Babies grow into adult people who get to experience the blessing of getting their own little babies, and any babies are small people dependant on others. They haven’t grown into little kids or toddlers yet, who can at least give some smiles when tickled, what they give are completely spontaneous and it’s then when we capture all their magic.

They lose that newborn look after awhile, and they become much more aware of their surroundings when a little bit older, but when very small, as in a few days old they can be molded into poses. At Louise Diesel Photography, The Real Life Studio, we have a maternity/newborn package which has us taking photos of the pregnant mommy at about 34 weeks – when the tummy is nice and round, and before a point of total discomfort. Then when the little one is born, the proud new parents bring them back for their first shoot, and we have some very proud fathers holding a little baby with a serene look in their eyes.

It’s quite an intimate, personal shoot and it’s a wonderful remembrance of a special time in parent’s life, the whole journey of the little one about to join us soon. We would recommend this package to anyone, it’s our most successful package and we’re honoured to be part of the first moments of baby’s life.

Yolandi Jacobsz

Newborn Baby Portraits

We always see it as a huge privilege to have new clients, becoming like old friends, coming back for shoots time and time again. One of our most successful shoots is the maternity-newborn combination package which has us photographing mommy at about 34 weeks pregnant – at the time when you can see the tummy at its fullest, before mom get beyond the point of discomfort, and when little one is born, the new parents come back again for a special shoot, little baby’s first.

We usually do these shoots on the black background, as it just gives is such an intimate and personal feel, and we get to focus more on the emotion of the shoot. We use “low-key lighting” for both shoots, it has a way of accentuating the shape of the tummy, and also creating just the right amount of highlights and shadows for a sense of depth and dimension.

We find it such a miracle to think that little person lived inside mom’s body, and here they are, ruling the world with their own demands. We try and make it a good experience for them, and give them time to settle down when they get crabby and sometimes it’s even a good idea to give them a feed, as it sooths them.

We are always happy to see any old clients again, and it’s a great idea to consider having an extraordinary shoot done with a beautiful pregnant mom, and then a special shoot for baby when they have decided to grace us with their presence.

Yolandi Jacobsz

Pregnancy Portraits

We love babies in our studio. I always say, babies bring a sense of honesty to this world, as they can’t fake anything, and won’t be stopped if they want to cry right NOW. But somewhere, that baby had to come from a very pregnant mommy, with a very round tummy. Maternity shoots are actually very technically inclined, as we use the light a lot, to accentuate shape and form, and that gorgeous belly, is quite a distinctive shape.

In photography, one unfortunately loses a dimension, and through some means or another, that dimension has to be gained back again to the viewer. In food photography for example, it’s quite challenging, as the very thing photographed is made to be enjoyed through the taste and smell of it, and those things taken for granted, are taken away, through photography, with an image reduced to a print on a medium as thin as paper. Using light to accentuate the shape of things, so that it doesn’t look flat and lifeless, is the essence of photography. With maternity photography, the shape is quite evident, and we use that to the ultimate, with side-lighting which creates a gradient of the roundness.

Maternity shoots are quite arty, and has a different element to it, than family photos, as it’s quite personal and intimate. That little baby is brought back a while later for their own special shoot, and then we complete the circle, with mommy’s tummy having had a chance, and baby being brought into this world later on.

Yolandi Jacobsz

Pregnancy Photoshoot

With holding a camera, comes a big responsibility, & it really is up to the photographer to make their subject feel as comfortable as possible. I myself don’t have a phobia for standing in front of the camera, but when it’s shoved in my face unannounced and catching me off guard then I am also not too happy.

Many high profile people live quite private lives because of obvious reasons, & therefore require a great deal of respect when invited into their homes. When I stepped in Christina Storm’s house, I immediately realized something smelled of paint. She said yes, they geyser burst, drowning her laptop & she has to replace many things. I then saw that even though they maintain their status in the public eye, normal things happen to them too, & we felt more at ease with each other & had an amazing shoot.

We aim to make our clients feel comfortable & relaxed in our studio ( & on location), & it can be very unpredictable – a little baby that is an angel at home, is crabby in the studio because the light might be too intimidating.

We take it all in our stride and try to build our client-relationships as we go, by being interested in your lives, treating you with respect, giving you good service & above all, giving you an amazing product.

Yolandi Jacobsz

Celebrity Photography

Generations of families have walked through these doors at Louise Diesel Photography studio, and we wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m still in the fortunate position to have a grandmother who is quite elderly, and to have had a photo with her is priceless to me. We get to meet so many different families from all over, whose heritages’ could range from anything to everything. So many families have loved ones that live overseas, or are of foreign decent and still have their loved ones who live in far-away countries. With modern technology, the world has become as small as an email away, and how wonderful that grandparents get to see their grandchildren who live in a completely different country, and how they’ve grown and developed.

Therefore we know how important the recording of a family’s life is, and to get it professionally done so that the memory is all the more special and perfect. Children have their own unique age-associated mannerisms and we get to experience them all. From the pure smiles of a little baby, to the giggles of toddlers, the cute posing way of tweens and the shy way teenagers have in front of a camera.

It’s cardinal to have these done, as they grow up faster than you think, and before you see, they leave the house and go off to do their own thing. Making memories with us is a joy, and something you’ll remember for a long time to come.

Yolandi Jacobsz

Real Life Studio Photography

A baby is a little blessing in any couple’s lives, and in these times it is a special idea to have photo’s taken of mommy’s belly as it has such a nice shape, and it’s the proof of new life that will grace us with its presence soon. Just like people have different skin colours and different face shapes, every expectant mom has a different shape tummy which we find so interesting. In earlier years maternity photography was unknown or a not really practiced but today, it could almost be seen as an art form, and done with beautiful lighting, it is something to remember this extraordinary time by.

At Louise Diesel Photography, we get to see many pregnant mommies and then baby when they return to have their newborn shoot done by us. Both are an experience unique to its own. With both shoots, we keep the lighting quite low-key, and the background black; it allows for more mood and emphasis on the tummy and it’s shape, or baby and parents, and the little bond that they have amongst themselves.

We can see how even the very new little baby, has features of its mommy or daddy already, see a father with a newborn have a look in his eyes that can’t be explained, see excited parents as mommy holds her round tummy and smiles down at it.

With everything, whether it is a great wedding day, or a birthday occasion, all you have left over are the photos and if done in such a special way such as we do here at Louise Diesel Photography studio, you will treasure it forever and look at it with pride, as we really took great care in photographing it for you tastefully, as flattering as possible, but most of all, want you to remember your time with us in studio, as pleasurable and joyful.

Yolandi Jacobsz

Pregnancy and newborn photographer

We quite often find ourselves taking the most beautiful photos of pregnant women.  And as a pregnancy photographer in Johannesburg I can most definitely tell you that there is a lot of people who planned to have their babies born in 2010, the year the Soccer World Cup was played in South-Africa.  We have seen a big increase in the numbers of pregnant women being photographed just in the last six months.

I can’t quite put into words how pretty pregnant women are to us as photographers.  There is just something truly special to carrying a new life within your womb.  Instead of using a lot of props in pregnancy photos we choose to concentrate on the emotion on mom-to-be’s face and the placement of her hands in “holding” her unborn baby.

“J”s little baby is going to be called Lazaro Levi, don’t you just think that is one of the coolest names ever?!  I absolutely love it!  It certainly creates big expectations (but he probably already weighs in at 3kg’s and mom is only 36 weeks pregnant) so no problem there

Little man I absolutely cannot wait to meet you and spend another hour of fun in the studio with your mother!

Riani

Pregnancy Photographer in Johannesburg