Saturday, February 16, 2013

Inathi's 1st Birthday Party | 16 January 2013

Nomonde (Inathi's mom) called me last year September to check on my availability and my pricing for kiddies parties. She works and lives in Manchester so we had to communicate via email, she was planning on having the party just outside of Mthatha by her husbands parents home. Everything came together perfectly and clearly Inathi had a blast!

Its not often that we as photographers cover a 1st birthday and the birthday girl/boy is happy but with Inathi, he's smile and joyful spirit made the whole day amazing.

Here's to wishing Inathi many more happy years ahead


 
 
Kiddies Party Décor                                        Birthday Cake


Birthday Boy and his birthday cake


And then he tramped in his birthday cake while reaching for something


Inathi's birthday cake and his shoes covered in icing

 
 
Inathi and daddy                                Inathi and mommy

Mommy, Daddy and Inathi
 

 
The happy 1 year old playing on the jumping castle

Message from Nomonde when she received her pictures:
"Just watched the slide show... you made me cry, snot and all! Thanks for choosing appropriate music too" and another message "Hubby been bragging about your work on Twitter and a few have asked for your details already, happy parents I tell you"

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Sozombile Wedding | 2 March 2013

Manono and Lundikazi's wedding was 30km's out of Mthatha, at a village called Tabase. I love weddings in villages and rural areas, having been born in the Eastern Cape and growing up in the Transkei I've learned how to speak Xhosa... fluently, I'd like to believe. So whenever I arrive in the rural areas/villages, I'm generally received by one of the brides family members who will make me feel right at home as she takes me to where the bride is getting ready. I always make sure I greet the elders with the utmost respect in Xhosa, calling them mama or tata and sisi where need be lol. Which has sometimes gotten me into some trouble with some elders because then I have them wanting to arrange a marriage between me and some grandson lol.

Anyway, upon my arrival, Lundi's family had met me at the entrance to their family home and had taken me to the room where Lundi was to get ready, I was offered uluso (insides) which I had to turn down but rather asked for water so I didn't seem disrespectful for refusing what they had offered. In comes Lundi, my bride, totally relaxed but wants to just get into her dress and meet her husband to be (Manono) at the alter. Bride got ready and off we went to the church where the ceremony was to take place, after that was back to Lundi's home where they had set up a tent for the reception. I was really sad though that we never got a chance to take any formal photographs in the garden which we had planned to do so. We had to settle for the tent and try out best to get some awesome looking photographers, which we did :) Below are a few photos of Mr & Mrs Sozombile's wedding... enjoy!

 
The lovely bride getting ready for her big day


Lundi and her bridesmaids


Lundi and Manono walking in at the church ceremony


The wedding cakes... stunning idea


Grooms first look at his bride                    the bridal couple                     the bride looking shy