diff --git a/include/mapnik/shield_symbolizer.hpp b/include/mapnik/shield_symbolizer.hpp
index 847bff663..b5aaf94e8 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/shield_symbolizer.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/shield_symbolizer.hpp
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ namespace mapnik
 struct MAPNIK_DECL shield_symbolizer : public text_symbolizer,
                                        public symbolizer_with_image
 {
+    shield_symbolizer(text_placements_ptr placements = text_placements_ptr(
+                          boost::make_shared<text_placements_dummy>()));
     shield_symbolizer(expression_ptr name,
                       std::string const& face_name,
                       float size,
diff --git a/include/mapnik/symbolizer.hpp b/include/mapnik/symbolizer.hpp
index 546c4c1fe..062b5b781 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/symbolizer.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/symbolizer.hpp
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ public:
     void set_opacity(float opacity);
     float get_opacity() const;
 protected:
-    symbolizer_with_image(path_expression_ptr filename);
+    symbolizer_with_image(path_expression_ptr filename = path_expression_ptr());
     symbolizer_with_image(symbolizer_with_image const& rhs);
     path_expression_ptr image_filename_;   
     float opacity_;
diff --git a/include/mapnik/text_symbolizer.hpp b/include/mapnik/text_symbolizer.hpp
index 8f853020b..c1ae0a8ca 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/text_symbolizer.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/text_symbolizer.hpp
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ struct MAPNIK_DECL text_symbolizer : public symbolizer_base
 {
     // Note - we do not use boost::make_shared below as VC2008 and VC2010 are
     // not able to compile make_shared used within a constructor
+    text_symbolizer(text_placements_ptr placements = text_placements_ptr(
+                    boost::make_shared<text_placements_dummy>())
+                   );
     text_symbolizer(expression_ptr name, std::string const& face_name,
                     float size, color const& fill,
                     text_placements_ptr placements = text_placements_ptr(new text_placements_dummy)