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Be Inspired - Admired in Africa 2018 | Conference | Hertford Country Hotel
Wow, I am inspired. Thank you Admired in Africa for hosting the Be Inspired Conference and the speakers were super inspirational!
Be Inspired - Admired in Africa 2018 | Conference | Hertford Country Hotel
You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water. Rabindranath Tagore
Wow, I am inspired. Thank you.
Admired in Africa hosts a conference yearly and super talented and inspirational photographers present little workshops about themselves and their brands, and this year was a great success. I learned a lot and the conference is also a platform to get to know other photographers in the industry...I mean we have the same heart and speak the same language...the language of photography. We understand each other. I often get caught in a place where it is me and my brand, and I need to make a success, and nobody understands me. I mean I get into shooting, and then editing, and then posting...and more shooting...more editing...more shooting...and then you want to talk to non-photographers about life and you can't help but talk "photography"...but they don't understand. In any case...it was good to refuel and talk photography for 3 days. I got valuable tips and tricks to improve my business!
Brett Florens (some say he is the Rolls Royce of wedding photography) presented on Day 1 and we had a practical with him. We used a continuous light, Rotolight Aeos (oh yes, I have been eyeballing this light for a while now) during his practical, and he showed us how to pose a couple for a photoshoot. Wow, he is an inspiration to watch. He pushes you so far out of your comfort zone that your head wants to explode. He has been in the industry for 27 years, and have tons of knowledge and experience... thank you for your advice. I will be a fool if I don't implement some of what you have said....oh wait I already have. I have wedding collections now and not wedding packages...like you have said...nobody wants to buy my packages...;)
I have also learnt a great deal from William Lambelet, a french documentary wedding photographer. I have been following him for a while and he has won numerous International Awards, and he has an impeccable way of telling a story. He spoke right to my heart, and I admire him and the way he approaches a wedding. His images are beyond this world, and when you hear how he creates them...wow...he has patience. He shoots between 5000-8000 images during a wedding.
I also enjoyed the following photographers when they shared their story (click on their names, and check out their incredible work...so inspirational):
Daniel West (it was great meeting you Daniel), Marsel Roothman(your work is dreamy and beautiful), Deejay Busang (it was great seeing you again), Hema and Mitesh from Designer photo (wow, you have become friends and your colourful work is incredible), Chris van Dalen (good seeing you and Anje again...you should go and see their wedding photography page...Madison & West...amazing), Hanri Human (you are so clever and inspirational how you create content and its SUPER BEAUTIFUL...do yourself a favour...check out her work...amazing), and the conference ended with a bang. Warren James (wow, you work is amazing art) and Trompie van der Berg (your flash work is amazing) hosted a posing and off-camera flash practical and we used the amazing Profoto B1X flash and also the amazing Sunbounce Sun-Bouncer to create super images. The Sunbounce reflector are much bigger than my reflector. I use a circular Profoto Sunsilver reflector which I love and I have always wanted to test one of these Sunbounce reflectors.
Thank you for the models during the shoot.
Missy, from Missy Make up Artist (she did all the models' makeup), is an inspiration and she does the most amazing make-up. She has wonderful insight and gave amazing tips for any wedding day, which I have already started to communicate to my clients.
Our MC was Niki from Niki M Photography. Her wedding work is also amazing and inspirational, and she get to shoot in so many pretty places. Her passion and energy as a person is oh so tangible...wow I can just imagine how much her clients love her!
Enough said. Here is some of the images I took throughout the 3 days. Enjoy, and please leave a comment at the end.
Teaser! Tyronne & Romandi | Trash The Dress | Sodwana Bay, KZN
Wow, Tyronne and Romandi’s trash the dress session in Sodwana Bay was spectacular! Their wedding was on Saturday at Mseni Beach Lodge!
Teaser! Tyronne & Romandi | Trash The Dress | Sodwana Bay, KZN
"The One who builds His upper chambers in the heavens
And has founded His vaulted dome over the earth,
He who calls for the waters of the sea
And pours them out on the face of the earth, The LORD is His name." Amos 9:6
Tyronne and Romandi's wedding reception was held at Mseni Beach Lodge this past Saturday and we did a Trash the Dress the following morning at sunrise!
Wow...I am in LOVE This shoot was so much fun...even though were super tired from the partying of the wedding....it was all worth it! Memorable stuff...! And I thought the dress was going to be ruined,
Here's a little sneakpeak...enjoy!
Teaser! Tyronne & Romandi | Wedding | Sodwana Bay, KZN
Wow, the wedding this past weekend was soooo special and I will remember it for many years to come. I get emotional at weddings, but I rarely shed a tear, but when Romandi's stepdad gave a speech with his daughter at his side and when he said her dad would have been proud of her....oh wow...my heart crumbled. Destination wedding at Sodwana Bay.
Teaser! Tyronne & Romandi | Wedding | Sodwana Bay, KZN
"I am proud of you when you are proud of yourself...and you can be super proud, Romandi...your wedding is amazing!" Romandi's stepdad, Bertus, at the wedding
Wow, the wedding this past weekend was soooo special and I will remember it for many years to come. I get emotional at weddings, but I rarely shed a tear, but when Romandi's stepdad gave a speech with his daughter at his side and when he said her dad would have been proud of her....oh wow...my heart crumbled.
Romandi's dad passed away 21 years ago at Sodwana Bay and she wanted to commemorate him by having her wedding at Sodwana Bay with close family and friends. Romandi made almost all the details herself, and she made sure there were little details of her dad in the details...she made her own flower bouquet with a protea flower (which were her dad's favourite flower) and she added a locket with her dad's photo around the stems of the flowers.
Tyronne and Romandi's wedding reception was held at Mseni Beach Lodge and I had been at the very same place 9 years ago on my honeymoon...so it was also sentimental for me to be at the wedding! Their wedding ceremony was held on the main beacj were they launch the boats for the fishing and diving excursions.
I arrived on Friday at Mseni Beach Lodge, and the wedding was on Saturday...so I told Romandi I have this crazy idea where I want to photograph her dress with sunrise on Saturday...and OH MY WORD....it was magical! And they also agreed to do a Trash The Dress shoot on Sunday, which was also SUPER MAGICAL! So I experienced two magical sunrises out of the 3 days...
It was hard work with little sleep...but it definitely paid off!
And funny enough...when I go home and my clients is over the moon with going the extra mile...that is when I feel I have succeeded in delivering an amazing service. It's almost as if the photos is an added bonus! AND BOY OH BOY...the photos is out of this world!
Enough said. Here's a few photos from this weekend!
Rynhard & Jeannie | Wedding | Northam, Limpopo
I just love destination weddings, and I love story telling but what I love more is the people I get to meet. I had such an amazing time photographing Rynhard and Jeannie's wedding on a friend's farm called Brosdoring Farm in Northam, Limpopo. The Farm has a very large Brosdoring (Brittle Thorn) tree on the farm, and we took some photos in the last sun at this beautiful tree.
Rynhard & Jeannie | Wedding | Northam, Limpopo
"You'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more" Phil Collins
I just love destination weddings, and I love story telling but what I love more is the people I get to meet. I had such an amazing time photographing Rynhard and Jeannie's wedding on a friend's farm called Brosdoring Farm in Northam, Limpopo. The Farm has a very large Brosdoring (Brittle Thorn) tree on the farm, and we took some photos in the last sun at this beautiful tree.
We had serious rain all over South Africa during the week of their wedding, and I thought we are going to take photos during the rain, but it had cleared for their day. What had happened was that the soil turned dark red (which I liked) but also muddy...so it was quite a challenge to keep Jeannie's dress clean....so with some photos you can see the mud on Jeannie's bum...but hey...it gives the photos character!
Jeannie got the best deal out of this marriage...she not only got Rynhard but his kids as well! I just love the dress photos with their kids Lané and Luan and Lané looked amazing in her soon-to-be mom's dress!
I won't get tattoo myself, but OH BOY...I love how tattoos photograph and how it adds character to a photo. Jeannie is a creative at heart, and I just love how a tattoo tells a story. I mean you don't just get a tattoo...there is a reason. So what I normally do when I have clients with tattoos then I try to frame the tattoo as the "main attraction" in the shot because then the photos become super exciting and interesting!
Jeannie bought her dress on an overseas website, and her shoes were from JET. Rynhard bought his shoes at BATA and his suspenders were from Kaalvoet Kind Ontwerp. Jeannie has her own hair and make-up company so she did her own hair and make-up, and her friend Tanya Hallatt helped with her eye liner. Rynhard and Jeannie did most of the decor elements themselves but the donuts were from Krispy Krem.
Well, enough said...enjoy the photos and please leave a comment at the end!
CJ & Carina | Wedding | Goosehill | Bloemfontein
CJ & Carina tied the knot in Bloemfontein at Goosehill Wedding and Guest Farm in Bloemfontein! It was an honour capturing a friend's wedding story! I had so much fun.
CJ & Carina | Wedding | Goosehill | Bloemfontein
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain - Vivian Greene
It was a privilege to have been a witnessed to the love between CJ and Carina. Carina is so happy with her prince charming!
Carina became a good friend while she stayed and worked in Johannesburg, and she fell for a boer from Elliot! Carina is originally from the Freestate so she probably dreamt of one day getting married to a boertjie.
Their wedding celebration was held at Goosehill Wedding and Guest Farm in Bloemfontein, and it was such a simplistic and elegant wedding. Carina is a travel agent, but she does interior design in her spare time...so she has a great sense of style! Well, that was evident in the decor. Most of the decor inspiration she made herself and it looks absolutely gorgeous! It looked like she had a wedding stylist to prepare the wedding details!
Carina is such a down-to-earth plaasmeisie, and she wore a gorgeous simple dress and vellies...yes...she is definitely a plaasmeisie at heart! Her make-up and hair, done by Amy Olden, was flawless and simple...just the way Carina like it!
Bad Ass Beards in Bloemfontein looked after CJ and the guys...and they looked dapper after their funky clean-up...and even after a few screams...waxing is not for sissies!
My wife Juanita was a guest so our whole family had a nice outing to Bloemfontein on the Friday, my mother-in-law went along to look after the kids and we left for home on the Sunday. I just love destination weddings, but I don't get the opportunity that often to travel with my whole family.
Enjoy the photos! CJ and Carina, I pray that your love and laughter will last till the end of days!
Teaser! Klaas-Jan & Mareli | Wedding | Ingaadi Spa & Events
I am truly privileged to be doing what I love, and even more privileged to share in the love of people's happiest day of their lives. Klaas-Jan & Mareli's wedding day was super special, and I not only made a special connection with them as a couple, but also with their families.
Teaser! Klaas-Jan & Mareli | Wedding | Ingaadi Spa & Events
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever. Ps23:6
I am truly privileged to be doing what I love, and even more privileged to share in the love of people's happiest day of their lives. Klaas-Jan & Mareli's wedding day was super special, and I not only made a special connection with them as a couple, but also with their families. I just love it...or perhaps I shouldn't be so excited...that I get to make new friends, and I was sad to say goodbye at the end of the day. That is what weddings is for me and what it means to me...I pour out my heart and soul to capture special photos for my clients, and I love it when it pays off! I just love their photos and I tried looking for a few sneak peaks but I ended selecting 31 photos....wow...the biggest selection for a sneak peak until now.
Something super funny happened. Mareli's sister Ilana did her make-up and hair (her company in Namibia in Ilana's Hair Gallery) and her two sons (one is 5 and the other is 3 years old) were the ring-bearers but they missed their afternoon nap, so when it was time to hand-over the rings...well the eldest was more than half asleep. Such a funny moment which I caught on camera!
They got married on Friday and during the week it rained...oh wait it poured with rain. So the morning of the wedding day it rained and I prepared like crazy for me to stay dry during the couple shoot, and I kept thinking the whole day "we would embrace the rain and take epic rain shots"...well...that was what I expected. I mean it had been raining for 2 days flat so what else did I expect? Exactly the opposite...we had sunshine! It was muddy but there were dramatic skies and sunshine...amazing. Mareli's prayers were truly answered. The biggest testimony for the day was the exact moment Mareli walked into church was the first time there were sunrays...so we had to take a photo!
The day ended with the coolest mist, so I just knew the night shot was going to be epic!
Venue: Ingaadi Spa & Events Venue Flowers: Wynand Saayman (Ilana's husband and Mareli's brother-in-law)
Enjoy the sneak peak!
Juwaid & Farheen's Wedding | Fire and Ice Hotel | Gauteng
Juwaid & Farheen's muslim wedding is one I will not forget! I just loved their couple shoot on Sandton City's 8th Level parking area! The light and dramatic skies were out of this world!
Juwaid & Farheen's Wedding | Fire and Ice Hotel | Gauteng
Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life. Leo Buscaglia
Juwaid & Farheen's wedding was the first Muslim wedding I have captured and I can't wait for my next one! Wow...just love the colors! It was such a relaxing day for me because I wasn't part of the groom's nikkah, which happened at the Houghton Masjid. Farheen got ready at the beautiful Marriott Protea Fire and Ice Hotel, Melrose Arch and they met up with family and friends for a simple reception (or lunch) at Calisto's Restaurant in Rosebank Mall, where they also exchanged rings. The Portuguese food was absolutely sensational.
Thank you for the hospitality...I felt like an esteemed guest!
We left to do the couple shoot when the lunch and festivities was done, and I must tell you, if you need to work on how to keep a couple "busy" and not run out of ideas on how to pose people...do a 3 hours couple shoot. It keeps you on your toes, and its amazing also. Because you get to experiment a little bit....and when the light is out of this world....well then its heaven! We had a blast during the 3 hour couple shoot! The shoot was also such a relaxed shoot because there was no event happening after the couple shoot. So we had the afternoon/evening at our disposal for photos. We started at Sandton City Mall's level 8 parking area and we ended back at the Marriott Fire and Ice Hotel in Melrose Arch. The rooftop area must be my next-best photo location...I just loved shooting their urban wedding photos with the buildings in the background!
Makeup: Thameenah Saint | Hair: Studio 9 at Melrose Arch | Wedding Dress: Bridal Vault | Flowers: Flower Spot, Woodmead | Decor: Family and @rayhanscatering | Rings: JDC Jewellers & American Swiss | Tuxedo: Oriental Plaza | Juwaid's Shoes: Woolworths | Farheen's shoes: YDE | Farheen's henna: Henna Art by MS | Flower Bouquet: Striking Beauty
Enjoy the photos and please leave a comment at the end!
Heinrich & Simone's wedding | Lace on Timber | Gauteng
Wow, words can even describe how beautiful and special this wedding was! I am truly honoured to have witnessed the love between Heinrich & Simone on their wedding day! Your wedding at Lace on Timber was beautiful, elegant and simple....what a way for me to start my weddings for 2018!
Heinrich & Simone's wedding | Lace on Timber | Gauteng
"When you meet the one who changes the way your heart beats, dance with them to that rhythm for as long as the song lasts." Kirk Diedrich
Wow, what a way to start 2018.
Heinrich and Simone are super fun and down-to-earth people and so easy to photograph. What a journey we had together...they were the winners at my Oakfields Bridal Expo Stand last year, we did their engagement shoot at Harmonie Proteas (click here to view) and I photographed the Bridal Workshop which Simone Pheiffer from The Wedding Event hosted last year and Simone and her mom and mom-in-law was part of this amazing day. Wow, so many memories captured during the past year and a bit.
The beautiful decor, Simone's dress, the cool groomsmen, the exquisite venue, lovely food, and loads of fun and laughter made this day super memorable. Everything which was done, was done in style and they didn't hold back...even when the bridal party entered the reception they gave it their all....wow what fun and laughter! They are truly a happy bunch of people. I had so much fun photographing this wedding, and I pray that the happiness will keep strong in their marriage!
I must say the hype about Lace on Timber is true. This place is magical. There is prettiness in every corner and in every direction that you look and wow...this place can make your wedding go from beautiful to gorgeous! And they have such friendly staff and service...definitely one of the best venues I have captured a wedding in South Africa.
Well done to all the suppliers involved, their day was perfect!
Venue & Desert Table: Lace on Timber | Wedding Dress: Timeless Bridal Couture | Simone's shoes: Aldo | Decor & Flowers: Pebble and Lace | Protea boutonnières: Hello Bird | Video: Barefeet Videography | Rings: Browns (Simone) & Bellagio (Heinrich) | Bridesmaids dresses: Forever New | Simone's mom's dress: House of JM Designs | Nougat: Ma Mere Confections
Have a drink, put your feet up and enjoy the photos!
Teaser! CJ & Carina | Wedding | Goosehill | Bloemfontein
CJ & Carina tied the knot in Bloemfontein at Goosehill Wedding and Guest Farm in Bloemfontein! It was an honour capturing a friend's wedding story! I had so much fun.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain - Vivian Greene
It was a privilege to have witnessed the love between CJ and Carina. Carina became a good friend while she stayed and worked in Johannesburg, and she fell for a boer from Elliot! Carina is originally from the Freestate so she probably dreamt of one day getting married to a boertjie.
Their wedding celebration was held at Goosehill Wedding and Guest Farm in Bloemfontein, and it was such a simplistic and elegant wedding. Carina is such a down-to-earth plaasmeisie, and she wore a gorgeous simple dress and vellies...yes...she is definitely a plaasmeisie at heart! Her make-up and hair, done by Amy Olden, was flawless and simple...just the way Carina like it!
Bad Ass Beards in Bloemfontein looked after CJ and the guys...and they looked dapper after their funky clean-up...and after a few screams...waxing is not for sissies!
Here's a few photos from Saturday's destination wedding!
Teaser! Juwaid & Farheen's Wedding | Fire and Ice Hotel | Gauteng
Juwaid & Farheen's muslim wedding is one I will not forget! I just loved their couple shoot on Sandton City's 8th Level parking area! The light and dramatic skies were out of this world!
Teaser! Juwaid & Farheen's Wedding | Fire and Ice Hotel | Gauteng
Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life. Leo Buscaglia
I captured my first Muslim wedding this past Saturday, and I loved it. It was such a relaxing day for me because I wasn't part of the groom's nikkah, which happened at the Houghton Masjid. Farheen got ready at the beautiful Marriott Protea Fire and Ice Hotel, Melrose Arch and they met up with family and friends for a simple reception (or lunch) at Calisto's Restaurant in Rosebank Mall, where they also exchanged rings. The food was absolutely amazing.
Thank you for the hospitality...I felt like an esteemed guest!
We then left to do the couple shoot when the lunch and festivities was done which lasted for 3 hours. Wow...this was such a relaxed shoot because there was no event happening after the couple shoot. So we had the afternoon/evening at our disposal for photos and the sunlight was out of this world. We started at Sandton City Mall's level 8 parking area and we ended back at the Fire and Ice Hotel in Melrose Arch. The rooftop area must be my next-best photo location...I just loved shooting their urban wedding photos with the buildings in the background!
Makeup: Thameenah Saint | Hair: Studio 9 at Melrose Arch | Wedding Dress: Bridal Vault | Flowers: Flower Spot, Woodmead | Decor: Family and @rayhanscatering | Rings: JDC Jewellers & American Swiss | Tuxedo: Oriental Plaza | Juwaid's Shoes: Woolworths | Farheen's shoes: YDE | Farheen's henna: Henna Art by MS | Flower Bouquet: Striking Beauty
Enjoy the photos and please leave a comment at the end!
Teaser! Heinrich & Simone's wedding | Lace on Timber | Gauteng
Wow, words can even describe how beautiful and special this wedding was! I am truly honoured to have witnessed the love between Heinrich & Simone on their wedding day! Your wedding at Lace on Timber was beautiful, elegant and simple....what a way for me to start my weddings for 2018!
"When you meet the one who changes the way your heart beats, dance with them to that rhythm for as long as the song lasts." Kirk Diedrich
Teaser! Heinrich & Simone's wedding | Lace on Timber | Gauteng
Wow, words can even describe how beautiful and special this wedding was! I am truly honoured to have witnessed the love between Heinrich & Simone on their wedding day! Your wedding at Lace on Timber was beautiful, elegant and simple....what a way for me to start my weddings for 2018!
Venue & Desert Table: Lace on Timber | Wedding Dress: Timeless Bridal Couture | Simone's shoes: Aldo | Decor & Flowers: Pebble and Lace | Protea boutonnières: Hello Bird | Video: Barefeet Videography | Rings: Browns (Simone) & Bellagio (Heinrich)
Here's a few from their wedding on Saturday! :) Enjoy
Ryan and Dawn | Destination Wedding | Orchards, Midlands KZN
Ryan and Dawn's destination wedding was one of those "pinch yourself" weddings. I just couldn't believe I was so lucky to be their photographer!
Ryan and Dawn | Destination Wedding | Orchards, Midlands KZN
My love for you is a journey, starting at forever and ending at never.
- Anonymous
Ryan and Dawn's destination wedding was one of those "pinch yourself" weddings. I just couldn't believe I was so lucky to be their photographer! And amazingly, they found me through one of my competitions which I had held at my exhibition stand at the Oakfields Farm Bridal Expo in January 2016. Wow, what a privilege to be a part of their journey!
Here is link to Ryan and Dawn's engagement shoot in Maboneng last, for in case you missed it! Click HERE.
One of the things that make my blood pumping vigorously is getting on a plane and to jet off to a far off destination. The Midlands isn't halfway around the world, but it is still a "far off destination". I just love travel. To see places, and to meet new people, and to experience different cultures...and then to capture this on camera is even more exhilarating.
Ryan and Dawn's wedding was held in the Midlands at the most beautiful country venue The Orchards. I have been following the venue on Instagram for a while now and when Dawn said that she is getting married at this venue I really got super excited. I know weddings aren't really about the venue, or dress, or food...but about the people...but beautiful venues that makes your photos so much prettier...and when you have the most beautiful decor and flowers at a beautiful venue...wow...then you are in for some eye candy...the decor was out-of-this-world with this wedding!
Dawn did most of the planning for the wedding, and she was inspired by the 2016 colour palette of serenity and also blue...I mean blue is her favorite colour! For the reception she chose a woodlands theme with greenery and ivy, ferns and lilies as the main flowers. Wood were added in the form of wooden coasters for the favours, thick wooden discs as signs, which were cut from logs, and wooden branch pieces used as menu stands. The latter was done by Ryan and his brother. Ryan and his mom also made the table numbers by using moss-covered polystyrene numbers, and how amazing is this: The alter was made by Dawn's dad!
Crystal and Vine did the table decor and also the overhanging arrangements and lighting. Debbie Martens did the amazing flower and Food Matters were responsible for the incredible food. The stationery was designed and printed by a family friend and the sweets and cake was made by another family friend...And I wish I could make people taste the cake through the photos because you surely missed out...it looked good but tasted even better!
Dawn had a stunner of a dress. It was a Nola dress designed by Maggie Sotero, and Dawn bought the dress in Wimbledon London at Paverly Bridal. She also bought her shoes in London at Next. But why London? Well, both Ryan and Dawn are South Africans and they just love traveling and going to new places and the UK especially are close to their hearts. So in January this year Dawn accepted an offer for a job in London, which created some chaos in their lives, especially with the planning of their dream wedding in SA. They realised that it will be a nightmare to arrange things from the UK, so they basically met with the caterers, florists and decor people in South Africa six months before the wedding before they moved to London to start her new job in March. Wow, that is trust on a new level, and the suppliers did such an amazing job...great decisions in choosing your suppliers!
Thank you for trusting me with your memories. I had a blast capturing your wedding photos, Ryan and Dawn, and may your love for each other just grow and grow!
Dawn's incredible make-up and hair was done by Camilla Kerr – The Durban Makeup Artist and the video was done by the talented Jon R Photography. The music during the canapes and snacks was done by an incredible duo Aymira Band (I mean they were seriously good) and the sound and music during reception was done by the incredible DJ Worx.
Enjoy the photos and please leave a comment at the end!
Collin & Cheryl | Wedding | Tres Jolie, Johannesburg
Collin and Cheryl are serious love birds and their wedding day was full of laughter and fun! I had a blast capturing their wedding love story! #weddingphotography #weddingphotographer
Collin & Cheryl | Wedding | Tres Jolie, Johannesburg
A thing of beauty is a joy forever: Its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness. John Keats
Collin and Cheryl have been clients for a few years now, and they always said that I will be their photographer for their wedding one day...and so it happened! Amazing. Collin and Cheryl are serious love birds, and I just love how Cheryl cracks up of laughter for Collin. He truly makes her happy, and its inspirational to see!
They have a very unique love story. They know each other since Grade 1 and they have been friends all through primary and high school. He did ask her out two times in school but she said "no", and funny enough she asked him out once after school and he said "no", but they somehow always had a way to find each other. The eventually started dating, and after 2 years popped the question at the amazing Groot Constantia Wine Farm by going down on one knee. At first she thought he was weird, because she tried helping him up from his knee but soon realised he is proposing and said "yes"! Amazing.
Cheryl love vintage themed stuff, so she desperately wanted a vintage look for her engagement shoot, so we went to the amazing Pretville, and had a blast! Here is a link to their very cool engagement shoot photos! Click here!
It was a first time for me to have had a late wedding, which meant that the ceremony was in the time of the couple shoot, ie the golden hour and the couple shoot for the wedding in the blue hour of the day. Blue hour is that absolute last light of day, after sunset, just before it becomes dark...long story short we had little light to work with during the couple shoot so I had to use alternative methods to create light for the photos. This is what I love about photography, because certain elements pushes you to be very creative, and the photos then comes out like photos you have never seen before! Amazing. I used an off-camera flash for some of the photos, but also two cellphone lights for some of the shots...and I LOVE the result!
Here is a list of the suppliers who made their day possible!
Venue and food: Tres Jolie Wedding and Function Venue. The cake was a gift from Dina and Johan Scoltz. Cheryl's dress was made by Bridal Alchemy. Cheryl's shoes were from Truworths and Collin's suit from Eurosuit. The macaron gifts were from Lindt. Collins ring from JDC Jewellers and the DJ was from Soundworx and which were part of package with Tres Jolie.
Enjoy the photos and please leave a comment at the end!
Rudolph & Angelique | Wedding | Makiti Wedding Venue
Rudolph and Angelique had a very special wedding at Makiti Wedding Venue with family and friends! Magical day with lots of fun and laughter!
Rudolph & Angelique | Wedding | Makiti Wedding Venue
Love is a canvas furnished by nature and embroidered by imagination. Voltaire
I always say with client referrals I always get my best clients, and with Rudolph and Angelique it was no exception! Rudolph works with a dear friend of mine and he mentioned at his office that he knows a wedding photographer and he referred me to them, and how blessed I am to have had them as clients! They are such down-to-earth and easy-going people, who loves simple things in life like outdoors, camping, fishing, sharing a meal with friends and family. They also have a huge love for dogs. I remember well, the first we met we immediately connected, and I always tell people I meet with, it is so important to connect with your photographer.
Rudolph and Angelique had a very special wedding at Makiti Wedding Venue with family and friends! And as much as people want to believe their Big-Day will be perfect and without any hick-ups, it almost always never is. The day is ultimately about the people and how they celebrate how two families become one, how two people become one. That is what is so special to me about weddings! Why do I mention this? Well Angelique (or someone...I am not going to point fingers ;-)) forgot her shoes...so she got married in...well old shoes...but hey...luckily they didn't forget her dress...once again nothing really stopped them from having the day of their lives...a day they will cherish forever!
Here is a list of the suppliers who made this day possible!
Venue: Makiti Wedding Venue Wedding Dress: Yourday bridal
DJ: DJ Luke
Make-up: Lillian van Aswegen Hair: Hair at Dorette (Website: Dorette Hair Salon, Dorette Oosthuizen)
Jewellery, a pear set: Avon
Rudolph's shoes: Woolworths
Video: Brightmoon Video & Photography & Second shooter: Chane Basson
Enjoy the photos and please leave a comment at the end!
Jan-Peet & Nadine | Wedding | Bell Amour | Pretoria
This is one of my favourites for the year! JP and Nadine looked absolutely smashing on their wedding day. Wow, what a cool bunch of family and friends! I must also give a shout out to Bell Amour Wedding Venue...what a beauty!
Jan-Peet & Nadine | Wedding | Bell Amour | Pretoria
We love because it's the only true adventure. Nikki Giovanni
What an adventure this day has been!
Jan-Peet (JP) & Nadine's wedding at Bell Amour Wedding Venue was one for the books! And they both looked smashing...just look at Nadine's dress. I could not believe when Nadine told me her dress made by one of the bridesmaid's moms...I thought it was a super duper designer dress!
JP works in the Film Industry and I remember him saying to me that he has a special look in mind with regards to his photos...so I knew the game was on. I had to step up my game...thats how it goes in this industry. You feel the pressure on your skin because you know we look at images differently than the non-photographers...
Jan-Peet is a super clever creative soul...I mean his wife describes him as a mix between a hippy and an auditor...quite funny, but true. He had this crazy huge beard when we met last year and Nadine has the following to say about her husband: "He relishes adventure, mystery and passion filled lifestyle. He gives without expecting back and cares intensely for the people he loves". Nadine on the other hand is: "a soft and a gentle soul who loves animals, friends and family" as she would put it. She has this grace about her, and absolutely gorgeous...just a joy to photograph her. Together they are such a cool and confident couple, and the love just oozes out of them. I enjoyed them greatly! And oh my word they make great photos. I didn't know how they would be and react in front of my camera as Nadine's best friend did their engagement photos, but they were such naturals...I am sure they have this before. :)
The decor was super simplistic and elegant, with magenta as the main color with a lot of greens. The Love Knot did the amazing flowers on the tables and in the chapel, and beautiful signs in the chapel and above the main table were made by the venue! The centre pieces, with the white "trees" was done by JP and Nadine, and Nadine made the origami herself. They spent roughly 18 months planning this amazing wedding!
Much can be said about the day, how much love and laughter happened, but I think the pictures will do it more justice!
Here is a list of other suppliers who were involved:
Makeup: Morné Marx & Hair & Makeup: Nanna Castmar-Jensen (one of the bridesmaids)
Cake, Cupcakes and Cake Pops: L's Creations
DJ and sound: Dj Kings
Nadine's shoes: Aldo & JP's shoes: Markhams
JP's and the groomsmen's suits: Civic Tailors and Outfitters, Bloemfontein
Nadine's ring: Von Wielligh and JP wooden inlay ring: VA Tungsten
Gowns: Thashreya's clothing & Groomsmen boutonnieres: Iniek
Enjoy the photos and please leave a comment at the end!
Teaser! Rudolph & Angelique | Wedding | Makiti Wedding Venue
Rudolph and Angelique had a very special wedding this past weekend at Makiti - Venue's/lodge! Here are a few from the wedding, they had such a special day with family and friends!
Teaser! Rudolph & Angelique | Wedding | Makiti Wedding Venue
A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. Mignon McLaughlin
Rudolph and Angelique had a very special wedding this past weekend at Makiti - Venue's/lodge! Here are a few from the wedding, they had such a special day with family and friends!
Video: Brightmoon Video & Photography
Second shooter: Chane Basson
Brand & Vanessa | Wedding | The Bridge, Muldersdrift
Wow, I am in love with Brand & Vanessa's photos! They got married on probably the coldest day of the year, with rain, but they took the day on with both hands and what a day it was! Special!
You are the finest, loveliest, tenderest, and most beautiful person I have ever known—and even that is an understatement. F Scott Fitzgerald
Wow, what a day. It was probably the coldest day of the year thus far, and it rained quite a lot. I had a tough start to the day. I woke up that morning with a cold, and my voice was gone. I luckily didn't have a fever, but I knew I would not be my 100% during the day, but amazingly I made it! I take my hat off for Vanessa and Brand. They did not expect the Winter to start on their wedding day, but they took the day in its stride and their wedding was one of my highlights for this year!
Its actually amazing how things worked out. It poured during the time Brand and Vanessa were preparing, which meant we couldn't go outside at all for a few photos. I actually love it (well not so much in the moment, but its good for me) when I am pushed into a creative corner and I need to think outside the box. What happened was, Vanessa got dressed in a small room, and when three bridesmaids, Vanessa, her mom, the makeup artist and hairstylist, and myself the photographer, and the video production people are squished into the same room, one needs to be super creative to create awesome shots...that is what I love. I didn't do what I normally do in that moment, which means I get super cool shots...and I did! It also rained when the ceremony started, but it stopped just after the ceremony, with 20 minutes of the most amazing sunshine! Memorable!
Vanessa said she wanted to do a "reveal-the-dress" for her bridesmaids, so you can imagine how difficult it was to do the dress shot, because the bridesmaids were in the room while Vanessa did her hair and makeup. So when we did the dress shot, I asked the bridesmaids to hide in the bathroom (they couldn't wait outside due to the rain), and we also did fun photos of the them closing their eyes and standing right in front of the dress...almost like teasing them that they are not allowed to look! And when Vanessa got dressed, they hid in the bathroom again!
One of the most memorable moments for me was the reaction of her bridesmaids when she revealed her dress! Priceless moment!
Wow!
Such special memories!
Another memorable moment for me was when the bridesmaids were walking towards the church in the rain with umbrellas. When they were about 3 meters away from entering the church, they stopped quickly and threw their umbrellas (or tried throwing it) over some rose bushes...lets just say the umbrellas didnt make it to the other side of the rose bushes and got stuck in the roses.
I am super excited. This wedding is going to be shown on TV! Brand and Vanessa's wedding coming to MySakpas-trou Channel 147 on ViaTV on KykNET. I enjoyed working with the guys from the Media Club Productions. It was my first experience having a film crew at a wedding, and I must say its different than having a wedding videographer at a wedding, but I had fun!
Brand and Vanessa, it was a joy capturing your wedding, and I pray God's richest blessings over your marriage!
Here is a list of the wedding suppliers who made this amazing day possible:
Venue, Flowers and Catering: The Bridge, Muldersdrift | Wedding and Function venue
Make up and hair: Jonice from Jdv Styling
Rings: Pedro Da Silva - Fine Jewellery
Wedding Dress: Eurobride
Brands's suit: Greys
Cake & Cupcakes: Vanessa's aunt Marietjie
Enjoy the pictures and please leave a comment at the end!
David & Irene | Wedding | Kuthaba Bush Lodge
Wow, I am in love with David & Irene's safari style wedding at Kuthaba Bush Lodge! Irene's Bride & Co dress was out of this world!
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. — LAO TZU
I always say that a client that is referred to me is the best client. Irene is one of those clients. She got my details from Cheryl and I had so much fun during their wedding! David and Irene are such great people, and I fell in love with who they are as a person since we first met last year for the engagement shoot. I can still remember how we had this super duper planned day and it all went pear shaped because we couldn’t enter the property we wanted to go to. So we ended shooting in a barren field, and we used whatever we had and made the best of it! That is such a testimony of who they are…they are focused people but also easy-going and content with the world.
It was my first time to capture a wedding at Kuthaba Bush Lodge and I loved it. Some of the most memorable moments for me was when I found out that Irene did not have bridesmaids but "groomsmaids". I kinda expected to see David in a kilt, because he is half Scottish but he did not wear one. All the groomsmen had a handkerchief in their suit pockets made from kilt material. And the one thing that completely blew me away was Irene's dress. Wow, I loved her dress which she bought on Still White. Its a Bride and Co dress and she definitely made a statement!
I try to end every wedding with a sparkler photo. How this photo works is I run around them with a sparkler in the dark, and then the sparkler leaves a trial wherever I ran. The problem is I need to do this in complete darkness, otherwise I show up on the photo, so there is always a risk of me falling over a rock or something because I do not know where I am going. Well...this was the first time I fell down during on of the attempts, and I didn't get hurt...too much... I just picked up a few scratches...Funny enough on the night we made these jokes that I couldn't go and phone Discovery to claim for my health insurance because an employee of Discovery (Irene works for Discovery) has seen what happened...hehehe...we had a giggle...Those photos are always worth it, doesn't matter the risk I have to take!
Here is a list of the suppliers who made the day possible:
Venue, Styling & Catering: Kuthaba Bush Lodge
Flowers: De Villiers Blomme, Modimole
Make up and hair: Andelien Steyn Professional MakeUp Artistry
Wedding Dress: Still White & Bride & Co
Irene shoes & David Suit and Shoes: Woolworths SA
Irene's hair piece and earrings: Accessorize SA
DJ: Jannie Kruger
Video: Byron & Amy Wolff
Enjoy the pictures and please leave a comment at the end!
Duane & Tanya | Wedding | The Moon and Sixpense
Wow, finally it is here! Duane and Tanya's beautiful wedding at the Moon & Sixpense is on my blog!
"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights
My wife and I got married in Bredasdorp 8 years ago, but always tell that if we tied the knot in Gauteng, we would have done it at The Moon & Sixpense! This is such an amazing venue...the tuscan vibe and the fact that it feels like you wander in a little forest is mesmerizing!
Duane and Tanya had a super amazing wedding, with friends and family, and one of the most memorable moments for me was when Tanya's dad saw for the first time in her beautiful wedding dress. It's a moment I am looking for when me little girl is grown up and ready to marry the man of her dreams. I mean this is the day all girls dream about since they were small...a princess leaving the house of her king, going on a journey to marry her prince! Magical stuff!
Tanya looked absolutely gorgeous in her wedding dress, and Duane....you looked dapper, especially with your red bow tie!
Duane inspires me as a man. The way he looks at Tanya, with so much love and admiration...and the way he handles her...its so special! May your love for each other grow and grow each year, and may your love inspire others like you have inspired me to love!
Here is the list of the other suppliers who made this amazing day possible!
Venue: The Moon & Sixpense
Make up and hair: Made Up by Kylie
Tanya's dress: Silk Stitches (such a pretty dress)
Duane's suit: Eurosuit
DJ and MC: Michael Catterson from Mix 93.8 FM (wow, he is entertaining)
Flowers and decor: Exquisite Flowers & Decor Hire
Enjoy the photos and please leave a comment at the end!
Teaser! Brand & Vanessa | Wedding | The Bridge, Muldersdrift
Wow, this was probably the coldest day this year...and the wettest...but Brand & Vanessa took the day in it's stride and had the most amazing wedding day ever! Such a memorable day...and we had 20min of the most incredible sun!
You are the finest, loveliest, tenderest, and most beautiful person I have ever known—and even that is an understatement. F Scott Fitzgerald
Wow, what a day! Rain, cold front, and more rain...and a little bit of super duper sun...Brand & Vanessa, you were brave and you took this day in your stride and had the coolest wedding ever! They are such cool clients and I had a ball capturing their story....and WOW! they looked amazing!
Another amazing thing is this wedding is going to be shown on Via TV on the My Sakpas Troue Show on Channel 147. I just loved working with the Media Club Productions team...can't wait to see the episode!
Venue: The Bridge, Muldersdrift
Enjoy the sneak peak....I cant wait to share some more! Please leave a comment at the end!
