Libo & Cocie's Wedding | 1 December 2012

A few weeks back I done a engagement studio photoshoot with Libo and Cocie, it was part of the package they had chosen for their wedding photography. It helps the couple get a bit more comfortable infront of my camera and allows us a bit of time to chat on what they expect from me and vice versa.

Cocie is a stylish, sophisticated young lady and Libo, a dashing young man. They have the cutest little son who at the engagement photoshoot wasn't very impressed with me until he was completely comfortable and then he just became the boss.

Libo and Cocie's wedding took place in Butterworth, a small town between Mthatha and East London. Upon our arrival in Butterworth we were escorted to Cocie's home, a village just outside Butterworh where I covered her bride dressing session. The ceremony was held in Butterworth and the reception at the Butterword Dam, a stunning "pitch a tent" venue.

What I can definitely say about this wedding is that there are couples where you can see the love from the moment you meet them and this was definitely one of those couples. I will always have a soft spot for my Diva bride Cocie and her sweet husband Libo. May you have many happy years together and I hope you see you back in my studio sometime soon :)

  

 

Introducing my glamorous bride - Cocie

 

 

Husband and Wife - Mr and Mrs Mjiwu

 

  

The lovely bride having her time to show off her ring and her exquisite dress

One of my favourite wedding cakes

Sandisiwe's 21st Celebration | 21 December 2012

Sandie turns 21!

 

Below are a few pictures from Sandie's 21st Birthday Party in Mthatha

 

 

 

Programmes                                              Décor

Welcoming drinks

Sandie during speeches

...and she gets her 21st Birthday key

Friends having some fun

 

21 never looked better...                                  Sandie and her dad

Mhlaba Wedding | 30 November 2012

Over a year ago I met Lulamile Dlwati at a Corporate function at Dans Country Lodge, he had done the décor for the event. Lulu called me up to let me know about the Mhlaba "wedding" and asked if I would be available to capture the couples special day, their 10 year anniversary. I was obviously delighted even though it meant being at Mpekweni River Side Resort on the 30th November at 11am and be in Butterworth the next day at 9am for another wedding.

So off I went with Shadae (a friend who travels with me when I do out of town functions, my "assistant"), we knew it would be tiring but we also knew that we would have loads of fun along the way. We arrived at Mpekweni and met with Lulu, the bride and her gorgeous little girls. Siya (the bride) was relaxed, infact she was actually done and ready an hour before her wedding started, she even got to take a little nap in her wedding dress before walking down the aisle.

This is definitely a couple worth remember for their playfulness even after 3 toddlers and being together for over 10 years. They make the most of every situation and just enjoy life to the full.

  

The bides dress                                          The couples cute little girls

The couples rings on the brides bouquet

 

The bride, enjoying her dressing session                               The wedding cake                 

The happy family

 

And this is what I mean by their playfulness, they were literally a dream couple to photograph

 

For more info on Lulu's services please visit https://www.facebook.com/Luludevents?fref=ts

Siyavuya's Graduation | 8 December 2012

I was quite suprised when I received a SMS from Advocate Madlanga requesting my services for his daughters graduation, Siyavuya, who has been one of my friends since High School. I had covered a BAR function where Adv. Madlanga saw me taking photographs and I suppose he was impressed with my work.

So after 2 weddings over one weekend I had 4 days to recover and I was off to East London Airport to board my flight to OR Tambo International (JHB).

Siyavuya's graduation celebration was held in Centurion where everything was prepared for her celebration.

Below are a few pictures of her special day.

 

Siyavuya's entrance

Table Décor

I caught a smile during speeches were being made

Group photo with friends, family and siblings

Mario & Kim - Engagement Photoshoot | 11 December 2012

My fun couple... these two are just a match made in heaven! They are just full of energy and are like teenagers madly inlove. I schooled with Kim many years ago (15 years back) and I was in the same class as Almerie (I done a blog post on her too earlier this year). I was honoured when Mario called me up and asked me if I could cover their wedding on the 15th December, they chose one of my packages where I throw in a free "Engagement Photoshoot" Its basically capture a few pictures of the couple before they get married - outdoor or in studio.

Below are a few pictures of the fun time I had with Mario and Kim... Wedding pictures to follow soon ;)

Showing off her ring

The happy, cool and fun family - Mario, Kim and Blake

 

 

My idea... Mario on one knee                          Mario's idea... Kim on one knee

Apparently its ball and chain from here onwards lol

Checking out their bright future together ;)

Mario... Kim and Blakes idea... see loads of fun!

 

I'll be covering their wedding tomorrow and I'll hopefully have a blog post up soon of their wedding... I'm sure it will be just as much fun

Mondi Wedding | 29 September 2012

I woke up 7am ready to travel to Ngcobo to cover the Mondi wedding. I've known the Mondi family for over 20 years and I was more than delighted to cover Lethu and Busi's wedding.

The bride dressing session was held at Busi's family home a small village about 15 kilometres out of Ngcobo. Upon my arrival I was given a warm welcome by my dashing bride wearing a gown (sorry for exposing you Busi lol). Busi is one of my brides who I hadn't met before her big day because unfortunately she lives and works in Cape Town which made it hard for us to meet. I am humbled though that the bridal couple was confident enough to hire me to cover their wedding from just telephonic and email basis.

 

Once the bride was dress, off we went into Ngcobo town to have the nuptial ceremony at one of the churches where the groom (below) was awaiting his bride

 

We then had some fun in the garden where they chose to take their pictures (below)

 

Then it was off to the reception where we were graced with a full moon over the valley

Crazy adventures of A&H

A - Ayesha ; H - Hamida

My sister and I have always been up for a bit of fun and that adrenaline rush that when you walk away from doing something crazy you sit back and think "flip! did I just jump off that cliff" or "I'm alive! Dude... we alive!". Theres some sort of method to our insanity... or so we wish to believe.


The really (weirdly) cool thing is that we don't really put much thought into what we "plan" next, somehow the rush of jumping in the car and just driving to jump of a cliff or catch the next plane and see what the rest of Africa has to offer.

Its those little spontaneous moments that we enjoy most!

We live for the next high in life, taking a breather from our everyday life and just letting go - letting a rope determine how far down we going to fall or slide and even leaving our lives in a lions paws. Please do take note at this point that everything does have to be "okay-ed" by dad first... for the most part, well, just the things that he can control... the rest, the lions decided whether he will have us for lunch or simply let us play with them.

Life should be about having fun, living on the edge and knowing that nothing lasts for ever apart from the memories

Sometimes putting your trust in a rope, a lion, a pulley or just a person - in a boat up the Zambizi River, up the Kowie River, at the edge of the Vic falls, in a van near a rihno. These are the moments we enjoy and live for, where a sunrise in Zimbabwe clears all the South African sunrises from your memory. One moment beats the next but every memory is special and fresh in your mind months and years later.

I'm not in any way saying let others decide what happens to your life, you have to have full control of that and just make sure that whatever you decide is something you will be proud of.

Enjoy the ride & have fun!\


Love you sister :)

Family Matters

Anda come back for a family photoshoot with her sisters and her mom

A fun Photoshoot with siblings & their little ones

Zola returned with her precious little angel but this time her little angel had her cousin join her and Zola had her sister as her partner in posing :) below is a compilation of some of the pictures we took

A lesson on "Air brushing"

So I've been asked by many of my clients and potential clients about air-brushing and if I do it or not PLUS whether they should have it done.

My answer is simple, YES if you feel you might need to have some air-brushing done, by all means ask your photographer to do so BUT ensure that your photographer knows what air-brushing is because there is a vast difference between getting your face air-brushed and have your imperfections "dodged" or "smeared"

And YES I do do air brushing BUT only for those who request it, I just feel that the fact that you coming for a photoshoot shows that you feel comfortable in your body so why have your freckles & beauty spots removed? Sure its fine if you want your stretch marks removed and maybe here and there have your pimples removed. But I strongly suggest you LOVE YOURSELF AS YOU ARE. One day looking back at your pictures with your kids and gran kids they'll see you as beautiful, perfect & NATURAL. Feel absolutely free to put concealer on but be comfortable with who you are.

Below I have taken some pictures of my friend Shadae Graham just to illustrate the difference of air-brushing and dodging or smearing.

Looking at the pictures above you might not be able to see the real difference but below...

Once you zoom in you are able to see how the picture was edited.

The middle one was smeared whereas the bottom one was air-brushed

Lastly I DO NOT air-brush children, in my grade R picture my hair was standing (only because we were playing outside before we went in to have our pictures taken) & freckles were extremely visible but looking back THAT was me, I LOVE THE PICTURE! Every picture should capture your precious child's true beauty & not some picture looking child that if people, friends or family ask "but why does he look so different in real life?"

IMOROTANT NOTE: When choosing a photographer & you request to have your pictures air-brushed PLEASE ask him or her to show you one of the pictures he/she air-brushed previously and ask him/her to zoom in at about 50% to 100% so you can see whether he/she is going to "dodge" or "smear" your face. In cases of dodging and smearing a person's face you can hardly ever print that picture up to a A4 because then it will show that work has been done. Air-brushing is flawless!

Thanks for taking the time to read this blog. I just wanted to add value to your photographic experience... enjoy!

Daddy & Me