A Golden Goodbye to 2025 — Family & Pet Photography in Cape Town

Ashley Chapman
Jan 1
3 min read

There are sessions that feel like work, and then there are sessions that feel like a memory you were simply lucky enough to witness — and this one falls firmly into the second category. My final shoot of 2025 took me up to beautiful Signal Hill, overlooking Lion’s Head, where I had the joy of photographing Chanette, her husband Franco, and their two corgis, Donna and Arthur.

Because this was Chanette’s very first time visiting Cape Town, the experience already felt special before we even began. She had always dreamed of seeing the mountains, the views, the expansive skies — and being able to capture that dream for her through my lens made this session one I won’t soon forget.

Signal Hill that afternoon had its own heartbeat. The mountain seemed alive with movement — hikers passing by, curious tourists stopping for photos, couples settling in to watch the sunset. There was a gentle buzz of conversation in the air, footsteps crunching on the paths, and the occasional excited laughter echoing across the slopes.

Rather than being distracting, the atmosphere added to the magic. It felt like we were part of something bigger — a shared appreciation for Cape Town’s beauty.

While we were shooting, people smiled as they passed, a few stopping to admire Donna and Arthur (because honestly, who can resist corgis?). The world kept moving around us, yet somehow our little bubble — this couple, their pups, and the unfolding light — felt peaceful and still.

Pet Photography and couple photography in Cape Town.

The day was warm — the kind of warmth you feel on your shoulders and cheeks. But as the afternoon softened, the light turned dreamy. That golden, buttery glow wrapped itself around the mountains, catching the edges of Chanette’s dress and highlighting Franco’s gentle expressions.

As a photographer specializing in family photography in Cape Town, light like this feels like a gift. It adds emotion, softness, and depth — turning simple moments into something cinematic.

Capturing Love, Laughter & Little Paws

Chanette and Franco were beautifully natural together. No forced posing. No stiff smiles. Just quiet conversation, shared glances, and bursts of laughter — especially when Donna and Arthur decided to wander in and out of shots like the little stars they are.

This is exactly why I love pet photography in Cape Town. Pets bring authenticity to a session. They ground everyone, making the shoot feel more like a walk, an adventure, a memory — not a staged setup.

Watching Chanette’s eyes light up as she looked around — taking in Lion’s Head, the hazy horizon, the golden grass — reminded me that this wasn’t just a session.

It was a first.

A first visit to Cape Town. A first time seeing these views. A first time capturing this chapter of their lives together.