Macro shot of Hoogmoed’s Harlequin Toad, Atelopus hoogmoedi. Closeup of a large, bright orange female specimen. This frog has striking orange patterns on black

About MacroHerps

Exotic-pet photographer based near Mechelen

Discover the captivating world of reptiles, amphibians, and terrestrial invertebrates through the eyes of an enthusiastic nature photographer in Belgium…

Hi, I am David and I have loved reptiles and amphibians for as long as I can remember, long before I started doing any sort of photography. When I first picked up a camera, it was purely for my own enjoyment, as a hobby. Naturally, my photography gravitated towards things I enjoy and love, most notably, wildlife of the ectothermic kind.

I have since come to realise that as much as anyone appreciates a nice photograph of a wild animal, many people want pictures of their own animals on display. That, in a nutshell, is exactly the kind of service I provide. I’ll take photographs of your own exotic pets, be they reptilian, amphibian or invertebrate. I’ll also provide you with the images and the possibility for high quality, large format prints to decorate your walls.

As these animals are often diminutive in size, I tend to do a lot of macro work, but I happily work with larger animals as well. This is done in either a natural setting or more of a studio setup (or both), the choice is yours.

If you want more information on my background and experiences, read on, browse my portfolio, find out what makes me passionate about your animals. Alternatively, the button below will take you to a more detailed description of the services I provide.

So, why am I your guy? Where to begin…

As a young boy, my favourite activities included finding chameleons in the garden, tortoises in the fields, or going to the river to look for frogs. Mind you, this was back home in South Africa where I grew up, not really feasible in Belgium.

I ended up studying nature conservation and picked up photography at around the same time, with the ultimate goal of combining conservation with wildlife photography. I ended up studying for many years, finishing up with a Masters in Herpetology in Belgium. Along the way I carried my camera with me at all times, be it on private trips, conservation work, or scientific expeditions to the west coast of South Africa, the Mediterranean, or the South American rain forests.

After all these years, I am more passionate than ever when it comes to showing the beauty of these misunderstood creatures. My aim is to capture and showcase the best qualities in animals that are often feared or detested. If someone can look at my photographs and say “I never realised how beautiful they can be”, I have done my job right. My background and experience in working with these animals means I understand the behaviour they exhibit and I am comfortable working with them. I will treat your animals with the respect they deserve, while still capturing their essence for you to enjoy for a lifetime to come.