Waldo Pretorius

Waldo Pretorius has spent close to a decade developing and creating his understanding of photography. Avidly watching his father in the darkroom when he was young kindled the spirit of an artist, a spirit that was briefly forgotten but not lost.

As his family traveled and stationed themselves in the United States for half of his childhood he found himself in the midst of changing environments giving rise to vast amounts of visual and personal stimulation. This spurred a deep fascination with the Human Condition, and the recordings of that. Being as curious as he is, he discovered his father’s old camera along with a few old rolls of film from years before and immediately felt compelled to express.

After returning to South Africa, Waldo had decided to explore this further by researching the very idea of people and their understanding of the world around them. He then proceeded to study Psychology, providing the essential background to his approach in his subjects and his work.

Not long after Waldo had completed his formal studies in photography, he realized that there was more to know, especially with regards to the practicality of photography as a medium.  With this in mind he set out to assist other photographers to gain experience. After several years of assisting in Cape Town, Johannesburg and London, he arrived at the climax to this phase of his career.

He reached status as one of the top digital and lighting assistants in London, which in turn allowed him to learn from a myriad of world renowned photographers on jobs such as Marie Claire UK cover shoots and Harpers Bazaar, to name but a few. Having spent most of his training years in Europe Waldo’s work takes on a European flair wherever possible, and it is quite visible through his fashion, portraiture and reportage works.

Today, as a photographer Waldo uses his innate and learnt knowledge of subjects, together with his philosophy that “reality is perception, and perception is reality” to provide intricate concepts around the work he produces, and to express his love for photography.

Client List:

DurexSA, Ogilvy SA, SA Fashion Week, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Destiny Magazine, Velocity Films, Shots Magazine International, Heat Magazine, Voila Magazine, Playboy Magazine SA, Glamour Magazine SA, GQ Magazine SA, FHM, AFDA Film School, Commerz Bank, Phillip Morris International, KPMG, Jarvis Walker, EFC Africa, GLH Architects, Fighters Only Magazine, Infinite Sixty, Propstars, Storm Rekordz, Ultra Liquors, Legends Golf Course, Grand Mark International, Ponds, ghd