Take nothing but photos. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time!
About Kim Paffen
Photographer, Traveler, Blogger, Safari Guide, Content Creator
About Kim Paffen
Photographer, Traveler, Blogger, Safari Guide, Content Creator
My mission and aim
I am on a mission to mindfully travel, explore, and capture the world with love and respect for our planet in order to inspire people to take good care of our planet and to help them travel the world in an ethical, authentic and mindful way - through my images, my blog at ourplanetinmylens.com and my group photo safari trips to Africa. I believe that travel makes you a better person and truly enriches your life if you treat 'Mother Earth' and all its inhabitants the way you want to be treated, with love and respect! I advocate for sustainable travel and the protection of our wildlife.
As a photographer and content creator, I love to work with like-minded impact-first businesses in the travel and tourism industry, NGOs, and conservation organizations to help raise awareness and tell impactful stories.
By inspiring others with our love and appreciation for nature, we can help preserve it for our future generations. Together we can make the world a better place!
My aim is to:
- Inspire others to mindfully travel the world through my storytelling and make travelers aware of responsible choices to travel better, with care for the environment and our planet, and leave nothing but footprints. On my sustainable travel and photography blog https://ourplanetinmylens.com I share helpful destination guides and related travel articles including inspiring photography to help my readers plan their trip of a lifetime;
- Showcase destinations and brands in the tourism industry as well as conservation organizations, and NGOs at their very best through my content creation and visual storytelling while keeping sustainable travel, raising awareness and creating impact in mind.
- Share and sell my wildlife images to spread awareness about the critical facts some animals are facing so that it hopefully inspires others to contribute to nature and wildlife conservation, be more aware of (un)ethical wildlife experiences, and kill nothing but time. We don't own our planet Earth, we belong to it and we have to share it with our wildlife!
- Help travel & wildlife photography lovers become better photographers by sharing both technical and mindful photography tips to create meaningful images that stand out.
- Exhibiting the beauty of our planet through fine-art prints and wall-art (interior decoration) to inspire others about the beautiful world we are fortunate to live in, and that we have to respect nature by taking good care of ourselves, others, and our planet.
- Take safari lovers on photo safari trips to Africa with me to show them the real Africa, build meaningful connections with like-minded travelers, teach them everything I know about photography, and participate in conservation activities to give back to nature for what nature has given to us.
My mission and aim
I am on a mission to mindfully travel, explore, and capture the world with love and respect for our planet in order to inspire people to take good care of our planet and to help them travel the world in an ethical, authentic and mindful way - through my images, my blog at ourplanetinmylens.com and my group photo safari trips to Africa. I believe that travel makes you a better person and truly enriches your life if you treat 'Mother Earth' and all its inhabitants the way you want to be treated, with love and respect! I advocate for sustainable travel and the protection of our wildlife.
As a photographer and content creator, I love to work with like-minded impact-first businesses in the travel and tourism industry, NGOs, and conservation organizations to help raise awareness and tell impactful stories. By inspiring others with our love and appreciation for nature, we can help preserve it for our future generations. Together we can make the world a better place!
My aim is to:- Inspire others to mindfully travel the world through my storytelling and make travelers aware of responsible choices to travel better, with care for the environment and our planet, and leave nothing but footprints. On my sustainable travel and photography blog https://ourplanetinmylens.com I share helpful destination guides and related travel articles including inspiring photography to help my readers plan their trip of a lifetime;
- Showcase destinations and brands in the tourism industry as well as conservation organizations, and NGOs at their very best through my content creation and visual storytelling while keeping sustainable travel, raising awareness and creating impact in mind.
- Share and sell my wildlife images to spread awareness about the critical facts some animals are facing so that it hopefully inspires others to contribute to nature and wildlife conservation, be more aware of (un)ethical wildlife experiences, and kill nothing but time. We don't own our planet Earth, we belong to it and we have to share it with our wildlife!
- Help travel & wildlife photography lovers become better photographers by sharing both technical and mindful photography tips to create meaningful images that stand out.
- Exhibiting the beauty of our planet through fine-art prints and wall-art (interior decoration) to inspire others about the beautiful world we are fortunate to live in, and that we have to respect nature by taking good care of ourselves, others, and our planet.
- Take safari lovers on photo safari trips to Africa with me to show them the real Africa, build meaningful connections with like-minded travelers, teach them everything I know about photography, and participate in conservation activities to give back to nature for what nature has given to us.
About Kim, the short story
Dutch 1982-millennial travel writer, certified nature guide and award-winning travel & wildlife photographer with a crush on Africa and its amazing wildlife.
Lover of coffee, comfortable on flip-flops, and fond of hats while traveling so that I don’t have to do my hair. Always taking the scenic route. Happy when I hear the birds sing in the morning, and excited every time the sky turns in pretty colors. Interested in self-development and committed to being a more responsible traveler. As a nature and wildlife enthusiast at heart, I feel very much at home in the African bush.
I studied Geography teaching but ended up with bachelor's degrees in Consumer Services Management and Public Administration with a 9-5 job as a Policy Advisor at the Dutch local government.
Because it’s never too late to pursue your dreams and to live your best life, I decided to quit my job and build my own business to experience more freedom and start doing what I love doing most.
The longer version
The longer version...
Traveling is among the top priorities in my life!
I travel to understand the world a bit better and it has taught me the value of memories and connections over things.
When we travel, we take in the energy of each new place in a way that can transform us. Travel infuses us with new energy and increases our sense of being connected to a larger world. This energy of connection stays with us and uplifts us even after we leave. Travel enriches you more than I can explain.
People and cultures from all over the world inspire me and I love to explore the beauty our life has to offer; from amazing landscapes and breathtaking sunsets to (endangered) wildlife and inspiring people with their own unique traditions, sounds, and food.
Traveling our planet - 5 continents explored & 37 countries visited - introduces me to a wealth of different landscapes, wildlife, cultures, and amazing experiences. Memories that will last a lifetime. On my travel and photography blog, you can find stories and images of my travels and travel tips to help you plan your next trip.
Travel & photography proved to be a perfect match
My love for photography developed during my volunteer work in a Game Reserve in South Africa, where I contributed to vital conservation within the reserve, learned the basics of photography, and went on game drives to shoot wildlife images for educational initiatives.
Photography is a love affair with life and my camera is the perfect instrument of expression for me on my journey around the world.
I love to look at the surroundings in a mindful way and capture moments that draw my attention. Nowadays photography has become one of the most important reasons I travel. Therefore, you will hardly see me without a camera.
- I won the National Geographic photo competition of 2019;
- Qualified as a finalist in the Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year competition in 2020;
- Several photos have been published, for example in National Geographic Magazine, National Geographic Calendars, The Telegraph (UK), ZOOM.nl (a Dutch Photography Magazine), and other travel and photography-related magazines.
Why I love Africa
Spending quality time in the African bush gives me that special feeling. In Africa, I feel somehow more grounded and connected to nature, the people, and myself.
It forces you to be in the moment because - in the bush - you don't know what the next minute will bring. Being so close to nature makes me feel alive and free!
I've visited over 10 African countries, some of them more than once and there really is something about Africa that feels like home to me. As a wildlife enthusiast and wildlife photographer I keep going back to Africa; for its nature, the people, and my love for our beautiful - and sadly endangered - wildlife! Blessed to be an FGASA-certified apprentice field guide since 2021, which is of great value when taking others on a (photo) safari to Africa. Interested in mindfully exploring the African bush with me? Get in touch!
With my wildlife images, I hope to spread awareness about the critical facts some animals are facing and that it will inspire you to contribute to wildlife conservation. The fight for our wildlife has never been more important, therefore I hope my images can be a small reminder of lives worth saving.