Top Billing Magazine celebrates women’s day this month, and who best to feature on our cover than the two most recognised women in South Africa. These two exceptional television personalities Nolene Maholwana-Sangqu and Leanne Mannas took a few hours out of their busy schedule to join us at the magazine shoot. One of the plush Saxon Villas, was the featured location (this has been the venue of choice for many international celebrities, so goes the unofficial rumour). The shoot had to fit in-between Leanne’s informative Morning Live Show and Nolene’s interactive discussion 3Talk show in the afternoon. This would be the second time I would photograph Leanne, in fact she featured in my first Top Billing Magazine cover in December 2006.
Alexis, had scouted the entire fashionable Johannesburg districts, the previous day, for just the right outfits: gowns, shoes, accessories that would work with the interior of the Villa and suit and these stand out personalities.
We began by selecting the best angle at the location for the cover. Furniture was moved to make space and the props were rearranged. I set up the lighting and did a few tests, putting some of the team where our stars would be, even myself. Once the lighting was perfected Leanne and Nolene emerged. Both remarked that they are so much more comfortable in front of a video camera than a stills camera, but they both easily just relaxed into it. Nolene clearly loves the tv camera and decided to take on the goddess warrior spirit in hand and grabbed one of the African spears and proceeded to mock charge the tv camera/ cameraman. They tweeted throughout the shoot and took pictures of each other, enjoying every minute of it. Time was tight, and there were at least another two outfit changes to undergo. The television crew interviewed them in-between shots, working hand in hand, while they interviewed Noleen we photographed Leanne and visa
versa. We moved all the lights upstairs to one of the suites’ generous lounge and set-up for the next shot. Penny touched up the make-up and Alexis perfected the styling at every turn. The pressure was on, so many details and so many things to change and move. In the end we got all the shots, and Nolene made her quick escape to prepare for her show.
Credits: MAGAZINE – Photography: Angie Lázaro; Photographic Assistant:Gunther Grater Fashion Editor: Alexis Chaffe;Hair and Make-up: Penny Rose Production and Art Director: Hayden Fortmann; The cover models Nolene Maholwana-Sangqu and Leanne Mannas TV CREW – Insert director: Alan Ford, Cameraman: Pierre van Heerden, Sound: Lucky Msibi Location:Saxon Villas saxon.co.za