This angelic blue-eyed boy is my cousin who I am forever trying ti get a good photo of but he just doesn’t sit still for anyone or anything.  I mean duh… there is a whole world out there wo explore…   Then I had an aha moment the other day (like Oprah Winfrey would say)  I put him onto

the front seat of my car and gave him all the freedom he wanted.  He had an absolute ball “driving” my car and pressing every little button and lever possible (the next time I drove the car nI had to put the radio back onto the correct station, switch off the fan and wipers etc etc etc.)

The photo above is one I like to call smooth criminal.  When comparing these this little boy seems to be a little angel but looking at the last pic makes you realize that he might just be going though his terrible two’s phase.  None the less, giving children activities they enjoy will create fantastic photo opportunitues for you to capture!

Riani

My cousin got married a few weeks ago and it was a really special day! Mandy (the bride) and Clint (he groom) make such a lovely couple – they are so in love and it is beautiful to see!!! I of course was taking photographs and was in my element – I love to photograph weddings! There is something contagious about them: the love, the excitement, the nerves,the families, the tradition…. there are so many special moments to capture on film, and that’s what I love!!!

Of course, I also got to see some of the family that I never get to see, which is always nice. I have so many cousins it’s scary but it’s fun when we all get together and share crazy family stories and always has us in fits of laughter!!!

The wedding was a morning wedding (a really cold morning too – poor Mandy in her wedding dress!!) And so it was short and sweet and simple and special! You could not take the smile off either Clint or Mandy’s face the entire morning. But my best part of the day was when Clint cried as Mandy walkied down the aisle…. I think all the women were watching and aaahing at how sweet that was – he truly is lovestruck!

Well cuz, I wish you guys a wonderful life of love and gratitude together! Enjoy every moment as it seems to fly by so quickly….

What makes wedding photography so special…?  I think it is the essence of love   Deciding to get married and to commit yourself to one person for the rest of your life is truly a momentous decision.  So to celebrate this decision we have a ritual called getting married.  Every culture does it differently but the outcome is basically the same.  Carey-Ann is Louise’s cousin and I play soccer with CA at Alberton Football Club.  We always have a great time together and are perfectly in sync on the soccer field.On the day of the wedding we truly had the best weather any professional wedding photographer could ask for.  I’m not quite sure where the bride and groom ordered their weather but I’ll let you know when I find out   I’ve heard a rumour, if you don’t want it to rain on your wedding day you have to put a fork in the ground and a broom in a tree… on the other hand I’ve also heard that rain on your wedding day signifies that you will have a long and happy marriage, so you decide! CA and Shaun I hope you guys will be happy together forever until eternity…!!

Riani

Louise and I had the privilege to photograph Shaun and Carey-Ann’s wedding on Saturday at Sha-Mani country lodge and SPA.  CA is Louise’s cousin which just made this wedding so special to photograph.

 CA, Stacey & Mary was late coming from the make-up and hairdresser (but it’s no secret that hairdressers take a while to make your hair look magnificent) but I couldn’t believe how beautifully done her hair and make-up was.  The world is such a small place, Janine the make-up artist was asking CA who is doing her wedding photos and Janine remembered me as we have actually worked together on a afew weddings. 

 Ca and I play soccer together at the Alberton Football club and you don’t dress up for soccer so it was quite different seeing her looking so stunning!! 

Being typical photographers and worried about where we could get the best light for our photos we asked (ok, ok more like insisted) that CA got dresses in her mom’s room which has a big window.  (Window light makes your photos just so natural looking and enhances the bride’s natural glow.

On our way to the venue the flowergirl, little Maddison’s (cousin) nose started bleeding again as she comes from Ireland and it’s much too warm for them here.  But we handled this mini crisis and off we went

It was such a beautiful ceremony with Louise reading a scripture from the Bible and them promising to love each other forever…  (Just the thought makes me go all mushy :-)   )

Their wedding was really unique, almost everyone is really serious about some football team or another  (fittingly Shaun and CA play fooball at the same club), so we took a few photos with them together with their golf clubs and soccer boots   They even walked into the reception with man united outfits! As I know some of the family members visit our site regularly  I thought I’d give you a sneak preview of their photos and share it with everyone.  Carey-Ann you looked absolutely gorgeous in your stunning wedding dress!  Shaun you looked dashing in your suit (you clean up pretty good)  

Shaun and CA, I wish you all the best in your life together and I know you’ll be very happy in years to come!!

Riani

I photographed my cousin’s CA’s kitchen tea yesterday (or should I say bridal shower??) Bridal shower just sounds so much better than kitchen tea! Especially since I don’t like the kitchen and neither does my cousin Carey-Ann. It was so funny, one her friends gave her Olive Oil bath lotion – beautiful stuff – but CA at first thought she had to cook with it and was not too impressed. She said she would have given it to Shawn if it was for cooking…

She was really spoilt by all her friends and family and since they already have all the household and kitchen goodies (and she doesn’t really care much for those kinds of things) she was showered with pampering gists such as lingerie, bath and body lotions anda few naughty things too!!!

It was a really fun afternoon, spent with friends and family (and what made it even better was that Liverpool beat Man United 4 – 1!!!) Poor CA and Shawn: they are Man United supporters…. The ladies were in a real party mood and CA’s mom Mary and her bridesmaid Stacey were wonderful hosts. We played Bridal Bingo and then a sppinging game where everyone got a chance to spin and CA either got to open presents or have a drink or two!! Shame she really got nailed a few times!!!

The afternoon was ended off with 3 fine looking men dancing and entertaining the ladies and perhaps giving CA a little more attention than Shawn might approve of!!! But it was all good, clean fun in honour of the bride-to-be!!!

The wedding is in 2 weeks time. I am really excited as Riani and and are photographing the wedding. it is at Sha-Mani in Alberton and I’ve heard that it is a beautiful wedding venue. As the wedding photographer, I guess I will have to behave myself at least until after the wedding ceremony……

After that, I think I’ll let Riani work her magic (she really is a good wedding photographer) and maybe I can be in one or two photos for a change!!! I will have to have a few glasses of champagne with my cuz and the rest of the family to celebrate this special occasion!

Watch out for the McGinley waddle – even my Uncle Tom is going to be there and he is not getting out of it…..

It’s going to be a party of note – one thing I can say about the bride and groom is that they know how to party!! And party we will…. Enjoy the day my cuz, it’s one of the most special days of your life….. And may the two of you continue to be best friends forever because that’s the glue that keeps a marriage together!!! All my love Weez

In my opinion every woman who has been dreaming about her special day for her whole life, definitely not about all the small details like what flowers goes onto the tables,
will you have decorations in the hall only or also in the church, what food will be served and who will do the catering etc.  The only thing we choose to think about is the
perfect wedding dress, our very own prince charming and living happily ever after.

Once you’ve realized there is so much more to your wedding day than the above mentioned you will know just how important it is to have all these small details captured as
timeless memories by the ideal wedding photographer.  This might not be the same person who created beautiful wedding imagery for your sister or cousin, no.  Your photographer is going to spend almost the whole day with you (very stressful and emotional day might I add) so it is extremely important that you click with one another.

Firstly you have to start thinking about the style of photography that most appeals to you, do you like the traditional ‘all-posed’ photos like in the olden days or would you
prefer a totally journalistic approach with the photographer never posing any person or group and focusing on candid shots only and capturing the emotion of the day?  I would recommend finding a photographer who creates a balance between these two styles.  Otherwise you might not get one natural photo or not get at least one photo where you both
are looking at the camera.

We make use of a technique we call interactive posing, so we’ll have a look at what kind of background would complement the photograph, have you guys stand there with a
suggested pose, like facing each other and just chatting or popping a bottle of champagne while we capture the moment.  We try to introduce the idea of the moment and if you’ve
been in love you’ll know the rest happens by itself…. (and we’re there to capture every perfect moment)

Before meeting your preferred photographers there is a few things you need to know and think about:
Have a look at at least 3-5 sources(magazines, internet etc) to get an idea of what is out there and what you like and dislike.
Photographers tend to be expensive but the price determines the quality.  If your thinking ‘it’s just photos’ anyone can do that then think again. 
Bridal couples should budget at least 7%-15% of their wedding budget on photography as this will be the only memento that will help you relive that wonderful day.
Make sure that you as the bride- and groom to be feel comfortable with the chosen photographer (almost like old friends).
Ask to see a mixed portfolio with several different weddings as well as a portfolio done on one specific couple so that you know this photographer has lots of first-hand
experience and are confident with photographing weddings.

To be continued tomorrow…..

I just love maternity photography!!! It doesn’t matter how many times I photograph a pregnant woman, I get all sentimental and feel a connection to the unborn baby!! Maybe it’s because I love babies so much because I thought I would never have any of my own – who knows?? But I feel honoured every time I get to do a pregnancy photoshoot…..

I was lucky enough to do a maternity photoshoot for a lovely couple from Malawi the other day. They had come up to Johannesburg for a check-up and a major scan and their cousin organised for them to come for a maternity photoshoot while they were in town. As a result, Sonia was not as far as she would have liked to have been for the photos but her tummy was showing enough to capture the miracle of pregnancy (and the love between her and Miguel)

Hopefully, they will be back soon with their precious bundle so we can do a newborn photoshoot as well (and I can get to mmet another newborn baby in person….)