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Archive for December, 2009
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
Yes, here are Anne and Jonathan again! I was fortunate enough to have another incredible day of fun with them on New Years eve and what a cool finish to 2009! As you can see i’m a little behind with blogging – I don’t quite know where January went to….anyway! This shoot reminded me of one of my favourite photographers Martin Parr who did a series ‘Think of Britain’. Colourful, and very British, his photo’s are documentary, satirical and humorous. For me and many others, he is a great symbol of British life and culture.
I met up with Anne and Jonathan for their post wedding shoot – or as it’s been termed in the industty ‘Trash the Dress’ or ‘Rock the Frock’ (where the bride and groom get to wear their gear one last time with no worries of getting it dirty or damaged.) The shoots are not necessarily about ‘trashing’ a dress, it’s more about having fun and being photographed doing something you’d not usually do in bridal gear. We headed to one of Jonathan’s favourite haunts, a little fish and chips shop in Hout Bay which he used to visit throughout his childhood. This is probably one of the most fun shoots i’ve done. Sometimes the best moments in life don’t cost much – sharing a bag of hot chips with the seagulls brought so many shrieks and laughter to the day. I highly recommend this if you’ve had a stressful week at work or just need to switch off and re-charge. I lay on the ground for most of the shoot, shooting up. I don’t think i’ve been so close to seagulls or looked so closely at them – they are amazing birds. They zoom down, then cleverly hover, almost teasing, to snatch a chip. It was a combination of exciting yet at the same time scary with so many of them flying overhead. After that we headed to a shipping yard where a guard let us in for ‘just 20 min’ …we ended up there a couple of hours! We had the whole jetty with all the boats to ourselves as the fisherman had already gone home – it was seriously like our own playground. Anne and Jonathan climbed on boats, then did their first dance on the jetty….and before we knew it, it was close to 9pm and they were late for their concert at Kirstenbosch. I always lose track of time when i’m shooting which is a good sign I LOVE MY JOB!!!!
On my way back from the shoot i was running through new years resolutions in my head. I only ever pick one or two or it’s too hard for me to stick to them. In 2009 I stopped using plastic carrier bags (except of course for the large black bin bags as there’s no alternative to that yet) and started being nicer to myself. For 2010 I kept my 2009 resolutions and added two new ones. The first one, to try new things off a menu – like going to a Thai restaurant and picking something random which I can barely pronounce. It shakes life up a little, and gets me out of my comfort zone. My second resolution – to spend more time with people that matter – my family and friends.
Anne and Jonathan are still on their 6 month honeymoon and travels around Asia. I have just checked facebook and they are currently in Jodpur! Amazing!!! To the coolest couple, here are a few photo’s from the day to remind you of life outside of India. xxx
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Posted in Hout Bay, post-wedding shoot, rock the frock, trash the dress | 15 Comments »
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
PART ONE:
I feel incredibly blessed with the clients I’ve been fortunate enough to photograph in 2009. Photographing weddings is just fantastic – I get to meet people from all different backgrounds and get to spend one of the most important days of their lives with them. I love my job completely – even saying that sounds funny as I look at it more as a time of ‘playing’ and less of working. It fills me an energy and love I find hard to express in words. All I know is that when i’m shooting I get transformed to another world, where creative ideas are endless and I have this ‘zing’ inside of me that makes me want to break out into song. Anne and Jonathan were married at Haute Cabriere the 29th December 2009 – my last wedding for the year. I have one word for this awesome couple: Dynamic! I met with Anne and Jonathan at Vida e (mocha’s made in heaven!) several days before the wedding to run through the days events. I don’t know who was more excited – them or me. We all chatted excitedly, sometimes at the same time and I felt like we were sitting in a cozy lounge somewhere, we were so oblivious to the buzz of the last minute Christmas shoppers around us. I left the meeting on such a ‘high’ and had new ideas flying around inside my head.
Anne got ready at Auberge Clermont – I felt like I was back in Provence! Brides, if you are looking for somewhere stunning to get ready, this is THE PLACE! Magic magic magic! and right in the heart of Franschhoek! Once Liz Kaplan had done Anne’s hair and make-up, she looked liked she’d stepped off the red carpet. She looked like a sultry version of Marlene Dietrich!
Photographer Bernard Bravenboer was my second shooter for the day – he started off photographing Jonathan and his family getting ready at La Petite Dauphine and then headed over to Haute Cabriere. The Jewish ceremony took place in the cellar among wine barrels – low lighting with candles and kind of a medieval feel. Vows were exchanged under the ‘Chuppah’ (a Jewish canopy made of fabric). While the guests had drinks and canapes, Anne, Jonathan, the best man and I headed off to a lavender field in Franschhoek. The lavender was in full bloom and and after doing some fun shots in the field, Anne threw herself back onto the lavender. Jonathan kept saying ” you look so beautiful…you don’t understand!….seriously, you DON’T understand!” A combination of the light on the veil and the wind lifting it up into the air all added to the charm of the day. After that we headed into the Franschhoek town to do some urban shots. Currently living in JHB, Anne and Jonathan are getting ready to go on a 6 month adventure around Asia! Jonathan is crazy about photography and is taking more equipment than clothing with him. Jonathan, there is a book waiting to happen! After their travels through Asia, they will be moving to London to live. Thank you both so much for oozing so much energy and warmth and giving me the creative license to ‘play’ to my hearts content. I can’t wait to meet up with you both again in London in the future! Bon Voyage!!! PS…you guys, I am so thrilled with your photo’s “YOU JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND!”
Dress: Lunar life
Makeup: Liz Kaplan Tel.0828989770
Cupcakes & macaroons: Nadine Postech of Top Nosh
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Posted in Auberge Clermont, Haute Cabriere, Weddings | 11 Comments »
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
I decided to do two blog entries for Jonathan and Anne’s wedding as they will be travelling in Asia for 6 months and won’t get to see their album until their return!
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Posted in Auberge Clermont, Haute Cabriere, Weddings | 7 Comments »
Saturday, December 19th, 2009
My photography has been influenced alot from reading Eckhart Tolle’s ‘The Power Of Now’. It’s about being in the ‘moment’ and experiencing that moment for what it is. Being ‘present’. Like when you’re sitting having a coffee with a friend, you are totally there, not daydreaming of that email you have to send, or the birthday present you have to buy. I sometimes battle with this, my thoughts buzzing around my head, but am always conscious of ‘the now‘. Some of the best images i’ve made were when I was being present, feeling the mood around me, scouting out the light, seeing where shadows are falling, ready for moments the bride and groom share a laugh or an intimate smile. I love playing with movement during some of my shoots – it creates a different element to a photograph, and a lovely energy.
Nelle and DeWet got married at Pniel Church in Stellenbosch and had their reception at the lavish MolenVliet Wine Estate. After the ceremony we headed off to do the bridal photo’s. Our 1st location was at an old, unused petrol station. It was hectically windy and at one point during the shoot, Nelle’s veil blew off into the street and was driven over by a taxi! The veil survived and thankfully was still clean and undamaged. Some days wind can be a real pain when shooting, but on this particular day, it worked in our favour. For the 2nd part of the shoot, Ockie (one of the owners of MolenVliet) kindly drove us in a 4×4 along a bumpy road to the top of the venue. Paradise – views of the vineyards and mountains with the sun just setting. This is one of the most stunning venues I’ve worked at! The design of MolenVliet is pure genius – the reception area has two sections built off it – the 1st is an outside area where guests can have a smoke and drink without feeling separated from the wedding party, and the 2nd section has a large ‘lounge’ type area with leather sofas and a black and white checkered floor. Ockie and Aneen from MolenVliet did an incredible job making sure the day ran smoothly. Nelle & DeWet, thanks for braving the wind! you were both so cool to photograph. Another AMAZING day at ‘work’!
make-up: Gabi Hough (see links page); Music: DJ Preston from On Cue Music; Videographers: Silverline Productions; Flowers: Flowers In The Foyer; Cake: Kanya Hunt
Blog uploaded the 3rd January 2010
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Posted in MolenVliet Estate, Molenvliet, Weddings | 11 Comments »
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
When I met up with Kedi and Alex a few days before their wedding, It was as though I was meeting up with friends I hadn’t seen in a while. You know how sometimes you meet people and just click, you feel like you’re on the ’same page’…well that sums up our meeting. Kedi gave me the biggest hug and was all smiles as we chatted about the BIG day. This has been quite a year for them both – they have spent many months apart while Kedi was studying, and the morning we met up, was her graduation! Officially a doctor! how awesome is that??? Their wedding took place at the Straightway Head Country Hotel in Somerset West. If you’re looking for a place to ‘lose yourself in’ this is the place for you. It’s a treasure chest of calmness and tranquility….wild flowers everywhere, tall trees, little ’secret gardens’, bees and butterflies. I just loved it!
I usually keep my wedding blog entries to 20 images…but as it’s the last post i’ll be uploading in 2009, I thought why not put up some extra’s….ok and I also happened to lose track of how many i had edited for the blog! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are not attaching any guilt to what you may have eaten or had to drink. Celebrate life and don’t ever say no to having that piece of cake. In the bigger picture, it’s not really going to make a difference.
Kedi and Alex – thanks for being as excited and enthusiastic as I was and helping me create a touch of magic on your day. ‘High Five’ to you both!
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Posted in Straighway Head Hotel, Weddings | 15 Comments »
Saturday, December 12th, 2009
Saturday morning bright and early I met up with friends and fellow photographers, Jules Morgan and Christine Meintjes in the parking lot of the Red Cross Children’s Hospital. We were joining thousands of other photographer’s and volunteers in other parts of the world to celebrate (and participate in) Help Portrait day. Help Portrait is ” a movement of photographers who are using their time, equipment and expertise to give back to those who are less fortunate this holiday season. ”
Heide from Reach For A Dream had arranged that we could do some portraits of some of the children in the G4 cancer ward – some portraits on their own and some with a parent. The ages of the children ranged from a few months up to 7 years. I found this really heart breaking and hid behind my lens to block out the tears. It was such an awesome feeling knowing that on this particular day, other photographers and volunteers were also gearing up to do something amazing. In life when we are rushing around complaining and worrying about about small things, gossiping about others (my sister says this can give a person halitosis!), we can forget that none of that really really matters in the bigger picture. Having your health is your biggest wealth and without it we can’t function properly. It’s also easy to think that one person can’t really make it difference. Even touching one person’s life can have a ripple effect and giving feels incredibly amazing.
I went online to Help Portraits site, and by Saturday evening over 17 000 photo’s had been taken by approx. 1400 photographers – and only 43% of registered photographers had logged in their figures. We weren’t permitted to publish any photo’s of the children.
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Posted in Help Portrait | 1 Comment »
Thursday, December 10th, 2009
Jules Morgan and I have been friends for close to 2 years. We’ve built up a rocking friendship over this time, going to Cuba in 2007 when we barely knew each other, and now, meeting for coffee’s and catch-up’s every week. We share a deep love of photography in it’s most simplest and natural form and a complete love of exploring and travelling. I’ve been thinking about where my photography is going, how I can keep myself inspired and how I can expand on what i’ve been shooting. I love shooting weddings – the fact that wedding photography has evolved so much and photographers are given so much creative freedom is just amazing. I’ve been keeping an eye on Jules’ boudoir blog, falling more and more in love with the idea of expanding my business to include these shoots. I want to enter the market with a different angle, something really arty, sensual and playful. Women of all shapes and sizes should celebrate their bodies and love what they have – after all our bodies are with us every day. As well as being an anniversary gift from Jules to her hubby, it was also an opportunity for me to make some awesome images for her to celebrate being 30, celebrate being a woman, and celebrate being alive. Jules, thanks for for being such a honey bee of a friend and being open enough for me to publish these images of you – I can’t imagine you not being in my life now!
Make-up by:
Venue: Protea Colosseum Hotel, Century City
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Posted in Boudoir photography, Boudoir shoot | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Marelize and I go back about a decade! We started our friendship in Cape Town and then she moved over to the UK to be with Mike. Soon after I ended up in London too and we continued our friendship there. I’d been in Jo’burg for a wedding and Marelize was due to give birth any moment….so the only time we could squeeze in a shoot was at Jo’burg airport before I headed back to Cape Town. We had literally 45 min. to shoot, then it was time to board! There were actually some cool spots at the airport – the underground parking had these awesome lights, and then the escalators came in handy too. I hope they can both forgive me for taking so long to upload my blog with some of their photo’s! sorry guys!!! I hope these were worth the wait.
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Posted in Johannesburg, Maternity, Pregnancy | No Comments »
Saturday, December 5th, 2009
The order of events at Miejon and Fritz’ wedding were different to any wedding i’ve ever shot. They decided to have their ‘couple’ shots done BEFORE the wedding – something which is really popular in the States…and something I would encourage more couples to consider doing. We had so much time to ‘play’ before the actual ceremony, which meant both Fritz and Miejon were completely relaxed. Straight after the ceremony once group shots were done, they were free to enjoy the rest of the wedding with family and friends. They were up for anything….from climbing on wine crates to rolling in the grass. The sun beat down at Nelson’s Creek and the clouds were dramatic and stunning. Thanks Fritz and Miejon for being so chilled out on your wedding day and for deciding to have your ‘couple’ shots done first – I really had a blast with you both.
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Posted in Nelson's Creek, Weddings | 17 Comments »
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