We recently went to the Drakensberg for Christmas and I have always wanted to photograph the Kosmos flowers which grow so freely next to the open country roads.  So this time I decided that there is no better time than now…  But I didn’t just want any ordinary photos of these beautiful flowers, oh no I wanted to try and capture something unique. 

I had my parents escort me so that I could play around and experiment with all different types of shots with them keeping an eye on me (when looking through a viewfinder of a camera I find the whole world disappears and all you focus on is the shot – so now you know why I needed them there)

Trying everything from lying on my back and shooting up all along the stem of these cute little flowers and even shaking them around a little to create some movement.  And this is what I ended up with.  Not 100% what I was looking for but I can already picture 3 little arty kosmos canvasses on my wall

The secret is to never lose the inner child within you, always keep playing…

Riani Labuschagne

Professional Photography

It’s that time of the year again and as always I can’t believe how fast this year has just flown by…   What does Christmas signify to you, to me it’s a time of gratitude.  To say thank you for all the blessings which we have received during the year, to say thank you for friends and family and so forth.  The list is endless.

This Christmas of 2011 I am most looking forward to spending this very special day with my whole family (meaning all 12 of us, mom and dad, siblings,their better halves, kiddies, grandma and even my dogs)   So make some time today to sit and reminisce with your loved ones about the highlights of this past year and give thanks for each and every challenge that crossed your path, and if you look carefully you will see how these “opportunities disguised as challenge” made you grow.

To my crazy funny and VERY loving family, I adore you all! J

Riani Labuschagne

Light, is literally what makes photographers tick. We observe any sort of light very carefully; as that is the medium we use and need to shoot our images, and to do our job. Light is what creates your images, and depending on how it is used, it creates certain effect, and makes the viewer have different reactions to it. Sometimes we use the light to accentuate certain shapes or features, and it works especially well with maternity photo shoots, where you have a very evident round tummy and the light catches the shape of it so beautifully. With portfolio shoots, we usually try and accentuate the shape of the body, or the lines of the face, and we move the light to get certain shadows and highlights in all sorts of strategic places.

A studio that claims to be professional, should give their clients good quality products, taken with good quality gear, and professional lighting must be used, as it’s always our strive to provide all clients with amazing images.

As trained photographers, we understand light well, and know what will work to accentuate certain things, and to hide others. Light is such a great medium, it gets us excited and inspires us to always think of new ways to create more brilliant images.

Yolandi Jacobsz & Riani Labuschagn

Using light creatively 

I once had a hefty argument with a friend in college about black and white photography. For me, virtually every photo could work in a black and white version as well, and I love the look and feel of it. Nothing comes close to the feel of high-contrasty images, with a clear definition between shadows and highlights, or something as vivid as texture, making a shot pop, and its effect standing out so much more in black and white photos. The friend disagreed and said that we are very fortunate to experience so many colours with our brilliant eyes, and that photos with no colour to them could be quite somber.

The wonderful thing about photography, which still grabs me to this day, and is one of the main reasons I dwell in it so much, is that once you know the rules, you can go ahead and break them as far and beyond as you like, and when a shot works with no colour, only detail the most strategic of places, it has its own appeal, and it makes that picture unique in its own right.

I feel a different focus is put on the image when it’s stripped of colour, you get to see something different, or the very essence of the photo stands out so clear when it’s black and white, and even though colour is substantially important to make images come alive, we must go with our gut, and if you have a certain attraction to black and white, try the medium with certain images, and see how it works for you.

Yolandi Jacobsz & Riani Labuschagne

Monotone Photography

We feel birthdays are great celebrations, it should be a big festive event, and it gives everyone a fun reason to have a great time. We love to photograph any type of birthday, whether it is a party, or whether just am anniversary. We had two lovely young people in our studio whose mother died tragically when they were still young. This year would have marked her 50^th birthday, and they wanted to celebrate her birthday in an amazing way, by making memories with us, in our brand new studio.

They have such a special bond, and wanted to show their Mom, that they became amazing, successful, hardworking young people, people she would have been proud of. I had one of the best shoots I’ve ever had with these two, and I appreciated them being so open to suggestions, and taking such great guidance from me. They were unique in their ideas, and made for a great shoot.

Our studio wants to capture memories, we want to have them happen right in front of us, with interactive and fun poses, and I got a great dose of that today, with so many shoots, all of them being wonderful. I am inspired by these two and their great spirit, their bond as siblings, and that they overcame the tragedy of life. Thanks guys!!!

Yolandi Jacobsz & Riani Labuschagne

Funky family photos

We have had some amazing things add to our success for the studio, and when we get the point where we can look back and count all of the blessings we have had in only a year, then you really get to see how things have changed and grown. We are in the wonderful position now, to move to a bigger studio, and to no inconvenience to or existing clients- it’s literally up the road from where we are now. It will be able to provide all our lovely clients, with a bigger space, and a creative, energetic vibe.

We want to encourage everyone to come and fully enjoy a shoot with us, in our brand new space, which will be filled to the brim with creativity and an amazing atmosphere. We are very excited to be making this move, as it’s quite symbolic to our company, and our big vision, for always expanding and growing.

We hope to be making new friends and make existing bonds with our loyal customers even stronger, as we get to provide you with the same good service you expect from LDP, in a space made for photography to come alive.

Yolandi Jacobsz, Riani Labuschagne & Louise Diesel

Professional Photography Studio in JHB

When one gets the chance to travel, it is nothing else than very exciting. That so many cultures still stay the way they are, with their own unique way of dress, how and what they eat, and their specific characteristics that make them unique in what they bring to world – are able to keep those characteristics sacred, is amazing. When you think of certain places, you think of certain things about those places that are unmistakably their own. Louise and Ryan Diesel, and a few of their close friends, had the chance to travel to South America, to see Peru and Argentina. They had the wonderful opportunity to climb Ausangate and see the wonder of Machu Picchu.

When you travel, you are most likely to visit places that are very touristy, and that have been photographed by thousands of people. If you have the luxury of time try and use your time wisely by getting the right time of day to photograph. Weather permitting; you can use the sunset and the wonderful colours that give, to your advantage for striking images with bursts of colour. Right in the middle of the day, is when the sun sits high in the sky, creating very few dramatic shadows, and lighting the sky to a very bright white, it doesn’t make for the best time to shoot.

When you think of Argentina, you think of tango, and Louise and Ryan had the amazing opportunity to tango, and enjoy the city of the famous Evita Peron. It’s a lively city with its famous light blue- and white flag, and provides amazing shooting opportunities. Always keep the camera nearby when travelling; it’s the one chance to capture your life’s memories as you have had the chance to see it through different eyes.

Yolandi Jacobsz, Riani Labuschagne & Louise Diesel

Professional Photography