For over twenty years, Riekert Cloete has been telling people’s stories through a camera lens across Cape Town and the Western Cape. Since 2004 he has photographed more than 500 weddings, earned 130+ five-star Google reviews, and worked at roughly 90% of the wine farms, manor houses and coastal venues this part of the world is famous for. What all of that experience really buys you is calm — a photographer who has seen every kind of wedding day, every kind of light, and every kind of nervous “I hate having my photo taken”, and knows exactly how to make it feel easy.
Riekert’s work falls into three areas, and he brings the same steady, professional approach to all of them.
Weddings and couples. From full wedding days to intimate elopements, engagement shoots and proposals, Riekert captures the real moments — the unguarded laughter, the quiet glance, the way the afternoon light falls across a Stellenbosch vineyard. Around sixty percent of his couples travel from abroad to marry in South Africa, so he is as comfortable guiding international and expat couples through a destination wedding as he is photographing a local Durbanville celebration. His wife, Iza Cloete, a professional bridal makeup artist, often works alongside him on the day, which means brides are in trusted, coordinated hands from the first brushstroke to the last dance. Whether you are marrying in Franschhoek, Constantia, Hermanus, the Overberg, Paarl, Langebaan or somewhere well off the beaten track, chances are he has photographed there before.
Family and lifestyle. Family changes quickly, and these sessions exist to hold onto a moment before it passes. Relaxed, natural and unhurried, Riekert’s family and lifestyle shoots — including matric farewell portraits, engagement sessions and milestone celebrations — are built around your people rather than stiff, awkward poses. The result is images that actually look like you: warm, honest and timeless, the kind you will still love on the wall in twenty years.
Commercial and professional. For businesses, Riekert offers professional headshots, corporate portraits, event coverage and product and brand photography. Companies across Durbanville, Bellville, Brackenfell and greater Cape Town rely on him for consistent, polished imagery that makes their teams and brands look their best — without anyone having to travel into the city centre. He runs dedicated one-on-one headshot sessions every Wednesday morning in Durbanville, booked in advance, for professionals who want a sharp, modern LinkedIn or corporate portrait without the fuss. He also photographs conferences, year-end functions and corporate events, and is a familiar face at venues across the Western Cape.
What ties all of this together is a simple promise: you should never feel anxious in front of his camera. Riekert’s whole approach is built around taking the pressure off. He guides you through poses, reads the room, keeps the day on track and quietly handles the details so that you can stay present and actually enjoy the moment. Clients describe him, again and again, as professional, calm, quick to respond and genuinely easy to work with — the kind of photographer who feels less like a stranger with a camera and more like a steady hand on the day.
He is fast where it matters, too. Quick, clear communication before the shoot. A relaxed, well-managed session on the day. And beautifully edited, high-quality images delivered without the long, frustrating waits that give the industry a bad name.
Based in Durbanville in Cape Town’s Northern Suburbs, Riekert works throughout the Western Cape and travels for weddings and commissions further afield, including the occasional international assignment. Wherever the location, the standard stays the same: natural, impactful, premium photography delivered with warmth and zero drama.
Whether you are planning a wedding, booking a family session, or sorting out headshots for yourself or your team, the best place to start is a conversation. Tell Riekert what you have in mind and he will tell you honestly how he can help — no hard sell, no jargon, just clear guidance from someone who has done this thousands of times. Get in touch today to check availability and start planning your shoot.
