Hi, I'm Ant McDonald... 

These are some of my people and favourite subjects. They’re the best to be with and even better to capture. My camera is like an extension of my arm, and over time, they’ve come to expect it – even ask for it – no matter where we are.

I’m a storyteller and lifestyle photographer, now based back in Johannesburg after three beautiful, grounding years in the KZN Midlands (2020–2024). I’m married to the man I fell in love with at 18 — and still fall for daily — and we’re raising two extraordinary kids, Samuel and Ruby.

Photography found me while I was working full-time in television — writing, directing and producing. But once I picked up a camera, something shifted. I’ve been photographing professionally under the banner of RockingChair for over a decade now. Why RockingChair? Because that’s where the best stories are told and held. Whether I’m capturing the quiet magic of a family connection or the mood and meaning behind a restaurant’s menu, I’m always chasing the story.

I’ve been lucky to work with some of the same wonderful clients for more than five years — a gift I don’t take for granted. My work focuses especially on food and lifestyle photography, and I continue to be moved by the way light, colour and composition can elevate a moment into something unforgettable.

Alongside this work, I also run Do The Heart Work (www.dotheheartwork.co.za), a space dedicated to journaling, workshops and therapeutic writing. I’ve taught all over South Africa — including a meaningful three-year season at Brookdale Health Hydro — helping people reconnect to their stories in a different, deeply healing way.

Whether I’m behind the lens or sitting in a circle with journal in hand, I’m drawn to the moments you don’t always plan for — the ones that end up capturing you instead.

Book me — let’s tell your story.