Top photographer William Rutten has threatened to withdraw from Het Perfecte Plaatje if candidates such as Samantha ‘Barbie’ de Jong participate. “With all due respect.”
It is currently one of the greater successes of RTL 4: The Perfect Picture. An important role in the program is reserved for one of the country’s best-known top photographers: William Rutten. He has been involved in the show from the very beginning. “When I was asked to participate and think along, it was at a very early stage.”
Never again at the bank
William was the very first choice to judge in the photography competition, which was launched in 2016. “At first only I was in the picture; they didn’t know at all whether several jurors would participate,” he says in conversation with New Rev.
He continues: “I will tell you very frankly that I didn’t say yes right away, afraid it might damage my reputation. I had previously seen that someone who participated in a TV program with an excellent career as a jury member – for example on Hollands Next Top Model – lost himself a bit in it and never got back to work.”
No Barbie
To prevent that, William demanded that no G stars such as Samantha ‘Barbie’ de Jong, known from Oh Oh Cherso, would participate. “That was my big fear, for my credibility to lose. I literally said beforehand: I will only sign when I know who is participating.”
He continues: “Because with all due respect: if it were made with reality stars like Barbie and Jokertje, it would be a completely different kind of program. Nothing to the detriment of those reality people, but then it is less about photography and more about reality.”
Marco and Humberto
By whom did William finally tack? “The program makers entrusted me with two participants: Marco Borsato and Humberto Tan. Those are two very big names that don’t just participate in everything; moreover, I knew that photography was already a passion of theirs. Then I dared to do it.”