I don’t really know how to brag properly. Honestly, it always feels a little awkward to me. But here we are: I printed a book.
Well… let’s be fair. My husband printed the very first copy for me. Why? Because I happen to suffer from a chronic case of “nothing I make is ever good enough.” And no, scrolling through social media and Internet does not help. (Though it almost makes me feel better… until it doesn’t. You know how that spiral goes.)
But this time was different. When I held the book in my hands, I was actually happy with it. Truly happy.
How It All Started
It began during the winter in Bruges. From early winter to early spring, I walked the city streets almost every night. I wasn’t on a mission. I wasn’t thinking about galleries, exhibitions, or printing books. I was simply walking, looking, and sometimes stopping when the city revealed something unique – a shadow on the cobblestones, a reflection in the canals, a lonely lantern on a misty night.
I took photos just to capture what I saw and shared them with a few close people. That was it. Nothing more. Publishing was never the plan.
But then one thing led to another.
From “Just for Me” to Print
The first copy of Bruges at Night was printed through a POD (print-on-demand) service. Easy enough – but far too expensive. The price was 200–300% higher than it needed to be, which made no sense if I wanted to share it beyond a single copy.
So I went back to my roots: design. Thanks to my InDesign skills, I recreated the entire book myself. I searched for a better printer and found one who could produce beautiful copies at a fair price. And just like that – Bruges at Night became real.
The Book Today
The photo book is printed in black and white, echoing the quiet atmosphere of the city after dark. It’s not a tourist brochure. It’s not a guide. It’s a mood. A memory of what Bruges feels like when the crowds are gone, the lights glow soft, and silence fills the streets.
For now, the book is available in my Etsy shop here:
Bruges at Night – Black & White Photo Book
Not Every Photo Made It
While I wait for the next batch of books to come from the printer, I’ve also been sharing some of the photos that didn’t make it into the final edit. They are from the same period, the same walks, the same mood – but they live outside the covers.
Because that’s the thing with photography: not every image belongs in the book, but every walk, every moment, every click of the shutter led me there.
Why I Printed This Book
Printing this book wasn’t about proving something. It wasn’t even about sales (though, yes, it’s nice if someone wants to own it). It was more about turning something fragile – late-night walks, quiet moods, fleeting shadows – into something tangible.
A book you can hold. A little piece of Bruges you can take home.
Would I do it again? Absolutely. But for now, I’m just grateful to have captured a side of Bruges most people never see.
If you want to see it for yourself, the book is waiting in my Etsy shop.
