We sat down with the beautiful Beatrix du Toit to talk about surrender, connection, and the quiet power of water — a conversation on movement, presence, and finding calm in nature, brought to life through Jennifer Delić’s poetic eye.
Beatrix, how did it feel to shoot surrounded by water — did it change the way you moved or felt in front of the camera?
It was my first time shooting in the ocean and I wasn’t prepared for how cold the water would be. At first I was struggling, but then I made a mental shift to embrace the cold and move with it, rather than resist it. That allowed me to be fully present and interactive with Jen in bringing her creative vision to life. After a while the cold started to fade and I became more in tune with the environment around me, especially with Jen’s encouragement. She got into the water with me, which made me feel less alone—like we were both facing the elements together. Shooting with a natural force that feels so alive, like the ocean, made me realise I wasn’t in front of the camera alone. We were focusing on the ocean and our surroundings just as much as we were focusing on me.
If your energy could be described as an element, would it be water — or something else?
I’d describe my energy as calm water, with a deep, ever-changing surface. All the movement happens beneath what looks still. That’s one of the reasons I love how Jen’s photos came out. On the surface the water looks peaceful, but I remember waves crashing against the rocks in the distance and the cold moving through me beneath the calm exterior.
“My main focus is to reflect authenticity and feel comfortable with myself.”
When do you feel most connected to nature?
I feel most connected to nature when I’m by the ocean or in the woods and can’t hear any cars or people. All I can hear and see is nature by itself. Those are the moments that make me feel small in something vast and beautiful, like being surrounded by a creation that exists completely beyond me.
How do you usually prepare before a shoot — physically or mentally?
It depends on the style or story of the shoot. I always try to mentally interpret and understand the environment and outfit I’ll be in. It helps me align with the creative vision I need to bring to life. But my main focus is to reflect authenticity and feel comfortable with myself. I think that calmness and honesty translate into a peacefulness in front of the camera—something that feels real rather than performed.
“Sometimes you just need to be surrounded by a creation that exists completely beyond you.”
Which place makes you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace on the beach in Kleinmond. It’s a small, quiet town with a slow rhythm. I spent almost all my December holidays there growing up. It’s nostalgic and ever-changing all at once. I feel close to my younger self. It’s always a time of reflection—digesting another year passing and feeling how I’ve grown, but still recognising that younger version of me.
What’s something small that made you smile today?
I was watching what I thought was a baby squirrel hopping between tree branches, thinking “Wow, what a strong baby squirrel,” only to realise after about ten minutes that it was actually a bird. No sightings of any strong baby squirrels to report here (smiles)
Photography and Concep by Jennifer Delić: @peoplebyjen
model: Beatrix du Toit @dutoitbeatrix
