A Training resource with a difference! We have been planning for a long time to start a resource and training service to photographers in South Africa. It’s going to be unique in the way that we handle information. We will start small and build it up to a big and relevant resource. More announcements to follow.
I entered 3 pictures into the prestigious Admired in Africa competition in 2018. I am happy to announce that a shot I took of the beautiful Lisa Huxtable got first place in the Bridal Boudoir section. I also got fourth place with a shot I did of the beautiful Chaney. Thank you to both of you. Without you, this achievement would not have been possible.
Photography skill without marketing and business effort is just a hobby! Photographic skill is just one of the aspects of a successful photographic business. To run your business well, you also need to be a skilled marketer, accountant, graphic designer and digital editor. With all these aspects of your business, taking up a lot of your time, you might end up not spending enough time behind the camera. This is also equally as dangerous as spending too much time behind the camera and not giving the needed attention to the business side of things. How do we keep a balance, or let me put it in different words, how do you get more done in less time? I was faced with this problem. The very important business side of things took up too much of my time causing damage to my business. For me, it boiled down to multitasking, and luckily we live in the era of the most wonderful apps available to make our job easy. This is how I turned things around into a big positive in my business. The first step was to simplify products. We live in times where the most […]
I entered 4 pictures into the prestigious Admired in Africa competition in 2017. Great was my surprise and pleasure when my shot of Ferilize was awarded the third place in the Bridal Boudoir category. The picture is very special for me because I shot it in a good friends house, who died months later. Next year I want to do even better, but it’s going to be hard work and dedication. I will add more pictures from this shoot soon.
. Candice was adamant to make her grand entrance to her wedding on horseback. Not even a frantic call from the coordinator, informing her that the rain and misty weather made the animal “hot” and that it might not be such a good idea. She was adamant and she entered on horseback at full gallop. She was evidently a very good rider and handled the situation like a pro! Needles to say that I probably got my best wedding capture ever in the process. Thank you Candice! I am so exited about this shot. This is what she had to say: You did so well with this photo of me. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. Your work is amazing!! That is the exact shot I was looking for. Thanks Deon, so chuffed! Candice Rannachan
Shot this just over a week ago at the Oyster-box hotel in Umshlanga. We had to get up at 4 in the morning to get to the location at the right time. Add a brave and willing newly wed couple to pose in the rain and we have a signature shot. Moral of the story: You won’t get good pictures from the comfort of your own armchair. It takes an effort!
We had a fun weekend with Christa & Ernst this weekend. With so much love around, it was a wedding day full of happy tears. They had 6 bridesmaids and 6 groomsmen. Big groups like this add to the fun and spontaneity of the day. We had a strong possibility of rain and the previous day it rained a lot. In the end, the weather was perfect with no rain but beautiful clouds. We are currently in the process of editing the pictures. It is almost as much fun as doing the shoot. Thank you Christa and Ernst for allowing us to be part of your day.
If you are interested in a bright, vibrant, beautifully colored portrait session, this one’s for you. It is a great way to mix things up and really capture some fun! All you need is a fun loving couple like Christa and Ernst, lots of brightly coloured powder and two Speedlights. Tips for a successful powder session: You need powder that is environmentally friendly. Follow this link to view a video that will show you how to manufacture your own using starch and food colouring. Pick a location that will be colour mess friendly, haha, although it will all wash away with the first rain. Keep the colours separated in clear plastic bags or containers, so that you know which ones you want to use next. Wear light coloured clothes, preferably white, so that the colours will pop during the shoot. Once you start throwing the powder, there is no turning back! Don’t smear it, throw it. It looks better in the pictures that way. Start with small amounts of powder and then go big, although our couple went for gold from the word go! Go for it, don’t be scared at all and have fun! The lighting setup: We used a very basic […]
This tutorial is a fun weekend project. My intention is to spark your imagination, hone your photographic and lighting skills and for you to get some great shots for your portfolio. With all the long weekends during April, I decided to put this tutorial together. This is a typical college project, where you will be able to get fantastic results with minimum input. Step 1 GEAR Your digital camera set at manual F 8, Shutter 1/160 ISo 400 and set on raw. Tripod. Two Speedlights set on manual and its lowest power setting. Some form of stand or support for the two speed lights. One sender and two receivers to trigger your flash system. A black and/or white background. Project board from the local stationery supply store will be sufficient. A fish tank. 60 x 32 x 32 cm’s will be sufficient, filled up to about 75% with water. A small piece of duct tape. Two plastic bags, to cover your speed lights. There will be a lot of splashing. Things to drop into the water. I used papers and a lemon, got excited and even used a camera. Open up the imagination on this one. A very dark location, and if this is impossible, you will have to do this […]
Rina arranged the Steam Punk shoot at our studios. She went into great effort locating hats, corsets, goggles and all sorts of paraphernalia for this shoot. I was lucky that she allowed me to tag along with my model. I needed to demonstrate how to replace backgrounds in Photoshop, and I used the opportunity to create something unique. One of my favourite models, Ancel Morgenroodt agreed to pose for me. The first shot is the before and the second shot, obviously, is the after. The background image was obtained through a creative Commons license and this stunning background was created by Buz Carter. Before After
