Zander and Akira | Engagement shoot | Bank Towers, 012Central

This year is 2020 and also #leapyear…yup, the year with a 29th of February, and we always make these jokes that “If you get married on the 29th of February, then you only have to celebrate your union once every 4 years”. I mean, then husbands have less opportunity to forget their anniversary…hahaha!….but there is another unwritten rule…it’s the year when girlfriends are allowed to ask their boyfriends to marry them…well, thats what happened…Akira asked her prince charming to marry her and he said yes!

Akira asked me to capture exactly when it happens, and I was obviously over the moon, because this is such a cool moment to photograph!

I told Akira that we have 2 options: you either do something together and when the moment presents itself, I jump out of the bushes and take photos (but then you aren’t necessarily ready for photos), or we can arrange a romantic couple shoot, then you are dressed and ready for photos…and Zander won’t suspect anything. So that is what we did. We agreed on a couple shoot, and Akira would give me “the knod” or thumbs-up and she will then take out the ring to pop the question. Akira arranged access to the rooftop at the Bank Towers, 012Central, and we did the most amazing couple shoot in the gorgeous golden hour sunlight on the rooftop, with the most amazing view of central Pretoria.

We were very lucky. When you are taking photos between buildings, chances are that you will take photos in the shade and then you miss the actual sun shining through your hair, but the sun was in fact bounced onto them from a tall glass building during their shoot…so it looked like the sun was beaming on them!

I had this idea of posing Zander facing away from me, and Akira facing me, and I would then give her a thumbs-up (I didn’t know if I would be 150% ready for the moment if she gave me the thumbs-up…I mean I can’t miss the moment)…and it worked SOOO well in my favour! I had a chance to photograph Akira holding the ring, without Zander noticing. WOW, what a cool photo and moment!

Congrats again on getting engaged…you guys are such a lovely couple and look sooooo happy together!

Enjoy the photos, and please leave a comment at the end!

(Click on the image to enlarge)


Wynand van der Merwe

I am a destination wedding and family photographer based in Johannesburg, South Africa. I love spontaneous natural moments during weddings that nobody really sees, and which I get to capture! Wow, what a privilege. I also love fun and quirky moments, which makes each wedding unique, fun and memorable!

I am also passionate to create natural yet mind-blowing photos. I love it when couples take a moment to forget about me as the photographer and just enjoy each other’s company and the moment right in front of them. Those moments are priceless and just a joy to capture.

I also love ending weddings off with a very creative sparkler photo, where I run around you just like a headless chicken…which always adds for some fun at the end of a long day!

http://www.wynandvandermerwe.com
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Ryno and Simone | Urban couple shoot | Parkhurst

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Jacobus, Elaine and the 4 | Family | Gold Reef City