Joha-mari & Don got married at the beautiful Kleinevalleij venue just outside Wellington on the 16th of April. She contacted me a few weeks earlier about doing an informal shoot at the beach on the Sunday, of course I was more than keen!
Gordon’s Bay harbour and the adjacent Bikini beach really had me excited with all the blends of colours, textures and off course the last bit of gold, bronze light on the beach was fantastic! Thank you Jo & Don for giving me the opportunity to work with you guys, hope you had a very memorable honeymoon!
I had so much fun shooting Lizanne & P-J’s wedding at Buitenverwachting in the oh-so-beautiful Constantia. They decided to have a morning-afternoon wedding - the ceremony was held in a cute stone chapel in Tokai followed by a sumputous picnic at Buitenverwachting. Their wedding was an intimate affair with just their closest friends and family and the whole day just had such a relaxed atmosphere. Lizanne (who adores photography and is an up and coming photographer herself) & P-J’s love story began 8 years ago when they met as students in Pretoria. For the past 6 years they have been residing in the UK. I was besotted with Lizanne’s champagne-coloured soft silky dress which she was lucky to find in a London boutique, she looked so dreamy in this dress with her fresh water pearl necklace (which P-J gave her the morning of their wedding!) and soft curls. I was hoping for an overcast day (with no rain of course!) because the couple shoot was done around noon and we were lucky that the skies were indeed a huge soft box for photos! I love funky props (of course not the corny type like frames and the traditional honeymoon suitcase) because it adds an element of fun and something that often results in spontaneous images, so, thank you Lizanne for bringing a long the black and white sunglasses!
Dress designer: Alan Hannah
Hair & make-up: Aliki Zanolin (073 350 6549)
Marriage Officiant: Roger Horwood (021 438 1124)
Aren’t they cute?!
This scene really reminds me of the English country side:
P-J wanted some pics under the old rugby poles, he played rugby for many years:
Mr & Mrs Bond:
The dreamy, silky dress:
I am so excited about Kirsty & Ian’s wedding! It was an absolute joy to photograph (just look at the amazing décor and flowers!). Everything was absolutely perfect at this wedding from the can-you-believe-how-gorgeous bride to the sumptuous buffet and decadent cake. I fell in love with Kirsty’s colour scheme and oppulent choice of decor pieces. When I saw her dress I was extra excited, she looked like she stepped right out a Jan Vermeer painting - bright blue eyes, fair skin and angelic blonde locks. I could go on and on about this wedding, but hopefully the pictures will tell the story…enjoy!
Décor & Flowers: Leipzig (ongelooflik Annegret!)
Make-up: Iza Cloete (she did an amazing job!)
Wedding cake: Wade’s cakes
Venue: Nooitgedacht
Kirsty’s good friend Annie Klintworth (signing the registry here) designed all her beautiful stationery:
Rita en Barend se troue was ‘n fees! Die twee wag al lank vir mekaar en dit was onder groot toejuiging wat die twee hul eerste soen voor die kansel gesoen het! Hul sprokiestroue was op Paasnaweek die Sondag by Neethlingshof. Die weer kon nie beter gewees het nie, so ook nie kos of gastelys nie! Rita het gestraal in haar rok van Myers en haar twee sussies was heeltyd langs haar, heeltyd vol grappies en baie liefde vir hul bruid-sussie. Barend en Rita kon letterlik nie hul oë van mekaar af hou nie, hulle het verseker ware liefde by mekaar gevind, baie geluk julle twee en mag daar nog vele dekades voor lê wat julle jul liefde vir mekaar kan koester!
Hair & Make-up: Joleta Keane
Bruid se bouquet: Nastassja Harvey
Joleta het ‘n amazing job gedoen met Rita se make-up (Sy het ook Jani s’n gedoen)
Die stralende bruid…
Oe, hierdie was nou ‘n lekker troue! Die hele dag was ‘n fees vir die oog - van die bruid (Elrika het behoorlik gestraal!), die blomme & dekor, reg deur tot die uitspattige lekkergoed tafel (enige kind en grootmens se droom!). Elrika, wat medies swot op Tygerberg,het vir maande lank elke detailtjie haarfyn beplan, en sy (en almal wat betrokke was) kan so trots wees op die eindresultaat. Die dag het soos ‘n sprokie ontvou en alles het plaasgevind op die beeldskone Molenvliet gronde omvou deur reuse berge en sagte groen wingerde. Elrika en haar funky, energieke gevolg het in die gastehuis reggemaak waar die opwinding hoog geloop het voordat hulle in styl gearriveer het by die bedouin tent waar John-bert met groot afwagting vir sy bruid gewag het. Aangesien die bruidspaar gebore en getoë in Namibië is, was daar ‘n hele trek van die noorde om hierdie opwindende dag met hulle te kon deel en reg deur die dag was dit duidelik dat almal hulle gate uit geniet het! Vir sommige van julle mag hierdie oulike paartjie dalk bekend lyk, ek het laasjaar hulle verlowingsfoto’s in Kaapstad geneem en dit was groot pret, hulle troue was selfs meer opwindend en ek is baie bly dat ek hierin kon deel. Hoop julle geniet die kiekies!
Service providers:
Venue: Molenvliet
Dress: Elizabeth Stockentröm
Hair: Lisa Louw Make-up: Jani: 083 461 2261
Stationery: Adam and Eve weddings
Flowers & Décor: Mint & Magnolia
Vidoegrapher: Crosstover (Chris)
Catering: Pink Salt
Monique and Jacey are the sweetest couple. They are truly meant to be together, they compliment each other so well. Jacey contacted me a few months ago from where he works in Dubai, I never got to meet him before their wedding day, what a pleasant guy! And Monique is equally pleasant, I was fortunate to meet her a few times before the wedding because I did their stationery as well. Their wedding took place at Beloftebos just outside Stanford (this time I had the opportunity to be behind the lens at the venue where Kappie and I got married on the 29th of Jan and what a pleasure it was!). We watched the weather sites with hawk’s eyes the week prior to the wedding and it was not looking too good, but luckily the only bit of rain that fell was at the very start of the ceremony for a few seconds and from there onwards the weather was perfect. I love photographing couples that are so obviously in love, Jacey and Monique can make each other laugh with just one glance! I loved the choice of flowers and also their cute cake! Andries and Coia from Beloftebos are excellent hosts and everyone agreed that the whole menu was top class (the spitbraai and salmon caviar tart were my absolute favourites!). The tent look magical with the full moon casting a soft light above it. Jacey and Monique, it was an absolute joy and pleasure working with you guys, thank you for having me as your photographer and stationer!
Venue: Beloftebos
Dress: Robin Roberts
Moontlik lyk Quinten vir jou bekend, hy is ‘n baie begaafde musikant en liriekeskrywer. Ek was bevoorreg om hom live te sien tydens ‘n troue wat ek laasjaar in Saldanha afgeneem het (Sumé & Riaan). Hy het ‘n opregte, spontane persoonlikheid en die man is verseker nie kamera sku nie! Hy staan ook verseker nie terug vir ‘n uitdaging nie. Hierdie hele shoot was ‘n uitdaging - ek bedoel om ‘n klavier te kry op die strand, jetty, parkeer garage en woud is nie kinderspeletjies nie. Gelukkig het hy ‘n span by hom gehad - twee sterk vriende om die klavier te dra (ek moet darem hier byvoeg dat die ‘binnegoed’ verwyder is anders sou 2 mense verseker te min gewees het) en sy oulike sussie wat haar uitstekend van haar taak gekwyt het om seker te maak elke haartjie is in sy plek. Ek was baie opgewonde toe Quinten my vooraf kom sien met al die idees wat hy het - die verskillende ‘locations’ het vir lekker variasie gesorg. Ek was veral mal oor die jetty foto’s.
(Spesiale dank ook aan Adél wat beman was met die reflector - die son het nog baie hoog gesit vir hierdie foto’s so ons moes ekstra lig na Quinten weerkaants)
Ek het hierdie inligting direk van Quinten se website af ge-copy, dit vertel meer oor hom as persoon en musikant:
The journey dates back to the early 1990’s. The first musical seed was planted.
Quinten Broid is an energetic South African born singer/songwriter. When you think of South Africa, you immediately think energy, rich, vibrant colours, friendly people, and that is exactly how you can describe Broid. He has a contagious passion for the creative process and for life in general. Broid was born in small-town Kathu, in the Kalahari region of South Africa. He had an upbringing filled with wildlife and the great outdoors and started exploring with music since the age of 8.
What started as a pocket money job, playing piano in a local restaurant, turned into his life calling.
Being a formally trained pianist, Quinten brings the piano and guitar to life through a strong passionate combination of well placed lyrics and clear cut vocals.
An enthusiastic Photographer and Traveler, Quinten has travelled to the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the Netherlands and stayed a year in Miami, USA, where he had the opportunity to share his music in the ocean city’s restaurants.
When the opportunity arrived in 2008 for Quinten to record at Streetlevel Studios in beautifully vibrant Cape Town, he immediately packed his bags and drove south to the coast. His ‘hands on’ approach in the creative process of his songs is reflected in several Broid penned and produced songs along musical contributions from Chris Tait and the Fazeka Childrens Choir. His first full length recording, Story of my life, show Broid’s remarkable ability as a vocalist, producer and songwriter.
Early in 2009 Quinten founded the WE NEED LOVE FUND. Quinten, with fellow musician friends, will donate a percentage of their earnings from performances into this fund. Funds will be used to buy musical instruments, such as accoustic guitars, and donate them to communities where needed. The musicians will assist with the training on the instruments.
” Music is such a strong medium and individuals benefitting from this project, has the power to make a difference in their community’s social situation.”
Ek love die ’surreal’ gevoel in hierdie jetty shot:
Die gedugte span:
Toe ek nou die dag sommer vir interesssantheid tel hoeveel troues ek al afgeneem het, ontdek ek dat Adél en Lombard se troue my 50ste een was! En wat ‘n hoogtepunt was dit nie! Ek en Adel het vroeg Saterdag oggend, 20 Maart, die lang weskus pad aangedurf na Lambertsbaai, ‘n plekkie waar ek nog nooit was nie. My ondervinding is dat die gasvryheid op hierdie klein dorpies uit die boonste rakke is. Die eienaars van Grootvlei het ons so vriendelik ontvang en ons het ook die aand tuis gegaan by die gasvrye Raston in die dorp self. Groot Vlei is die tipe venue waaroor ek bitter opgewonde raak - dit is langs die see, dit is onpretensieus, aards en ‘rustic’.
Adél booked me long ago and since then I was looking forward to their wedding, because I knew that careful planning would go into this special day. Adél is a natural beauty and she looked like a goddess in her Didi Couture dress. I took all her bridal portraits at the Grootvlei guesthouse because there was the most beautiful little court yard. Probably one of the highlights of the day was her dramatic arrival on horse back at the little stone chapel on the sand dune - much to the entertainment of their guests and her husband to be. The ceremony was anything but formal, instead it was light, unpretentious and filled with joyous laughter. André, a minister at Stellenbosch Gemeente, conducted the sermon and did an excellent job. Adél and Lombard’s first meeting in person was on Clifton beach in Cape Town and this reveals something about their personalities - they love the outdoors and in particular the sea. One of Lombard’s biggest passions, beside Adél of course, is kite surfiing and according to his friends, it is quite something to see him in action! Adél and Lombard are so relaxed and passionate about each other, so I had an awesome time shooting their couple photos. The light conditions could not have been better - at the beach the sky was bright blue and when we arrived at the flamingo pan, the sky was dark and dramatic with them being bathed in the last bit of gold light. It is not often that I have the privilege of taking photos with such awesome ‘emty’ backgrounds!
Dankie Adél en Lombard dat julle my 50ste troue so onvergeetlik gemaak het en ek hoop julle geniet hierdie voorskou van julle foto’s!
Dekor, blomme & Spyseniering: Enbur Events: Jorika (073 143 2603)
Venue: Grootvlei, Lambertsbaai
Rok: Didi Couture
Assistent: Dankie Adél (Venter), vir al jou wonderlike ondersteuning (en al die fun wat ons altyd het as ons so weggaan!)
Ek het ‘n heerlike fun shoot saam met Thelmé en Petrus gehad in die Somerset Wes natuurreservaat en in Stellenbosch. Ek is bevoorreg om later die jaar hul troue af te neem by Nooitgedacht. Thelmé en Petrus is so opreg, lewenslustig en liefdevol, dit was heerlik om saam met hulle te kon werk. Hulle het verloof geraak in die natuurreservaat en toe gedink dit sal gepas wees om ‘n paar foto’s daar te neem. Ek was mal oor die riete, smal padjies en welige plantegroei, mens voel sommer so rustig en ontspanne deur net daar rond te wandel! Ek was mal oor die kleur van Thelmé se rok, dit het so mooi gekontrasteer met die agtergrond en het haar pragtige oë beklemtoon.
Tjasa & Franz met in Amsterdam where they live now. Tjasa is from a tiny, tiny country in Europe called Slovenia and Franz is from Namibia. Probably no where on earth a Namibian and Slovenian have tied the knot before! Sally Haines from Weddings abroad referred them to me which I am so thankful for! The fact that they both landed up in Amsterdam must have been a sign, because these two are just absolutely created for each other - two gorgeous people with so much love and zest for life. Strandkombuis in Yzerfontein was the perfect choice to celebrate their union with friends and family who travelled from far away places, many of them visiting South Africa for the first time. Both Franz and Tjasa got dressed at the same guesthouse nestled between fynbos a few kilometers from the venue. I could not believe my luck when I arrived at Inglenook - the rustic interiour, the desautrated colours, the fynbos…and I was so excited when Tjasa & Franz decided to have some pics taken of them at the guesthouse before the ceremony. Tjasa looked like a dream in her cream dress and soft romantic make-up. Her bouquet, designed by Cindy from the b.co matched her dress so well! These two were a joy to photograph because they just have so much joy and energy to share with each other and the camera! There were many highlights at this wedding a few being the legendary Strandkombuis seafood buffet, the bridal couple’s extremely entertaining opening dance and the fact that everyone had a blast of a time in a rustic venue on the beach front at the West Coast - it doesn’t get better than that! Tjasa and Franz, I hope you enjoy these photos and may your new married life be extremely blessed!
Wedding coordinator: Sally Haines form Weddings Abroad
Venue: Strandkombuis
Guesthouse: Inglenook
Bride’s hair and make-up: Firzana G
Décor & Flowers: the b.co
Assistant for the day: My awesome husband, Kappie - dankie jy!
Can any setting be more beautiful?..
Tjasa and Franz did a very entertaining first dance - definitely a first at any wedding I have been to!
Just check those moves!
Hierdie was so ‘n fun shoot! Deon en Madeleine trou die 5de Junie vanjaar by Nooitgedacht en hulle wou sommer ‘n paar informele foto’s saam met Deon se twee oulike kinders, Nadia en Deon hê. Die twee is onderskeidelik in graad 11 en 9 en was so spontaan en oulik - pragtige kinders dié! Ek was gek oor die 4 se kleurskema - die helder rooi en blou het so goed gewerk teen die agtergrond van ou geboutjies in die historiese dorpstraat. Madeleine en Deon is ook ‘n stunning paartjie en so gemaklik bymekaar. Dankie julle, ek sien baie uit na die 5de!
Gina & Francois is al ‘n rukkie getroud, maar was lus vir ‘n paar fun foto’s in Kaapstad. Dit was soveel fun, hulle lag so maklik en was uitstekende modelle - ‘n baie aantreklik paartjie dié! Ek het so ‘n rukkie terug haar sussie, Ria, se gesinnetjie afgeneem en aangesien Gina van Knysna afgekom het om haar suster by te staan met die koms van hul nuwe baba dogtertjie, het Ria gedink ‘n fotosessie sal ‘n heerlike geskenk wees om dankie te sê. Ek is so bly ek kon hierdie fotos vir hierdie twee stunning mense neem! Ek ken vir Gina al baie lank. Ons het as kamermaats opgeland in ons eerstejaar in Lydia op Stellenbosch in 2002 - sy het die aller mooiste glimlag en was altyd so stylvol - niks het sedertdien verander nie! Vir Francois ken ek minder goed, maar hy is uiters gemaklik, energiek en baie snaaks! Dankie vir julle spontaniteit en energie, dit was super fun om saam met julle te kon werk!
Kyk, ek dink daar is min plekke so interessant en wat so baie teksture en opsies bied as Kaapstad. Daleen en Pieter trou 7 Augustus vanjaar in die Baai. Sy is die beste vriendin van ‘n koshuisvriendin van my, so ons ken mekaar al ‘n rukkie en daarom was ek vreeslik opgewonde toe sy my kontak vir foto’s. Ek was opgewonde vir ‘n paar redes, maar twee daarvan is dat Daleen verseker moeite sou doen met haar voorkoms (sy lyk vir my soos ‘n porselein poppie met haar sagte vel en beeldskone turqoise/blou oë) en dat sy ‘n beeldskone mens van binne en buite is. Pieter is verseker haar ander helfde, die twee deel ‘n teer sagtheid vir mekaar en kan lekker saam lag maar ook ernstig wees (soos op van die foto’s, hulle het so lekker ge-’pose’!). Die agtergrond van uitgewasde kleure en interessante ou geboue het die perfekte agtergrond gemaak vir hul persoonlikhede en ‘look’. Dankie julle vir ‘n baie fun shoot!
Adél het hierdie foto geneem, ek loooove dit, dit lyk soos ‘n skildery! Well done Dél!
Daleen het ongelooflike mooi oë!
Ek is mal oor die ou hooggeregshof se argitektuur
Ek weet nie eers waar om te begin nie…hierdie was een van my lekkerste troues nóg! Vrydag 5 Maart het ek en Kappie PE toe gevlieg en toe ontmoet ek sommer vir Lara & Hendré die aand vir die eerste keer daar op die lughawe. Ek het dadelik geweet dat hierdie troue asemrowend en baie opwindend gaan wees. Die Saterdag was dit toe ons en die GPS (wat ‘n wonderlike uitvindsel!)…aangesien ek P.E van geen kant af ken nie! Eers het ons gestop by La Colline om die dekor af te neem - ek was gek oor die vintage kombinasie van roomkleurige en sagte pers rose, kant, kristalle en die wit sjokolade koek (mmm..). Ek was uit my nate toe ek aankom by die gastehuis waar Lara reggemaak het! Dit was die een visuele fees op die volgende…die lig was perfek vir foto’s - sag en romanties en Lara se rromantiese, eenskouer rok het soos n handskoen gepas aan die fyn meisietjie met die helder blou oë en sagte blonde hare. Marietjie Hurter (Lara se ma se tweeling sussie) het soos gewoonlik getoor met haar grimeer kwassies. Die gastehuis het die perfekte palet gebied vir Lara se kleurskema en vintage tema. Die volgende stop was die klip katedraaltjie in Sentraal PE - ek is mal oor ‘n ou klip kerkie soos hierdie, dit het net dadelik soveel karakter! Lara het ook in styl gearriveer in ‘n ou kar wat later briljant gewerk het teen die helder kleurige huisies (wat so baie herinner aan een van my gunstelinge plekke in die Kaap - die Bo Kaap). Daar is darem min dinge so treffend in ‘n foto as vrolike kleure saam met ‘n vrolike, treffende paartjie. Lara en Hendré is sulke gemaklike, spontane mense en hulle het die fotosessie so baie geniet dat ek nie wou ophou fotos neem nie! Ek het later vir Kappie gesê dat dit nie eers vir een oomblik uitputtend was nie omdat hulle so baie van hulle eie energie in die foto’s gesit het - ‘n resep wat nie kan misluk nie! Ons het die helder mure van Sentraal PE (die plek leef en beef van ou huisies, interessante winkeltjies, teksture en ongelooflike argitektuur - ek is so bly ek kon dit eerstehands beleef!) toe verruil vir die agtergrond van sagte grys lug, roomkleurige duine en grys-blou water by Sardinia Baai. Van hier af was dit toe terug La Colline toe vir ‘n onvergeetlike aand van smul-lekker kos, heerlike musiek en die samesyn van familie en vriende. Lara en Hendré, dit was ‘n absolute fees om deel te kon wees van julle troue, dankie ook vir julle gasvryheid ons het so welkom gevoel! Hoop julle geniet die kiekies!
Venue: La Colline
Bruid se rok: Elizabeth Stockenström
Make-up: Marietjie Hurter
Lara kan so lekker lag!
Haar rok was ongelooflik netjies gemaak met die aller mooiste detail:
Hendré het oorgeloop van vreugde toe hy Lara sien..
Some of you might remember Sandra and David from the couple shoot I did end of last year. I was so excited to see what these 2 gorgeous people of Portuguese origin’s wedding would be like and what a feast for the eye it was! Sandra, being a natural beauty, was radiant in her gorgeous Kobus Dippenaar gown and Sebastine Peplar worked her magic doing Sandra’s hair and make-up. I also loved the combination of David’s suit, shoes and hairstyle. The day was a whirlwind of exciting activity. Nastassja (my wonderful assistant for the day, thanks Tash!) and I started the day at the Eden on the Bay complex on the Big Bay beach front in Blouberg where Sandra lives and also got dressed for her big day. After taking some lovely candid shots in this beautiful light filled apartment, we set off to their church in Table View. Sandra & David really enjoyed their ceremony, they could not stop looking at each other and their eyes were filled with joy and laughter. Our next stop was de Grendal farm in Milnerton. Being an avid lover of animals, I am quite jealous of Sandra who makes use of horses in her professional capacity as a child-horse-interaction psychologist at de Grendal. She wanted pictures of her and the beautiful white creature (featured on some of these photo’s) on her wedding day. There after we travelled to Nelson’s Creek, just outside Wellington, where guests were entertained by Jamie Faull’s sax playing talent and mouth watering canapés. We were lucky enough to catch the last bit of light for some more couple photo’s at the venue. Although David apparently dislikes talking in front of a crowd (and lets face it, there are not many of us who don’t get nervous at the thought of talking to a sea of faces!) the guests were highly entertained by his speech and witty humour. At one stage David himself could not stop laughing! Sandra and David really put in a lot of effort in creating the perfect day of their dreams. Every little detail was considered, from the vibrant choice of flowers to the blowing of bubbles during the opening of the dance floor. Sandy & David, thank you so, so much for having me as your photographer, it was such a treat to work with you guys. You are such beautiful, kind hearted and fun people!
Dress: Kobus Dippenaar
Hair & Makeup: Sebastine Pepler
Decor & Flowers: To-Netts
Videographer: Olive juice productions
Wedding coordination: Pia Dewar
Stationery: Project Flair
Sax player: Jamie Faull (this guy was excellent!)
(For photographers: The church was very dark for taking photos, the only light I used was my on camera flash on manual overexposed at two thirds of a stop and using my ‘good friend’ the Gary Fong diffuser. I made use of the 5D mark 2’s awesome iso capabillities and took all the shots at 2500 iso. I used my 24-70mm f2.8 lens. Then, afterwards in Lightroom, I played around with colour correction which really elevated the end result. I will never set up a second light in a church as I find it to be quite distracting, but this is just my personal opinion!)
Isn’t she gorgeous!?
I love the colours here:
Hierdie was so ‘n fun shoot! Nanette en haar man JG het die pragtigste klein dogtertjie, Nina. Sy was regtig ‘n ‘treat’. Dit is ongelooflik hoe so ‘n klein mensie alreeds ‘n persoonlikheid van haar eie het! Nanette het baie moeite gedoen met die voorbereiding vir die fotosessie, sy het onder andere helium balonne gaan koop en ‘n paar oulike outfits vir haar en klein Nina gereed gehad vir variasie. Sy het ook haar 2 sussies betrek, aangesien hulle so ‘n groot rol in Nina se lewe speel. Ons het eers by hulle oulike huisie in Welgevonden foto’s geneem en toe by La Pinetta (langs die R44) in die laat middag son. Nina is reeds ‘n klein waaghals, sy was uit haar nate toe haar pa haar hoooog in die lug gooi en het ook ‘n hoë glyplank aangedurf. Dankie julle, dit was so maklik en lekker om foto’s van so ‘n spontane klompie te kon neem!
Kyk die oulike swart bootsies!
Kyk net daai gesiggie!
Klein Jack is ook betrek by die foto’s
Nina was baie cool in haar rooi bril
Die laat middag lig was beautiful by La Pinetta
Nina is glad nie bang nie!
