Introduction

I recently photographed the Van Der Hoven family at Vergelegen Wine Estate, one of the most iconic locations in the Cape Winelands. With its expansive gardens, mountain backdrops, and timeless character, it provided the perfect setting for a relaxed and natural family session.

This shoot was captured on both film and digital, allowing me to combine a classic, timeless aesthetic with the flexibility of modern photography. My approach was simple — to keep things natural, with minimal direction, focusing on genuine interaction, light, and the environment.

Van Der Hoven Family – Kodak Portra 800 © 2022 Pentax 645n | Vergelegen Wine Estate – Somerset West | South-Africa

The Location – Vergelegen Wine Estate

Vergelegen offers a diverse range of photographic opportunities, from manicured gardens and tree-lined avenues to open landscapes and mountain views. The scale of the estate allows for a variety of compositions, making it ideal for family photography that feels both refined and unforced.

The environment plays an important role in shaping the images — not just as a backdrop, but as part of the story. Light filtering through the trees, open spaces, and quiet moments all contribute to a more authentic result.

The Shoot

The session was relaxed and unstructured, allowing the family to move freely and interact naturally. Rather than focusing on heavily posed portraits, I worked to capture real moments — subtle expressions, connections, and the rhythm of the family dynamic.

It was a warm day, but everyone worked together with ease, and that always reflects in the final images.

Film & Digital Approach

For this session, I worked on both digital and medium format film using Pentax 645N paired with Kodak Portra 800.

Portra 800 is well known for its ability to render natural skin tones and is widely used by professional portrait and wedding photographers. It handles light beautifully and produces a soft, organic look that works particularly well for family work.

Film requires a slower, more deliberate approach — there’s no checking the back of the camera. You rely on experience, light, and instinct. That’s part of what I enjoy about it. It brings a different feel to the images — less clinical than digital, with a more timeless, classic character.

It still brings a smile to my face to see perfect negatives once they have been developed knowing that the metering and processing went smoothly.

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The Van Der Hoven’s Experience

We were so fortunate to win a photoshoot with Craig Fouché Photography at a Women’s Conference in Cape Town. Our venue of choice was Vergelegen Wine Estate with it’s magnificent gardens and charm. The shoot was absolute fun, we felt at ease even although we are camera shy girls. We really enjoyed every moment which was also a great experience.

we are very satisfied with our images…

I loved the idea of capturing these beautiful moments with my daughters Hannelisa, Tiana and Jani, they are timeless memories. Craig handled the shoot with utmost professionalism and we are very satisfied with our images. I can highly recommend him. Thank you for such a fun-filled afternoonand the beautiful photographs.

Heloise van der Hoven.

My Experience

Timing played a big role in this shoot. Hannelisa was close to the end of her pregnancy, Jani was getting married the following weekend, and Heloise had a medical procedure scheduled shortly after. There was a lot happening around this one session, which made capturing these moments even more meaningful.

Despite the heat and everything going on, the family was relaxed and present — and that’s always the key. What you give during a shoot is what you receive in your final images.

They were incredibly easy to work with, and it shows.

In Conclusion

This was a special session in a remarkable location, with a family that brought energy, warmth, and authenticity to the shoot.

Vergelegen remains one of the standout locations in the Western Cape for this kind of work, offering both scale and subtlety. Sessions like this reinforce my approach — keep it natural, trust the process, and focus on capturing something honest and lasting.

This style of studio portrait is ideal for models, creatives, and professionals looking for timeless black and white imagery with a strong, cinematic lighting aesthetic.

Gallery

Medium Format Film Portraits – Van Der Hoven Family (Kodak Portra 800)

Black & White Family Portraits – Van Der Hoven Family (Timeless Series)

Family Portraits in Natural Light – Van Der Hoven Family (Colour)