Cape Town Birth Photographer » blomerusphotography.com

I met Charné and her husband at Blouberg beach for their mini-maternity session. The wind was howling, so we drove up the coast a few minutes and tried this beach. Lo and behold it was worse. It was an almost painful sandstorm, the worst I have ever shot in, which is saying alot. The sand was so thick in the air, this actually looks much more like a desert shoot than a beach one. Charné was a champ despite the freezing and horrible conditions yet was unsure if we were getting anything worthwhile. I, on the otherhand, knew exactly what I was seeing in my camera and was loving the look the wind was creating. They were pretty surprised with the finished images. This session pushed my gear to the max, I actually took it in to be serviced the following week just to be sure the sand hadn’t damaged it. Thankfully, Nikon here are top notch in their thoroughness and I was good to keep shooting. Tough conditions are sometimes worth it for beautiful images. And more than anything, I really enjoy working with a couple that 1) love eachother because that kind of magic can’t be photoshopped in and 2) that trust me as their photographer. This couple are now new parents and we captured their daughter’s birth story.

Mini-maternity sessions are offered complimentary with all my birth packages. Its 30 minutes, one location, and 15 gorgeous high quality images for you to treasure long after you are done being pregnant. Here’s the beautiful Charné who made it look easy… Be sure not to miss the last shot, she looks mindblowingly beautiful.


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  • waseema

    Hi we from cape town. I love all your pix. We six months pregnant with our first baby and really excited.will u please send us a quote for maternity pix. Highly appreciated.
    ThanksReplyCancel

Rifqah’s story is one of survival and hope. She is a breast cancer surviver and fighter. Her son is a beautiful miracle in their lives and a testament of hope. And their birth story is one that left everyone in shock and adrenaline pumping. This was the fastest birth of my career.

She had experienced some contractions earlier in the day but thought it realistically could still be days away from meeting baby. She mentally settled in for the long haul. Just before 2pm I got the call that her waters had broken. We decided to wait until she was checked at the hospital before I came as it could still be very early and my presence could slow down her birth (I generally come in active labour). I had this funny feeling things would be speeding up so I got ready to go as soon as I hung up. I didn’t think it would be THIS fast though. I decided since I was 25 minutes away and this was downtown, I would just get in the car and start heading in that direction, purely on intuition. I thought, you never take chances with a second baby, they sometimes like to hurry. As soon as I start the car, her husband calls to say she’s already 6cm!

I drive downtown and soon encounter streets closed down all around the hospital for a marathon. I struggle to get to the right detour street and then find parking. As I parked the car, he calls to say I need to run, this baby is coming NOW. I grabbed my gear out of the backseat and bolted like a madwoman. I ran in the room at 2:40 pm just before her doctor ran in aswell. Pulled out my camera and adjusted all my settings from muscle memory.

It made me think I’m glad I waited until I really practiced my skills as a birth photographer (and photographer in general) before doing this professionally. Because in moments like these, thinking of your code of conduct requirements plus ISO/Shutter speeds/focal points/etc while literally shooting with in seconds of walking into an unfamiliar space that is sacred for your client…. it requires you to draw upon a well of experience even when your heart is racing.

Started shooting as fast as possible to get some before shots.  Jibra’eel was bornat 2:50 pm, 10 minutes after I walked in the room.

Welcome to the world a miracle son for a family that has weathered the storms of life. Thank you for trusting me with telling your story in imagery and permission to share it. I don’t take that lightly.

Many thanks to the team at Netcare Christiaan Barnard for their welcoming of me as the first birth photographer ever in their hospital. Especially to Dr. Basson who understood how important photos were to her patient and Dr. Edelstein who was on-call for Rifqah and didn’t deny her this even in the rush of the moment. Neither were photographed but their impeccable care was there.

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When I sat down with Rifqah and her husband for our pre-birth consultation, one thing she said she really wanted was a proper maternity shoot. She never had one with her first child and this would also serve as their last family photos just the three of them. I was delighted to hear this was important to her, because they are one of my favorite aspects of a working with birth clients. All of my birth packages include a complimentary mini-maternity session just like this one. Your pregnancy photos (and a bit of a family session) are sorted. Its 30 minutes (painlessly quick for the man), one location of your choice and incredible photos of a time in your life that’s gone in a blink. Rifqah chose a forest setting and chose the most regal accessories. Stunningly beautiful their family… enjoy, especially those mother daughter moments.


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These parents pulled off the unbelievable, and for many the unthinkable. Showing up in the 5 am hour with a toddler, dressed and fed, ready for a beautiful shoot capturing the brilliant light of a sunrise over the Indian Ocean. Cape Town is amazing in that you get the coolest variations of sunrises and sunsets depending on which ocean side you pick (Indian or Atlantic). I almost tried to talk them out of this so early, but they made it happen.

The results were worth it. This session was incredible, beautiful memories of this season in their lives. Day In The Life Sessions are exclusive for my clients as I have an ongoing relationship with them. Some book them annually or for milestones. Here is Harper’s mommy & me one from about a year before. I believe it takes a certain level of trust and report to photograph a family this intimately.

While this isn’t exactly a home day in the life session, when clients are moving or perhaps would like something outdoors, we alter the session a bit to meet their needs. Its all lifestyle and we get a variety of images from play to with each parent, to family and even some portraits.

The Wright family have hired me for their daughter’s birth and all the steps along the way. They have a dear place in my heart. Enjoy this session:

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