On many occasions we have done different types of photo shoots at the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens. Some family, couple, engagement and model photo shoots were shot by us.

General Photographers at the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens

We have over the years observed many photographers doing photo shoots at this absolutely lovely venue. But generally we find that most photographers just do the same old positions with the same old methods.

This plus a number of training sessions that we have been on has made us look at this venue in a different way. We prefer more pleasing non-traditional manner.

Also, we have found that the more people visiting the venue changes the way you should see your shot, or where you should be taking your photos. This is especially true for month end weekends. This is when there could be hundreds, if not thousands of people visiting.

First Priority

Our first priority is to try make our clients feel at ease. Therefore we have employed things like taking photos of the family enjoying the walk towards the waterfall. We request the clients to look around at the beauty of the gardens while we take photos of them.

The waterfall is generally requested by our clients

Waterfall

At the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens waterfall area, we usually have the clients posed further away from the fence at the waterfall. We don’t want the general against the waterfall fence type of photo.

Depending on the number of visiting people at the waterfall, we will shoot the clients either looking big against the waterfall backdrop or small to show scale. Lighting in the morning at the waterfall is usually not nice, creating harsh horrible type shadows. To overcome this, we prefer to use a powerful portable studio light and / or scrims.

Where required we can move the clients to the side fence creating a leading line towards the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens waterfall. This usually looks amazing to us and our clients. Also, we often shoot towards the opposite side to the waterfall bringing new perspectives to the scene.

New perspective

Sometimes we will take the client up the rock stairs to a different side of the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens waterfall. This a great new perspective to the scene once again. Maybe we will shoot the clients on the stairs.

We have found that the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens waterfall area alone can give you a huge amount of different amazing photos. We only need to open our eyes and maybe explore a little to give something new and fresh to the standard views of the venue.

Walk around the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens

When dealing with families with children, we find the walk is great to get co-operation with the kids. Also when they appear to be getting bored with the waterfall area, you can go to the children’s play area.

The playground is near the amazing restaurant beautifully named ‘Eagle’s Fare’. At the play area we can get amazing photos of the children playing, with their parents giving them joyful attention.

There is also a great deal of other areas that we can use to produce amazing photos. Just explore, we will find endless beautiful scenes. Opening up our eyes, use different perspectives, something new is bound to present itself to us.

Photographic Style

Our photographic style leans towards shooting into the distance, creating a less busy environment. This makes our clients stand out extremely well in the photos. This venue perfectly lends itself to our style, making our photos stand out from the crowd.

This venues entrance fee is very nominal making it very affordable for our clients. Our only small gripe is that amazing sunrise and sunsets are not really obtainable at this venue due to operating times. We can still get some sort of Sunset by timing it right and being at the right position or by fudging it with flash lights.

Please feel free to browse their website http://www.sanbi.org/gardens/walter-sisulu to see what they offer.