Getting married, such a short phrase with so much meaning attached to it.  You always hear people say:”oh this one’s getting married and that one’s getting married”  but do we ever truly think of the meaning behind this special day?  Forget about all the wedding drapings, the DJ, the perfect wedding cake and dress and think about the momentous decision two people are making to one another.

To be forever faithful by each other’s side, to stand together come rain or shine, to blend into each others families and lives and give someone else everything of yourself.  WOW, that’s intense.  Lots of young people are quick to say they have fallen in love, but take that little bit of extra time to think what marriage is all about.  It’s sharing your deepest feelings, fears and joys with someone other than yourself.  It is having someone stand next to you and look out on life, it’s about sharing a special bond…

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 Christmas and the festive season!!! Christmas lights are up everywhere and christmas carols are playing in all the shopping malls…. My boys ask me every day: “Mom how many more sleeps until Christmas?” Well today it’s 25 more sleeps until Christmas!!! And I am so excited!!

Yesterday, we went to Mikey’s School Christmas concert – he is at The Bridge nursery school which is the feeder school for St Johns College (which is where Jamie is (GR0 this year) and where Mikey will go next year – can’t believe my little boy is going to big school!) It’s also the feeder school for Roedean which is where the concert was held yesterday.

    I have to say that this was the cutest Christmas concert I have ever been to! It was a nativity play with a difference and it was called “Christmas through the seasons….” – it started off with 2 angels looking for Christmas and then they made their way through each season beginning with Spring, where the children were dressed up as bees & blossoms. The music was also so much fun and made the concert a joy to watch. Then it was Summer with butterflies and rainbows.

Autum was next with acorns and owls – Mikey was an owl and sang beautifully on stage. (yes I am a proud mother especially since at last years concert Mikey spent the entire time  sitting next to me and refused to even go near the stage!!) Finally it was Winter with Snowmen and Icicles but still no-one could find Santa.

Finally a bright little star appeared (played by Kapil Moodley who is Mikey’s best friend as well as Zayd Motara – the 3 musketeers they are) and tells everyone that they need to ask Mary and Joseph where Christmas is. Mary and Joseph appear and tell everyone that Baby Jesus is Christmas and everyone celebrates!!! It was beautiful and watching those young children sing and dance and wave on stage – some of them even shouted hi to their aunts and uncles and grandparents right in the middle of the show! It was soooo cute! And of course I took tons of photos….

Last week was Jamie’s Nativity Play at St Johns and that was just as cute – Jamie was a little lamb and looked too gorgeous in his costume. And of course, he now knows all the words to all the christmas carols and sings them akk day long and we all sing them at bedtime every night – it is lovely and just warms my heart! Children make Christmas time so special!

They all came in green… And what amazing photos it made!  Amanda, Dario & Henko were telling me how this was the only colour they all had that was the same.

I immediately felt this prickle of excitement as green is my absolute favourite colour   They are really laid back people and that always adds to the shoot.  I asked them to take their shoes off for a more relaxed feel.  Henko is eleven and still goes to school barefoot so we ended up with a few brown footprints on my white backdrop (ha ha ha) Kind of reminds me of myself when I was that age, my mom had to threaten us to wear shoes to school when it started getting colder.  Their dad’s birthday is coming up and they decided there isn’t anything more personal they could give him than photos of themselves having fun.

Photographing older kids in studio is a different challenge altogether.  They’re very self-conscious about what they’re wearing and how they look.  They start to develop an image you know…   Try to engage them in your shoot, have them suggest poses that they’re comfortable with and just go with the flow.  Ask them about their favourite sport  or find out what they’re passionate about and they’ll soon relax and interact with the camera.

 I even asked the boys to come stand behind me and pull faces to catch mom with a natural smile…  Can’t wait to hear what dad thinks of the pics!

I recently did a corporate photoshoot for a company called CFT Labels – a wonderful company that specialises in manufacturing high-quality self-adhesive labels. They were recently feautured in a prominent magazine for the manufacturing industry called ‘Packaging Review’. 

I love doing corporate photoshoots or professional business photoshoots as some people call them because you get to learn. In this case, my photos were published in a magazine which is always nice. What I really love about CFT Labels is the people that work there. They are a fun, dedicated team of professionals who aim to give the best possible service to their clients (okay, I must confess, I own CFT Labels so I am biased!!!) Anyway, here is the article that was published in the September issue of Packaging Review.

A photographic and design service for labels
CFT Labels, Turfontein-based supplier of self-adhesive labels, is currently in the process of expanding its premises to provide new office space and additional capacity to its factory, and is also offering a newly-launched, full photographic and design service, not only for labels but for all print and marketing requirements.

‘We had reached our full capacity – running permanent double shifts and at weekends,’ says Louise Diesel, the company’s director. ‘In order to meet customer demand, we are also investing in new technologies that will position us to provide a strong focus on high-quality labels.’
To this end, the company is considering the purchase of a new eight-colour ELS Servo Aquaflex printing press, with full UV flexo capabilities as well as complete multi-substrate versatility. The other alternative is a new Mark Andy 2200 press which offers similar printing capabilities. CFT Labels is celebrating its 10th anniversary in February next year, having originally been established by husband-and-wife team, Louise and Ryan, and remains a family-run business. Current equipment includes two Aquaflexes (one six and one seven colour) and three-colour flexo die cutters and a foiling machine.

A complete design solution
Louise Diesel recently launched her own photographic studio, following successful completion of several photography courses at the National College of Photography in Bedfordview. ‘I started taking pictures for family and friends, but it grew so phenomenally that it was a natural progression for me to explore ways of incorporating this skill into our business,’ she says.
‘Obviously, many clients need photographs to be taken for their labels or product shots, as well as corporate photos for financial reports. I have just employed a qualified photographer so that we are able to offer clients a complete design service for their labels, as well as for packaging and printed materials such as cartons, brochures and containers as well as online marketing material’

CFT Labels also supplies peel-and-read labels which list the ingredients of a given product on the reverse side. ‘We were originally approached by Revlon to find such a solution and we had to get approval from the Cosmetic, Toiletry & Fragrance Association (CTFA). The smallest peel-and-read label that we offer is only 36 x 13mm in size!’ This unique type of printing offers many other applications such as competitions, double-sided labels, etc.

On completion of every job, CFT Labels supplies the client with a barcode verification certificate to GSI specifications, and an overall rating. ‘This is becoming increasingly important as many retailers are now fining suppliers for barcodes that are not up to specification,’ says Louise Diesel. ‘It’s no longer sufficient that the barcode can simply scan. It also needs to be verified.’

Diesel owes the company’s success to several factors, not least of which include lead times of just a week and a no-minimum-quantity requirement for any label.
Its customers include huge multinationals, national listed companies as well as small privately-owned entities with primary markets being food and beverage and pharmaceutical and cosmetic; and secondary ones being agricultural and chemical.
CFT Labels: T +2711 683 1155 www.cft.co.za

I often get asked the question by young couples looking to get married, whether or not the wedding venue makes a difference to the wedding photographs. There is no simple answer to this question – it is actually yes and no.

I say ‘yes’ because obviously a beautiful wedding venue such as the many in Muldersdrift, have both beautiful landcsapes and gardens in which to take unique wedding photos. I got married at a wedding venue called Glenburn lodge which I absolutely loved (and still do – I am such a sentimental fool…) but the gardens and the chapel and the whole setting is just so intimate and romantic….. I just love it!! One of my favourite wedding photographs is one where ryan and I are standing on the bridge over the river looking into each others eyes and the lighting is beautiful.

Having said that, I think any photo where ryan & I are looking into each other’s eyes would be special to me, regardless of the background or the lighting or the setting. It is precisely for that reason, that I also say ‘no’ to the question about wedding venues making a difference to the photographs. Well that and also because a good photographer can usually work around most settings and find ways to make the photographs beautiful and unique.

All in all, I always recommend that you choose a venue that you feel comfortable with, that you resonate with and that you really love, for no rational or logical reason – but simply because it feels good to you. Trust me, when you feel good, the photographs will show it and you will be the most beautiful bride and groom in your own unique way.

I wish you the wedding of your dreams and photos that you will cherish forever!!