I shall forever be grateful for the lovely families that visit our studio, and for the trust they put into us, to capture their family’s bond. Every family is unique, every family has their own little way of going about their life, with each having their own inside jokes, and way of making each other fee loved and comfortable. Studio shooting could be regarded as standard and that a certain protocol is used for all, but it isn’t so. Each family is unique in its own right, each family member has their own special way of handling the studio, and to they handle themselves in front of the camera. Many Mommies will tell you that they have who children, they come out of the same household with the Mom and Dad doing the same things, and the two kids differ like day and night. In that same manner we treat every family member differently, perhaps working more on the shyer ones to get those precious smiles out of them. Culturally, we are all so diverse, especially in South Africa where we have a melting pot of so many different kinds of people, and each culture has a different way of handling their kids, and spouses.

We understand that smaller kids can be a handful at times, but we do about everything but stand on our heads to get them to smile, and there come a time, when even the toughest nut does crack, and we get a beautiful natural smile. Our studio wants to emphasize to all of our clients, how important it actually is to have fun in the studio, and how we work with all different personalities.

We realize each to their own, and we go to great lengths to keep clients happy, and provide you with a natural, great-quality product.

Yolandi Jacobsz

Fun family portraits

Many people have mixed feelings about studio photography, and wouldn’t know what to expect when they book a shoot. Most people only know they want great photos done of themselves, or with them and their family, but knowing what the results will be, or if they will get to loosen up in front of the camera, is unsure to them.

To quote our father here: Louise Diesel Photography

It is rare to be absolutely blown away by something you had average hopes for……this is definitely the feeling I experienced after viewing the results of a recent photo shoot……Professional, relaxed and Fun are a few words describing my experience at Louise Diesel Photography……Can’t wait for the next annual shoot people…..very well done….

Our shoot with this dad and his teenage daughter was tremendous amounts of fun, as they were open to anything, and tried anything. All it takes for good photos is a little bit of an uninhibited feel, and letting go of some shyness, and tentativeness.  A great part of our job is getting reviews like these, knowing people had certain expectations, and then to amaze them with our studio’s quality.

We guarantee a great shoot for everyone and anyone wanting to have their memories captured in a shoot, and we’ll make sure to bring out your personality some, and show the bond you have with your loved ones.

Yolandi Jacobsz & Riani Labuschagne

Fun studio photos

Our studio, mostly wants to have fun with what we do, and we ultimately want our clients, to have tremendous amounts of fun with us, and for their memory of their time spent with us. We do our shoots professionally, making sure we use great equipment and lighting, but we also make sure to clown and joke around to get people to be comfortable in the studio – a place a bit out of people’s element, and most people do not know what to expect.

Our shoots are meant to bring the lighter side of your family to the front, to show a bit of spunk and comical moments, not have you remember it as being stiff and formal. Our own demeanors are that of mostly fun, and knowing that we are here to provide a great service, but one that is enjoyable, and products of great quality, because you as family had been able to relax and let go a bit.

Here we breath, eat and sleep what we do, and will make sure to not only give you products that you can be proud of, but in post production colour and sharpness amongst others are fixed, so that comparably to many other products available out there, there is remarkable difference between our carefully processed images, and our way of providing great service.

Yolandi Jacobsz & Riani Labuschagne

Fun family shoot

The job that we have involves so many wonderful things, and it’s always exciting, as things always happen, progresses, and we get to meet new clients all the time. We find all of our clients so unique and interested, as we see how about everyone wants their shoot a certain way, or have different things in mind, or the family itself is differently put together. Some people are much les inhibited and laugh and joke with each, wrestling and teasing each other endlessly. Others find themselves a bit more only a while into the shoot, and relax as they see how we interact with them, their children, and pose and direct them in such ways, to only get the best out of their family, which could consists out of absolutely anybody, young, small etc.

Service is something we constantly discuss, to have systems and certain rules in place, to always make the experience for everyone as enjoyable as possible, and to have you realize that our studio always strives for the best, and is proud to provide you with an excellent product.

Having had over 400 shoots last year, we mixed, mingled, interacted and liaised with quite a big variety of people, getting to know them a little, forming a bond, and having the wonderful pleasure of return clients, who used our studio specifically because they know what a decent, high-quality product they will receive here at Louise Diesel Photography

Yolandi Jacobsz & Riani Labuschagne

Fun family photoshoots

I got a phone call this week to photograph a one year old’s birthday party, not at all a strange thing, you might say.  To me it feels like I did this family’s maternity photoshoot just the other day!  When I was little I could never understand why grown-up’s always comment on how much kids have grown and now I know why…

This is the exact reason why we recommend doing a family photoshoot.  Kids tend to grow like little mushrooms J   And every age is accompanied by some kind of classic age-related traits.  You might NOT find some of those traits very funny at the moment but believe me when I say you will miss some of it the moment you realize they have grown out of their old stage of development and moved into a new stage.

For example: toddlers 2-4 yrs have this specific way of holding your face with each of their little hands on either side of your face , and they don’t do this often as they get older.  Or one we all know is they don’t simply hug you, they tend to grab you around the neck and squash you to them J

So what I’m trying to say is that it’s a truly fun experience (it’s even been compared to playdates by other families) for the whole family…

Riani Labuschagne & Yolandi Jacobsz

family portraits

All families are compiled differently, some have two fathers, some eight kids, some ten grandchildren, some a single mother, and that is what makes your family unique in its own right. We adore families who come and visit us, because each and every shoot, we try and bring a fun element in. No one wants to look back at photos and remember a stiff, too posed kind-of time they had with us. Kids are in anyway much more comfortable with their parents tickling them, and playing with them, that what they would be with some strange lady doing it, and those giggles are what we’re looking for.

Kids will always be kids, and when they are still small, no amount of force will get them to smile if they are really not into it. We have the biggest success rate with smaller children, when their photos are taken first, and when we try and do all combinations that have them in it, over and done with, without rushing it, just knowing that they only give a small amount of time before they are spend and very stimulated. Our studio is based on the principle that your shoot should be good, positive experience, for everyone involved, from Granny, to the very littlest baby, and we try our best to not to make children scared of the experience.

It’s always a pleasure to work with kids, because they are so honest and only themselves, and those amazing faces breaking into (sometimes toothless) smiles, are priceless.

Yolandi Jacobsz & Riani Labsuchagne

Fun and creative family photoshoots

The S family has “two” children, their darling little girl and her soft plush toy Lulu.  Mom is absolutely convinced that Lulu will join in at her Cara’s 21^st birthday one day J

This was an amazing photoshoot simply because mom and dad understands their little whirlwind so well.  She has enough energy to tire out 5 adults I’d say, ha ha.  So we ended up having to spin her around and around, throw her up in the air and many more in mock play  games just to get her to “sit still” and capture some smiles.

And let me tell you that Lulu was just as much a part of the photo as anyone else.  We had to ask her to smile and this in turn made Cara smile too, too cute. 

Toddlers usually enjoy our fun family photoshoots SO much as it turns into more of a playdate than anything else because this is the only way to bring out their naturally beautiful smiles.

Riani Labuschagne & Yolandi Jacobsz

Natural family portraits