Best of Netherwood Weddings

Best of Netherwood Weddings

You will find Netherwood wedding venue in the Natal midlands on the way to Nottingham road, which is just a couple of hours away from Durban in South Africa. It’s an changing farm which is painted by the seasons every few months, vermillion green in the summer, and brown, amber and crispy in the winter. Netherwood is a working farm with a herd of Nguni cattle and a few other interesting animals like Zebras and Alpaca’s, but it also homes one of the loveliest places to say I do in KZN! Every time I go there I find something that I haven’t seen before, a new angle or an orchard of spring blossoms and a field of maize. Beautiful, open places inspire me and so I find Netherwood to be a very inspiring place!

So far as wedding venues go, the reception venue is a very clever design with the bar right in the middle of the dance floor and this makes for cracker parties! It’s a neutral space, which means it‘s  a blank canvas for you to decorate. It also has cottages and a huge big farmhouse with loads of bedrooms in it, so it’s a great venue for a weekend wedding. The chapel looks over the valley and on a clear day you can see the mountains way off in the distance.

I’ve shot so many weddings at Netherwood and every single one of them has been special. From the rainy, muddy and misty, to the bone chilling icy cold, to the mild and temperate they have all been an experience to remember. I’ve seen some crazy moves on that dance floor and so many tears and happy smiles at the chapel. My main reason for loving my Netherwood wedding memories however, is because I have just loved all the couples I have photographed there!

Oh and the blueberry café on the property definitely worth a visit!

Here’s some of my Best of Netherwood wedding pics!

 

Click here for Netherwoods contact details https://www.netherwoodfarm.com/contact/

 

If you are looking for top notch wedding planing and decor suppliers from the midlands try

Adore wedding and Events

Natural Nostalgia

The Wedding Co

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An ode to Lizzy – 4 years of Liz + Jax

An ode to Lizzy – 4 years of Liz + Jax

I recently shot a wonderful 5-day Hindu wedding and when I got to the end of it I felt an immense sadness. This most definitely had to do with the fact that I push myself beyond what is normal when I shoot any wedding and had a bad case of adrenal burn out which is something I suffer from, but it also had to do with the realisation that it was the last wedding where my assistant Elizabeth would be working with me on a typical wedding shoot.

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The assistant photographer relationship is a close one! I have probably spent more time with Liz than I have with my boyfriend. She knows everything about me and the girl still likes me!!!! That has to count for a lot!

Lizzy worked for me for over four years and she is without a doubt one of the most loyal, reliable, dedicated and emotionally intelligent beings I know! I don’t’ know anyone that can “can do” like Liz. This girl is not one to be upset by challenges, nope Lizzle thrives off them. She can whip a crazy, 13 strong bridal party into shape in two seconds flat and will think nothing of carrying a 3-meter ladder up a hill to get the shot. Liz has held an umbrella for me in the rain and snow and has also got sun burnt to a crisp in 40-degree heat whilst shooting. Liz has the loudest voice, which you can hear her 5 doors down when she gets going but this is only matched by her heart. She has been my support, voice, helper, friend and educator on how to decipher the latest cool youth lingo.

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It wasn’t’ always like this though. She drove me batty in the first year and I am sure she was ready to quit on many occasion because she found me to be ghastly but we learnt to know each other and with that has come a deep love and understanding.

In the last four years Liz and I have been to Mauritius, Sweden and Namibia together. We have, travelled in boats, bakkies, taxis, golf carts, game 4×4’s and aeroplanes together. I was there when Liz saw her first Lion in the wild and ate her first artichoke! We have stayed in six star hotels and absolute dives. She has hated me with her eyes when I have said “ Just a few more dancing shots” after working for 15 hours but never said a thing when I have given her death eye when it really wasn’t her fault that the lighting wasn’t working. We have photographed weddings on beaches, game parks, farms, mountains, hotels, wine estates, tiny villages, big cities, islands and in the middle of effing nowhere. Lizzy knows what I like to eat and when I get my period! She was there when I met Riaan, she knows my family and has helped me move three times, she held fort when I went to Bali to eat, pray, love for 2 and a half months, she was there when I said I had found a house I might like to buy, she was there when I started and finished refurbing the Mouse House and she was there when I said I am going to finally start doing those workshops I have been talking about  ……..

And let’s just call a spade a spade here ….. Lizzy literally helped me turn 40.

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I have seen this wonderful soul grow from a 21 year old girl who was a bit like a bull in a china shop into a woman with a formidable force that I know will take her to places that I can only imagine. Of course her lighting, Photoshop, business, social and camera skills have all improved but the huge growth that I have seen in Lizzy goes way beyond ISO’s and apertures!
Liz is a special one and whilst I am super sad to see her go, I know for sure that she is going to do amazing things with her life. It’s like a happy break up. I am miserable but I am also aware that I can’t be selfish and keep this one forever. She needs to fly now.

I love you my Lizzy. You are special! Never ever forget that!

Top-South-African-Creative-Family-Portrait-Photographer-Jacki-Bruniquel

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Best of Afrika Burn 2014-2017

Best of Afrika Burn 2014-2017

This time last year I was frantically trying to finish up work in between burning myself with a glue gun in an effort to make flower crowns and party clothes! Yip its that time just before Afrika Burn again, except this year we aren’t going! In case you don’t know what Afrika Burn is, it is an arts and music festival that happens once a year in the Tankwa National Park in the Karoo. We did four years in a row and decided to take a break this year but now that the time is nearing there is a tinge of FOMO setting in. I will miss dancing in the desert, donning sequence in the dust and flitting around on my bike while bedecked with a mermaid crown. There is a surprise around every corner at Afrika Burn and so many interesting people to meet. It is a place for artists, dreamers, dancers and givers; a giant playground for adults and a treat for the eyes. Afrika Burn is well and truly a photographers paradise and a delight for the inner child! Just have a look through these photos and you will see a land unlike any other! Here’s my Best of Afrika Burn pics 2014-2017.

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Spirit Fest Yoga and Dance Festival

Spirit Fest Yoga and Dance Festival

Spirit Fest is a yoga, dance and music festival that happens once a year in the Cape in South Africa. It’s a festival that encourages the inner child to play, the self to align with spirit and the body to move. For four days you can totally immerse yourself in just about every type of yoga that i can think of, but there are also dance classes, sound journeys, meditation classes, relaxation sessions and informative lectures. The kids are well taken care of with classes designed especially for them and if they aren’t into yoga there is a dam to swim in!

This year Spirit Fest took place on a farm just outside of Swellendam nestled in between the mountains and next to a beautiful river with a number of waterfalls just a short walk away. Switching the phone off and getting immersed in nature is always an elixir for me but when you throw in yoga, music and dancing the result is just bliss!

I didn’t shoot that much this year as I really needed the break and I only took my little Fuji XT2 with me but with these snap shots you will get an idea of what it is like!! Spirit Fest 2019 will be happening between the 14th and 18th March and you can find out more if you like their Facebook page here

 

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Unstuck Yourself Creative Photography workshop in Durban

Unstuck Yourself Creative Photography workshop in Durban

If you are a photographer who has been itching to attend my Unstuck Yourself workshop but haven’t been able to get in I’ve got good news for you I am coming to Jozi in June! Yip here are the dates.

UNSTUCK YOURSELF ONE DAY CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
13 JUNE 2018  IN JOHANNESBURG

OPTIONAL EXTRA DAY OF PRACTICAL SHOOTING DESIGNED FOR THOSE THAT NEED A BIT MORE HANDS ON FUN
14 JUNE 2018 JOHANNESBURG

If you would like to attend or be put onto a waiting list drop me a mail on jacki@jackibruniquel.com

YAAAY!

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Today I will also tell you about the workshops that happened here in Durban at my home this summer. We had 17 wonderful souls attend on two separate days. Some had been in business for years, some had just started out, some had flown in especially for the workshop and some lived down the road. We had people from Nambia, Zambia, the UK and Salt Rock. One thing they all had in common is that they found themselves nodding to the following questions and they came to the workshop for a creative reboot.

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If you find yourself relating to what I am about to ask you then this workshop is designed especially for you too!

Are you

  • feeling like you are stuck in a rut when it comes to your photography?
  • struggling with the immensity of maintaining creativity whilst running your own business?
  • terrified of putting your prices up, meaning that you are taking on so much work that you don’t have a moment for yourself or your family?
  •  fearful of shooting in tricky lighting situations and messy rooms?
  • feeling burnt out and uninspired?

Do you

  • feel afraid to push your own boundaries and try new things?
  •  find yourself blindly following trends for the sake of it?
  • find that your flash gives you anxiety? 
  • feel like your work sucks and that this is causing you to feel inadequate?

My aim with this workshop is to help you move past any fear based mindsets you have surrounding your work and give you confidence to turn tricky situations into creative possibilities. I want to help you speak with your own visual language and create images that you are proud of so that you can put your prices up and have more balance in your life! I want to inspire you to have fun with photography – just like when you first started out. Your camera can’t kill you so why then all the anxiety? The aim of this workshop is to move you out of a place of stuckness and into a place of self expression and confidence!  This is not a workshop where you will be shooting pretty models or learning how to be someone else!

I know what it is like to feel totally burnt out and uninspired but with my Fine Art background, introspection and lots of reading I manage to push through the dark patches! I want to help you to do the same! So far I have done workshops in Jozi, Cape Town and Durban and I love seeing my past attendees thriving.

Here’s what Angie had to say about her experience

  I thoroughly enjoyed the Unstuck Yourself Workshop with Jacki! Jax shares an abundance of knowledge that’s been poured from her heart. Not only did I leave with practical tips and tricks for dealing with difficult shooting environments, but found what makes my soul sing and why I love shooting. The workshop has given me the confidence to experiment and play with my flash, as opposed to being afraid of it! The Unstuck Yourself Workshop has given me a fresh perspective to creative shooting and I can’t wait to play again! 

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 (This photo of Ang was taken by me on the day by the way. She was warned to bring an extra set of clothes – also we have no drought here in Durbs at the mo!)

But back onto the Durban workshop. As mentioned I held this workshop at my home in Ballito as I wanted to teach in a casual, creative space where folk can kick their shoes off and feel like they are at home.

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I should back track though and mention that our work together actually starts 4 weeks before the Unstuck Yourself workshop even happens when attendees are given weekly exercises designed to kickstart the creative process.  These are the beginning of our journey together and ensure that everyone enters the right mindset before the big day even starts.

When the big day for the Durban workshop eventually came around we started off with lectures in the lounge where I told my story and shared advice on everything from finding your own language to the importance of educating your clients.

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When the sun was high in the sky we went outside to work with lighting techniques to get rid of what I call “racoon eye”. I don’t use professional models for demonstrations – Nope I take pics of everyone who attends! This isn’t that kind of workshop!

As you can see Milo is a gorgeous girl that’s for sure but no one looks great under the unflattering noon sun. Here’s a before and after problem solving lighting technique pic that doesn’t involve expensive strobes.

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And here’s what Milo had to say about the workshop

Your workshop was amazing, Jax. I left feeling like I had new life breathed into me, not only in my photography journey but in my personal life too, and with a greater knowledge of who I am as a photographer, what I want to photograph and with the tools to create truly amazing ‘out of the box’ photos.

Here’s another example this time with the gorgeous Des.

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Here’s what Des had to say about her experience

 I needed a workshop that gave me a reason to shoot as I was in a slump. I needed something that would give me a creative reboot. The workshop gave me some perspective. It was kind of the light at the end of my dark tunnel. I know I need to work seriously hard but I feel like I have a reason to now.

After our first practical shooting session we hit the lunch table which was beautifully decorated by the uber talented Carolyn from Adore Weddings and Events. Thanks Ca you are a ray of sunshine in my life!!!

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The food which was made by Carissa from Bleu Berri Catering was delicious, nurturing and vegetarian! I wish she could cook for me every single day!!!

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Huge thanks also to Kendal from the House of Hudson for providing the tables and chairs. My balcony feels very bare without them now and I miss them – A lot of learning and sharing happened over that lunch table!

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After lunch we went into more lectures which cover everything from how to unboring your pics to how to deal with creative anxiety. We also had time for questions of which there were many!!!

The afternoon/evening involves practical shooting time where I show attendees various techniques to problem solve tricky shooting and lighting situations.

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Here’s a few examples of shots I took of attendees and a few words about their experience

Talitha Ullrich

I took this photo to teach people not to be scared of of a bit of rain!

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I had a very special day at the Unstuck Yourself Workshop and I personally feel that this workshop goes beyond photography

 Jacki’s humbleness and kindness was so prevalant throughout the day and her ability to share and teach others is a special gift and something not many share

Lisa Woest

Shot in a boring white room in tricky light to show you that you don’t need to shoot in fancy venus to create something interesting

 Everything about the workshop was beneficial and the cost was worth it 🙂 A great investment to my own business. 

Leah Van Zyl

 Shot in a boring white room to take the fear out of boring

 I loved every second of your lovely workshop, I feel so inspired, thank you. 

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Elizabeth Donnell (also my long term assistant who has just gone out on her own)

Image taken in a boring white room to demonstrate the idea of using flash to make shadows.

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Jacki is a brilliant teacher, not only due to her wealth of experience but her humble, honest nature allows her to completely open up about her flaws, failings and mistakes in a way that many others egos wouldn’t allow. She has taught me to take mistakes as lessons, unforeseen chaos as opportunities and ways to navigate through the photography world, clients and life. I have learnt that photography can be a business but most importantly it is a way of playfully capture the best moments of life that will tangibly represent our fondest memories.

I have been incredibly privileged to have such a remarkable human open up to me and teach me everything she knows without reservation and I have grown in ways I never dreamed I could under her watchful eye and persistent nudging.

Kim McDonald

 Shot in the mid day sun with flash to show you how easy flash can be when explained simply!

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 This workshop is really helpful with creativity. Seeing what you created in those situations was amazing.

 I loved the homework and the fact that you showed us practical tips. I don’t have a lot of gear so I loved when you were using unconventional things to create your shots. 

Bailee Guy

Shot to show attendees how handy a constant light source can be when in a rushed situation. The light bulbs were just added for a bit of fun!

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Loved everything minute of the workshop 
My brain is still trying to process and absorb all the invaluable informational you gave us – I am seriously amped for my next wedding in a couple of weeks time

Chantel Oosterberg

Having some fun here with constant light sources

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I was feeling pretty burnt out before the workshop so it was important to be reminded that you need to take time out for yourself to get those creative juices flowing constantly.

Weddings are not always completely pretty and perfect so I loved the fact that Jacki taught us how to problem solve difficult shooting situations by using little tricks that she demonstrated to us.

I am feeling inspired after the workshop and can’t wait to start applying some of the things to my work.

Derryn Semple

 Shot at night when all the light is finished and many photographers are freaking out

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 “Jacki’s workshop was like a big hug and a kick up the arse at the same time. Her barefooted, casual approach allowed us to feel completely at ease in the cozy setting of her home while she delivered some hard truths. I left feeling inspired to experiment more with the lighting equipment which was getting dusty in my cupboard, and prepared to put in the time to improve my skills. Hearing the journey Jacki has been on to get to this point and understanding that her struggles as a creative are just the same as mine, and the same as everyones, made me feel inspired and motivated. Jacki shared her knowledge openly and freely, and has equipped me with the tools and the confidence to take my business to the next level. Thank you Jacki – the hug was nice but the kick up the butt was necessary.”

 We end the evening off with more sharing and cheese and wine around the table and the great news is that if you attend my workshop you get to join my private facebook group which means that we continue to support each other along our journies.

If you would like to attend the next Jozi workshop here are the details

When: 13 June 2018

What: Full Day Unstuck Yourself workshop plus 4 weeks of homework which will be completed before the day to get you into the right mindset.

Where: Johannesburg Natural Park Lights Studio

Cost: R5000 for the One day Unstuck Yourself Workshop 13th

Times 10am – +- 8.30/ 9pm

NEWS FLASH I AM ALSO OFFERING AN ADDITIONAL DAY FOR THOSE ATTENDEES WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEND MORE PRACTICAL TIME WITH ME WORKING WITH FLASH AND SHOOTING TRICKY LIGHTING SITUATIONS.

When 14 June 2018

Where: To be confirmed

What: The group will be divided up and given challenges to overcome using lighting and problem solving techniques taught the day before. You will be photographing each other as opposed to models. We will be on hand to help and guide you throughout the day.

Times : 2pm – 7pm

Cost : R3850

If you would like to attend the Jozi workshop or be put on a waitlist drop me a mail on jacki@jackibruniquel.com

Classes are limited to 12 people and sell out fast so don’t delay if you would like to book.

PS Thanks to Lizzy and Charne for the pics xx

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