Ivan Muller Photography

24/08/2026

Almost everyone who walks into my Centurion studio says some version of the same thing, that they are just not photogenic and I should be warned in advance.

They are nearly always wrong. What they usually mean is that they have never been photographed properly, and there is a big difference between the two.

Nobody looks their best in a phone picture taken at arm's length under an office ceiling light, and nobody relaxes when the photographer says nothing and just starts clicking away. So I have spent 25 years working out the bits in between. I light people in a way that is kind to the face, I show you what to do with your hands and your chin so you are not left guessing, and I keep talking to you throughout, so the smile that lands is a real one rather than one you are holding in place.

So if you have been putting off a headshot because you do not photograph well, that is exactly the reason to come in.

My studio is in Cornwall Hill Estate, Centurion, and I work across Pretoria, Midrand, Sandton and Johannesburg. Every session comes with a money back guarantee, so the risk is mine and not yours.

11/08/2026

A good professional portrait should tell you something about the person.

When someone comes into my studio, they often arrive with a fairly simple request: “I need a headshot.”

But a headshot can mean very different things depending on who you are and what you do.

For this chef, we created several portraits - the important thing was not simply getting the lighting right. It was finding expressions, poses and angles that suited him and his profession.

Most people aren't particularly comfortable in front of a camera. They don't know what to do with their hands, how to stand or which expression looks natural.

You don't need to.

I guide you through the session and take care of those things so that you can concentrate on simply being yourself.

The result should look professional without looking stiff or artificial.

That is what I’m after with every portrait I make.

11/08/2026

Finding more than one side of a person

When someone comes into my studio looking for photographs to help start a modelling career, I don't think one standard headshot is enough.

A model needs photographs that show some range.

For this session we worked with two different outfits and several approaches, producing both colour and sepia portraits and different crops for different uses.

What I enjoy about this kind of session is that you don't necessarily know beforehand which photograph is going to work best.

We try things.

A different expression. A small change in pose. Another crop. A different treatment.

The job is partly technical, of course - lighting, composition and the final processing all matter. But just as important is giving the person in front of the camera enough direction to relax and start looking like themselves.

That's really what I try to do with portrait photography: not manufacture a look, but find it.

If you're considering a portrait or headshot session but aren't quite sure what you want, that's actually quite normal. That's something we can work out together.

03/08/2026

27/07/2026

This corporate team came through to the studio for groups and individual portraits.

The thing with a group shot is that it very easily ends up looking like everybody has been lined up against a wall waiting for their turn at the dentist. So I put two stools in the front and staggered the heights behind, which sounds like a small fiddly thing but it genuinely changes the feel of the whole picture. People loosen up, they lean in towards each other a bit, and you end up with something that looks like a well connected team.

After that it is really just doing the basics properly, a clean soft light that is kind to everybody's face, a light grey backdrop that works well on websites, and then a light retouch by hand on each person.

And I say this kindly, but most company team pages are a bit of a shambles. There is usually a selfie in there somewhere, someone who has clearly been cropped out of a wedding photo, and at least one person still using a picture from two jobs and one hairstyle ago. An hour or so in the studio sorts evrything out, and everybody ends up matching and looking like themselves on a good day.

I am based in the private and secure Cornwall Hill Estate, Centurion, and I do everything from a single portrait right up to teams of 90, all over Pretoria, Midrand, Sandton and Johannesburg.
If your team is due for a refresh, give me a shout on 082 454 8487 and we can get it sorted.

21/07/2026

WHEN YOUR ENTIRE TEAM IS FINALLY IN ONE PLACE...

For companies with staff spread across South Africa, it's not often that everyone is together at the same time.

This national IT company brought their team together for their annual conference, making it the perfect opportunity to create a fresh team photograph while everyone was in one place.

Rather than photographing the group against a plain wall, I chose a beautiful South African bushveld setting. The mid-morning light filtering through the trees created a natural backdrop, while carefully balanced fill flash ensured every face was evenly lit. Photographing from a ladder ( a short stepladder) gave the image a stronger perspective and allowed the whole team to be seen clearly.

A little planning before the shoot also makes a big difference. By coordinating clothing in complementary blues, whites and neutral tones, the final image looks professional, cohesive and approachable-perfect for company websites, LinkedIn, annual reports and marketing material.

One of the things I enjoy most about corporate photography is photogrpahing not only what a team looks like, but also the culture and personality of the people behind the business.

One of my favourite comments from this project came afterwards:

"Ivan photographed our team and we couldn't be happier with the results. He has a fantastic eye for detail and really knows how to bring out the best in people. In addition to individual photos, we wanted a large group photo outdoors, and he found the perfect setting that balanced professionalism with a relaxed, outdoor feel. Would definitely work with him again!"
- Rene

If your company is planning a conference, strategy session or annual meeting, it's the ideal time to update your team photography while everyone is together.

Ivan Muller Photography
Professional Headshots • Corporate Photography • Portraits • Architecture • Product Photography

Cornwall Hill Estate, Irene, Centurion
082 454 8487
www.ivanmullerphotography.com

12/05/2026

Finding a beautiful outdoor portrait location in Centurion is harder than it sounds.
Most people end up in a public park with dog walkers, joggers and strangers in the background. Or they find somewhere beautiful but feel uneasy about safety. Or the kids need a bathroom and there isn't one for three kilometres.
I hear this all the time.
My studio is inside Cornwall Hill Estate in Irene - a private, gated community with a riverine woodland, open garden, water-filled quarry and densely wooded terraces that look like they were designed for portraits. Because of the estate's natural biodiversity, no two sessions ever look the same.
Clean facilities on site. A coffee shop on the premises. Secure parking. And nobody walking into your shot.
If you've been putting off a family portrait or personal session because you couldn't find the right place - it's here. And it's a lot closer than you think.
📍 Cornwall Hill Estate, Irene, Centurion
📞 082 454 8487
📩 [email protected]

29/04/2026

18 IT gurus. One consistent look.
That's the usual brief for a corporate headshot session - and it's harder than it sounds. Everyone walks in a different size, shape, and level of camera confidence. The job is to make them all look like they belong on the same team.
Same backdrop. Same light. Same approachable, professional feel - whether you're the CEO or the newest hire.
Shot recently at my studio in Irene. Corporate headshots for teams who need to look like they have their act together.
📍 Centurion | Corporate headshots for teams of any size
🔗 www.ivanmullerphotography.com

23/04/2026

From the archives: Sugar and spice and all things nice! A portrait shoot of young entrepreneurs for our local magazine , Cornwall View. I've been the editor (and chief photographer) of our local magazine for more than 10 years and have had the pleasure to feature many residents on their entrepreneurial journey.
www.ivanmullerphotography.com

23/04/2026

From the archives - Photographic shoot I did for our local magazine, Cornwall View, of an automotive restoration company owned by one of our residents. their company name and logo was inserted in post production. I always tell my clients when they say, -were not ready yet and the place is a mess' - don't worry we can fix it in Photoshop!

www.ivanmullerphotography.com