What is your fantasy? What do you dream about? Whatever it is, Hartbeespoort photographer Annelie Dillman will take you there!

Hartbeespoort photographer Annelie Dillman

This award-winning photographer has just launched her Signature Fantasy Portraits, seemingly a first-of-its-kind in South Africa, that turns a mere child portrait into a one-of-a-kind fantasy art piece! The photos transform children into main characters in their own magical world.
“I want children to step into their own storybook version of themselves. I see the fantasy portraits as the imagination, beauty, and wonder every child has within. A traditional portrait captures you as you are, but a fantasy portrait captures you as you dream to be. It is an amazing journey for me to create these art pieces and to see how each child’s story develops. I absolutely love it, and I love the joy and wonder on the young faces when they see it,” Annelie says.
Annelie, owner of Visual Storm Photography, has been a photographer since she was 16. “I washed cars and worked as a waitress to buy my first camera. I already knew then that photography would be my career.” After a stint in television, she opened her own studio, incorporating portrait, corporate and lifestyle photography. She also owns Vintage Photobooth at the popular tourist destination Little Paris.
For me, photography has always been about making people feel truly seen. It is a powerful tool to show people how others see you. Every single person has insecurities, and it is so rewarding to see that jaw-drop moment when they see the end result of a photo shoot. I believe everyone has the right to stand out, and with my photography I attempt to capture people’s stories – not just their images.”
The idea for her fantasy portraits took hold when fearmongering about artificial intelligence surfaced. “When all the hype about the AI threat to jobs started, I decided it was not going to intimidate me. AI was not going to steal my job, I was going to use it to my advantage. After a fun ‘funky colour’ competition where children were photographed amidst an explosion of colour, I started playing around by incorporating fantasy in the photos using AI and shared them on social media. I received very enthusiastic feedback. It was the necessary fuel to put me on this new path. I love it,” Annelie says.
“AI is not replacing creativity; it is expanding it. I start with a real, high-quality portrait in my studio and then carefully enhance it using AI tools to bring in fantasy elements – lighting, textures, costumes and environments that do not exist in the real world. The human connection comes first, the technology helps me tell the story in a magic way.”
And Annelie does believe in magic. “As a child, I often went on hikes with my dad, and I would look for fairies. I believed if I just looked carefully enough, I would see them. Now I only want to play with fairies,” she laughs.
The fantasy portraits become a story Annelie sees in her subjects. It has inspired her to such an extent that she is now writing stories about the portraits to accompany each photo in a little digital book format.
Since launching Signature Fantasy Portraits, she has had enquiries from all over the country. “I plan to eventually introduce adult portraits as well, but for now, it is all about creating magical worlds for the little dreamers.”
Contact Annelie 082 462 8288 for your little one’s magic story!