It's been a while since I've blogged - lots of weddings to shoot and people to meet, all amidst a crazy festive season. I've already shot Doug and Ruth's amazing wedding which I'll be blogging about shortly - but for now are a few shots from a super-cool, super-windy engagement session that I did with them a few days before their wedding. It really was so windy that we could barely walk and my camera was being blown about madly, never mind Ruth's bright funky dress - but as always I think that negative elements in the weather can make for some great shots like the one below that wouldn't come about under 'perfect' circumstances (if such a thing exists in Cape Town!). 

Anyhoo, a few shots for today: 

When I met Rob for the first time a few weeks ago he told me that he realised that he was in love with Amber when he saw a photograph of her - he was looking through an album when he saw a particular photo of Amber and it suddenly struck him that he was in love with this woman.

They had a small wedding with friends and family from Cape Town and the USA at Clouds Estate in Stellenbosch, with every detail perfectly organised by Aleit .Thanks to you two for trekking around with me on what must have been the hottest day of the year so far. I hope these images will remind you of the amazing love you have for each other. Many more to come, but just a few for now!

I had to laugh when I got an email from Marika saying that she was at 'the lovely Maldives in a private hut, enjoying the hell out of her honeymoon!'  Heinrich organised the trip as a surprise which is pretty darn - dare I say - AWESOME!

It was apparently also his 30th birthday yesterday  so she asked if I would post one or 2 photographs that included him - so here you go, a few images including the lovely groom himself... a little bit belated for your 30th. I think spending your birthday in a private hut in the Maldives with the love of your life is not too shabby indeed. Hope you guys enjoy the hell out of the rest of your time in paradise! Happy Birthday Heinrich!

It's not every wedding that I'm lucky enough to get the combination of time, a grungy rustic location as well as a stunning bride willing to play around in a dress designed for play! So from Marika and Heinrich's wedding, here are a few of the bridal portraits we took at Montpellier where the girls got ready. Yes, there were beautiful gardens and a pretty Cape Dutch House but somehow ruins and grungy locations are much more fun to shoot at then pretty gardens!

Delane and Kaivalya came out from the USA to exchange their vows in an intimate ceremony at Cascade Manor in Paarl with just 2 friends from home to witness their commitment to each other. Despite the howling wind and the best man's suit disappearing with his luggage on the flight over, it was a beautiful day. I hadn't met them before their wedding and was pleasantly surprised to see what a gorgeous couple they are... I think it's near impossible to take a bad photo of these guys!

While I love directing some portraits during a wedding, my most favourite photographs are often those that just happen, the unexpected moments just there to be captured. This photo reminds me of something out of Hollywood:

It's pretty typical that when someone asks for the quintessential view of Table Mountain for their shoot that the midsummer weather turns nasty and the mountain disappears behind a thick curtain of rainy cloud, accompanied by a raging wind. Shahra and Razzaaq were completely unfazed by the weather and totally worked it for the camera - all I had to really do was push the button and keep the lens dry. I'm pretty sure that when I met up with them earlier this year they led me to believe that they hated having their photo taken, something about Razzaaq being shy in front of the camera? These guys were like professional models and provided the local canoe club, resident 'bergie' and car guard with a whole lot of eye candy entertainment on a rainy summer's evening.

I know I always go on about how awesome people are but these guys really are a fantastic couple and I can't wait for their wedding in 6 weeks time. Maybe I'm just lucky enough to always 'work' with awesome people.

Since the birth of my son 7 weeks ago I've been laying a bit low in a sleep-deprived coma.. so it was so amazing to head to Franschhoek on a beautiful sunshiny, windless day to photograph Tanya and Henry's elopement in the winelands. They exchanged their vows at the NG Kerk in the presence of the minister, one other friend and myself as a witness - which I guess is probably quite an apt description for what I normally do!

I had a great few hours with them from witnessing them express their commitment to each other, to cruising around the hot streets of Franschhoek much to the entertainment of a bunch of Japanese tourists (who probably took more photos of them than I did!). Despite the harsh midday sun, we got some great shots and it was really cool not to have any time pressures and just mosy around town. 

 I did a boudoir shoot with Deb's afew days before her and Dax's wedding. Dax organised some champagne and made himself scarce while we did the shoot at Ellerman House, where they were staying. I had loads of fun doing the shoot - Deb's is a complete natural in front of the camera. While boudoir shoots are really personal, Deb's was kind enough to let me put some of the more 'innocent' photographs online - I think she looks stunning!

Dave popped the question to Tammy on top of Table Mountain so he suggested going up the Cable Car for their engagement shoot. It was FREEZING cold up top there - prime snuggling weather! We made it up the mountain just in time for the last car up and after cruising around the paths made sure that we made it back in time for the last car down... it would have been a LONG and very cold night stuck on top of the mountain!

Janet and Nick love going walking in Van Riebeeck Park so they wanted to do their engagement shoot there - the rain just managed to hold off for the time we traipsed around the forest. What a gorgeous couple, I can't wait to see them on their wedding day if they look this good so early on a rainy morning!

I met Greg and Clare last night in Tokai for an engagement session - it was a stunning evening to play around in the forest with such a fun and completely-into-each-other couple who are tying the knot next year January at the Mount Nelson Hotel.