Hey, I’m Chrystal!

There are many things that are very special about photographs, we keep and treasure them for many years and pass them from generation to generation, like a little glimpse into history we keep with us. We pour over them when we sit around a table with friends and family. Very often they line the passages and hallways of our homes. Whatever the case may be, there is something that a photograph can evoke successfully time and time again… that’s a feeling. Photography has long been something I’m passionate about, and for as long as I can remember, that is what I have wanted to do, to give people the ability to look at their photos and be flooded with many happy memories and most especially that feeling.

Having noticed my obsession, my beautiful parents gifted me my first and very own DSLR camera when I was 14 years old and I haven’t looked back since! Having a special love for portraiture and photographing young families, I knew I needed a special name that appealed to that demographic and who better to do that than the young talented author and illustrator, Jill Barklem who gave us Brambly Hedge! An idyllic spot where old values flourish and seasonal self sufficiency is the order of the day. And so, ‘Brambleberry’ was born.

Born, raised and living in Durban with my husband Konlin, our Frenchie Joey, Boston Terrier Bailey and our kitty Thomas, I’m surrounded by inspiration. When not editing, researching and looking for new places to shoot, you’ll find us tucked in the back of an obscure but fantastic coffee shop (ah when coffee is life), catching up on missed Masterchef Australia episodes or walking the doggies on the beach.

I feel that my work has a very natural, “unposed” and authentic feel, to be a fly on the wall so to speak. Letting the shoot naturally unfold without too much disturbance and making sure that the “personality” of the subject is seen through my pictures while staying true to my style.

Please feel free to drop me an email or come over and say hi on Instagram, I would love to hear from you and hear all about your plans for your next photoshoot.

XO, Chrystal.