When Jenita Lawal reached out about a personal branding photography session in Cape Town, the brief was clear. She needed a fresh set of images that captured who she is: a travel entrepreneur, speaker, and organiser with a warmth and energy that comes through the moment you meet her. Jenita is the founder of Lawal Travel Services, a US-based travel curation company, and she was in Cape Town to host a conference. We carved out a morning to shoot across two of the city’s most photogenic locations.
In the Company’s Garden
We began in the Company’s Garden, one of Cape Town’s oldest and most beautiful green spaces. The towering trees and filtered morning light gave us a natural, relaxed backdrop that suited Jenita’s personality perfectly. Personal branding is not about stiff poses against a white wall. It is about context, personality, and a sense of place, and the Garden delivered all three.
The old trees are some of my favourite elements to work with. Their gnarled branches create natural frames, and the uneven canopy filters the sunlight in ways that add depth without overpowering the subject. Between setups, Jenita’s natural energy gave us candid moments that no amount of directing could manufacture. Those unscripted frames often end up being the ones clients reach for first.
Moving Into the City Centre
After the garden, we walked into the Cape Town CBD. The shift in backdrop, from green and organic to stone, brick, and urban energy, gave the set a completely different feel. This is one of the reasons I enjoy location-based personal branding shoots. Moving between settings within a single session means the client walks away with a diverse library of images, not just one look.
The heritage buildings around the city centre provided strong architectural lines and textures. Stone steps, iron gates, and weathered facades all work as backdrops because they add visual weight without competing with the subject. I look for these elements deliberately when planning a route for a personal branding session.
Why Personal Branding Photography Matters
A strong personal brand is built on consistency and recognition. Your audience should see your face and immediately associate it with the expertise and values you bring. For entrepreneurs, consultants, and professionals who are the face of their business, a curated set of professional portraits is not a luxury. It is a business tool.
As Jenita put it after receiving her gallery: “Photos are awesome!” That is always good to hear. When a client has images they are genuinely excited about, they end up on LinkedIn, on their website, in their email signature, and in every pitch deck. That is the outcome I aim for with every session.
If you are visiting Cape Town for a conference, a business trip, or simply because the city makes an exceptional backdrop, a personal branding session is worth building into your itinerary. We can cover multiple locations in a single morning and deliver a set of images that will serve your brand for months to come.
Interested in personal branding photography in Cape Town? I would love to hear about your project. Get in touch to discuss your session.
Get in touch: jurgen@jurgen.co.za | Portfolio: www.jurgen.co.za
Photography by Jurgen’s Photography | www.jurgen.co.za
