Andy McSweeney is a pro travel & portrait photographer from Montreal Canada, in Brugge since 2002 and 110% of Photo Tour Brugge since 2012.

Away from Montreal since 1994 & seeing many (many!) places before settling in Brugge after marrying the sweetest local lady, he was (and still is) joyously busy discovering: Travel, life, and everything in between.

With a wide focus that travel life and shooting encourages as well as "Photographer on the Loose" status around town and beyond, photography is fuel to Andy's photo soul: A means of focus to celebrate life with and have memories captured, the camera being a tool and a teacher as well as memory box on top.

With a profound passion for photography and a love for the charm of Brugge, Photo Tour Brugge was created both as a way to embrace photography even further and share with others.

Andy's Photo Work

Andy McSweeney works as a commercial professional photographer, Belgian tax # and all.

While his commercial history before Photo Tour Brugge is limited in volume (blame a backpacker youth and 7 year distraction as DJ), he was paid from his 2nd roll of film in 1995 before managing a few respectable jobs both casual and commercial before settling and starting Photo Tour Brugge in 2012.

(Opening the tour added visibility as photographer, not to mention he stopped being distracted as a DJ.)

Since then, Andy's current creative & commercial focuses are:

1. Portrait Photography: Having always had a love of catching people on camera, Andy adores offering a photo shoot service as part of the Photo Tour Brugge DNA. The focus of these minimum-hourly sessions are on natural environmental takes for non-models to bring home a memory of Brugge both in photos and fun.
2. Architecture & Interior photography: Trading managing couples to dance and families to catch not blinking for the flash, Andy cherishes the peaceful work of quiet captures of Brugge buildings for hotels & BnBs, private clients and other requested requirements.
3. Events & Happenings: Back to the people side of things for the -occasional- wedding, personal or corporate gathering (he's interviewing them just as much as they are haha), our man Andy works the crowd to catch those warm moments as well  the smiles.
4. Books & Prints: 2 books published; Being in Brugge - Favourites so Far (2015) and Brugge Landscapes - Unlocked for Light (2020) and prints of that and other work for hotel walls and private homes. Online shop coming soon.
5. Brugge, Brugge, Brugge: Over 10,000 photos in Andy's current collection for photo tour samples on location (via iPad), he also is a regular and active street and local life photographer in his lovely adopted city. He even goes to press events for practice if nothing else, anything that helps share the story of beautiful Brugge.

Andy's Photo Style 

Andy McSweeney loves a loose but practiced approach to photography, adapting from quiet observer nudging in quietly through to a clear and obvious part of the final photo experience.

The "loose" part is simple: Surely plan for the photo/shoot/goal to come as much as appropriate, BUT approach each and every shoot with a mind to come in fresh and wanting to discover that freshness in the frame. It's fun and the results tend to glow more. ;)

...and that's where practice comes in: While Andy was paid from his 2nd roll of basically just trying out photography back in the '90s, natural talent needs hard hours and time of practice. Andy's fortunate enough to have that with Photo Tour Brugge since 2012, not to even get into his commercial & personal shooting in and beyond Brugge.

Andy also generally likes to get close where possible for an intimate but environmental feel to his subject, wide lenses are the busier part of his gear bag (16-35mm or 18mm 1,4 would be the "if only one" on that desert island and FF) next to the usual ranges of optics needed for the differing moments of differing jobs.

Katie (AKA Mrs Andy)

• Provider of the Beverage of Morning Ignition
• Belgian Master of Cuisine (Home Edition)
• Translator Supreme when my vlaams fails me
• (Executive) Friend & Attendant to the Animals
• Puts up with Andy for 20 years and counting...

Blake the Ball Baron

• Spotted at the shelter juuuust as he was giving up hope.
• Would bite himself before he bites you.
• Great with kids, they're in fact "nanny dogs" first.
• Loves his walks, LOVES balls: Ballsballsballs BALLS!!!
• On request for private tours, if he'll leave the sofa...

Adopt, don't shop.

Elvis the King

• An early gift from Andy for Mrs Andy.
• Mommy's boy from day one.
• (But usually sits on Daddy's lap.)
• Begs by putting his paw on your leg.
• "Mommy says I'm the most handsome."

Adopt, don't shop.

Priscilla, Queen of the Brugge Streets

• Street cat badass turned house cat badass.
• The littlest thing that curls into the littlest ball.
• Gone 3 weeks in winter, found surfing sheep for food.
• Loud: either purring or letting you know what is what.
• Badass... Ask about jumping off the roof at 18 years old.

Adopt, don't shop.

Tiger, The English Gentleman

• Such a gentleman from day 1, literally flawless.
• Black cat with 👀spooky eyes 👀!
• Explorer of water in all its states & forms.
• Daily roll at the front door before work.
• Greets you with a "Rroooww!" after work.

Adopt, don't shop.