Angie Lázaro Photography

Dynamic Kia Johnson is a South African radio and television personality – her enthusiasm and vivaciousness is contagious. She currently hosts a show on Radio 2000 (Saturday Night Live from Cape Town). I first met Kia on the television set of the Expresso Breakfast Show (SABC3). A few years later; and now on her second pregnancy. The mother-to-be never looked more radiant. This was essentially a pregnancy shoot, shot at her home. We turned the lounge upside down – rigging backdrops and moving furniture.
The shoot is a celebration of her growing family. I shot beautiful and tender moments between her and Branny.
We wanted to keep it natural, yet beautiful – nothing contrived. I used a black backdrop as well as a large white skrim diffusing a studio flash, creating a backdrop of soft ethereal light.

Most recently, Kia has been producing a series of ‘Preggie Self-Defence – Protecting Mom & Baby’ videos with Quentin Chong from Dragon Power Muaythai, MMA & Fitness Centre.

Kia with Shanaaz Alexander – Hair & Make-up Artist

Thank you Shanaaz for the perfect make-up.

When Jeep Digital South Africa give you a call to photograph their cover, you quietly get a little overexcited.

Jeep Digital Magazine Cover

Obviously, this means I will be shooting a Jeep – and since I am such a fan I’m thinking, pick me! You have come to the right place.
The shoot involves the new Trailhawk. I am virtual-chandelier swinging while I compose myself. The brief: take the Trailhawk to an outdoor location, where there is a dam or close to a water body and set up a leisure activity such as fishing. ‘Sure, no problem,’ I say, with my mind racing to all corners of the nearby landscape.
The Trailhawk is in Johannesburg. I set-off to do some research and to find the best spot. There is a tight deadline, so it will have to be done at the weekend. Do I mind, not at all I will just have to turn it into a getaway adventure. There is pressure, of course, to find the right location and to meet the client’s expectations. After eliminating most of the Johannesburg outdoor natural dams and leisure spots I realize the best place will be the Vaal River.
I collect the Trailhawk – what a magnificent beast; pack camping chairs; fly-fishing gear; blow-up boat; oars and anything else that I think may work to set the scene. A model will be required, so ‘husband’ is also packed in with a myriad of wardrobe options. We book overnight accommodation at Stonehenge river-side lodge in Parys. With just an idea and an awesome challenge, we set off. Arriving after dark on the Friday night. We have to wait until the morning to scout. We get up at sunrise and explore. Miraculously, without our knowledge Stonehenge has the best access to the river. We can reach the water’s edge with the Trailhawk – fantastic.

The sun is rising fast, so we will have to wait until the late afternoon for ‘softer’ light. There is another little glitch, we need permission from the lodge management to shoot there. If allowed, we will have to drive past their pool on their perfectly manicured lawn. We are apprehensive, holding thumbs we approach the front desk. Excited and relieved at getting the nod we are even more convinced that this is the perfect spot. We will have to wait until the light shifts and the sun drops lower. We don’t stop there, we go on to explore the length of the river, just to make doubly sure there isn’t another appropriate place.
Convinced we landed the best location, we have the car cleaned and start prepping for the shoot. I set-up two possible angles, but because the light will change quickly as it nears sunset, I will have to work fast to ensure I get both options. We park the car, and move it this way and that, once I am satisfied it is the best angle, we mark the area so we can re-park the Jeep in exactly the same place when the time comes. We inflate the blow-up boat, sort out the props, decide on the ‘wardrobe’ and the positioning of the items for both options. We patiently wait until the sun starts setting. We start with the first set-up, including options with and without my ‘model’ in fly-fishing-action. I have to ensure that we don’t leave anything in the shot that shouldn’t be there, that the Trailhawk windows are closed, that there are not fingermarks anywhere, that we shoot with the vehicle lights on and off – I make sure I have all the options. As the light starts dimming we move the car to the second set-up. The sun is about to set behind the mountain, just beyond. I am running back and forth trying to perfect all the elements in the shot, instructing the ‘model’ and then, at the last minute I decide to bring the chair closer to the camera.

The insects are, now, out in full force. Before I know it, darkness engulfs us. We pack quickly. Headlights on, one last look around – the area is as it was when we arrived. Back in the Trailhawk we head off home, feeling rather satisfied.

Thank you to:
Stonehenge in Africa, Parys
stonehengeafrica.co.za
+27 72 616 1263

Jeep Digital Magazine
Editor: Jazz Kuschke

Christelle Grobler
Narrative Media

Richard Sloman
Media Liaison Manager
Chrysler South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Johan Odendaal
Model & assistant

My friend Nikkila and I had been speaking about doing a beauty shoot, to try new make-up techniques (Nikkila Mann, is a top South African Hair & Make-up artist). We have worked together so many times, during Top Billing fashion and cover shoots, corporate shoots, and our own creative inspirations. We totally love working with fabulously talented people and we just adore Bailey Schneider, so the idea was set. Bailey is not only an on-air personality and television presenter but she is extraordinarily beautiful and an amazing person.
She was so keen, when we suggested doing the shoot, that from that second we sent inspirational images back and forth the excitement started building. We decided on 4 looks for the day.
We started off with a dreamy look, mimicking daylight for the face but maintaining the interior mood and coziness. I borrowed a friend’s lampshade to give the scene a sense of luxury, I then covered the white wall behind with a dark blue card and blocked off the window. I bounced the light just in front of Bailey to get the soft fall off to highlight her features.
We then got working on the swirl-lollipop idea, I took out my sun hat, my earrings, flowers and wham Nikkila pulled that look together so spectacularly. Bailey was having so much fun, she looked quite like a care-free Marilyn Monroe.
Then came the pièce de résistance, our Marie-Antoinette epic hairstyle look. I wanted to add a bit of drama but also maintaining the softness and a slight vintage essence. What a dramatic image. We were on such a creative high.
Lastly, Nikkila worked on the make-up Splash & Drip look. Wow, that was tricky, but under the hands of a pro it worked out perfectly, she made a paper mask to limit the splash area. The initial paint was orange, but we both felt it would seriously pop if we changed it to yellow – well, my job as retoucher was set. Before digital imaging took hold in the 90s, there was very little retouching. As a photographer I am the retoucher too, possibly because I am such a perfectionist and know exactly how things should look. The key is to shoot it as perfectly as possible, do more on shoot to get it just right and do less repro afterwards.

This is Bailey’s blog entry of the shoot:
http://www.vanillablonde.co.za/2014/04/beauty-shoot.htmlFrom Left: Nikkila Mann, Bailey Schneider and me (Angie Lazaro).