Last month we headed out to the Winelands for a fun photo shoot as a family with Yolandi van der Merwe, a family photographer based in the Helderberg area that I discovered through the Mamahood Facebook group.
Now the last time we had any sort of professional family photo shoot was about 5 years ago so you can imagine how excited I was. I love capturing my own kids in photos from behind the lens BUT nothing beats having someone else do it AND for me to be in the photos too!
After liaising via email with Yolandi to choose a date, we then decided on a gorgeous venue for our photo shoot. Somewhere she had been very keen to shoot at – Canettevallei Lavender near Stellenbosch.
Then all that was left to do was to choose our outfits…. Yolandi sent through a few suggestions but this proved MUCH harder than it looks. I should have left more time but of course I left it to the night before. What a stress. DON’T do what I did. Please plan in advance!! Anyway I finally decided on a palette of purples, mauves and greys to complement the lavender backdrop… and packed a few backup options just in case!
Yolandi was so lovely to work with. Even my husband sang her praises afterwards, and from someone who hates having to pose for photos even more than my son THIS is high praise indeed. I think the thing he was most impressed with was that she was quick! No fussing around for hours – which really doesn’t work for small kids anyway – we were in and out within 45 minutes despite some rouge dogs and rather windy conditions wrecking havoc with our hair!!
Anyway I finally picked up the disc last week and I am beyond happy with the results… they are even better than I imagined and I’m so grateful to Yolandi for capturing this moment in the life of our family. I really shouldn’t have left it so long!!
And now if you would love to have a family photo shoot of your own then you’ll be super pleased to hear that I’m giving one away courtesy of Yolandi van der Merwe photography – a Mamahood Approved business.
THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED
If you’re not yet part of a Mamahood Group, why not sign up to one in your area:
Mamahood Gauteng
Mamahood Natal
Mamahood Cape Town
Mamahood Eastern Cape
Mamahood Mpumalanga
Mamahood Garden Route
Mamahood Free State
Contact Details
Yolandi van der Merwe
Tel: 083 532 3240
083 532 3240
Email: info@yolandivandermerwe.co.za?
Web: www.yolandivandermerwe.co.za
The last time i had a nice photoshoot was about a year ago. I would love some new and update pictures ?
My kids are growing up at such an astronomical rate, I almost feel like I am missing out on so much. I would love to keep some treasured family memories while they are still young 🙂 something to show them when they are older.
The last family shoot we did was over a year ago. It was our first family shoot done by family friend Render Jockey Studios. In the comfort of our home, our little angel was photographed in the most classic way. Now, at 18months, she’s young wild and free and i’d love the opportunity to for her to be captured on camera to be mounted in our home and remembered forever
These are absolutely beautiful!! (Not entering the competition but just had to comment!)
Beautiful compeition 🙂 I have never had a photoshoot, but it would be grateful for this opportunity 🙂
I’ve never had a photoshoot and my grandson are 2yrs old already. Would love to have one with him.
When I win, this will be our first family Photoshoot
this would be a dream come true…
I am always the family photographer and I have good photos of them, but the problem is the photos of my are not that great because my husband is not such a great photographer. I would however love a family shoot. I need a family shoot.
My family have never had a photo shoot and it is an absolute dream of my mom’s I’d love to surprise her with this win! Ps your family photos are lovely-the one of your daughter leaning over your shoulder is breathtaking!
We have some wonderful family photos though… the most recent from our trip to beaverlac in Jan . Of course we could not have a full family pic as one of us was always playing photographer 😉
I would love to win this shoot!!! I am also usually the once behind the lense 🙂 The lavender farm would just be perfect! xxx
I have vowed to have a pro photo shoot done at least once a year, so the last one was done end of last year. But I am always looking for good photographers!
I would love to win this shoot! That lavender farm is so pretty! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Beautiful pics – we also need to update our professional family shots!
Its been over 2 years since we had family photos taken of just us and then obviously our wedding photos in December. I would really love to win this.
Oops!!! Never had a family photo shoot! Is this competition for Johannesburg or only Cape Town?
never had a family shoot my son and husband does not like photos but my 2 daughter loves the camera…would like a mom and daughters shoot xxx
It has been toooooo long since we last had a family shoot . In desperate need of one now !!!
We have never had family pictures taken. Would love this xxxx
We’re expecting our first child any day now so would love to win a first family photoshoot!
With modern technology we tend to take lots of photo’s with our phones, but generally have either me or dad missing (someone has to take the photo!) And with a busy 2 year old and 7 year old, it is difficult to capture those moments… I would love to win this photoshoot and have many beautiful moments captured and displayed on my wall 🙂
What gorgeous photo’s! Yolandi sure has a gift. I would love a family photo shoot of this nature for my family. X
Such gorgeous pics! Would LOVE a family shoot! Yay x
Wowers this would be awesome.. we’re a a family of 4.. my husband, myself and two of the most handsome little toddler boys ever!
That would be lovely!
Lovely Photos xxxxx
My son is now 4 months old and we hardly take any pics as a family, mostly just of my son. We never had a family photoshoot but would love one as its the only way to get my husband to take part in the picture. It will be absolutely amazing to have a professional do a photoshoot for us to save our wonderful memories as a family.
Hi Yolandi
Myself and my husband had a photo shoot when we were newly weds but never actually got around to have one now that we have kids. I have a Beautiful little 3 year old boy and a adorable little 1 Year old girl. To capture these moments in their life with a professional like you would be such an amzing gift.
xxxxxx
I would simply LOVE a photoshoot with my family of 4. Your work is fantastic!!!
Shew! A family photo shoot has been on my to-do list for ages! Ever so often, I remember that we still haven’t had one and then I have these terrible feelings of guilt – Time is going by so quickly, I need to capture my kids now before they get too big, etc, etc. I’m always the one taking the pics so it would be great to have someone take photos of us, altogether: My husband, my two boys, my two girls and I. Such a lovely giveaway!
I never had a photoshoot in my life ( 54 tomorrow! 😉 ). Would absolutely adore to have some wonderful pictures done of my kids and me.
Please !!!!
Our last really nice photo shoot was in August 2013 when my son Zachary was a new born, would love some updated family pictures
Wow such beautiful photos!!! I would so love to win this family photo shoot for my family as we have not had a family photo shoot before and it would be lovely to have some treasured photographs to look back on.
The images are really beautiful. Would love to have a family photo shoot. Never had one done
The last time we took a family photo was a Sunday afternoon while sitting by the fire and enjoying coffee. I wish for our family to have more fun outdoors than the traditional ‘lunch and coffee’ meetings we so often have. My family need to step out of their comfort zone! Get out!! 🙂
I would loooooooooooove to win! Never had a family shoot before, and because my little boy was born prematurely, we had to cancel the preggy & newborn shoots 🙁
So would love to have a family shoot! He is almost 9 months old… x
These are stunning photos. I have a 3.5 year old and a 20 month old and can’t have enough photos of them. They grow up so fast.
This win would be awesome! The last time we had a family shoot was 11 years ago!!!
We had some pictures recently but they didn’t turn out as well as we had hoped. We are desperate for a family shoot!
Would love a shoot for my family!!! Holding thumbsxxxxx
last had a photo shoot about 5 years ago & now that my boy is almost 8 it would be divine to have another 🙂
I’ve had a friend offer to take some photos once but we’ve never had the opportunity to have a professional famiy photo shoot. It would be such a special treat for us with our 2.5 year old.
OW WOW!! I’d love our family to win this photo shoot, we are expecting baby number two after so many years 🙂
Beautiful family makes for beautiful images 🙂
this is a great opportunity to have those treasured moments captured.
This would be an amazing opportunity to capture family moments in a beautiful environment. My son has grown and changed so much since our last shoot more than 5 years ago.
My youngest have finished matric and it would be a great time to have a photoshoot before they all leave the nest! Our last photoshoot was nearly 5 years ago! Time flies…
Who was the winner of this family photo-shoot?