Lodge & activity photography
Photographs that show guests what it feels like to stay with you, and why it matters who welcomes them.
The People
A story before a view
What guests remember is the person who brought them coffee before the game drive, the story behind the old farmhouse, the way the light falls on the dining deck at five o’clock.
I photograph lodges and activity operators the way I photograph people: as a story, not a catalogue. You get the rooms, the food and the pool, shot properly. You also get the things a brochure usually misses, the people, the place and the history that make you different from the lodge down the road.
I’m Mariette, a Namibian photographer based at the coast, and I’ve photographed this country since 2014. Before that I worked in tourism, from marketing to booking. I know what it takes to hook a client, how guests choose where to stay, and how much of their stay depends on your team.
My roots are in documentary and black-and-white photography, so I look for honest moments rather than staged perfection. Your images will feel lived in, not styled for a catalogue.
What I photograph
Rooms
Suites, decks, lounges and the architecture that holds them together. Shot in natural light where possible, styled with your team, so the room looks like the one guests will actually walk into.
The Table
Plates, bush breakfasts, sundowner set-ups, the bar at night. Food photographed where it’s served, with the setting around it.
Out There
Game drives, walks, balloon flights, kayaking, rafting, stargazing. Real moments from the activity, with guests or staff who have agreed to be photographed.
The People
Your guides, chefs, housekeepers and the families behind the lodge. The history of the land, the community you work with, the fire you rebuilt after. Work no competitor can copy.
Stories, not just pictures
They want to know who started the lodge, who will guide them, and what their stay gives back.
My late uncle, Koos Verwey, taught me that eco-tourism starts with respect for the land and the people who live on it. To him a lodge was a story before it was a view. That is what I look for when I photograph yours.
I can photograph those stories and, if you need it, write them too. Alongside photography I offer copywriting for websites, so your Our Story page, team profiles and activity descriptions can come from the same shoot, in one voice.
Featured project
Etosha East
The Tents
Main Area
Breakfast
The Pool
A down-to-earth tented camp on the doorstep of Etosha: canvas, wood and local limestone, meals from the camp’s own garden, and a pool where parent and child can wind down. I wanted the photos to feel the way it feels to stay there.
How it works
01
We talk about where the images will be used, what’s missing from what you have now, and the stories worth telling.
02
I send a shot list built around your light, your activities and your guest schedule, so the shoot doesn’t disrupt the people staying with you.
03
Usually one to three days on site, timed for the best light and the activities that matter most.
04
Edited images in an online gallery within four weeks, sized for web, social media and print, with a clear licence for how you can use them.
Investment
Every lodge differs in size, distance, and needs, so we quote projects individually.
Questions lodges ask
Yes. I’m based in Walvis Bay and travel across Namibia, including multi-day trips to remote regions. Travel time and costs are included in your quote.
Only with their permission. Where possible we use staff, willing guests who sign a release, or friends of the lodge, so you can use the images freely.
Usually just before or after your busiest season, when the lodge looks its best but isn’t full. We’ll plan around green season or dry season depending on how you want to show the landscape.
Yes. Your licence covers your website, social media, print and sharing with travel agents and tour operators.
Yes. I offer copywriting alongside photography, so your Our Story page, team profiles and activity descriptions can come from the same shoot.
Enquire
Tell me a little about your place and what you need. I’ll reply within two working days.
See more lodge work on Instagram @travelling_namibia
