GPS, Glamour, and Great Shots: Yolanda Zondi’s Storytelling Vision

In the competitive world of film production, finding the perfect location is only half the battle - remembering it, mapping it, and coordinating every logistical detail can be aproduction’s toughest challenge.

Umlazi-born Yolanda Zondi, 30, has turned GPS tagging into an art form, embedding exact coordinates into every location photo she takes.

This transforms each image into a precise roadmap for directors, producers, and crews, allowing them to revisitany spot - even in remote or similar-looking landscapes - without guess work.

Her GPS-tagged photos feed straight into mapping apps, drones, and navigation systems, streamlining logistics, routing equipment efficiently, and keeping schedules tight.

Beyond the shoot, this tagging simplifies permits, insurance, and record-keeping, creating a complete, auditable archive of locations.

In short, Yolanda, a graduate of the Durban University of Technology, and a professional photographer for 10 years, does not just scout locations - she maps them, saving productions time, money, and costly mistakes.

The KwaZulu-Natal Tourism, Film and Arts Authority (KZNTAFA) support creatives like Zondi to showcase KZN’s stunning landscapes, vibrant communities, and rich heritage.

Through location scouting, production facilitation, and promotion of local talent, KZNTAFA ensures the province shines on national and international stages while empowering local professionals to grow the creative economy.

“Every frame I capture doubles as a postcard for KwaZulu-Natal. Through social media sharing and GPS tagging, I make it easier for film producers to locatepotential filming sites across the province."

This combination of artistic vision and technical precision transforms Zondi’s frame into more than just a photograph - it’s a logistical roadmap, a marketing tool,and an invitation to explore KwaZulu-Natal’s diverse landscapes.

"By showcasing KZN’s diverse landscapes from golden beaches to majesticmountains to vibrant cityscapes alongside its rich cultures and dynamic filmproductions, my images invite both filmmakers and travellers to explore its beautyand potential with KZN as their stage,” Zondi says.

Photography geotagging is a powerful tool in film and media production. By embedding precise latitude, longitude and sometimes altitude information into each image, Zondi says photographers transform photographs into location-based assets.

This process streamlines pre-production planning as creative teams can easily locate filming sites using map applications that read the embedded GPS data,compare and match locations with scripts or storyboards, plan logistics moreeffectively, and maintain an organized location archive.

For drone imagery, geotagging becomes even more valuable, providing a unique aerial perspective tied to exact points on the map.

Zondi’s approach ensures that crews can save time, reduce costs, and avoid logistical errors - turning every shoot into a more efficient and stress-free experience.

Zondi has captured some of her most striking images across the province, fromHluhluwe’s raw wilderness to the scenic mountains of Zululand.

“Hluhluwe has given me some of my most breathtaking images. The blend of raw wilderness, golden light,and unfiltered authenticity creates an unmatched cinematic backdrop nature’s ownmasterpiece. It feels like experiencing a piece of heaven in your own backyard."

One unforgettable moment was capturing a buck staring directly at me as Iphotographed it. It was about listening to the surroundings, feeling the stillness andframing the moment through my perspective hoping the audience can connect with itand make the image their own, in whatever emotion it stirs within them.

”She balances technical production shots with emotional storytelling.

“I approach it like a two-layered approach. The technical aspects lights, rigs, set designs showingthe artistry and scale of the production. The emotional moments smile, passion ofthe individuals which shows a human element raw feeling, exhaustion, triumphreveal the soul.

"I alternate between wide shots that showcase the craft and intimate frames that capture the human heartbeat behind it all. I use my drone to capture some scenic images to set the mood and tone.”

To Zondi, preserving behind-the-scenes images is essential.

“Behind-the-scenes images are the legacy of a production. They reveal the unseen dedication,challenges and creativity that audiences rarely witness. Years from now, these images will tell future generations how we worked, collaborated and created makingthem as valuable as the final film itself. Preserving emotions in a moment in timewhich is in itself timeless.”

Some of her most candid captures have been serendipitous.

“Once, during a tense scene, a beautiful flock of doves suddenly flew into the frame mid-shoot. Everyone froze not because of the scripted moment but because this unexpected sight blended perfectly into the scene, creating pure magic. I captured the crew’s faces,wide-eyed and smiling a single frame that spoke louder than any script ever could.”

“Being a woman allows me to approach storytelling with both strength and sensitivity,although at times my abilities may be underestimated. I often notice subtle nuancesin body language, emotional shifts and quieter narratives that might otherwise beoverlooked.

"My perspective adds depth to the visual record, ensuring the story is toldnot only in broad strokes but with the intricate details that bring it to life,” she explains.

Her favourite photograph is a calm, natural seascape.

“I’d choose an image of acalm, natural seascape a frame filled with warmth, teamwork and the beauty ofplace. It serves as a reminder that filmmaking is as much about the journey as it isabout the final product and that even filmmakers need their stories to be told andpreserved in time.”

SUNDAY TRIBUNE