Teenager Photographer In Johannesburg
A portrait session for who they are now
Teenagers usually arrive with opinions.
About what they will wear.
Whether they want to smile.
Which photographs of themselves they like.
And sometimes whether having their portrait taken was a good idea in the first place.
That is useful.
Teenager portrait sessions take place in my Johannesburg studio and are built around the person who arrives.
There is direction when they need it and space when they don't.
They do not need to know how to pose.
They do not need to be confident.
And they do not need to become a more polished version of themselves for the camera.
Who they are now is enough.
When to book
There is no perfect age for a teenager portrait.
Thirteen is different from sixteen.
Sixteen is different from nineteen.
Some teenagers still have one foot firmly in childhood.
Others suddenly seem almost grown.
That is why these years are worth photographing.
If your child is younger, my child portrait experience may be a better fit.
View the child portrait experience →
What happens during the session
Before the session, we discuss who will be photographed and what everyone will wear.
On the day, I begin simply.
I give enough direction so no one has to wonder what to do with their hands, where to look or how to stand.
Then we work from there.
Some teenagers settle immediately.
Some take a little time.
Some talk.
Some barely say a word.
Some know exactly how they want to be photographed.
Others want me to decide.
I work with all of them.
Your session can include:
- your teenager on their own
- brothers and sisters together
- mother and daughter
- mother and son
- father and child
- your family together
We do not need to make every combination.
We make the photographs that matter to you.
The teenager remains at the centre.
How I photograph teenagers
I use careful studio lighting, simple backgrounds and very little around them.
There are no themed sets and very few props.
I am interested in expression, body language and the small shifts that happen once someone stops thinking quite so hard about being photographed.
A direct look.
A laugh.
A moment of awkwardness.
A little swagger.
The seriousness that can appear without warning.
I guide when guidance helps.
Then I watch.
Expression matters more than performance.
The things they bring with them
Sometimes there is something that belongs in the portrait.
A guitar.
A skateboard.
A dog.
A favourite jacket.
Something connected to what they love doing.
I don't use things simply to decorate a photograph.
But if something matters to them now, it may be worth bringing.
It can tell us something about who they are.
Brothers and sisters
Brothers and sisters are very welcome.
Teenagers behave differently with the people who know them best.
They laugh differently.
Stand differently.
Forget about the camera for a moment.
We can make individual portraits of each sibling as well as photographs of them together.
Sometimes the relationship matters as much as the individual portrait.
Who they are together matters too.
Including parents
You are welcome to be photographed with your teenager.
I encourage it.
As children get older, parents seem to disappear from photographs with them.
There are school photographs.
Sports photographs.
Photographs with friends.
Endless photographs on phones.
But often surprisingly few of you together.
You do not need to be in everything.
A handful is enough.
One day, these photographs belong to them too.
What to wear
Simple clothing works best.
There is no need to buy something especially for the session.
And teenagers should still look like themselves.
If they live in jeans and a T-shirt, that may be exactly what they should wear.
Avoid large logos, distracting graphics and very busy patterns where possible.
I often suggest starting with black, although other simple neutral clothing works well.
Bring options if you are unsure.
And check favourite clothes beforehand for fading, pilling, stains and stretched necklines. The camera is annoyingly good at noticing them.
What to wear for your portrait session →
Your teenager portrait session
The session fee is R3,000.
The session fee covers the photography session, preparation beforehand, my direction throughout and the creation of your portrait gallery.
Your finished portraits are purchased separately through one of three collections.
Teenager portrait collections
Foundation — 10 portraits
R7,500
Total investment including session fee: R10,500
For those who want a small, strong group of finished portraits.
Signature — 15 portraits
R10,500
Total investment including session fee: R13,500
For those who want more variety across individual portraits and relationships.
Legacy — 25 portraits
R15,500
Total investment including session fee: R18,500
For those who want the broadest record of who they are now and the people photographed with them.
Additional portraits are R1,500 each.
A black-and-white alternate version of a purchased portrait is R1,000 per portrait.
RAW and unedited files are not supplied.
You choose how much you want to keep.
After your session
After the session, you choose the photographs you would like me to finish.
Your selected portraits are individually retouched and delivered as finished digital files.
Framed portraits, wall pieces and albums are also available if you would like your photographs in print.
View portrait finishes →
Your photographer
I have photographed teenagers and families in my Johannesburg studio since 2005.
When you book a teenager portrait session with me, I photograph it personally.
I have photographed teenagers who love the camera and teenagers who would happily have been anywhere else.
Neither is a problem.
Experience is knowing when to direct.
When to wait.
When to keep going.
And when someone has given enough.
They do not need a rehearsed smile.
They do not need to prepare a version of themselves for the camera.
They only need to arrive as themselves.
View teenager portraits →
Frequently asked questions
Collections begin at R7,500 for 10 finished portraits, making the starting total investment R10,500. Your session fee and collection are chosen and paid for when you book; additional portraits can be added after the session.
I don't expect them to perform or pretend to enjoy something they don't. I give them time, direction when they need it and space when they don't.
A serious expression can make an extraordinary portrait. I would rather photograph something genuine than manufacture a smile.
I can photograph siblings individually and together during the same session
If something genuinely belongs to their life now, tell me about it beforehand and we can decide how best to include it.
Simple clothing photographs particularly well. Avoid large logos, distracting graphics and very busy patterns where possible, and bring a few options if you are unsure.
Ready when you are
If you would like to photograph who they are now, get in touch and we can look at timing.
Contact me →
JOHANNESBURG PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER
One Moment. One Portrait. Forever
© 2005–2026 Bridget Corke Photography
Blairgowrie · Johannesburg · South Africa
International Master's in Portrait Photography
One of only two in Africa.