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family photography Wynand van der Merwe family photography Wynand van der Merwe

Linda's family | Family session | Midrand, Johannesburg

I had a blast capturing the joy and energy of Linda and her family. I just love family photography on location.

Linda's family | Family session | Midrand, Johannesburg

God's dream is that you and I and all of us will realize that we are family, that we are made for togetherness, for goodness, and for compassion. Desmond Tutu

I just love big families, and I love capturing the essence of how much love there is in a family. Linda's family is no different. I just loved how the grandparents are central in the family and how the focus was also around the grandkids...and what a lovely bunch of kids! I just know how much grandkids mean to grandparents...I mean...I really enjoy seeing my dad with my children...you get a glimpse of what it was like when I was a little boy.

One of my passions are children and to capture the joy and energy of children. I especially love it when I can bring a little character out of some kids who are too shy to perform in front of the camera. I feel so liberated when kids relax in front of the camera, and I get a glimpse of their true self...and that is such a privilege to capture on camera! 

Enjoy the photos and please leave a comment at the end.

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de Klerk family | Mini Photo Sessions | Shokran Wedding & Events Venue

I have done a few mini photo sessions at Shokran Wedding & Events Venue. I know Ninette and Derik personally and its always a pleasure photographing them...they kids are such good "models" and I always have fun with them...and they look good on photos!

de Klerk family | Mini Photo Sessions | Shokran Wedding & Events Venue

“Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do…but how much love we put in that action.” Mother Theresa

I have done a few mini photo sessions at Shokran Wedding & Events Venue in September for Spring. I know the de Klerk family personally and its always fun to photograph them. Their kids are such a joy and their photos together for me a super special. 

Enjoy the photos and please leave a comment at the end!

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Mischa & Daughter | Mini Photo Sessions | Shokran Wedding & Events Venue

I have done a few mini photo sessions at Shokran Wedding & Events Venue. I gave away a session and Mischa won the session. She has the cutest little daughter...a busy body but very cute! 

Mischa & Daughter | Mini Photo Sessions | Shokran Wedding & Events Venue

Beauty is power; a smile is its sword. John Ray

I have done a few mini photo sessions at Shokran Wedding & Events Venue in September for Spring. I gave away a session and Mischa won the session. She has the cutest little daughter...a busy body but very cute! 

My son is almost the same age (almost 3 years old) so I kinda knew how to keep her busy, but I had my hands full to get her face in focus....she just didn't sit still for a photo! So I must say luck was on my side a few times...she is gorgeous! 

Enjoy the photos and please leave a comment at the end!

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Natalie & John | Mini Photo Sessions | Shokran Wedding & Events Venue

I have done a few mini photo sessions at Shokran Wedding & Events Venue. Natalie contacted me and asked if she can do a session with her fiancé and their dog, and I am so glad they did a session with me! I have not laughed so much during a photoshoot before...they are filled with so much joy! 

Natalie & John | Mini Photo Sessions | Shokran Wedding & Events Venue

Peace is the beauty of life. It is sunshine. It is the smile of a child, the love of a mother, the joy of a father, the togetherness of a family. It is the advancement of man, the victory of a just cause, the triumph of truth. Menachem Begin

I have done a few mini photo sessions at Shokran Wedding & Events Venue in September for Spring. Natalie contacted me and asked if she can do a session with her fiancé and their dog, and I am so glad they did this session with me! I have not laughed so much during a photoshoot before...they are filled with so much joy! 

I do not have a huge opinion about online dating, but I always had my doubts "How do you meet the man or woman of your dreams online?" and how do you know the person behind the online profile is in fact the correct person? Well, I am not sure, and I haven't thought about it much. But I must say after Natalie told me they met online, and seeing how happy they are...I might just have a different opinion. John is originally from Argentina, and has been staying in SA for a few years, and Natalie in SA, and they found each other online, started dating and recently got engaged! Amazing story. 

Enjoy the photos and please leave a comment at the end!

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styled shoots, family photography Wynand van der Merwe styled shoots, family photography Wynand van der Merwe

Mother's Day mini-styled shoot | Hertford Country Hotel

Wow, I wanted to showcase the love of a mother and a daughter in a mini-styled shoot to commemorate Mother's Day, and Lindie and Charlene's love for each other was so tangible! I had so much fun with them, and they are such beautiful souls!

Mother's Day mini-styled shoot | Hertford Country Hotel

"Mothers and their children are in a category all their own. There's no bond so strong in the entire world. No love so instantaneous and forgiving." Gail Tsukiyama, Dreaming Water

I don't know what its like to be a mother. I'm a father. But what I know is I love my mother very much, and that they are the pillars of society! Even Jesus had a mother. So I believe God knew what He was doing when He created mothers. They are a shoulder to cry on, they are the glue of the family, they are the Chief Operating Officer of our homes and they are so important in all of our lives. Just look at African families, the are run by the Grandma's. Amazing. 

This shoot was inspired by the love mothers have for their daughters, seeing that my daughter is coming very soon! I can't wait!

My wife, Juanita, who is also a mother, has a super eye for style, and most of the Rose Gold items are from our home! She has shown me how to turn ordinary things into works of art with Rose Gold spray paint. The cycad leaf and Consol glass jar was painted using spray paint. 

I hosted a competition on Facebook for Mother's Day, and Lindie were the winner. This what she said about her mother Charlene:

"She is the most INCREDIBLE woman I have ever known! and we are so alike in the things we do. We love each other very much and I can only hope to follow in her footsteps and become as amazing as she is!"

I had so much fun with both of them during the shoot. They are such beautiful souls and they enjoy each other's company so much! I love how they laugh at each others jokes and how they finish each other's sentences...it was almost like I photographed twins! You guys were amazing!

Here are some of the suppliers featured in the shoot:

Flowers: Impala Flora

Venue: Hertford Country Hotel

Make up: Made Up by Kylie

Bouquet: Simone Pheiffer from The Wedding Event

Styling and photographer: Me :)

Decor ball & Gold lamp: Mr Price Home

Gold String Lights: Typo

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The Blignaut Family | Family Session | Irene Diary Farm

Wow, I had a super special family shoot with the Blignaut family at Irene Dairy Farm. Chantel, your late husband would have been proud to see your boys so confident and strong!

“He made you you - on purpose. You are the only you - ever. Becoming ourselves means we are actively cooperating with God's intention for our lives, not fighting him or ourselves.” 
― Stasi Eldredge, Becoming Myself: Embracing God's Dream of You

I had the most amazing family shoot at Irene Diary Farm with Chantel and her 2 boys, Ruben and Nathan,. I am in love with the winter sunsets, and the sun didn't hold back.

I just love it when clients open up a bit while doing the shoot, because I am continually reminded that I am photographing people. People has stories. Amazingly God has a Story, which is captured in the Bible. And God is interested in our story because our story is intwined with His Story. Wow, Chantel's late husband would have been proud to see his sons this confident, happy and strong! 

One of the most memorable moments during the shoot was when the farm released the cows from milking and they walked through our shoot. Chantel got "trapped' on the other side of the cows and I got a few shots while they just enjoyed the moment...and it was funny when I had to shout at the cows for them to leave my camera bag alone...long story short...my reflector had some cow spit on...not cool :( 

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The Blignaut Family | Family Session | Irene Diary Farm

I just love family shoots, and the session I had with Chantel and her 2 sons are no exception. They are full of the love of Jesus, and they were just a joy to photograph!

“He made you you - on purpose. You are the only you - ever. Becoming ourselves means we are actively cooperating with God's intention for our lives, not fighting him or ourselves.” 
― Stasi Eldredge, Becoming Myself: Embracing God's Dream of You

I had the most amazing family shoot at Irene Diary Farm with Chantel and her 2 boys, Ruben and Nathan,. I am in love with the winter sunsets, and on Saturday the sun didn't hold back.

I just love it when clients open up a bit while doing the shoot, because I am continually reminded that I am photographing people. People has stories. Amazingly God has a Story, which is captured in the Bible. And God is interested in our story because our story is intwined with His Story. Wow, Chantel's late husband would have been proud to see his sons this confident, happy and strong! 

One of the most memorable moments during the shoot was when the farm released the cows from milking and they walked through our shoot. Chantel got "trapped' on the other side of the cows and I got a few shots while they just enjoyed the moment...and it was funny when I had to shout at the cows for them to leave my camera bag alone...long story short...my reflector had some cow spit on...not cool :( 

Here is a few from Saturday. The full post will follow soon! 

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Tyron & Simone {Hotagterklip, Struisbaai}

Tyron and Simone's family photos at Hotagterklip, Struisbaai, are stunning! They are such an amazing family! 

Family is not an important thing. It's everything. Michael J. Fox

I hosted a competition over the December holidays for a family shoot in Struisbaai, and Simone was the winner! I wanted to do a beach shoot but we had to hide from the wind! 

Tyron and Simone are such simple and loving people, and their daughter is just too cute! 

I had an amazing session with them, and the little fisherman's houses at Hotagterklip are such an amazing location for photos! This place also has sentimental value because some of my own wedding pictures where done in front of this very house!  

Enjoy the pictures and please leave a comment at the end!

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Baby and maternity, Event Photography Wynand van der Merwe Baby and maternity, Event Photography Wynand van der Merwe

Levi, the Rockstar, is coming soon! {Baby shower}

Levi, the Rock Star, is coming soon! {Baby Shower}

“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.”  Unknown

Aliche and Piet are dear friends and I took a few pictures at their baby shower for their 2nd child, Levi, who is expected very soon!

Enjoy the pictures and don't hesitate to leave a comment at the end!

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Rolof is coming soon! {Gerda's Baby Shower}

Gerda's baby shower is live on the blog!

"Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything." Muhammad Ali

My wife, Juanita, has asked me to take a few pictures for Gerda's surprise baby shower, and little did I know that it will be this beautiful and special! Gerda and her husband, Werner, are very dear friends to us, and it was such a privilege to be a part of this day! 

We cannot wait for Rolof to come, and I believe that it will be an amazing journey and gift with him added to their lives!

Here is some pictures from the day, and please don't hesitate to leave a comment at the end!

#babyshower #baby #newbaby #firstborn #son #Rolof #weddingandfamilyphotography

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Eben & Hermien Marais {family shoot at Delta Park}

“Family is the most important thing in the world.” – Princess Diana

Family Photography

Love and calmness just oozes out of Hermien and Eben, they have the most beautiful children Emma and Leah. Emma is the eldest, and isn't she a cutie. Leah is the baby and her eyes just melts anyone who looks at her! I had so much fun doing this shoot! 

I met up with them at Delta Park, which is one of my favorite photo destinations. This time I was surprised to see how long the grass has grown, and at first I thought it was going to make my life hard to take pictures, but actually it created for such beautiful pictures!

Location: Delta Park, Randburg.

Please sit back and enjoy the pictures and do not hesitate to leave a comment at the end!


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Nico & Laura {family shoot at L'Agulhas}

Nico and Laura's family shoot at Cape L'Aghulas Lighthouse was just epic! I had so much fun!

Arno vd Westhuizen

I was on holiday but I decided to do a few family shoots at the beach seeing that we lack a beach in Johannesburg! So Nico contacted me and wanted to do a shoot as a Christmas gift to his wife, Laura. 

I just LOVE this place!

We decided to go to the Lighthouse at the tip of Africa, the Lighthouse at Cape Agulhas, and this is not far away from where the Indian and Atlantic Ocean meet. The Van der Westhuizens always come to Struisbaai for December holidays, and it is a place that is known and dear to them. So I was privileged to do this shoot, and Grandma will just love the family picture she wanted to be framed in her house!

Please don't hesitate to leave a comment at the end!

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Ivan & Maryke's love story begins here!

I cant wait to do the wedding for Ivan and Maryke! its going to be epic!

I am looking forward to the wedding of this amazingly beautiful couple!

Maryke and Ivan blossomed in front of the camera and I thoroughly enjoyed capturing their funky engagement shoot. Maryke's mom works at Roedean School South Africa and she organised that we can have the shoot at the school, which is such a beautiful venue. The gorgeous historic buildings, the lawns, the view of the Johannesburg General Hospital chimney in the background, and the majestic gardens makes this a stunning venue. The school was opened in 1903 and there is a lot of heritage here, and I believe that it meant a lot to Maryke to do this shoot at the school.

I definitely take my hat off for Maryke, because she had food poisoning or something on the day. Every 20min she had to go to the bathroom, and she still smiled and looked so beautifully. And Ivan looked great as well. It's always a challenge to capture photos of a photographer, which meant that I had to up my game. The amazing reality of this is it shows in the pictures! I believe this shoot came out amazing and that they will have a good taste of the pictures to come at their wedding day!

Please don't hesitate to leave a comment at the end!

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