If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you would have realised the past few months have been a bit quiet on this side. Well, I’m happy to let you know I’m still shooting and keeping busy :) But I’ve realised that my website is no longer a good representative of my work, style and brand.
I attended Bloemhof Girls School from 1998 – 2002. And since we lived in Somerset West, my high school years were spent between Somerset West and Stellenbosch. It’s probably a total cliché to say I can’t believe time goes by so quickly, but a few weeks back we celebrated our 10 year reunion. Can you believe it?? It’s that time where everyone asks you what you did and what you’re currently up to. Funny enough, I think Facebook has filled in a lot of those gaps, since we left school.
A week after the reunion I photographed Leandri, a matric student from Stellenbosch High School. It’s only once we started chatting about her matric exam and what she planned on doing next year, that it’s hit me in the face. I was totally shocked at the fact that this girl standing in front of me was TEN YEARS younger than me! Funny how I saw people growing up all around me, but never realised I’m getting older too. Not that age has anything to do with how I approach life, but it’s just a funny though. I never realised I’m getting older too. LOL. Probably time to look in the mirror. Or perhaps not :)
We all grow older. Another year is almost gone and 2013 is looking at us around the corner. Even though time passes by really quickly (and even more so, as you grow older), the one question I want to say ‘YES’ to each year, is “Do you live life to the MAX?”.
During the winter months I had the opportunity to present a Styled Wedding Workshop at Val de Vie Estate in Paarl. It was a very cold, winter weekend, but we kept warm around a cosy fire-place. I’ve been wanting to blog these forever, but with all the traveling and workshops in Holland, I struggled to catch up on my blog. (as you probably realised :) I’m getting there slowly but surely :)
Many happy memories come back to mind when I shoot at this location. Our wedding venue. A little over two years ago, I walked down the aisle at this very same place, Kleinevalleij. Eretia and I go way back. Some years ago, I walked into her at a wedding. I couldn’t believe the girl I was [...]
We arrived at Grootbos at about 14:00. We walked into their room and I saw Alicia finishing up Melody’s hair and make-up. Christopher was standing outside, admiring the gorgeous view. There was a feeling in the air that I really liked. Relaxed, comfortable and real. Nothing makes me more excited than a couple that are down to earth, friendly and 100% approachable. And that’s exactly what I experienced with Christopher and Melody.
I didn’t know what to expect. They told me there was going to be many tears, but that’s all I knew. She didn’t know I was coming. The secret was very well-kept, between her mother and her boss, Andre. Earlier that week, they told her sisters. But they were sworn to secrecy.
Andre was the master mind behind all of this. He contacted me months ago asking whether I’d be available for the 6th of October. I was. So he booked me. But I wasn’t allowed to say anything or even add their names to my online calendar. Nothing was allowed to leak out. I had to communicate via secret text messages and a few emails at specific times, where Lize wouldn’t check her mom’s computer. This was huge. I was booked to shoot Lize and Deon’s wedding in Pretoria, without them knowing. Something I haven’t done before.
Yesterday I received a little surprise email when Mary from Reverie Magazine in the UK emailed me to tell me that Anneri and Pieter’s wedding, from earlier this year, was published in their latest Fall edition. I’m a huge fan of Reverie magazine. The magazine is filled with beautiful wedding ideas from all across the globe! I consider being published with them a huge honour. Thank you Mary and the team for including my photos.
Kate and Andrew tied the knot under a tree in the middle of the Cederberg. Their wedding was on a Monday. Unusual, you might think, but if most of your guest are coming from the other side of the ocean, the day of the week does not matter.
The drive to the Cederberg felt like holiday. The open skies and countryside all around me, makes this one of my favourite places. After the last town, before you drive out to Bushmanskloof, you loose all cellphone reception. Something that makes me feel ‘free’, even though most of my work is linked to the digital world.
Her dad and brother came to say ‘hi’ and then the first tears started flowing. I knew this was going to be a day I wouldn’t forget. The rain was pouring outside and the wind was blowing, but Eva smiled.
The ceremony was on the patio of the gorgeous Lourensford Esate in Somerset West. Despite the crazy weather on my first wedding of the season, Eva and Nyagaka were very brave to take photos outside. A huge thank you goes out to them for trusting me to take their photos outside in the cold. You guys made my season!
One of the best parts of my jobs is that I get to travel. Shooting wedding in other parts of the world is always a huge highlight on my calendar. I still think South Africa is one of the most beautiful places in the world, but photographing in Europe is always an enormous treat.
Amongst our travel plans here in Europe in July, was to photograph Katja and Chad’s wedding in Quakenbrück, a very small, country side town in the north of Germany.
