Recently I took a trip to Cape Town, and the city didn’t at all fail me. Our country is quite a beautiful country, and there is a vibe in Cape Town, like no other. When traveling, have a camera ready, as so many places and spaces can catch your eye. Sometimes it can be quite a bit of a visual overload, one wouldn’t know where to look, but some pointers, or key things to look for, will be what gives your photos kick at the end of the day.

Active skies are always lovely, great clouds, or even just a very blue sky, makes for great photos, and the very dark blue as the lens bends the light inside the barrel, that happens at the top of the photo, has quite an appealing effect. Look for things with texture, it makes the viewer wonder and want to touch to feel what it would feel like. Things that happen in repetition, like streetlights in a row, also works very well, and tends to lead the eye across the image.

People will always have the most character of all subjects, each and every one is different, and in no other place in the world but South Africa, do we have such diversity, and the Cape coloured people, is extremely lively and rich especially with their way of speaking and their mannerisms. Most people are fine to have their photo taken, if asked so always be courteous and respectful.

Yolandi Jacobsz

Professional Photography

Being always behind the camera, I am only from my limited viewpoint aware of how challenging it must be to be brave enough to do a boudoir shoot, which basically means a shoot in underwear. Photography’s medium for existence, is light and the wonderful things one can do with it. That is where it all starts and that’s what we have to manipulate and create with. With photography, the third dimension gets lost – one can smell the food, or touch the sand, or hear the ocean one the image in front of you, and the best way to get that back, is to create depth and dimension through your lighting. In the studio it can be molded to a degree, and one can shift and change it until it looks like what you envisioned.

It is what adds to the appeal of a photo, and with boudoir photography, we accentuate all the lovely curves women possess. What also makes this shoot work, is how comfortable to lady is, as they feel quite understandably very much exposed. We always assure them they look lovely, and we sincerely mean it, as we know we will be able to use the camera’s abilities and what light provides, to get captivating images, that are sure to take their breath away. These photos are usually done for a reason – whether it is to surprise their boyfriend or hubby, or just for a boost of their own self-esteem. Whatever the reason, it still stays a great one, as we make sure it is a fun experience, and a good memory they will have forever.

Yolandi Jacobsz

Sensual Boudoir Photography

Womanhood is definitely something to be proud of, and celebrated, because no matter how hard any man tries, they won’t have what women have, and they realize that. One amazing way to celebrate who we are, and what se stand for, is by having great photo’s taken by professionals, and have that as a lasting image, insurance to yourself, knowing you are lovely and beautiful. Boudoir photography is all what makes women, and being beautiful and sensual is part of that.

As we are sensitive to everything that might make women uncomfortable, we take great care, in using good lighting and posing, to bring out the best in the woman we photograph. Photography is about light as the medium for exposure, and it must always try and bring a dimension back to the audience. With good lighting you can create depth and space, and show the human form in a different light, excuse the pun.

We try our utmost best to make every women brave enough to come and do this fun photoshoot by us, feel at their most comfortable, and with our talent and skill, we also present them with a product they will be proud of, and that their loved one will surely treasure.

Yolandi Jacobsz

Professional Boudoir Photos

It takes some persuasion to get some small kids to laugh, or even just to smile. This little girl was quite shy when she came into our studio, and her mother warned us that she has had a photo shoot before, with no success, and no smiles came from little one.

We bribed her a little and joked with her about her sweet toys she brought with, one of them being a lovely ragdoll which was about as big as she is. With some friendly energy from our side, this little girl brought forth the most stunning smiles, and we had such a great time with her in the studio, her mother was in utter awe at what we were able to achieve with her 5-year old.

The studio should be no bad experience for any child, and we understand that all children differ, and that some will smile quite easily, and some struggle a bit, needing some persuasion. Children, are just kids after all, and respond well to tickles, and our shell full of plastic balls we keep in the studio, the best tool we have to get kids to laugh, it works wonders.

Being a photographer, is all about connecting with people, and we aim to do that every time, any client walks in here, regardless if it’s for a family shoot, a modeling shoot, or any other. Our clients are what make us a business, but they also feel like, and become our family.

Yolandi Jacobsz

Professional Photographer in Johannesburg

With all the bad things we hear about every day, happening in the news, all around the world, one thing is for certain – love at least still exist, and we see it in all the stunning couples that walk through our doors, wanting to have a photo shoot done to portray their affection for each other. At many gatherings, functions & parties there are always photos taken of the two of you, but having it done in the studio is a great way to make sure all smiles look great, eyes are open, there are no unwelcome colour casts or busy backgrounds.
Louise Diesel Photography is called the Real Life Studio, for a few reasons. Not only is it our life and our own true love, because we breath what we do – it’s also to capture the real life moments of this world’s people. When people are in love they have this euphoric state of being amongst each other, and we get to capture that in between the giggles and loving stares at each other.

When just working with one person it’s great, but when working with two people that just mould into each other perfectly, it’s a joy to see.
Yolandi Jacobsz

Professional Couple Photos

We encourage all families, to come as they are, and to enjoy their time in the studio, and the space you’re in while here, as your own. We have had so many mommies and daddies help us in getting their kiddies to laugh and smile, by making jokes behind us, helping us throw balls, and especially dad, has a certain magic that kids love.

This particular mommy was so innovative with her props, that we had a lot to work with. She brought so many interesting, and visually appealing things, that the kids loved them – and we always say, that is why our studio is called the Real Life Studio – not only because this profession is our life, but also because we want your shoot to be the best representation of who you are as family, and what special connection you consists out of.

When your kids are small they are into a whole lot of things that interest them, and keep their attention, therefore, if you want to bring things for your children to wear, or to put on, please do, we’ll have a lot of fun with them in studio, and will certainly be able to give you a huge variety of photo, and a diverse quality product.

Yolandi Jacobsz

Fun family photos

Photography tip #1 – Composition

Always keep the rule of thirds in mind when composing your photo.  In the rule of thirds you use four lines to “divide” your camera’s viewfinder into nine equal blocks.  The theory is that you should use these blocks to form your composition.  (The most powerful area would be in the top left-hand corner where the first “cross” is made)  For instance if you are photographing a landscape with a beautiful sky, compose your shot in such a way that one thirs of the frame is filled by the landscape and the other two thirds are made up of the sky.

Photography tip #2 – Patience

Always take an extra minute before pressing the shutter button and take a good look through your viewfinder at exactly what will be included in your shot.  Is there a tree “growing out of someone’s head” of maybe a “for sale” sign right behind the bride (yes it’s a comical thought but you need to decide is this the shot you want or do you need to re-compose slightly)

Photography tip # 3 – Lighting

If you are shooting in midday sun (try to always avoid this if possible), try and take the photo with your subjects standing in full shade (this may result in a slightly bluish tinge on your photo which can easily be fixed with the correct colour balance setting on your camera)  This way your subjects won’t be covered in distracting highlights in their faces and they won’t have squinting eyes.

Photography tip # 4 – Posing your subjects

Posing your subjects can sometimes be a very daunting prospect when you are just starting out.  I would recommend that you take a few magazines and look at poses and why you like them.  If you find ones you like, make copies and put them into a “posing” file.  Take time to have a good look through these pictures, what is the reason that you like it?  The placement of the hands, is the pose feminine / masculine, is the subject’s head slightly tilted etc.  In essence why do you like the pose.  After doing exercises like this you will find that posing subjects will come to you as naturally as breating.

Photography tip #5 – Know your equipment

Get to know your equipment!  You can even take photos of flowers in your backyard, the key is to experiment with various settings and having a close look at how they affect the final outcome of your photo.  Play around with your shutter speeds and apertures, change the white balance settings and move the ISO up and down.  This will give you better understanding of your camera and when it comes to shooting you can decide on the “effect” you want to achieve and then make t happen…

ENJOY!!!

Riani

Photography Tips