Behind The Scenes

Me, the nut in my shell...

Hi, I'm Nina. Don't let me cook for you. Ever. Black is my favourite colour. Think burnt toast black. You can wake me at midnight with red wine, biltong and cuddles from my kids. I am a sucker for open fires, dress-up parties and kind, generous people. I adore nature and consider children as the purest form of honesty. I communicate best with adults who have kept their inner kids alive. I've always wanted to be a sniper when I grow up, now I shoot people for a living. Go figure. I am stitched together with love of words, compassion and optimism. My Dad used to say I enter a room like a hurricane. My favourite words describing me are facetious, voluptuous and vivacious. My superhero power is to capture humans, telling their stories to revisit and leave as legacy. If it's having fun while being your authentic self that you're after, then I'm your photographer.

My Main Man

Mountain Mover. Calm to My Storm. Keeping me real.

My Favourite Humans

My Son, our Dash Incredible who loves any sport and moves like Happy Feet, our natural born leader, old soul, whose name means 'The Greatest'. With my Daughter, our Snow White who loves animals and shapeshifts, our natural born entertainer and artist whose name means 'Glorious Battle Maiden'. Both destined for greatness... fearfully and wonderfully made.

Where I am from

Being one of four, my Mom firmly states she has no favourite. Of course being the youngest, I insist she admits she likes me best. And I set various traps for her too. I took this pic, deliberately being the reflection in her sunnies. Thing is, one of my siblings stood next to me and I photoshopped her out. I call this image 'THE APPLE OF HER EYE'. I have no regrets.

First Birthday Party

My Son's 3rd. It has to feature since my cubs are the sole reason for my lifelong photography obsession turning into a freelancing passion.

First Wedding

My niece's. I come from a strong line of lunatics *read phenomenal humans* Most believe this family wedding not to count in a portfolio. I get that. But I think they should get full credit in trusting me as their ONLY wedding photographer. Nevermind the fact that I did a workshop on 'how to shoot in manual' literally a month before this photo was taken. I also treasure all my 'firsts' to keep me grounded and focused on how vital it is to grow. More importantly, judge my work, not the relation to my subjects. I end up being friends with everyone I shoot in any case, so no strangers in my portfolio.

First Trash The Dress

Again, credit to the gorgeous couple who wanted to go ahead with this and me not having any water photography experience at the time. For me, it is euphoria to be part of a wedding. Any shoot really, where you have to let me, a complete stranger in on such a short amount of time with what can be quite intimidating lenses and an animated personality behind the cameras. You often have to show your vulnerable and share your sacred, fragile and intimate moments with me. I don't think I'll ever get use to everyone's story, how we all connect, the awe, the magic. I am honored if you even consider me as your photographer.

First Big Girl Camera. For real.

Flapping like a wet mermaid on dry land right here!

First Logo

Main Man took this at our first kid-free wedding we attended after becoming parents. There was this weird calmness with NO interruptions when we ate. So what else does one do but stuff one's face? And because I became the Mamarazzi in taking heaps of photos of my kids, this image suited the name and ended up on my business card.

First Business Card

Family First. Always.

First Network Card

It pays to advertise.

First Workshop

Three Little Wishes Photo credit: Katrina Weidner *DOES MY BUTT LOOK BIG IN THIS?*

Get your freak on!

LOVE the pre-wedding buzz and excited anticipation. Here, I'm marking my territory. Google 'Wedding Uncle Bob' and have mercy on all wedding and event photographers!

Eek! Groupies!

As a lifestyle photographer, group photos are my kryptonite. Everyone has to pose intimately and unnaturally on top of each other and pretend to like it. There are the ones who hide at the back who guaranteed are always the shortest. Some eyes are in mid-blink, some forget their sunnies on, at least five people are complaining about their double chins and how hot their garments are. If you don't have a screaming runaway child, you are doing something wrong. I myself at this point, always crave an ice cold beer. Odd. In this behind-the-scenes pic, I'm telling the crowd I FEEL YOU but also why you need to show up. It is important to have your face in this frozen memory with third nipple growing on your nose and all. Don't be THAT guy who looks like someone had to pay him to be there but at the reception, is also the one dancing naked in the fountain. Yes, I know you. And I will be taking both pics of you. But for the formals, if I have to fall off my ladder to make you laugh, I will absolutely take one for the team. You should too.

Sniper for Hire

On my way to shoot people at a wedding with two cannons. See what I did there?

Inspired by Alix Martinez

Although playing around with underwater photography at the moment, I've discovered this comes in very handy with trash-the-wedding-dress (usually the day after your wedding day) if you feel like running into the ocean, jump into a pool, run through sprinklers etc. Or for a complete different family shoot in your own pool, at your favourite beach, or a pool birthday party. I have not done any families in water yet. I need a first for my portfolio. Just sayin'...

Oven Selfie

This is what I do with ovens. I am not sorry.

A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away | E. Welty

Actually, this picture is just to show off my ink...

Taken by Daughter

An impressive five years old at the time

The Fab Four

Captured in February 2019