Bio

​Peter van der Wal (1985), better known as The Sinful Son, is a self-taught photographer based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Working at the intersection of documentary photography, portraiture and queer culture, his practice explores identity, freedom, community, desire and the importance of visibility through deeply personal and intimate imagery.

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Raised in a strict religious environment, Peter left his faith behind in order to embrace his identity as a queer man, a decision that ultimately led to the loss of contact with his family. The name The Sinful Son refers to how he was perceived within that world: the son who deviated from its expectations and beliefs. This personal history continues to shape his artistic practice, which is rooted in empathy, vulnerability and human connection.

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Rather than documenting queer nightlife as an outsider, Peter photographs from within the community itself. A familiar presence at clubs, festivals and performances, he captures drag artists, club kids, DJs, performers and visitors using his rare Polaroid Big Shot camera. His distinctive peel-apart Polaroids celebrate not only the people in front of the lens, but also the freedom, intimacy and collective energy that define queer nightlife.

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Over several years, Peter developed Beautiful Creatures, an ongoing body of work created across Amsterdam, Berlin, London and New York. The project is both a visual archive and a love letter to queer nightlife, bringing together more than 350 analogue Polaroids alongside personal stories and commissioned essays that celebrate chosen family, self-expression and resilience.

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In 2026, Peter's first book, Beautiful Creatures, was published by nai010 publishers and officially launched during WorldPride Amsterdam. The publication marks a significant milestone in his career, presenting years of analogue portraiture and lived experiences in a tribute to the beauty, diversity and strength of queer communities.

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The same year, Peter presented his first solo exhibition, Beautiful Creatures, at Melkweg Expo in Amsterdam. Running from 8 July to 20 September 2026, the exhibition brought together a large selection of the project's iconic Polaroid portraits, offering an immersive celebration of queer nightlife and the people who shape it.

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Alongside Beautiful Creatures, Peter is developing new analogue projects, including intimate black-and-white portraits made with a large-format camera. Across all of his work, he remains committed to creating images that foster connection, preserve queer histories and affirm the right of every person to be seen.

His photographs are ultimately an invitation to look beyond stereotypes and to recognise the beauty, humanity and resilience that exist within every community.

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