Pretorius Family

Farm Namatubis

I had to smile as I got ready to drive the 66km to Outjo; it was cloudy. Now for those of you who live in Namibia, our winters are cloudless. Clear blue skies, almost crispy blue and a weaker sun fill our winter days. Clouds, not so much. But on the one day that I had a photoshoot – clouds filled the sky. It was quite cloudy for a stretch of road and I felt a bit panicky. With the sun still setting early, clouds could shorten our session.

I continued driving and the clouds eventually turned into the thin strands of a memory as I neared Outjo.

Namutubis is situated about 15km out of Outjo on the Etosha road. For everyone coming from a tourism background, Namutubis resembles one of the very first guest farms in the area. Situated conveniently close to the Khorixas and Kamanjab turnoffs, it was one of the busiest little guest farms in the area. It was also privately owned and run by the family. And offered something that has become an increasingly rare sight in Namibia – a family-run guest farm.

Today Namatubis is still owned by the Pretorius family that lives here. From here they have crafted a future for themselves and with pride, call Namutubis their home.

A snack during the shoot is always a good idea...

And then the “snack” turned out to be a table filled with deliciousness. But what did I expect? I was in Outjo… and on a farm. Hospitality comes naturally here.

The Family Session

When I started in photography, I did a lot of photoshoots. Some were free, some were on a shoestring budget and very few were for a real price. But I did a lot. And I gained experience.

Some of these shoots I still remember. Good ones. Shoots where people made an effort. Or we laughed a lot. Or they made me feel like part of the family.

After my short break, I haven’t been doing as many shoots as I would like, but I have been blessed with absolutely fabulous families. And the Pretorius family definitely forms part of that special kind of fabulous.

The teenage undercurrents, the jabs between the parents, Oupa who has no time for photoshoots, and Ouma who brings food for the family. I laughed so much. And looking back at the photos, I still remember the fun of the afternoon. I may not remember the specific reels or reasons for the spontaneous laughter, but I remember how I felt when I drove home – fulfilled, happy and thankful.

And if I leave every family with photos that become part of the family heirloom – and a happy space in my heart, I think I’m good for the next one.

PHOTOSHOOTS ARE HARD WORK

And then, after an afternoon of smiling, kicking dust and jumping from ant hills, it was time to just sit back and well, relax.

For me, it was time to head back to Otjiwarongo where the boys were waiting. Another crazy beautiful family has been captured and I can only hope that these photos will grace their walls for many years to come.

Mariëtte is a Namibian wedding photographer and travel agent. Photographing weddings on digital all over Namibia and wherever the need may be.