The use of good make-up done in a professional modeling shoot is not always acknowledged. In both our upper boudoir- and modeling packages we offer the option  of having make-up done by the make-up artist our studio have come to know and trust for years, Samantha Pretorius. Sam has been make-up for the studio for quite some time, she already feels like part of us.

Sam’s make-up is done in such a way, that you just seem to glow, but in no way does it look caked-on or unnatural. We know that Sam’s understands the nature of our shoots, and with studio flashes being white light, and tending to drain the colour out of your skin tone, we always advise all prospective models or ladies who come for their boudoir shoots, to get it done a bit heavier that what your used to. Even brides get advised to do so, because the last thing you want is to not look amazing.

Make-done for any type of photoshoot, is an amazing idea, because photos are a gift that lasts a lifetime, and one wants to look their best. Make-up gives is such a finishing look, and adds to your special muchness showing from within.

Yolandi Jacobsz

Professional photography

Photography Tips For Beginners

Although most people think that taking a picture is just as simple as pointing and shooting, there really is an art form to it. Typically, your photos never look quite as good as you imagined they would. However, once you learn the proper techniques, it really is simple to take great pictures.

Though you may not think you need a flash outside, take a look and make sure. The sun can create drastic shadows. If your camera has a “fill flash” option, then use it when taking pictures in bright sunlight. This can help to illuminate even deep facial folds and creases.

You need not stand directly in front of an object to photograph it. Whether you settle on shooting from above, below, the right or left, experiment, or take shots from each angle to decide post-shooting.

When it comes to taking pictures of kids, sometimes the best thing you can do is to just go with the flow and work with them. Children are just not designed to sit perfectly still and pose for photos, they prefer to be up and about and running around. Have some fun instead, and capture the photos of the children in action.

Imagine there are lines traveling vertically and horizontally dividing your viewfinder. Place your subject at the point of intersection, instead of in the middle of the shot, and suddenly your picture has a sense of drama. Move in closer to whatever subject you’re taking a picture of. It’s frustrating for the viewer to not clearly see the details of the subject because the camera was too far away. Try to make it easy on your audience to be able to see images clearly and vividly.

Master photographers agree, less IS more.

You should never have tons of clutter or other elements in your shots. Keeping things simple in your photos is what catches your viewer’s attention; simplicity often creates a big punch!

Learn when it’s okay and not okay to use the flash with your camera. Your flash shouldn’t be on all the time. Too much or too little light has ruined many pictures. At other times, low light makes a flash necessary. So don’t forget to use it when you need it.

Even though people think white is great to wear during a photograph, it is generally a bad decision. Many photographers use the auto focus setting on their cameras. This setting doesn’t work as well if the camera can’t pick up different shades in its lens’ range.

For example, if a subject wears white and the background is also white, the camera won’t focus properly. With white clothing, the camera has a hard time adjusting to keep the whites looking good, while preserving detail on peoples’ faces, and photos can turn out looking under or overexposed.

Adjust the focus to create a unique photograph.

Reduce the f-stop setting to maintain focus on the closer subject. This is especially good for portraits. In contrast, increasing your f-stop setting will also increase the field depth and bring all elements of the photograph into focus in a more even manner. This would be fantastic for landscape photography.

Nighttime photography can totally change how a subject looks. When adequate natural lighting is not available, it is even more important to make sure that supplemental lighting is properly set up and utilized. Make sure you use the flash feature and adjust your camera’s shutter speed setting to shoot better photos at night.

Food photography can be difficult.

Food will melt and shift positions, making it hard to develop the proper shot. That’s why when shooting food, you should have napkins, glassware, and silverware ready first. Make sure you have the right lighting, and then put the food down and shoot!

Pre-focus your camera and move to where your subject isn’t dead centre in the frame. Having your subject in the middle of the picture is very expected and subsequently uninteresting. Try off-centering your shots to make your subject appear more interesting to the viewer.

Make sure you support the camera from below and on the sides, while keeping your arms tucked tightly into the sides of your body. Holding the camera in this way, you will reduce camera shake and make shots that are in clear focus. With your hands positioned at the underside of the camera and below the lens, it will help prevent accidentally dropping the equipment.

Always keep charged batteries in your camera. Using the LCD on a digital camera drains the batteries, so always ensure that the battery is fully charged before leaving the house. You should also carry spare batteries so that you can avoid missing a photograph opportunity.

Your photographs have perhaps disappointed you in the past. You will never face such a complication again, if you seriously implement the information you got right here in this article. With the ideas presented here, you can take breathtaking shots that you want to hang on the wall for everyone to admire.

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

We all have dreams of what we would like to become one day, and as everyone are different and unique, so are these dreams and aspirations. If you perhaps have the dream to become a model one day, the very first place to start is by getting a portfolio made of yourself. Models have to have the ability to take good direction, because people like photographers and art-directors, have a very clear idea of how they would want their shot to look, and if you’re able to mould into that vision, you will be successful in it. A modeling, or portfolio shoot, is tremendous amounts of fun, and even more so for me, because I get to play around with the medium that is the foundation our profession is based on – light. Photographers get as excited about light as small children would about Christmas presents.

In about all of my modeling shoots, my subjects surprise themselves, which I feel a privilege to be part of the moment, and I can see the end-product in my mind, knowing what I want to achieve with the shot, and the look I want with it. I would encourage anyone wanting to get good photos done of themselves to come for a shoot by Louise Diesel Photography, you would be pleasantly surprised and awed with your amazing product.

Yolandi Jacobsz & Riani Lauschagne

Model photographer

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

Certain different cultural- or religious groups have different ceremonies, functions or practices that are important to them, and a special event in a person of Catholic faith’s life, is when they get to have their first Holy Communion at their church. Kids grow so fast, and this is one of those moments, where you as a parent suddenly realize how quickly they are growing older, when they already get to be part of their first Communion, and understand the meaning behind it a bit more.

Most special events, require good photographs, and there would be no-one more equipped that a professional studio, to capture those kinds of photos, so that the day can be remembered with fondness. With such events like these, it’s held n a church, many of which don’t have a big amount of natural light that flows in, therefore we use good external flashes with our cameras to have everyone be carefully lit and well exposed.

We always try and get all the details and make sure we capture the event from start to finish. We try and accommodate our clients as far as we can, and go the extra mile even if not always expected of us, we believe in not just good service but great service and believe that our clients can trust us with their memories, it is after all what we live and breathe.

Yolandi Jacobsz & Riani Labuschagne

Professionally photographed first Holy-Communion celebration 

It’s a great privilege to photograph an aspiring model, and you can see that person has the right stuff. Riani likes to use the expression poetry and motion, and this shoot, certainly was pure poetry. A photographer shouldn’t just have the ability to shoot well, and use light strategically, but also be able to guide your model in such a way, that their shape and form makes for interesting images. You are the master of the light, and the model absorbs that light to highlight certain features, or show of their silhouette. Light is such a wonderful medium, and when it gets to collide with a subject who just knows how to works the camera, the photographer has to do very little, just shoot what’s happening in front of them.

This girl has the making of a star, and she understands posing very well. We had such fun, and she enjoyed the shoot so much, it truly showed. She only wanted to have great photos done, but is now thinking of pursuing certain forms of modeling as she kind of shocked herself in this shoot. It was her very first, and I always wish for models like these. Very sure of themselves, and who they are, and just embracing the shoot, making the best of every shot. We had tremendous fun, and so could you. Come and amaze yourself by having a portfolio shoot done at LDP, our studio, will make sure to give you an amazing product.

Yolandi Jacobsz & Riani Labuschagne

artistic modeling portfolio