Tanya Gomez Photography

Model Call 🤍

I’m looking for a few precious 10–14 day old babies to join me in the studio for upcoming newborn sessions.

I’m wanting to experiment with some new props, wraps and wrapping techniques, so this is a lovely opportunity for parents who are happy to let me get a little creative while capturing their baby’s first precious moments.

What you’ll receive:
Beautiful images of your little one
No session fee

In exchange: parents must be comfortable signing a model release, giving me permission to use selected images from the session on my website and social media for portfolio and marketing purposes.

Only a limited number of model sessions are available.

If you have a little one who will be 10–14 days old, or know someone who does, please get in touch. 🤍

I can’t wait to try out some new ideas and create something beautiful!

CHANTAL ❤️

I've intentionally left this post for today, as it's her birthday.

This is Chantal, my youngest sister. ❤️

Growing up, Chantal always had the most sunny disposition. Everyone loved her and was naturally drawn to her. Nothing seemed to bother her too much, and I'm sure she was probably Mom's easiest child. 🤣 Mom called her, her sonstraaltjie, her little ray of sunshine, and I think that describes her perfectly.

Growing up, Chantal was often stuck between Heidi and I. We could have our arguments, and Chantal would usually want absolutely nothing to do with them. Her standard responses were, “I love both of you,” or, “You're both wrong.” 🤣

She was also Heidi's partner in crime when it came to executing their plans. I was often the one on the outside wondering what the two of them were up to. 😂

Chantal has always been an avid reader, particularly loving the classics. I remember when she was in Std 2 and the whole class was being disruptive, while Chantal quietly sat reading.

When her teacher asked her what she was reading, she replied, “Jane Eerie, Miss.” 🤣

Her teacher was surprised, and so was I when Chantal later told us the story in her completely unassuming way.

She also never took herself too seriously. She wasn't particularly interested in needlework or knitting, which was compulsory at school. One year, she was supposed to knit a scarf, or something along those lines, and, unsurprisingly, she didn't finish her project. 🤣

At the end of the year, all the girls' projects were put on display. Amongst all the knitted creations was Chantal's contribution: a ball of wool with two knitting needles still stuck in it. 🤣🤣🤣

Apparently, the intention was to make her feel embarrassed about not completing her project. Instead, Chantal looked at it, thought it was absolutely hilarious and burst out laughing.

And honestly? Shame on the teachers who tried to shame her. I think there is something wonderful about a child who can look at herself, laugh and not allow someone else's expectations to make her feel small.

That ability to not take herself too seriously is something I have always admired about Chantal.

In primary school, Chantal had her own little posse, and they would all gather at our house before heading off to school. It was much the same with her group of high school friends, many of whom she still meets up with today.

I think that says something about Chantal. She forms meaningful friendships, and people want to keep her in their lives.

When she studied drama, we would regularly force her to perform her monologues for our friends. 🤣🤣 Sorry, Chantal! She would, of course, kindly oblige us.

She has always been someone who quietly gets on with things, and that hasn't changed. She is currently busy with a Master's programme, and I love seeing that same curiosity and determination that was there when she was the little girl who preferred reading a book to joining in with a noisy classroom.

Chantal is an amazing mom. She is far more patient than I could ever be, no matter how hard I try....and my kids often remind me of this.

Chantal has always been naturally photogenic, and she is still one of my favourite people to photograph. She is my original muse, long before I became a professional photographer, and I still love having her in front of my camera.

She's my little sister, but she's also someone I admire. She has this quiet steadiness about her. She doesn't need to be the loudest person in the room, yet somehow she leaves an impression.

Happy birthday to my baby sister, the cool aunt, my original muse and our sonstraaltjie. ❤️

I hope your day is as beautiful as you are.

I love you.❤️

OUMA MINNIE ❤️

Wilhelmina Magdalena Sophia Fitzpatrick, or Ouma Minnie, was my maternal grandmother.

She was beautiful and elegant, a woman of strength and character, and a pillar in her community.

Ouma was born on 19 August 1915, and today would have been her 111th birthday.

She had six children—five daughters and one son. Poor guy! 🤣

My mom was her second-eldest daughter. When Ouma was just 49, her husband passed away, leaving her to raise their six children on her own. Her youngest was only nine years old. My mom had to start working to help support her mother and younger siblings.

Ouma worked as a chef, but she also did private catering to make ends meet. She had an incredible work ethic and was determined to give all of her children a good education. She instilled in them the belief that hard work mattered and that your word was your honour.

She was also a strict woman and ran her household with a like a tight ship. Nothing got past Ouma! 🤣

But beneath that strict exterior was a wonderful sense of humour. I remember the time we "accidentally" spilt disappearing ink on her beautiful quilted gown. Of course, we had tested it first to make sure it really disappeared. 🤣🤣🤣

Ouma was initially annoyed, but eventually she had a good laugh about it. I can still picture the twinkle in her eyes.

She loved all 21 of her grandchildren, and whenever we visited, there was always a treat waiting for us.

I know my mom loved having Ouma come to stay with us. She would be so excited when her mother visited. I remember the two of them chatting late into the night while my dad patiently found himself a little corner somewhere to read. Boy, could those two women talk! 🤣

Ouma was always ready to make us something to eat. I can still picture her in her apron, busy in the kitchen. One story that still makes me chuckle is about my younger cousin. Ouma had made him a sandwich, but when she went to cut it in half, he told her, “Swaai die brood, Ouma!”

She wasn't quite sure what he meant and started waving the bread around in the air. 🤣🤣🤣 He was actually asking her to fold the bread over rather than cut it!

Ouma found the whole thing hilarious when she retold the story to us, and I can still picture how amused she was. These little stories are some of our treasured memories, ordinary moments that somehow become family stories we carry with us forever. ❤️

And I remember her beautiful, soft grey hair.

Looking back, I think about the life she lived and the circumstances she faced, and I have such admiration for her. She lost her husband relatively young, raised six children, worked hard to provide for them and somehow still created a home where her children and grandchildren felt loved and looked after.

She was strong. She was resilient. She was a provider. And she left behind a legacy that lives on through her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Happy birthday, Ouma. I hope you knew just how much you were loved. ❤️

HANNAH ❤️

“I knew I loved you before I met you,
I think I've dreamed you into life.”

This song by Savage Garden was released in 1999, just before I met Mark, and somehow those words became my song for Hannah while she was still in utero.

Today, I'm celebrating Hannah, my firstborn, my favourite girl, she makes me want to be a better person. ❤️

Hannah turned 23 on 18 July, and while this is not a birthday post, I thought I'd use this opportunity to revisit the little girl I wrote about five years ago and celebrate the young woman she has become.

One of the things I admire most about her is her strong sense of justice. She has very strong views and opinions about the injustices of the world and will often share her frustration when she sees injustice being perpetuated. Sadly, she is also having to learn that the world can be a cruel place, and that sometimes things aren't fair. I wish I could protect her from that, but I also admire that she hasn't allowed it to harden her heart.

She has always had a strong sense of independence. She started displaying this at just eight months old. Her dad was away, and I thought she might enjoy a cuddle in my bed, so I brought her in with me. She couldn't settle. Eventually, I put her back in her cot, where she promptly turned over and slept soundly until morning. 😂 Clearly, cuddling with Mom was not on her agenda.

When Hannah was about four, I was trying to get her and Zach to sleep. I was tired and just needed them to cooperate. Eventually, I started singing a lullaby something along the lines of:

“The moon has gone to sleep, goodnight moon.
The stars have gone to sleep, goodnight…”

Hannah thought about this for a minute and then said:
“You know, Mom, when the moon and the stars go to sleep, it's actually morning.”

I couldn't argue with her because she was absolutely right. 😂

Her dad says she still tries to get out of things on a technicality. 🤣

I admire her determination. She loves proving things to herself and doesn't like to give up. When she was younger, she taught herself to skateboard and cycle within a few hours. She has an ear for music, just like her dad, and can identify a song within seconds. She even taught herself to play some of my favourite songs on the keyboard.

She still loves ballet and was determined to start pointe classes, but had to give it up due to her studies. She loves Formula 1, something she shares with her dad. She's funny, and she talks.......alot. 🤣🤣🤣 We can have endless discussions and debates. Sometimes I can't go to bed, until we've had a catch up. She's also not afraid to hold up a mirror to me. She'll challenge me when she thinks I'm wrong and often points out my blindspots.....and honestly, I wouldn't want it any other way.

Five years ago, I wrote about the little girl who loved ballet, Formula 1, music and proving things to herself. Today, she's 23, has completed her undergraduate degree and is currently doing her Honours.

Some things have changed, but some things remain the same. She's still fiercely independent, still has strong opinions, still loves music and still has that determination to see things through.

Watching your child grow into an independent young woman is such a strange and beautiful thing. You spend years nurturing, guiding and protecting them, and then slowly you realise that they are becoming their own person, with their own opinions, dreams, convictions and ideas about the world.

Hannah has grown into an amazing young woman, and I am incredibly proud of her.

Hannah, I loved you before I met you. ❤️

NURAAN ❤️

I met Nuraan through her sister Letitia and brother-in-law Randall about 19 years ago, and I admired her from the beginning. She is one of those women who has a beautiful presence about her, a woman of God with a deep love for her husband, her children, grandchildren, her family and people in general.

What I admire most about Nuraan is her willingness to keep growing and to step outside of her comfort zone, regardless of what stage of life she is in.

At 35, she decided to go back to school to complete her matric. Then, at 38, after her eldest child matriculated, she made the decision to study full-time. At 42, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work.

I honestly can't think of a profession that could be better suited to her. She has the biggest heart and is constantly helping people in one way or another. Caring for others seems to be part of who she is.
While celebrating her 50th birthday, I remember joining her on a visit to some of the local farm workers in Worcester, and watching her interact with them was incredibly special. You could see the genuine love she has for people, and just as clearly, the love and respect they have for her. ❤️

A few years ago, she stepped even further outside her comfort zone and entered Mrs South Africa, becoming a semi-finalist. She describes the experience as being like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. 🦋 And I think that is such a beautiful description of her journey.

Her motto in life is “Courage is contagious,” and she doesn't just say it....she lives it.

Nuraan is an encourager. She reminds people that they are capable of more and inspires them to take that next step, even when it's scary.

And perhaps that is what I admire most about her. Her story is a reminder that it is never too late to start again.
Whether it's going back to school, changing careers, taking up a sport, pursuing a long-forgotten hobby, starting a business or simply stepping outside of your comfort zone, there is no age at which we stop being able to learn, grow and discover new parts of ourselves.

We don't always know where a new beginning will take us. Nuraan certainly couldn't have known at 35, when she went back to finish her matric, where that decision would eventually lead her.
At 42 she was a qualified social worker. Later, she found herself on a completely different stage as a Mrs South Africa semi-finalist. And through it all, she has continued to encourage others to be brave enough to take their own next step.

Spending time in her company is contagious—you leave feeling encouraged, uplifted and perhaps a little braver than when you arrived.
She is beautiful inside and out, and I feel very blessed to know her.
Nuraan, thank you for reminding us that it's never too late to begin again, to try something new, or to become the woman we were always meant to be. ❤️
Courage is contagious. 🦋

A LITTLE SATURDAY REFLECTION ❤️

As we reach the end of another busy week, I just want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been following along with my Women’s Month series.

It has been such a joy to celebrate these women and to share a little piece of their stories with you. Some have been part of my life for as long as I can remember, others have walked alongside me through different seasons, and some are young women I’ve had the privilege of watching grow up.

While this series has been about the women who are special to me, Women’s Month is really about celebrating women, all women, in all our different seasons, journeys and circumstances.

There is something extraordinary about us. We can be strong and soft, courageous and vulnerable, nurturing and fiercely protective. We carry so much, yet somehow still find room to love, laugh and show up for the people around us.

And perhaps the most beautiful thing is that we don’t have to be the same to stand together.
“There is room for every woman’s story, every woman’s journey and every woman’s way of being.” ❤️
So today, here’s to the women who have walked before us, beside us and behind us, cheering us on.

And here’s to the women coming after us. May they always know how much they have to offer.

Here’s to women. All of us. ❤️

ZORINA ❤️

Today I would like to celebrate Zorina, my sister's sister-in-law. We met just before she started high school, and so she's always been like our little sister. ❤️

I've had the privilege of watching Zorina grow through so many different stages of her life—from the schoolgirl I first met, through high school, waiting with bated breath to hear whether she had been accepted into medical school, and then through engagements, weddings and all the other milestones along the way.

I remember when Hannah was born. Zorina was still a student herself, with a demanding course, but she would sometimes visit me after class just to give me a little break. I have never forgotten that. She was young herself, but she already had this beautiful instinct to care for others.

Zorina has always had an incredible love for animals. Over the years, she has been a fur mom to a beautiful Golden Retriever, a White Swiss Shepherd and, more recently, two gorgeous Maine C***s.

She often sent me photos of her giant Maine C***s because of our own giant fur baby, Dusty. We would laugh about their very different personalities—and the enormous difference between dogs, who love you to death, and cats, who make you feel as though you're incredibly lucky to have earned their affection. 🤣

She also had an African Grey called Gizmo, who used to provide us with plenty of entertaining stories about just how intelligent that bird was. When she eventually had to rehome him because of the cats, it wasn't a decision she took lightly. Zorina does thorough research before committing to caring for any animal, and I'm convinced she would have made an equally wonderful vet as she has a doctor. ❤️

Zorina doesn't really do anything in half measures. I'm not sure she knows how. 😂

She developed a passion for urban gardening, and watching her excitement as she harvested her first vegetables was contagious. She is also passionate about sustainable living and reducing her carbon footprint. She is always happy to share this information and celebrates even the little changes we make.

With a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication, Zorina completed her specialisation in 2019 and became a qualified radiologist. Watching that journey from the little girl we first met to the accomplished doctor she is today has been such a privilege.

And now she has entered another beautiful chapter—motherhood. It makes me smile to think that the little girl we watched grow up is now raising a little boy of her own. ❤️

She is smart, beautiful and graceful, but what I admire most is that she has always remained kind and thoughtful along the way.

She is a role model to our children, an inspiration to us all, and, whether she knows it or not, our baby sister will always be our baby sister. ❤️

Let's celebrate Zorina.

BERNI ❤️

I am not my hair…..but we all know that growing up, we were told that our hair was our crowning glory. Thankfully, we live in an age where women are increasingly embracing who they are, hair and all. 😁

Having said that, today I would like to honour my hairdresser, Berni. ❤️

From the moment I first stepped into the salon where she worked, she immediately made me feel at ease. I was recommended to her by Heidi, and we've been following her around ever since. 🤣 Berni has been doing my hair for about 15 years now, and when she opened her own salon in 2013, I moved with her.

I was blessed with a very thick head of hair. I didn't always appreciate it growing up, though. I remember going to the hairdresser as a young girl and constantly hearing about how thick my hair was and how difficult it was to manage.

Looking back now, I sometimes wonder just how well-versed some of those hairdressers were in the art of doing hair…..because I've managed mine quite successfully all these years! 😂 And these days, I've decided to embrace my grey rather than colour it, which has been quite liberating. ❤️

Berni has built a very successful business over the years, and I really admire her professionalism. Her salon is always clean, well cared for and welcoming, and she takes great pride in what she does.

She has a genuine passion for hair and takes the time to advise her clients on what works for them. She knows exactly what will work with my hair, and when she cuts it, she somehow manages to cut just the right amount without making me anxious. 😂

But what I love most about Berni is the environment she creates. Her salon is a safe, judgement-free space.

And that means a lot to me, because a visit to the hairdresser used to fill me with dread. 🙋🏽‍♀️ Anyone else with hair issues will understand! 😁

I've never felt judged by Berni, not even when I decided to treat my own hair and she had to fix the disaster I'd created. 🤣🤣🤣

I've also never heard her speak a negative word about anyone. She has a wonderful way of giving people the benefit of the doubt, and she genuinely listens.

Over the years, we've shared stories about our children, our families and life in general. A visit to Berni often feels a little like therapy….only I leave looking prettier than when I arrived. 😂❤️

So today, a slow clap for the women who make us feel beautiful, not just on the outside, but comfortable enough to be ourselves too.

Thank you, Berni, for 15 years of beautiful hair, good conversations and a safe space. ❤️

MY NIECES — PART 1 ❤️

Today I'd like to celebrate three of my six nieces. ❤️
I have had the privilege of watching these girls grow from little girls into the young women they are becoming. Each of them has her own unique personality, and I love that about them. They are completely themselves, and it's been such a privilege to watch them grow.

EMMA ❤️

Our feisty, beautiful, dimpled Ems. I honestly can't believe how quickly she has grown.

Emma is Hannah's bestie, slightly younger than Hannah by about two years. I've had the privilege of watching their friendship grow and evolve as they’ve matured….they’re practically sisters and it’s such a beautiful thing to witness.

Emma knew from a very young age that she wanted to study fashion. She used to create little outfits when she was growing up, and her mom bought her a little sewing machine while she was still in primary school. And she didn't just play around with it, she actually made things! She made her own Matric Dance dress and has made several dresses for Hannah, her muse. She is now in her final year of a Fashion Design degree, and I love seeing something she dreamed about as a little girl becoming a reality.

Our feisty Ems used to fight with me when she was younger. 🤣🤣🤣 Thankfully, we've moved past that stage and she now loves her Aunty Anne. 😁

I love how Emma knows what she wants and follows it with her heart. I really admire that determination and can't wait to see where her creativity takes her. ❤️

CHEYENNE ❤️

Beautiful and sweet Cheyenne. I sometimes wish she could see herself through my eyes.

I have loved watching her blossom into the beautiful young woman she is today. There is something so lovely about watching a young girl grow into herself, finding her confidence, discovering who she is and learning to take up her own space. I love seeing her do exactly that.

She is also Ma and Pa's helper, always willing to do the things they find difficult these days. That says so much about the kind of person she is. Her kindness isn't just something she says…..it's something she does. It reminds me of that phrase,"In a world where you can be anything, be kind". ❤️

And, of course, I can't write about Cheyenne without mentioning her habit of raiding her dad's cupboard for his tops. 🤣🤣🤣 Somehow she manages to style them so well that you'd swear they belonged to her in the first place!

I love watching the young woman she is becoming and seeing her grow into herself. ❤️

CHINOOK ❤️

Our beautiful Chinook. ❤️

Chinook has the biggest heart and she has a beautiful soul. She has a natural instinct to care about other people.

Even when she's busy playing, she'll stop what she's doing to check whether someone is okay. It's such a small thing, but it says so much about her. She has this wonderful way of making people feel better simply by being there.

She's kind, funny and incredibly caring, and I love that about her.

When she was younger, she used to shower us with kisses and cuddles, and although she's a little older now and perhaps a little more reserved with those cuddles 😁, that beautiful softness is still such a big part of who she is.

She has a way of making people feel loved, and that is a very special gift. ❤️

MY LOVELIES ❤️

Six nieces, six very different personalities, and each one so incredibly special. Each of them has her own unique gifts, personality and journey.

There is something so pure and beautiful about watching these young women grow up. I've had the privilege of seeing them through so many stages of their lives, from little girls into the young women they are becoming, each finding their own way and discovering who they are.

If I could, I would protect them from every hurt life may bring their way. But I know I can't do that. What I can do is love them, cheer them on and remind them, whenever they need it, just how amazing they really are and to remember how wonderfully God created them.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well."� Psalm 139:14

Love them all to the moon and back. 🌙❤️

COUSINS ❤️

They say cousins are our first friends. We share the same DNA, grow up hearing the same family stories, and somehow there is an understanding between us that doesn't need much explanation.

There are 21 cousins in our extended family, but only six of us are girls, my siblings and myself, and 3 cousins. Today I'd like to honour these special women who have been such an important part of my life.

Growing up, our cousins were such a big part of our family life. School holidays, visits to Granny, family gatherings and all the adventures in between created memories that have stayed with us long after we grew up. We may not have always lived close to one another, but those connections have endured.

These are my cousins. ❤️

MICHELLE

Michelle is Aunty Shanet's eldest daughter, my beautiful, cooler, older cousin. 😁 I always admired her growing up.
She had four brothers and a younger sister, and I remember her always being her mom's helper, doing all the work while the rest of us just played! 🤣 Why is it that the girls always seemed to be the ones expected to help? Even from a young age, there was always work to be done behind the scenes, and somehow the girls were expected to do it.....and she had a great sense of responsibility.

Michelle has a heart of gold and, just like her mom, has always been incredibly hospitable and generous.

Michelle has had her share of trials in life, but she handles them with such grace and strength. She is one of those people who just gets on with things, even when life isn't easy.

She is also a qalified nurse and her last post was mainly locum work. Before Covid, she travelled all over the Cape, from the Overberg to the Northern Cape, delivering and administering oxygen to her patients. She told me that her patients used to call her their lifeline. I don't think you need much more evidence of the kind of person she is. ❤️ To be trusted with someone's care is one thing, but to become their lifeline says something very special about the compassion and care she brought to her work.

Michelle has always been someone who cares deeply for others, and I'm incredibly proud to call her my cousin.

LIEZL

Liezl is Michelle's younger sister, and she and my sister Heidi are the same age. They both turned 55 this year, and growing up they were thick as thieves and partners in crime. 😁
We all wanted our own piece of Liezl, but she and Heidi definitely had their own special bond.

We looked forward to the school holidays because it meant spending time together.

I remember the time we decided to walk to the outskirts of town to smoke. 🤦🏽‍♀️🤣 Sorry, Mom! Our plans were foiled when two guys we knew decided to walk with us because they didn't think it was safe for us to be walking on our own. Apparently, they felt a sense of responsibility towards us that day. 😂 I'm sure our parents would be thrilled to know that a little teenage rebellion was actually thwarted by those two guys. Needless to say, and perhaps thankfully, the smoking habit never stuck. 🤣

Liezl is a wonderful storyteller and has the most wicked sense of humour. She can take the most ordinary, everyday story and somehow turn it into a comedic skit. 🤣🤣 She definitely inherited that sense of humour from her mom!

She is one of those people who can have you crying with laughter within minutes, and I think that's one of the things I love most about having grown up with her.

LAUREN

Lauren is more like my baby sister. She's Aunty Felicia's only daughter, and at various stages I also had the privilege, and sometimes the responsibility of babysitting her. 😁

There was a time when I had to stay with them for a while after they relocated to a new area. One morning, after Aunty Felicia had left for work, Lauren and I were still lying in my bed. I told her to climb under the covers with me.

Her response?
"Nee, issie lekke vir my nie." 🤣🤣🤣

It still has me in stitches, and it has since become our standard response to each other whenever one of us doesn't feel like doing something.

The sleepovers continued years later when Lauren studied at UCT, but there are far too many memories from those years to fit into one post!

What I love is that our relationship has continued to grow as we've grown older. We message each other a few times a week, and Lauren has become such a good sounding board for me. Whether I'm trying to figure something out, making a decision or simply needing to talk something through, I know I can bounce it off her.

It's quite special when someone who was once the little cousin you had to babysit becomes someone you can have a proper adult conversation with, and whose perspective you genuinely value. ❤️

These women aren't just my cousins. They are woven into so many of my childhood memories, family stories, holidays, adventures and ridiculous moments.

We've grown up together, and in many ways, we've grown with one another. Even though we don't see each other as often as we might wish to, I'll always value the role each of them plays in my life and the special place they hold in my heart.

I love these women. They are a huge part of who I am, and I'm so grateful that I get to call them family. ❤️