A smile is what makes most photos pop, and as the camera has this cunning way of noticing everything; it will certainly see when the smile is real, or being put on. A smile is universally understood, in any language and absolutely everywhere, and bringing forth a laugh because we find something amusing, is one of those many things that binds us humans, no matter how different we are or from what corners of the world we hail from, we all do it. We laugh, and we smile, and it’s an act of enjoyment, and getting some of our subjects to smile is quite a job, but very rewarding, one that makes us smile too, because the moments are so special – and so real, and it shows something real of the inside of every person that gives us one of those megawatt smiles.

We perform in the studio with all sorts of jokes and saying to makes our clients smile, from a little kid who refuses, to granddad that just usually has the stern look on his face that he carries around most of the time. We try and remind the families, or anyone coming for the shoot, that your time in the studio is a relatively short time, and in that time, we just need a few real smiles before you’re free to go and enjoy the rest of the day. Those photos are the reminders of who we are as people, how the family fits together, of the thought of what is our hubby going to think when he sees your gorgeous boudoir photos, and how- in spite of life’s troubles and hardships, there are certainly reasons to still keep on smiling.

Yolandi Jacobsz

There are probably not a cellphone these days that doesn’t come out with a little built-in camera, and at basically any department store it is possible to buy a decent camera to do the job of just capturing the family’s vacation, or baby’s smile, or your eldest first year at university. So that there still are a need for professional photographic studios to record people’s lives, is what makes us tick, and we’ve realized that people REALISE, that getting something done professionally, is the best way to go, if you don’t have that skill yourself.

We wouldn’t be in this profession if this is what we wanted to do, and although there are many people out there in the unfortunate position of being in a job that they detest day to day – we feel ourselves blessed, to use our talent and our keen eye, to make memories with everyone out there wanting to capture life’s moments. And sometimes hard stages happen which has to be dealt with and be worked through, and it’s then when you appreciate your loved ones more. They grow so fast, and have cunning things they do at certain stages, and being in the position of still having elderly parents might change any day.

We enjoy all sorts of families that come to our studio, as our market seems to be very divers, which keeps it interesting, and every family is unique in set-up and personality, which is why this profession will never get boring – the wonderful people that we get to see, keeps it interesting.

Yolandi Jacobsz

Family Studio Photography

Many of us have had the misfortune to have had heartache, sadness or loss happen to us & it has the horrible repercussion of making us lose faith in humanity. Children are the most honest people on this earth – they still see fairies in gardens, they still hear sleigh bells, & when they smile with all their heart it lights up their little faces and for seconds, there is nothing wrong in this world.

We welcome all children in our studio, because of their beauty, honesty & mostly because they also belong to parents who biasly want to have their children recorded as well as they see them. We don’t want to have their photo shoot be a negative experience for them, and we try & keep it light by singing to them, throwing some balls around, blowing some bubbles & everything to almost stand on our head to have some great smiles from the little ones.

They grow fast & they change fast & it’s never a bad idea to get pics of the little ones. Family photos are fun & a remembrance of the gift we receive with what children give to this world. Beauty is my own strive, I try & find it anywhere I can, & it’s luckily easily accessible with just having some children around. A little kid’s hug is a universal cure to many things and makes life’s troubles lesser & easier to deal with.

Yolandi Jacobsz

A family has so many parts of one whole, and each family is unique, therefore we treat each family shoot here at Louise Diesel Photography, differently. Some people have some ideas already of what they want to get out of the shoot. Others only had one objective, which is to get some great photos of the family together, so if we as photographers can guide in helping with posing or set-ups, they would go for it.

The backdrop could seem quite a scary place to many people, almost like a stage, and posing could almost be seen as performing in a way too, and using some bribing, and pure human interacting with joking and talking to your subjects, could have even the most “unphotogenic” person, smiling. We don’t believe in such a thing in anyway, and find that most people feel they don’t actually like photos, or feel they really don’t take them well, and we stand in awe, of very often, those exact people, as we have gotten something special out of them at the end of the day.

Some people’s pets are like their own children, and we see that special bond also definitely as an opportunity to be recorded here at our studio, so we welcome them, and feel it a fun, special way of photographing your life’s memories here with us at Louise Diesel Photography Studio.

Yolandi

http://www.louisedieselphotography.co.za/photography/category/family

http://www.louisedieselphotography.co.za/photography/category/family-photography

With child photography your photoshoot literally starts from the moment your clients walk in the door.  Take your time to get to know the parents, granny etc and especially young children a little better.  Beforehand you should also have spent a little time on preparing the studio lights and props. 

Next is the elusive smile of a toddler.  Yes, they are happy smiley beings by nature but not as much when you take a camera out.  You need to have an idea of what appeals to every age.  Do they love Barney and sing along with you or are they more of a BEN10 kind of throws balls all over the studio kind of age…? 

Just look at all these different expressions (and let me tell you they all surfaced in 3 seconds…)  You should always be ready to capture a shot.  Children are the most honest people I have ever come across, they will say and do exactly what they think is right and no one (no, not even their mom can stop them…lol) So try and capture it. 

Taking photos of your kids is truly a rewarding field of photography, they grow and change so fast (that sometimes you feel like you have missed something) and when you look back at these treasured memories of them you can have a good laugh.  I know we do  

Coming to an end I think the most important aspect of child photography lies in connecting and entertaining your little subject.  Learn some nursery rhymes and maybe Barney (lot of kiddies just adore Barney), get some soapy bubbles and ask mom to blow them while you photograph etc and you will have memories which will leave mom with tears of joy!

Riani

Child Photography

“You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.”
Franklin P Jones

“A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.” ~ Tenneva Jordan

“You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around – and why his parents will always wave back.” ~William D. Tammeus.

“There’s nothing that can help you understand your beliefs more than trying to explain them to an inquisitive child.”
Frank A. Clark

“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.”
James Arthur Bladwin

“Why do we need funny quotes about toddlers? Because being able to laugh about the experience of bringing up a child is a skill as important as changing your first dirty nappy.” – Anon

“Do not, on a rainy day, ask your child what he feels like doing, because I assure you that what he feels like doing, you won’t feel like watching. ” – Fran Lebowitz

“I want to have children and I know my time is running out: I want to have them while my parents are still young enough to take care of them. ”
- Rita Rudner

“Pretty much all the honest truth telling there is in the world is done by children. ”
-Oliver Wendell Holmes

“The fundamental job of a toddler is to rule the universe. ” – Lawrence Kutner

Riani

Toddler Photos

How I just love taking photos of little toddlers..  They are extremely wise and just love to speak their minds   Too cute for words, little Banda over here told me that I look like Ben 10 (I had stitch plasters over my eye) Being a top toddler photographer surely keeps my work day interesting.  All I can say patience and a ‘quick shutter finger’ are the only two things you need to successfully photograph these little boys and girls.  So if you think your little one is too wise for their size and as cute as they’ll ever be, bring them past our studio as we’d love to meet them!

Riani

Top toddler photographer