My most precious Judle-Noodle 

I remember bringing you home from the hospital, sitting on my couch, crying tears of happiness at your arrival into our lives. You had come early and there was no one to help me out, but I knew that we would be fine. We were home and you were mine.

I watched with pride as you gurgled and grew into a stocky, gorgeous boy who embraced every moment to the full, pudgy hands exploring everything, never missing a beat. You loved everyone around you with random hugs and lap visits and you charmed your way into random people's hearts. I wondered how I could have been so lucky to get such a happy, loving, friendly child.

I could not believe that life could be so cruel when I found you cold and lifeless in your cot last Saturday morning. The autopsy revealed that you developed myocarditis from a common viral infection which pretty much feels like a lightning bolt.

The gaping hole you have left in our hearts is unbearable. Life will never ever be the same without your bright blue eyes, contagious laugh and unending enthusiam for anything and everything. The journey from you wriggling in my belly to clinging onto my hips has been the most fulfilling and amazing one and I will never be the same again.

On a practical note to my clients - I will be shooting the weddings that I have committed to and will continue to photograph life to the full. This experience has emphasized to me exactly how important photos are - at the end of the day they really are the only thing that you have left over.

It's hard to narrow down 18 months of so many different phases and expressions into a few images but these are a few of my favourite images from your way too short life.

It's always awesome to get something other than bills and speeding fines in the post...I was so stoked to get this awesome little personal thank you card in the post from Kirsten and Darren . I don't usually like to blow my own trumpet on this blog but this definitely demands a bit of blog-attention. In case you can't read the microscopic writing:

'Dear Jules

Thank you so much for capturing the essence & spirit of our day so magnificently. You've far exceeded our very high expectations! You really do have a wonderful gift.

Much love, K&D' 

When Exposure Gallery at The Old Biscuit Mill asked if I'd like to exhibit some work in a joint exhibition they're hosting on Cuba, I thought it would be a great excuse to get some my many images off my hard drive and into the real world! It seems like a good time to do it since Monica and I were in Cuba exactly a year ago. For all our photographer friends reading this, she'll also be exhibiting some of her work from our trip too... so get off your couch/away from your Lightroom screens and head out to Exposure Gallery next Thursday 11 June at around 6pm. We can have a few mojitos somewhere afterwards :-)

I'm heading off to the Maldives to shoot Suzanne and Magnus's wedding and since it's quite a way to go, will be staying for a few extra days! I won't have access to phone or email during this time and will be back in reach on 26 May. I really REALLY won't be checking email for once. Really.

Since a blog post isn't a blog post without an image, here are 2 shots of the gorgeous Jude-meister... I don't usually post personal images here but I couldn't resist these!

Well I've been back in Cape Town for a little while already, just in time for the most gloriously wet and freezing week of constant rain - quite a shock after the 35 degree heat and humidity of Cuba. Anyway, today is the first day of blue skies in what seems like a very long while and I thought that it's about time to post a few images from an incredible trip. I'll be posting most of the images from this on my other site once I've had a chance to go through them, but for now these are just a few captured moments from our first few days in Cuba.

My husband and I have never subscribed to the hallmark hype of Valentines Day so when he said yesterday that he had gotten me something, I was quite surprised! Isn't this a gorgeous bouquet?

In case it's not clear, those are a bundle of weeds in a shotglass! Who says that engineers aren't romantic?

Stu and Ang have been high school sweethearts since they were 13 years old and we always knew that they were perfect for each other and would get married. They're now just a little bit older with 2 extra additions! Stu is my brother - my family tend to make the most of having me around in Joburg so we organised a last-minute shoot for their family and got some cool shots of the 2 of the them too. I love this series:

I'm going up to Joburg for a wedding and will be there till 22 September. I'll be doing some engagement shoots up there, meeting up with brides and other photographers as well as seeing my extensive family. If you're having a wedding and would like to meet up with me, please give me a call. For existing clients or any enquiries, my email access will be slightly limited so if I don't get back to you right away, that's why!

I woke up this morning to a glorious day and this view of 'The Mountain' (lazily pronounced in Capetonian-speak) which I will ready for after a week in Gauteng. Another terrible day in Africa! 

I recently imported some fine art books in from The States and I'm so impressed with the quality of these albums. The pages are laminated with a yummy matt finish which preserves the pages as well as giving a great classy feel. Each book comes with a dust jacket and a personalised silver-stamped slip case, which are available in black or red.

These albums are custom-designed by myself, with mixture of full-page, composites and double-pages spreads. A perfect way to tell the complete story of your day! 

Today is my husband Simon's 30th birthday and I thought it would be appropriate to acknowledge the genius behind my websites. Si is the fountain of all technical knowledge and designed both websites for me, whilst patiently enduring with my constant demands. Without his support, I would no doubt be ambling around taking random photographs on the streets of Cape Town. Thanks Si for being the most supportive and ama-zing husband ever and for always encouraging me to do my absolute best at everything I do. You rock!

Last night was the opening night of my Africa: People and Paraphenalia exhibition in Cape Town and I thought it went down really well - loads more people came than I expected. What I found really interesting to see were people's reaction to different photographs. Some photographs really stand out to some people more than others.