Cape Town Photography Locations

Sea Point Promenade

The promenade runs flat along the Atlantic for kilometres — lawns, palm trees and the sea wall, with Lion's Head behind you and open ocean in front. It's the practical choice for families staying in the City Bowl or Atlantic Seaboard: no long drive, easy access, pram-friendly, with a play area nearby if kids need to burn energy first. This side of the peninsula is mostly rocks, not beach, so we work a mix — some spots down on the rocks, others with the promenade itself as backdrop. Late afternoon gives the softest light. It's a busy public space, so expect other people in frame — we shoot to keep them soft and out of focus in the background.

Kirstenbosch Forest

Not Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens itself — shoots aren't permitted inside the Gardens. Instead we use a public forest just around the corner, off Kirstenbosch Drive in Bishopscourt, that I actually prefer: it feels more natural than a manicured garden, with tall trees and soft filtered light. No permits, no queues — green and shade instead of beach and wind. Mid-morning is the sweet spot, when the light comes through the canopy, and it's the most weather-proof location on this page.

Llandudno

A genuinely beautiful, sheltered beach on the Atlantic side — giant granite boulders, white sand and a mountain amphitheatre rising straight behind the bay. It's quieter and wilder than Camps Bay, and the boulders give kids something real to do while adding natural texture to the photos. It draws a crowd on a good-weather day, and parking is tight in season, so we plan the timing around it.

Noordhoek

One of Cape Town's hidden gems — a wide, unspoilt beach with Chapman's Peak in the distance and rugged rocks along the shoreline. Noticeably quieter than Llandudno and so long it never feels busy, which makes it the pick for big families and multi-generation groups who want space to walk, play and spread out. Some of my favourite family portraits have come from Noordhoek — starting relaxed at the family's beach house, then out onto the sand as the light drops.

Kommetjie

Near the end of the peninsula, with a working-village feel: milkwood trees, long stretches of beach and the Slangkop lighthouse standing over it all. Quieter again than Noordhoek, with a handful of spots to choose from — we usually decide what works best once we're there on the day. It's a longer drive from town, and that's exactly why families choose it; I've photographed family reunions here, relatives scattered across the world, all in Cape Town at the same time for once.

Tokai Forest

To be added.

Tarentaal Park

A public park on the Onder-Papegaaiberg side of Stellenbosch — open grass, mature trees and mountain views back toward the town. Flat and pram-friendly, with easy parking and none of the wind that can complicate a beach session.

Eersterivier Riverside

A quiet stretch along the Eerste River on the eastern side of Stellenbosch, close to Eersterivier Park. Water, reeds and tree cover give a softer, more intimate backdrop than the open Winelands estates — a quieter alternative to the open park.

Eersterivier Park

A neighbourhood park on the Eerste River, a short drive from Stellenbosch town centre. Open lawns and river frontage make it a practical, low-key option for a relaxed family session close to town, easy for a shorter session.

Farmland near Klapmuts

Open farmland just outside Klapmuts, about 10km north of Stellenbosch town — wide skies, working farm scenery and none of the crowds you get closer to town. Worth the extra drive if you want a rural, uncluttered backdrop.

Paarl (foot of Paarlberg)

To be added.

Wine farms

The best option for a scenic shoot in the area — Eureka (large covered veranda, good rain fallback), Nitida, Klein Roosboom, Loch Lynne, Pampoenkraal, Allesverloren.

Free public parks

Eversdal, Boland Park, Odendaal Park, Aurora Park, Fairtrees Park, Frikkie Knoetze Arboretum, Sonstraal Dam, and the row of trees on Racecourse Road. The field next to Graanendal is best Aug–Oct during canola season.