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Turtlephin Photography
About us
A woman, a mother of two, a friend, a music junkie and an artist in my own special way ... I am passionate about all that I do and believe in giving my clients, whether corporate or personal, my absolute best at all times.
For as long as I can remember, I have always loved having a camera in my hand, snapping away at anything that caught my eye. From my little compact film camera back in the 80's to my compact digital camera in the 90's and now my DSLR ... my constant companion.
After leaving the comfort of high school, I made my way into the corporate jungle for quite some time, starting off as an administrator in the insurance field and ending off my time as a Facilitator and Assessor in the Training and Development field.
In 2006, my life underwent some drastic changes and I started a "Bucket List" before it was too late. My first item on said list was to start scuba diving ... and start I did!! A truly "out of this world" experience and one that I quickly became addicted to. Besides the people in the diving community and the absolute peace I felt while underwater, there was the beauty beneath the oceans surface that I was introduced to. I was in absolute awe of it all. Sadly, for those who have never tried scuba diving, it was very difficult for me to explain just how beautiful it is ... there are just no words!! So, in 2008, I bought myself my first little digital underwater camera and decided to do my Underwater Digital Photography course. Although I was not very good at underwater photography (fish are terrible models ... they just don't listen!!!), it gave me great pleasure to share what I saw with my friends and family.
Then 2008 came along ... and so did the challenges and some more life changing events. After months of illness, hospitals, surgery, recovery time and the ultimate test of my strength, stamina and will to live, I made it through to 2009 and decided it was time to leave the corporate jungle and take some time out for me. But me, being me, I... show more knew that I could not be idle and had to do something with all the free time that I would now have on my hands. It was then that I decided that I would pursue my interest in photography ... and I did just that.
Looking back, I have to chuckle at my first ever "shoot" ... a very impromptu maternity shoot for a friend and all I had with me was my little compact "point and shoot" camera :).
After a few other "shoots" with friends and family members, I was invited to enter my first competition ... for the annual "Wine Laid Bare" breast cancer calendar. My first thought ... "No ways!! I could never compete against well known and seasoned photographers!!" Well, I bit the bullet and sheepishly submitted 3 entries, not thinking that anything would come of it. I suppose being fairly new to this world and comparing my work to more experienced photographers, I did not have much faith in my skills .... I was wrong!! Much to my surprise and delight, one of my entries was selected to grace the December page in the 2011 breast cancer calendar. And that was the start of it all .... my confidence in myself was restored and Turtlephin Photography was born!!
Over the months that followed I played, experimented, made mistakes, surprised myself, kicked myself, took chances ... just basically threw myself into my passion and love for photography and people. I met and worked with some amazing, crazy, friendly, gorgeous, hunky and fantastical people and each and every one of them helped me grow in some way.
In 2010 I decided it was time to try something new ... being a lover (some would say junkie!!) of live events and an avid follower of South African music, it was time to hit the live scene. Starting off with unknown bands in tiny venues, I experimented and soon realised that it was very very different to studio and location shoots .... but exciting and challenging. And that is what I wanted ... to challenge myself and my capabilities. The music filling my veins, the vibe in the venue, the ever-changing lighting, the energy on stage .... THAT kept me coming back for more!!! I wanted that perfect shot, that action shot, that facial expression, the dramatic effect that stage lighting can have on an artists face or body ... I wanted to capture it all!!
The journey has been a long and winding one ... with ups and downs ... but today I can look back and say I am grateful for the "curve balls" that Life threw at me those few years back. People have often asked me over the years how I dealt with it all. My response "Life sometimes sends you on a detour and it's natural to fight it and give up at the start. But sometimes the detour is your true path and instead of hating the new path, look around and enjoy the scenery because you may find the beauty, happiness and dreams that you've been searching for all along".
Today, I can say that I have found my calling, my dream, my happiness and my past life was in fact the "detour"
show more
For as long as I can remember, I have always loved having a camera in my hand, snapping away at anything that caught my eye. From my little compact film camera back in the 80's to my compact digital camera in the 90's and now my DSLR ... my constant companion.
After leaving the comfort of high school, I made my way into the corporate jungle for quite some time, starting off as an administrator in the insurance field and ending off my time as a Facilitator and Assessor in the Training and Development field.
In 2006, my life underwent some drastic changes and I started a "Bucket List" before it was too late. My first item on said list was to start scuba diving ... and start I did!! A truly "out of this world" experience and one that I quickly became addicted to. Besides the people in the diving community and the absolute peace I felt while underwater, there was the beauty beneath the oceans surface that I was introduced to. I was in absolute awe of it all. Sadly, for those who have never tried scuba diving, it was very difficult for me to explain just how beautiful it is ... there are just no words!! So, in 2008, I bought myself my first little digital underwater camera and decided to do my Underwater Digital Photography course. Although I was not very good at underwater photography (fish are terrible models ... they just don't listen!!!), it gave me great pleasure to share what I saw with my friends and family.
Then 2008 came along ... and so did the challenges and some more life changing events. After months of illness, hospitals, surgery, recovery time and the ultimate test of my strength, stamina and will to live, I made it through to 2009 and decided it was time to leave the corporate jungle and take some time out for me. But me, being me, I... show more knew that I could not be idle and had to do something with all the free time that I would now have on my hands. It was then that I decided that I would pursue my interest in photography ... and I did just that.
Looking back, I have to chuckle at my first ever "shoot" ... a very impromptu maternity shoot for a friend and all I had with me was my little compact "point and shoot" camera :).
After a few other "shoots" with friends and family members, I was invited to enter my first competition ... for the annual "Wine Laid Bare" breast cancer calendar. My first thought ... "No ways!! I could never compete against well known and seasoned photographers!!" Well, I bit the bullet and sheepishly submitted 3 entries, not thinking that anything would come of it. I suppose being fairly new to this world and comparing my work to more experienced photographers, I did not have much faith in my skills .... I was wrong!! Much to my surprise and delight, one of my entries was selected to grace the December page in the 2011 breast cancer calendar. And that was the start of it all .... my confidence in myself was restored and Turtlephin Photography was born!!
Over the months that followed I played, experimented, made mistakes, surprised myself, kicked myself, took chances ... just basically threw myself into my passion and love for photography and people. I met and worked with some amazing, crazy, friendly, gorgeous, hunky and fantastical people and each and every one of them helped me grow in some way.
In 2010 I decided it was time to try something new ... being a lover (some would say junkie!!) of live events and an avid follower of South African music, it was time to hit the live scene. Starting off with unknown bands in tiny venues, I experimented and soon realised that it was very very different to studio and location shoots .... but exciting and challenging. And that is what I wanted ... to challenge myself and my capabilities. The music filling my veins, the vibe in the venue, the ever-changing lighting, the energy on stage .... THAT kept me coming back for more!!! I wanted that perfect shot, that action shot, that facial expression, the dramatic effect that stage lighting can have on an artists face or body ... I wanted to capture it all!!
The journey has been a long and winding one ... with ups and downs ... but today I can look back and say I am grateful for the "curve balls" that Life threw at me those few years back. People have often asked me over the years how I dealt with it all. My response "Life sometimes sends you on a detour and it's natural to fight it and give up at the start. But sometimes the detour is your true path and instead of hating the new path, look around and enjoy the scenery because you may find the beauty, happiness and dreams that you've been searching for all along".
Today, I can say that I have found my calling, my dream, my happiness and my past life was in fact the "detour"
show more
2 recommendations and reviews from 2 people
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Referral from
July 31, 2015
Jaimi S. asked:Tami Lutchman of Tangent Exhibitions & Events is urgently looking for a Videographer and Photographer for a JHB event tomorrow. Please leave your links (especially if you do both).Connie B. replied:I'd be more than happy to help. You can contact me on 0824674083Landy Y. replied:Connie De Melo Baiao Turtlephin Photography
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