Our studio is very blessed with so many of our clients wanting to share their maternity experience with us. A maternity shoot is a very special shoot because it captures the time when baby inside is still very much a part of Mommy. A baby bump is a beautiful way to celebrate the woman form.

This family already has a beautiful little 3-year old girl, with the most amazing red hair, and she made the shoot extra special with her little quirks. Her father was very funny and made her laugh the whole time. Even though most families own a good camera, we still understand the need for professional maternity photos.As it isn’t only about taking photos, it’s about capturing certain moments in time, in a very professional, extra-ordinary way. We’re honored to share in the maternity-time, and births of all of these Mommies- and babies to be and hope to serve our clients with our great photography for a long time to come.

Yolandi Jacobsz

When we have our family shoots here in the studio  we always advise our families to keep their attire bright and these lively photos show exactly the reason why. Colour just seems to bring amazing life to images and it seems to make the family come together as a unit in the shoot.

Our family shoots have evolved so much over the years, where we always try and have such a tremendous amount of fun. Long gone are the days of very stiff,very posed photographs. One of our biggest aims are that we want you as our client to look at your photos and think back at a time spent in the studio. It was perhaps chaotic and crazy but it was  loads of fun.

Life is way too serious as it is so time with us shouldn’t be as well, and if we can’t spice up your shoot with some theatrics and jokes and laughs, we would surely get some somber faces. Our family shoots are amazingly special and it leaves you with great memories  which  gives you a product that will make you smile each time you remember your visit with us.

Yolandi Jacobsz

There is this special time in a girl’s life when she isn’t fully a teenager yet, but no more a small girl, and in that gap, is when they are at their sweetest.  We have had quite a few shoots with girls this age, and always find it a pleasure working with them. They provide for some precious moments, and it’s at this age where you want to keep them right where they are, and not have them grow up too fast.

When they’re small it’s easy to whip out gifts for them, as a toy would suffice, but when they get a bit older, they want more exciting ways to celebrate their birthdays, and a shoot for the birthday girl, and her friends, is the ideal way to capture the stage they’re at.

We have done quite a few shoots such as these, and we provide a very professional service, making sure, every girl is photographed, the birthday girl, is treated especially special, and that we get fun, spontaneous group photos that will make you remember the celebrated birthday with fondness. If not sure what to do with a tween’s birthday, let them have their own fun shoot, with a group of friends, we’ll e sure to provide you with an outstanding product.

Yolandi Jacobsz & Riani Labuschagne

Teenage birthday party photo session

Many parents say they wouldn’t just want to have their kids just be the only child, as siblings just add to the fun. So having quite a few brothers and sisters, make for those little giggles and jokes only they can share and understand. Sometimes siblings have their own jargon only they seem to get, and it’s that dynamic, that comes through in the studio. We enjoy the little moments between the kids, and find that many times, the energy they all have together make each of them feed off of the other one’s manner, and it can just escalate into the wonderful craziness we experience many a times at our studio.

Sisters and brothers have this connection, and all Mom and Dad can do, is sometimes just stand back and see it being played out in front of them. We accommodate all the phases kids go through, at some stage they just giggle for each and every thing, at other stages they adore posing, and all of these, just begs to be captured.

Our studio enjoys each and every family that comes to visit us, they are all different, and it’s such a privilege to work with so many different people, and become a part of their family too, however small, as they absolutely become part of ours.

Yolandi Jacobsz & Riani Labuschagne

 Fun family photo sessions

For very few people, we would know exactly what to buy as a gift for them. People have such different tastes and interests and it’s quite hard to tell what would be something that would be viable to them. A photo shoot as gift, is something that would work for absolutely anyone, no matter how their family is put together or what it consist out of.

We have the great privilege to work with an amazingly wide variety of people, each family different, each model unique, and they always enjoy the shoot tremendously. So a photo shoot gift voucher is the perfect gift, and a great idea, as everyone would want to have great photos of themselves taken, and have the chance to have fun in a professional photo studio.

We always take great care, to make sure everyone that visits our studio, know that we are professionals, using professional high-end cameras and equipment, and we use skill to technically create great images – but apart for everything, we connect with our clients, and they always feel like family to us. Treat yourself, or a loved one or friend, to a shoot at Louise Diesel Photography, The Real Life Studio, it’s the perfect gift, and will create a lifetime of memories.

Yolandi Jacobsz & Riani Labuschagne

Ideal Christmas presents

Toddlers rarely stand still, as we all know.  So prepare yourself for a busy 20-40 minutes (varies from subject to subject)  Set-up and test all your studio equipment, toys etc beforehand to ensure you don’t have to waste precious time which could have been spent taking photos of your toddler.  Another great photography tip is to get down to their lever, yes I know you have heard this many times before and it really works.  When taking photos toddlers on their eye-level the world becomes a different place and you can experience the world as they do.

Get some noisy toys and use them in the studio.  A colourful green froggy which goes squeak-squeak will get a smile out of most toddlers, or maybe their favourite ball (you know them best – otherwise ask mom and dad to bring some favourites along – which will also personalise the photos)  Make sure to schedule their photoshoot at the time of the day they are normally at their happiest, it might be in the morning a while after they have woken up and have had breakfast and some are better after they have had their afternoon nap.   Don’t stop photographing when they turn away from the camera or aren’t smiling, because you are trying to capture the essence of being a toddler.  Do you think those shots with a tollder looking back over their shoulder were posed?   No way… this was a toddler walking away from a photographer and just peeking back to make sure all the attention are still on them and that is the moment the photographer has captured so magically. 

One thing I have learnt on my quest to take better photos of toddlers are to give them some space and just a little bit of free rein.  They don’t like being clung onto, and every now and again a top-up of milk or juice can do wonders.  The more toddlers you photograph the better you will get and the more fun it will be…!

Riani Labuschagne

Family photos

Taking photos of toddlers are always a lot of fun, they are now turning into little opiniated human beings and I just love to hear everything they have got to say I had a toddler in studio tell me once that I look like BEN10 (I played hockey the night before and took a hit to the face so I had “stitch plasters” on my eyebrow)  So in this little guy’s world, I was like a superhero…   

Other toddlers march right into the studio and just automatically own the place, they look at everything and everywhere and start answering all your questions in their sweet little way.  You get introduced to “Barney” or their little “Dolly” and you have to remember that to them this toy is just as real as you and I (which is sometimes a challenge)

Every family is unique and special in their own way, some are a little bit shy and just need a bit of guidance and then they let loose.  We sometimes find that a family is quiet and reserved when they walk through our doors and on their way out they cannot stop laughing and talking about how much fun they had.  And that is exactly what we strive to do, guide you in terms of posing so that we can ensure you get the most out of the whole experience!

Riani Labuschagne

Family Photographers