Photo special: April – May 2022

Birth Photography. It is raw. It is real. It is emotional. It is beautiful. It is life arriving right in front of you. I felt at owe watching De La Croix family birthing their baby boy Ethan.
Yes, it is a family affair. Dad was helping his wife through all her waves of contractions, catching his own son and cutting his cord. 6 year old sister was hugging mommy’s tummy to help her with pain, jumping out of excitement on arrival of her brother and hugging everyone around of happiness.
And mother was breathing through every contraction which came closer and closer and eventually hit one on top of another. She birthed her son with no painkillers. Surrounded by family she welcomed baby boy she carried for so many months under her heart. Melissa cried from happiness of finally meeting Ethhan and knowing that the worst is over. In fact everyone was crying, including me. As I have just witnessed something so powerful, beautiful and inspiring.
Once again I can see that birthing your child at home is a real VIP experience of births. Comfort of your own home, everyone you love are around, no random people or check ups, freedom of movement, no interventions, no unnecessary medication, delayed cord clamping, and midwife or doula at your own disposal to help you at any moment.
Photographing birth made me feel so humble, as I have witnessed life at its grand arrival.
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography www. yourfotostory.com
Birthing mama Melissa De La Croix – check out her page to hear her own birth story.
Doula – Heidi van Zyl
George – South Africa – 2019
Garden Route Birth Photography
“Rainbows will forever be wild.”
– Anthony T.Hincks
Exciting collaboration of Nadine Schumyn Visual Artist / Make-Up Artist, Nicole Muller and Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.
To photograph people who are in love is very special. While capturing love stories like this you rub on to their positivity and love.
Ksenia and Maksim traveled to South Africa for their honeymoon after getting married in Russia. They decided to commemorate their trip with a wedding photo shoot at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve, just outside Mossel Bay.
Beautiful memories of distant travels in colourful South Africa.
Photos: ©Jenya Zhivaleva Photography
Make up by Yuliya Melnik-Greyling from YMG Beauty Studio
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Magic happens when you get together with talented make up artist Yuliya Melnik-Greyling from YMG Beauty Studio and gorgeous Melissa de la Croix.
Photos by Jenya Zhivaleva Photography
You know when you get excited because you will have good food, and it is actually nutritious and it looks amazing. Well that is Carola Ann’s Restaurant for you. Chef Corelie De Villiers Shami and her husband Samuel Shami share their passion for food in their daily creations.
The restaurant is located at the centre of Mossel Bay, just around the corner from the Tourism Information Center. It is really worth a visit. I must admit I was very hungry after this photo shoot. Here it is, some yummy soul food for you.
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography
What a fun photo shoot that was! Looking for fairies and monkeys in Wilderness forest with De la Croix family. Photographs taken in celebration of Melissa and Michael’s wedding anniversary and 1 year birthday of beautiful Violet.
Melissa is a beauty and parenting blogger herself. Interesting stories and insights on her blog Pretty Messy Melon
Breastfeeding photos became a special part of the photo session. Breastfeeding is the most amazing, natural and nurturing relationship between a mother and a child. Mothers milk not only helps baby to grow and develop a very strong immune and nervous system, but also creates a special bond between a mother and a child. A bond that helps both of them on their journey.
⊙ Jenya Zhivaleva Photography
Being first time parents is like landing on another planet. It’s scary but so exciting.
I was invited to photograph this gorgeous girl, Gabriella, who came to planet Earth in July. Thank you Shelley and Johannes for letting me capture such special moments.
I truly believe that pregnant women are gorgeous, even though most of the time they don’t feel that way. They radiate light and love! I hope that with my photography they can actually see it and be reminded of their beauty and superpowers.
Maternity shoot at Glentana beach with beautiful family of Shelley and Johannes.
In May 2017 I spent two weeks in beautiful Kwazulu-Natal photographing Unravel Surf Travel Surf Trip with a group of Russian trevellers.
It was the third time that we returned to KwaZulu-Natal for a Surf Trip and for the third year in a row we traveled with a group of clients, all eager to learn surfing while exploring the natural beauty of Southern Africa. Enjoy the photo highlights of the trip.
Unravel Surf Travel organizes surf trips in South Africa and Mozambique.
More information at http://www.unravelsurftravel.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.
A collection of photographs with happy father moments.
© Jenya Zhivaleva Photography
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography. http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography. http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography. http://www.yourfotostory.com
Meet beautiful Sasha.
Portrait photoshoot outside Knysna, South Africa.
Series “Unleash your inner beauty”.
● Jenya Zhivaleva Photography ●
Meet Mandi, one of the two superwomen midwives, who caught our baby boy Kando in September 2016.
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
And this Mandi with a small collection of all the other babies she caught around the same time.
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
This was an Eden Natural Birth family gathering. A very special occasion for families who’d given birth with Mandi. It’s a time to catch up, play, laugh, share stories and toys, and spend some time with good people. Thank you everyone for coming to share the day. We’re looking forward to the next one!
PS. Mandy Lilly, we really missed you today!
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
Jenya Zhivaleva Photography – http://www.yourfotostory.com
Family photo shoot at Wilderness beach, South Africa. It is turning into a tradition with these awesome four. Last year I photographed this family while Anette was still pregnant with little Jack. It was so exciting to meet everyone once again.
Your story, your relationship, your decision to commit to one another, your love for one another and your care – this is what inspires me to shoot weddings. I enjoy your story almost as much as I love shooting it!
I am a romantic. I want to hear the story of you and yours. How did you meet? And the proposal? Where did it happen? Were you nervous? What were your first thoughts? What dreams do you share?
I am always looking for inspiration. I am always looking for more stories. And to inspire you to share your story with me, I’m willing to share a gift with you.
Sharing your love story could make your dream wedding shoot a reality!
Send your love story with a planned wedding date to jenya@yourfotostory.com to enter. If your story inspires me, you could win a 50% discount on one of my wedding photography packages!
I will look for the most romantic, exciting and inspiring love story to give away a 50% discount on the wedding photography package of your dreams!
A standard 8-hour wedding photography package includes the following:
Terms and conditions:
During my travels this winter I visited family in Russia. I haven’t been in Russia for more than three years, which made the visit even more special. My cousin Sveta gave birth to a gorgeous girl Sonya 6 months ago. I couldn’t resist and not to take photos of these two special people.
Here are some highlights from a new family photo story of mother and daughter.
© Jenya Zhivaleva Photography.
I had the privilege of capturing another unfolding love-story on the breathtaking Garden Route of South Africa.
High School sweethearts Carla and Gerhardt exchanged their wedding vows on the 1st of August 2015, in front of their family and close friends, at the farm-style wedding venue Uitsig.
Utsig is situated at the foot of the scenic Outeniqua Mountains, outside George, and the venue offers a beautiful garden, ideal for wedding photos, with lots of fresh air to keep the nerves calm. There’s also the odd cow and some beautiful trees, which offers the perfect setting to play with the soft afternoon light.
Here are some highlights from their special day for you to share and enjoy!
Photography: Jenya Zhivaleva. Your Foto Story
Dress: Besters’ Bridal Boutique
Make up: Bianca Professional Make Up artist
Hair: Tangled Unisex Hair Salon ( Carinie Grobler )
Venue: Utsig Wedding Venue
Montenegro is a beautiful country, full of colour, warmth and hospitality. Montenegro is one of the former Yugoslavian countries, situated on the shores of Adriatic sea. It could be described as: Mountains, sea, bright colours and warm people.
Myself and my mother travelled to Montenegro in July, one of the hottest months of summer. We chose a winding Bay of Kotor as our home for the next 10 days. I was excited like a little girl, literally glued to the window, when I saw the views of the bay while descending. We stepped out of the airplane into the heat of + 40 C and I knew this is going to be good!