the unexpected death of my mother, which touched me so deeply especially because it all went so suddenly.  I love to make others feel good.  It gives me an extra drive to create more portraits.  My goal is to focus on the beauty of people and let the viewers enjoy when they look at my photos.

'Zoya from the Ukraine'

'Gypsi girl'

'Lady in Gold'

I discovered my passion for photography in 2008.  In the meanwhile, 11 years my passion. But at the beginning of , I discovered a new passion: Fine Art Photography.  I love it because I can put so much emotions in it, because it is pure and has an old-fashioned feeling.

'backwards photographer'

Since than, I had numerous publications in various magazines.
I am also award winner and choice of the jury in  'The Guild of photographers' in 2018.
Furthermore:
Two Bronze Awards for the 'One Eye Country' in 2018.
First and Third prize for 'Magic lens' 2018.
All over winner Photo master Benelux in The Netherlands 2018.
Third prize for the 'Magic lens' 2019.
Second prize for the portrait contest 'Digi foto' 2019.

I love to follow workshops abroad.
I have been to England twice and just are back from a workshop in Ukraine.
Since 2 years, I'm leading Fine art photography workshops for people from the Netherlands, from Belgium and from England myself.  I gave a seminar in England during the award weekend of 'The Guild of Photographer' and in Belgium and Italy too.  My very first exhibition took place on 22 May 2017 in The Netherlands.

My pictures also hang at exhibitions in Germany, Roma, Cape-town, London, Amsterdam, Italy, Berlin.
I hope to take my photography all around the world and touch a lot of people's hearts with my pictures.

I always say: “The beauty of a person is not on the outside but that comes from within, everyone is beautiful in his own way.”

As a young girl I already liked photography but I never really did anything with it. I met my husband 13 years ago and he gave me the last push to continue photographing.
For me a photo has to radiate feeling and that is what I try to capture in my photos.

I love to work with children and real animals.  They are always a challenge and express innocence.

'Let it fly'

'Two best friends'

'Solange'

'Puppy love'

I like portrait photography because I can put so much emotions in it.
Architecture photography and nature photography don't attract me.
Concerning my portraits, I also prefer to shoot in my studio instead of outside.
If I may be honest, mainly because in a studio, I have full control over the light.
The feeling and story behind a picture are absolutely essential to me.

My gear and editing programs:
I use a Canon EOS 5D mark III with a Lens model EF24 105mm
I actually do all my editing in Photoshop CC
I use a lot of filters that are in Alin skins and various textures

My ideas always appear several days, even sometimes a month before I start with them by looking for a model and develop more ideas.

'Desperate mom'

'The desperate stamp collector'

Before starting with the real photo shoot, I make sure that everything is ready, so that everything can run smoothly.  It happens often that during a photo shoot, that somebody spontaneous comes up with more ideas resulting in the beautiful photos.

'Need I say more'

'Don't give up hope there will be time...'

After a shoot, the editing starts in Photoshop.  Sometimes this can take 3 or 4 hours for one photo according to the background I want.  I'm always shoot with the same brown background so that I can use the background I want while processing the image.

The best advice I can give to photographers is:
* Be and stay yourself. 
* Try to develop your own style.
* Use models that are not standard with clothing size 36,  but for example choose a model with Down syndrome a handicap or plus size,  you will see that as a photographer you get a lot of satisfaction and gratitude.                                       

Remember everyone is beautiful in their own way.

'Romy'

According to my favourite photographers:
Dmitry Baev from the Ukraine is one of my all favourite photographers, I was able to follow a workshop with him last year.                                                                            
Pip Bacon from England is also one of my favourite photographer.  I attended a workshop with him 2 years ago.
Thanks to those workshops, I have now the opportunity to realize things they taught me to implement in my own photos.  I am very grateful for that.

My favourite photo in my own body of work is very special to me.
It is a picture taken with little Mason when 3 years old together with Henk and Wilumus looking at a photo of my mother in the book.  The red rose symbolizes my mom.                                                                             The photo hung as the opening photo at my very first exhibition when my mother died just 2 months earlier. 

To end this interview, I would like to say that 1X is a great site with a lot of positive people and a staff who expresses their appreciation for each other's work.

Everyone leaves each other in their value.  I always like to place my photo on the site and hope to be able to do this for many years to come.
My compliments to all of you.

'Little cowboy girl'

'Indy'

'She loves pancakes'

'Octopuss girl'

'Anne'