BLOG

portrait photography Wynand van der Merwe portrait photography Wynand van der Merwe

Urban portraits with Dené Vorster | Sandton City Parking

I had the pleasure of creating some urban portraits for Dené Vorster at Sandton City's parking area! amazing!

Urban portraits with Dené Vorster | Sandton City Parking

I had the pleasure of creating some urban portraits with Dené Vorster at Sandton City's parking area this week and I just loved working with her! She is a down-to-earth powerhouse and I believe she is going to go far with her music! 

I just LOVE sunsets in Johannesburg, especially in Winter because the sun turns almost red, and the sun didn't disappoint. 

Dené entered into Idols SA Season 7 and reached the top 8 during this particular season...amazing achievement! Her music style is R&B/Soul and her music is amazing! Here's a link to her version of Adele's "Someone Like You" at the Idols Competition. (Click here)

Enjoy the photos, and please leave a comment at the end!

Here's one of Dené's music videos on Youtube...love it! Support local and buy her CD on Itunes!

Read More
portrait photography Wynand van der Merwe portrait photography Wynand van der Merwe

Teaser! Urban portraits with Dené Vorster | Sandton City Parking Lot

I had the pleasure of creating some urban portraits for Dené Vorster at Sandton City's parking area! amazing!

Teaser! Urban portraits with Dené Vorster | Sandton City Parking Lot

I had the pleasure of creating some urban portraits with Dené Vorster at Sandton City's parking area this week and I just loved working with her! She is a down-to-earth powerhouse and I believe she is going to go far with her music! 

I just LOVE sunsets in Johannesburg, especially in Winter because the sun turns almost red. 

Dené entered into Idols SA Season 7 and reached the top 8 during this particular season...amazing achievement! Her music style is R&B/Soul and her music is amazing! Here's a link to her version of Adele's "Someone Like You" at the Idols Competition. (Click here)

Here's a sneak peak of the shoot. Enjoy!

Read More
portrait photography Wynand van der Merwe portrait photography Wynand van der Merwe

Portrait shoot with Annarika | SARIE Voorbladgesig | Hertford Country Hotel

Annerike is such a beautiful soul inside and out. She asked me to do some portraits for her because she wanted to enter into the SARIE Voorbladgesig competition.

Portrait shoot with Annarika | SARIE Voorbladgesig | Hertford Country Hotel

"Adornment, what a science! Beauty, what a weapon! Modesty, what elegance!" Gabrielle Chanel in Biarritz, 1920

Annerike is such a beautiful soul inside and out. She asked me to do some portraits for her because she wanted to enter into the SARIE Voorbladgesig competition (PLEASE Click on the link to vote for her!!). 

I had such a wonderful time with her and she is so elegant and easy to photograph. I had some modelling and styling help from Missy. (thank you Missy...almost 90% of the shots were directed by Missy!!) Missy also did the make-up for the shoot and she is most probably the best out there! Her company is Missy Make Up Artist and another amazing thing about Missy is that her own make-up is always done so she doesn't mind to be in the photographs. :)

I always love shooting at Hertford Country Hotel. The venue is painted white on the inside so the creative opportunities in their spaces are endless. If you use off-camera flash the space even doubles up as a studio! Amazing. 

I used a single flash setup. I used my Softbox for Speedlights and Nikon SB-910 flash with Phottix triggers on a lightstand and I used what they call butterfly lighting. The softbox was directly in front of the Annarike's face pointing slightly downward, so the light created a slight shadow under her nose. There were ambient light coming in from her left (photo right). I also tried to point the flash directly into her face so I moved the softbox around depending on how Annarike were standing.  

Here is the make-up preperations with Missy. 

This is the one Annarike selected for the cover. 

And these 2 she also entered. She had to submit 3 images. 

Here are some of the other images we created. 

Read More
Event Photography Wynand van der Merwe Event Photography Wynand van der Merwe

Here's to another 50 years! {50th Birthday Party}

Karin's 50th Birthday party is on my blog!

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one. ~Jane Howard

Family is family, but you have not experienced love and intimacy until you have met these bunch of people! And they know how to through a great party, lot's of food including a skaap-op-die-spit and loads of great company!

Christi-Mari booked me for Karin's 50th Birthday Party, but little did I know that I will be pulled into the family. And that is what I love about my job. People get to trust you so much that you are considered as family. I immediately felt at home and it was amazing to see how Karin's family showed up in their numbers to celebrate the amazing woman she is!

Fire Desire Entertainment opened the night with an amazing fire dance show, and they entertained everybody until the rain started. We are in a very dry period...well today we had loads of rain...so when rain fell that night we all felt it was a sure blessing from the Lord.  

Christi-Mari also warned me that they had dressed up their 8 dogs as well, but I didn't know they were mostly going to be puppies and that they were going to wear Bow-Ties. They looked adorable.

Congrats again Karin, and may you enjoy another 50 years!

Enjoy the pictures and please leave a comment at the end!

Read More
Product photography, corporate photography Wynand van der Merwe Product photography, corporate photography Wynand van der Merwe

Zoya Naturals {Product Photography}

Zoya Naturals' product pictures are on my blog!

Marcia Notsh has launched new haircare products called Zoya Natural.  

I am in love with the logo, and I believe she will be doing great with these products.

She is sharing office space with me, so to help her out, I have done some products shots for her and I believe they came out amazing!

The products are for sale on their website! www.zoyanaturals.co.za

Venue: Little Green Number, Bryanston offices (boardroom)

Please tell me what you think by leaving a comment at the end.

Read More
Event Photography Wynand van der Merwe Event Photography Wynand van der Merwe

Tracey Swanepoel's New Book Launch Party

Tracey Swanepoel's book launch photos are on my blog!

Tracey Swanepoel is one of those people who get a lot of things done, and on top of all that writes a book...and a brilliant book if I must say myself!

 
 

The Leadership Riptide and How to Escape

She writes out of personal experiences while working in the mining industry, and she gives an honest view of what she learnt, and what it means to be true leader. Amazing. She is truly an inspiration. 

When someone like Brand Pretorius, retired CEO of McCarthy Limited, endorses your book and writes a foreword in your book, then you know it has to be a good book to read. 

The book is for sale in Exclusive Books stores across South Africa.  

The book launch was held at the The Eatalian Restaurant in Parkmore, Johannesburg. If you haven't eaten there, then you are surely missing out! 

The wine from The Taillard Family Wines was also out of this world. 

Read More
Event Photography Wynand van der Merwe Event Photography Wynand van der Merwe

Wedding Planning Workshop {Bryanston Country Club}

The Wedding Planning Workshop hosted by The Wedding Event is on my blog!

Look at all the pretty that Simone from The Wedding Event came up with! She did such an amazing job hosting this Wedding Planning Workshop with Erin Smylie! 

A few bride-to-be's had the chance of hearing some key notes in planning their wedding day, and they had the opportunity to ask industry professionals questions regarding booking booking their Wedding DJ, Photographer, Videographer, Make-up & Hair, Stationary and many more!  

Wedding suppliers at the workshop!

Venue: The Bryanston Country Club

Simone Pheiffer from The Wedding Event

Erin Smylie and Shandin Watson from Erin Smylie Hair and Make-up Artist

Stationary: The Crazy Lemon SA

Liam Walsh from Wedding DJs - Pulse DJS

Hand massages by Sorbet Fourways Mall 

Denver Paulick from Brightmoon Video & Photography

Wynand van der Merwe from Wynand van der Merwe Photography

Please enjoy the pictures and do not hesitate to leave a comment at the end!

Read More
Event Photography Wynand van der Merwe Event Photography Wynand van der Merwe

Ilze's stylish 30th Birthday Party!

Beautiful pictures of Ilze's 30th Birthday Party at Buitengeluk Venue!

Wynandvandermerwe birthday party ilse 30 buitengeluk gauteng19.jpg

“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.” Jane Austen

We have been friends for a while, but surely not as long as the friendship Ilze has with my wife and my sister-in-law. They are childhood friends, or as they would say “friends for life”. It was such a privilege to be a part of this day for Ilze, especially after what happened in and to their family. Such a special day of laughter and tears!

Venue: Buitengeluk Venue

Flowers: Fourways Flower Market

#weddingandfamilyphotographer #weddingandfamilyphotography #familyphotographer #familyphotography #photographer #eventphotographer #eventphotography #event #buitengeluk #buitengelukvenue #30thbirthday #birthday #birthdayparty #hightea #fourwaysflowermarket @fourways.flower.market

Read More
styled shoots, Featured Wynand van der Merwe styled shoots, Featured Wynand van der Merwe

Wild and Free | Kids Forest Party | Styled Shoot, Pretty Blog

How to hold a Wild and Free forest kids party got featured on Pretty Blog.

Styled Shoot | Wild and Free |Kids Forest Party | Pretty Blog

"Children are not things to be molded, but are people to be unfolded."
  — Jess Lair, author

I really got excited when Nicky asked me to be a part of this styled shoot, and it was going to be held at one of my wife and I's favorite venues, Buitengeluk. We stay literally a few minutes away and we visit probably weekly for coffee or lunch.

I am not going to write a huge story about this, because amazingly it got featured on the PRETTY BLOG.

Here is the link to the post on their blog. http://www.theprettyblog.com/family/wild-free-kids-forest-party-may/

The suppliers who were involved in the shoot are listed below.

Photography: Wedding and Family Photography by Wynand van der Merwe
Concept and Styling: Pudding and Pie
Stationery and Invitations: Chrystalace Stationery
Catering: Infusion Catering & Events
Events Venue: Buitengeluk Venue

#childparties #childparty #kidsparty #kidsparties #wildandfree #forestparty #forest #children #childrenportraits #‎kidsparty‬ ‪#‎childrenphotography‬ ‪#‎childrenportraits‬ ‪#‎foodstyling‬ ‪#‎foodphotography‬ ‪#‎food‬ #‎theprettyblog‬ #‎prettypost‬ ‪#‎verypretty‬ ‪#‎portraits‬ #‎styled‬ ‪#‎styledshoot‬ #‎wynandvandermerwedotcom‬ ‪#‎weddingandfamilyphotography‬ ‪#‎buitengeluk‬ ‪#‎puddingandpie‬

@the_prettyblog @theprettyblog @buitengeluk @chrystalace

Read More
styled shoots Wynand van der Merwe styled shoots Wynand van der Merwe

Patio Inspiration - Karen Kelly from Lovilee - Styled Shoot

A mini styled shoot done at Karen Kelly from Lovilee's house!

A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms. — Unknown

Styled Shoot

What I recently realized was the fact that Karen Kelly (Lovilee) and I attend the same church. So I met up with her, had a great coffee at The Whippet in Linden (Oh I love this place) and we just talked on how we can start a journey together as creatives. So what happened is that she asked me to do a mini styled shoot of her patio in exchange for a listing space on her blog, and the rest was history! Amazing. I just love it when we as creatives can work together and assist each other. 

Please see the before-photos at the following link:

http://www.lovilee.co.za/2016/patio-inspiration/

And the pictures just came out "Lovilee"! (pardon the pun, and I am sure Karen is used to all the sarcasm by now)

And it is featured on Lovilee...yeah! feeling super stoked and proud! Here is the post!

http://www.lovilee.co.za/2016/patio-revamp-prominent-paints/

Please do not hesitate to leave a comment at the end!

Location: Karen's house

Other collaborations: Sugar and Vice, MRP Home / Mr Price Home, Prominent Paints, Creative Carpenters

Read More
Event Photography Wynand van der Merwe Event Photography Wynand van der Merwe

God is Groot | God is Great | GiG 2015

God is Great / God is Groot Praise and worship event held in Aug 2015!

God Is Great | God is Groot | GiG 2016 23 April 2016

God Is Great | God is Groot | GiG 2016 23 April 2016

The church I go to, Reformed Church Linden (GKL), hosted a Praise & Worship GIG Concert at the Louw Geldenhuys Primary School. The concert was held on the 23rd of August. The GKL Praise and Worship Band led a community of Christians across all different church denominations in song and worship. There was also performances of well-known artists such as Joe Niemand, Retief Burger, Elvis Blue, Chris Chameleon, Helene Bester, Cobus Bester and Deon Meiring (Glaskas) who will all unite in praising the Lord.

What an event it was! I believe the pictures reflect the passion and energy of the day and the performances, but I also believe that "performance" is not the correct term. The day was full of praise for the Lord and I believe the pictures reflect the way the Spirit has moved in the heart of Johannesburg!

All the Glory goes to God!

Check this video!

The some of the pictures are featured in this video!

Read More