An exciting event to cover as part of my conference photography offer was the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) 26th Annual Congress in Cape Town from 23rd to 25th of March 2026, drawing more than 500 delegates from across Africa and beyond under the theme “Empowering Africa’s Future, One Seed at a Time.” Working alongside videographer Kat Willemse of House of Vizion, Jürgen’s Photography provided complete corporate event photographer coverage in Cape Town across the full three-day programme, from the ministerial opening ceremony through to the gala dinner. This is a look at how the assignment came together.
The Opening: Minister Steenhuisen and a Continental Gathering
The congress opened with a formal address by South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen. Speaking to a packed auditorium, the minister described seed as the foundation of resilient food systems and stressed the importance of regulatory frameworks that balance quality protection with innovation. For a gathering of 500 delegates representing countries from across the continent, it was a fitting start to three days of focused industry discussion.
Conference photography with a ministerial address in a large conference venue comes with specific technical demands. Stage lighting is high-contrast, the auditorium is large, and coverage must capture both the speaker and the response in the room, without disrupting proceedings. It is the kind of assignment where preparation and discipline matter as much as the camera settings.
Conference Photography of Keynotes, Workshops, and the Exhibition Floor
The three-day programme covered a range of topics relevant to the African seed trade: policy, innovation, market access, and the long-term development of the continent’s agricultural sector. Keynote presentations were delivered to the full congress, while the workshop sessions brought smaller groups together for more focused discussion.
The exhibition floor ran alongside the formal programme, with seed displays, sponsor stands, and industry partners creating an additional layer of visual variety and candid coverage opportunity throughout the event.
Working alongside Kat Willemse of House of Vizion on video, we covered the sessions across both photography and video, ensuring AFSTA had a complete set of content assets from the event. For organisations that invest in a multi-day conference of this scale, having both stills and motion coverage is an efficient way to extend the life of the content.
The Social Programme: Cocktail Reception and Gala Dinner
The social programme gave delegates the opportunity to connect away from the formal sessions. The cocktail reception created a relaxed atmosphere for networking, with a mix of candid conversation and informal group moments to cover.
The gala dinner was the centrepiece of the social calendar. An important part of the conference photography was a formal dinner for 500 guests requires a different approach from a conference session: the light is lower, the setting is more intimate, and the goal is to document genuine moments of connection and celebration rather than stage-managed shots. Entertainment added to the atmosphere of the evening and gave the photography another dimension to work with.
Reflecting on the Conference Photography Assignment
A three-day congress at this scale is one of the more demanding formats in corporate event photography. The brief requires consistent coverage across multiple simultaneous sessions, clear transitions between formal and social settings, and delivery of a large, edited image library within an agreed timeframe. The addition of video coverage by Kat Willemse of House of Vizion meant that the production scope was broader than a conference photography-only brief, and the coordination required across both disciplines added to the complexity.
The feedback from the client is what matters at the end of an assignment like this.
“Jürgen did a fantastic job at the AFSTA Congress 2026 in Cape Town. The images truly captured the key moments and atmosphere of the event so well. Jürgen’s professionalism and timely delivery of the assignment are top-notch. Looking forward to working together again in the future. I highly recommend Jürgen for photography and videography work.”
Lindah Chavuya Mbaisi, MPRSK, MCIPR, Lead, Communications, Advocacy and Outreach, African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA)
For a more detailed look at the brief, the approach, and how the photo and video coverage came together, see the full AFSTA Congress 2026 case study.
If your organisation is planning a conference, congress, or multi-day event and requires professional conference photography and videography coverage, Jürgen’s Photography offers a complete solution, from single-day event coverage to full multi-day conference packages with integrated video. You can find more about our conference photography in Cape Town or review our event photography pricing to get a sense of what your brief might cost.
Get in touch: jurgen@jurgen.co.za | Portfolio: www.jurgen.co.za
Photography by Jürgen’s Photography | Videography by Kat Willemse, House of Vizion | www.jurgen.co.za
