On the night of Janlyn and Grant’s wedding, the moon was closer to the earth than normal causing it to appear 14 % bigger!!! Legend has it that a super moon can cause women to go in labor and that it could also turn one into a wearwolf! Well there were no new babies born at Zulu Nyala Game Reserve that night and I definitely didn’t see any wearwolves. What I did see was a huge gathering of friends and family eating, drinking, chatting and dancing under the bushveld starry skies. The bride and groom looked quite enchanting on their large white thrones and partied the night away to celebrate their union.

There is something quite magical about the Bush at night and something even more magical about a Bush wedding on supermoon!

Janlyn and Grant thanks for picking me. We loved being in the Bush with you!

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It’s not everyday that one gets to hang out in the Presidential Suite at the Oyster Box Hotel! Claire spent her wedding morning being pampered and prepped by the wonderful Drew and Charelle in this very suite. I had always wanted to know what the fuss was about, and it was certainly a treat to shoot in such plush surroundings. The fact that Claire, Dale and their families all look as if they have just stepped off a film set also added to the general feeling of lavishness! There were moments where I felt as if I was in the middle of a movie!

The boys all scrubbed up well for the black tie affair while Claire just radiated in her in her San Patrick gown. Most brides carry flowers on their wedding day but Claire wanted something a bit different, so her Mom sent a parcel of family trikets and heirlooms to Debbie Carlisle Bouquets in the UK. What came back is really more of a sentimental art piece than a bouquet, and this is what Claire carried down aisle.

It was a pleasure shooting this wedding, thanks guys for picking me … damn you are going to make hot babies!!!

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Natalie is a true romantic with the spirit of a dreamer. Both her and Mat have been blessed with the creative gene and so their wedding was sprinkled with imaginative details. Fanciful creatures and horse drawn carriages bedecked the tables whilst the ceiling was adorned with a canopy of coloured umbrellas. They got married at their family church and went on to celebrate their nuptials at Zimbali. I couldn’t help but realise that their story runs deep, and even through their wedding marked a new chapter ……… this is a true tale of two old soul mates who were already bonded many moons ago.

Thanks guys for picking me …. its been wonderful to work with such creative clever people!

If you haven’t already seen their Story Book Nutcracker engagement shoot click here

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Stu and I moved into a new place in February this year. We went from the little Umdloti cottage shared with my sister Lisa, her husband Tyrone and the two main coons Ruby and Darwin, to complex living. This scared the hell out of me at first. I was horrified about going from old wooden floors to white tiles and electric fences but I can honestly say after some home TLC I am loving living where we are now.

My tastes in decor are rather polar opposite  from Stu’s to put it mildly. I am convinced that if I let  Stu have his way we would be living in an apartment with white walls, black leather couches, a beer fridge, a braai, a flat screen and a fishtank! I on the other hand could think of nothing better than living in an old Jaipur palace!!!! In order to create a space which we both feel happy and at home in, I have kept things quite simple. (well simple for me anyway) My main emphasis has been to make tranquil bedroom space and a home with soul that displays all of our travel trinkets. We still have loads more to do but here are a few pics for now.

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Hayley or rather Doctor Hayley is one heck of an inspiring women! Anyone who has completed a Doctorate and run the comrades gets a serious bow from me! Did I mention that she also planned her whole wedding whilst doing her Doctorate? Yes Endurance could be used as her middle name but there must be a bit of madness thrown in there too! Only kidding! Besides all of that, Hayley is sweet as pie, she has such a lovely gentle nature and the prettiest eyes (which she definitely gets from her Mom). I can see why Mitchell is so smitten with her!

The two of them make a wonderful, laid back, friendly couple and it truly was a pleasure photographing their big day at Calderwood Hall in the Midlands. Thanks guys for picking me!!!

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The week before my 35^th birthday I picked up the book Annie Leibovitz at work and a wave of “Oh my word I am 35 years old and just haven’t achieved enough washed over me”. I am hugely inspired by Annie’s work particularly her early portraits. She has a way of capturing personality rather than just taking a photograph of a person. Her portrait work blows me away.

I began to beat myself up a bit. I looked at all her amazing pictures and suddenly became racked with self-doubt.  I was comparing myself to her!

I recently wrote a Facebook status update saying that I would be taking on an intern in July (which I will elaborate on further in another post) And I got an email that said:

“I would love more than anything to work for you. If I could be anywhere near as good as you I would be happy. In fact looking at your blog makes me sad as I feel like my work is so nowhere. Please pick me.”

It was then that I realized how silly I was being. Just as ‘anonymous’ was comparing herself to little ol me, so I was comparing myself to Annie.

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Sometimes bad things happen to good people, that is just life. What is important is the way that we overcome obstacles and move forward. So many things went wrong before Kat and Garrick’s big day. Kat got an awful flu and was women down and bed ridden on the days leading up to their nuptials. Her photographer (that’s me) caught this flu and was feeling pretty deathly on the wedding day. Her GORGEOUS Vera Wang gown tore on the morning of the wedding whilst she was running to give her Gran a kiss. This meant that they had to call in a friend to help sew and sort out which meant she was rather (ie 2 hours) late for the ceremony.

This amazing twosome could have got in a tizz and turned ugly but both of them took it in their stride and accepted that “it is what it is”. After the “big rip” when everyone was fussing, stressing and all emotional over the dress Kat burst into song. Her beautiful powerful voice replaced all the bad energy with huge smiles and the next thing we knew the ring was on her finger and everyone was dancing joyfully under the twinkling fairy lights.

The way that Kat and Garrick are together is wonderful. I believe that if they handle life with as much grace as they handled their wedding day … they will be a super strong couple. (they already are!)

Oh .. . they got married at The Plantation in Port Elizabeth and besides all the silly drama it was wonderful. Click here to see their engagement shoot

Kat and Garrick thanks for picking me – I have absolutely loved working with you and getting to know you. You are special souls!!!

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