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Bold and beautiful | Styled shoot | Hertford Country Hotel

I love bold and vibrant colours at weddings! I approached Simone from the The Wedding Event to collaborate on a styled shoot with me. Just beautiful!

Bold and beautiful | Styled shoot | Hertford Country Hotel

In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities. János Arany

I love bold and vibrant colours at weddings! I approached Simone from The Wedding Event to collaborate on a styled shoot with me. I wanted to use bold and vibrant colours, but also to use the Pantone Colour of the Year (2016, Rose Quarts and Serenity). Simone did most of the styling, and Tamyrin from Bespoke Blooms did the flowers arrangements and table settings! The amazing stationery was made by Rude Design and Trendy Paperworks. We used the beautiful Hertford Country Hotel as backdrop and Liezl was our model for the day. Liezl used to work for the Hotel at the time of the shoot, and she managed the wedding and event side of the Hotel. The wedding dress was Liezl's own dress, and the blush dress was from Lunar Clothing. Shandin Watson from Erin Smylie Hair and Makeup did her makeup and hair. The exquisite cake was made by Sweet Joy and Denver from Reload Media did the interviews and behind-the-scenes video.

Thank you all for participating in this shoot and I just loved how everything worked out in the end! 

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

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Teaser! Dane & Ashleigh | Fun in Parkhurst | Engagement shoot

Wow, I had fun with these two. Dane and Ashleigh are adventurous souls and they were almost silly in every photo...which I loved.

Teaser! Dane & Ashleigh | Fun in Parkhurst | Engagement shoot

A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you. Unknown

Wow, I had fun with these two. Dane and Ashleigh are adventurous souls and they were almost silly in every photo...which I loved.

They were a bit on their nerves but its understandable. The reason why I love doing engagement shoots is for my clients to get over the awkwardness of being photographed and I want it to be during their engagement shoot (I mean everybody who is not a model is a little unconfortable in front of the camera), and not the during the wedding. They will be much more relaxed during the wedding, and I am sure their personalities will shine even more during their wedding especially when they are at ease! 

Ashleigh really wanted an urban shoot so we went to Parkhurst, Johannesburg, and walked the streets. We also had a quick coffee at Vovo Telo and did some creative shots in the restaurant. 

They are getting married at Rosemary Hill later this year and they need photos for their save-the-date and wedding invite website, and they told me their computers were stolen very recently so they don't have any pictures of them together! Now I am even more convinced their engagement shoot photos will be super special to them!

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

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Teaser! Juwaid & Farheen's Wedding | Fire and Ice Hotel | Gauteng

Juwaid & Farheen's muslim wedding is one I will not forget! I just loved their couple shoot on Sandton City's 8th Level parking area! The light and dramatic skies were out of this world!  

Teaser! Juwaid & Farheen's Wedding | Fire and Ice Hotel | Gauteng

Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life. Leo Buscaglia

I captured my first Muslim wedding this past Saturday, and I loved it. It was such a relaxing day for me because I wasn't part of the groom's nikkah, which happened at the Houghton Masjid. Farheen got ready at the beautiful Marriott Protea Fire and Ice Hotel, Melrose Arch and they met up with family and friends for a simple reception (or lunch) at Calisto's Restaurant in Rosebank Mall, where they also exchanged rings. The food was absolutely amazing.

Thank you for the hospitality...I felt like an esteemed guest! 

We then left to do the couple shoot when the lunch and festivities was done which lasted for 3 hours. Wow...this was such a relaxed shoot because there was no event happening after the couple shoot. So we had the afternoon/evening at our disposal for photos and the sunlight was out of this world. We started at Sandton City Mall's level 8 parking area and we ended back at the Fire and Ice Hotel in Melrose Arch. The rooftop area must be my next-best photo location...I just loved shooting their urban wedding photos with the buildings in the background! 

Makeup: Thameenah Saint | Hair: Studio 9 at Melrose Arch | Wedding Dress: Bridal Vault | Flowers: Flower Spot, Woodmead | Decor: Family and @rayhanscatering | Rings: JDC Jewellers & American Swiss | Tuxedo: Oriental Plaza | Juwaid's Shoes: Woolworths | Farheen's shoes: YDE | Farheen's henna: Henna Art by MS | Flower Bouquet: Striking Beauty

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

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Teaser! Heinrich & Simone's wedding | Lace on Timber | Gauteng

Wow, words can even describe how beautiful and special this wedding was! I am truly honoured to have witnessed the love between Heinrich & Simone on their wedding day! Your wedding at Lace on Timber was beautiful, elegant and simple....what a way for me to start my weddings for 2018! 

"When you meet the one who changes the way your heart beats, dance with them to that rhythm for as long as the song lasts." Kirk Diedrich

Teaser! Heinrich & Simone's wedding | Lace on Timber | Gauteng

Wow, words can even describe how beautiful and special this wedding was! I am truly honoured to have witnessed the love between Heinrich & Simone on their wedding day! Your wedding at Lace on Timber was beautiful, elegant and simple....what a way for me to start my weddings for 2018! 

Venue & Desert Table: Lace on Timber  |  Wedding Dress: Timeless Bridal Couture  |  Simone's shoes: Aldo | Decor & Flowers: Pebble and Lace  |  Protea boutonnières: Hello Bird  |  Video: Barefeet Videography  |  Rings: Browns (Simone) & Bellagio (Heinrich)

Here's a few from their wedding on Saturday! :) Enjoy

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Ruth du Toit & Family | Beach session | Struisbaai

Such a beautiful photoshoot done of Ruth and her family in Struisbaai at the beach. Ruth is also a wedding photographer and her work is amazing. Go and have a look under Ruth du Toit Photography.

Ruth du Toit & Family | Beach session | Struisbaai

In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities. János Arany

I made friends with Ruth from Ruth du Toit Photography at a SA Weddings Event in Johannesburg, and I have been following her wedding and lifestyle work for a while now. And amazingly when we were in Struisbaai, she said she will be there and asked if I would like to photograph her family on the beach...and obviously I jumped up and said yes...and oh she took some of my family as well! 

See the photos Ruth took of our family here: CLICK

She has such a beautiful family and I just loved making them run on the beach. And what I love about those photos is that as a person you can't think too much how you want to stand or how you look....all you can think about is to run....so you look as natural as you can be and for me that is when you look your best. No pretensions...just fun and laughter with your family! Same goes for the jump photos!

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

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Nicolas & Greer | E-session | Llandudno & Clifton Beach

Wow, I have always wanted to do an engagement shoot at one of the beaches in Cape Town, and I got to do Nicolas & Greer's session at two of the most famous and beautiful beaches, Llandudno & Clifton. We did the shoot at 6am in the morning, and the light was magical!

Nicolas & Greer | E-session | Llandudno & Clifton Beach

A great flame follows a little spark - Dante Alighieri

Wow, I have always wanted to do an engagement shoot at one of the beaches in Cape Town, and I got to do Nicolas & Greer's session at two of the most famous and beautiful beaches, Llandudno & Clifton Beach. We did the shoot at 6am in the morning, and the light was magical!

I got to know Greer from a recent corporate shoot I did in Johannesburg, and she said she will be in Cape Town and she said she wanted to do an engagement shoot. I obviously jumped at the occasion and said I will gladly do your session...and wow...they are just magical! I had a blast. The weather was perfect at 6am and we had Llandudno and Clifton Beach all to ourselves. I always liked the quality of light early in the morning especially just before sunrise, but wow...the light was out of this world. I will definitely recommend doing a morning shoot at Llandudno. When the sunrays enter the beach at around 6:30am...magic happens!

Nicolas and Greer are such down-to-earth people, and easy to photograph...made my job super easy...and they are just gorgeous...I can almost print every photo on Vogue's front cover!

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

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Charlene & family | Mini Photo Sessions | Cape Agulhas Lighthouse

I had so much fun doing mini photo sessions at the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse! It is such a beautiful location and Charlene and her family looked absolutely gorgeous!

“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” —Jane Howard

Charlene said she does a photoshoot each year with her family, and this year she wanted photos in Struisbaai. Charlene and Jandre is from Namibia, and they are on holiday in Struisbaai with their kids.

Their youngest, Ethan, is roughly the same age as my son Lian...and wow...he is a brave and fearless little boy! Ethan was a bit ecstatic during the shoot...but that is what I love...I love interaction. It seemed Ethan liked me from the word go, because he came running after me and interacted so spontanuous in front of the camera! I just love the emotion is those photos...Charlene and Jandre got a bit anxious after a bit....and he got a hiding during the shoot...but I loved his energy! He reminded me of my son. He seem to be a go-getter and not afraid of anything. Just love his people skills...I mean he made friends with me, a total stranger, in a matter of seconds!

I just love to do shoots at the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse! So beautiful!

More info regarding this area: Discover Cape Agulhas

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

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Lizeth & family | Mini Photo Sessions | Cape Agulhas Lighthouse

I had so much fun doing mini photo sessions at the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse! It is such a beautiful location and Lizeth and her family looked absolutely gorgeous!

Family is not an important thing. It's everything. Michael J. Fox

Albie & Lizeth, your family's joy is so sweet and contagious!

I loved having you in front of the camera...and I love your kids jump photos!

Just love to do shoots at the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse! So beautiful!

More info regarding this area: Discover Cape Agulhas

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

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Mandie & family | Mini Photo Sessions | Cape Agulhas Lighthouse

I had so much fun doing mini photo sessions at the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse! It is such a beautiful location and Mandie and her family looked absolutely gorgeous!

In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony. Friedrich Nietzche

I recently did a photoshoot with Mandie's sister Ankie for her Supper Club and when I advertised I was doing mini-sessions at the coast, that was when Ankie referred me to Mandie for a photo session.

Mandie and her family is from the Free State, and her husband is a farmer there. They were on holiday in Struisbaai and wanted photos done at the Lighthouse in Cape Agulhas, and wow...they looked smashing! I had so much fun....just love the ones with their little dog!

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

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Lize & her beautiful family | Kleinbaai, Western Cape

I had a blast capturing Lize and her beautiful family in Kleinbaai. I didn't know it at the time of the shoot, but one of my school and Voortrekker friends is Lize's sister (Gerda), and she was my date to my Matric Farewell 14 years ago! Wow, such a small world!

Lize & her beautiful family | Kleinbaai, Western Cape

"Family Is the Most Beautiful Thing God Made" Pope Francis

Lize asked me to capture photos of her family while on holiday on Kleinbaai and I absolutely loved it! They are such a cool bunch of people....and good looking! The bond between sisters is so special, and I just love the photos of her and her 3 sisters. She currently lives in Zambia and it must be great to be together as a family in SA.

I didn't know it at the time of the shoot, but one of my school and Voortrekker friends is Lize's sister (Gerda), and she was my date to my Matric Farewell 14 years ago! Wow, such a small world!

Kleinbaai is next to Gansbaai, and also close to Hermanus, and its a hotspot for Shark Cage Diving. Lize's parents have a holiday home in Kleinbaai, and we decided to take photos at Onse Baai, a spot where the ocean crashes over the rocks...beautiful!

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

 

 

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Teaser! Nicolas & Greer | E-session | Llandudno & Clifton Beach

Wow, I have always wanted to do an engagement shoot at one of the beaches in Cape Town, and I got to do Nicolas & Greer's session at two of the most famous and beautiful, Llandudno & Clifton. We did the shoot at 6am in the morning, and the light was magical! Ending the year off with a bang!

Teaser! Nicolas & Greer | E-session | Llandudno & Clifton Beach

A great flame follows a little spark - Dante Alighieri

Wow, I have always wanted to do an engagement shoot at one of the beaches in Cape Town, and I got to do Nicolas & Greer's session at two of the most famous and beautiful beaches, Llandudno & Clifton Beach. We did the shoot at 6am in the morning, and the light was magical! I definitely ended the year off with a bang!

I got to know Greer from a recent corporate shoot I did in Johannesburg, and she said she will be in Cape Town and she wants to do an engagement shoot. I obviously jumped at the occasion and said I will gladly do your session...and wow...they are just magical! I had a blast. The weather was perfect, we had Llandudno and Clifton Beach all to ourselves and the light was out of this world. I will definitely recommend doing a morning shoot at Llandudno. When the sunrays enter the beach at around 6:30am...magic happens!

Nicolas and Greer are such down-to-earth people, and easy to photograph...made my job super easy...and they are just gorgeous...I can almost print every photo on Vogue's front cover!

Here's a few from today, and please leave a comment at the end!

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Janke & Ilé | Mom's Wedding Dress Shoot | Hertford Country Hotel

Wow, this photoshoot is one the cutest and most beautiful shoots I have done thus far. My niece and my daughter wore their mom's wedding dresses and the results are out of this world!

Venue: Hertford Country Hotel

Janke & Ilé | Mom's Wedding Dress Shoot | Hertford Country Hotel

We believe selecting a wedding dress is more than just a fitting, it’s a process – a memory in the making. Olivelli Cape Town

My wife Juanita have been wanting to do this shoot for almost five years now. Her twin sister Zinette's daughter (Janke) is 5 years old and my wife have been wanting to arrange a photoshoot where Janke would pose in her mom's wedding dress, and fantasy became reality when my daughter was born...my wife knew her dream would come true, so she started to plan this photoshoot: Janke will wear her mom's wedding dress, and Ilé will sleep or lie on her mom Juanita's wedding dress. 

Wow, I love the result....it is "OUT OF THIS WORLD!"

My wife made the flower crowns herself. She bought the flowers and the wire and tape necessary to make the crowns and watched a youtube video for instructions. Amazing. 

The beautiful Glitter Sequins Hanger in Silver is from The Lovilee Shop

Venue: Hertford Country Hotel

Zinette's wedding photos was done by the talented Christiaan David Photography and Janke is holding the album he made for them for their wedding! So special!

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

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Simone & Riley | Family Photography | Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, Western Cape

I had a blast doing some photos for Simone of her and her daughter Riley at the beautiful Cape Agulhas Lighthouse! Riley is such a sweetie!

Simone & Riley | Family Photography | Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, Western Cape

“A daughter is one of the most beautiful gifts this world has to give" Laurel Atherton

I had an amazing time with Simone and her daughter Riley. Riley is a serious busy-body, and she made the shoot very interesting...let's just say we couldn't really do what we wanted but more like what she wanted...she is super cute though! I just love kids and she reminded me of my son Lian. Very strong minded and not afraid what the world throws at them!

The following photo sums up the day. The one moment she is happy, and the next she makes a u-turn and runs the other way...Simone's face is priceless!

I had a shoot with Simone last year, and it was good catching up with her. Riley was almost 1 year old last year during our shoot and now almost 2...wow so many things happen in one year!

We did the shoot at the beautiful Sanparks Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, the most southernly lighthouse in Africa (amazing), and also the place where Simone and her husband Tyron did their wedding photos (I didn't know this, she told me when we were doing the photos). 

We had amazing weather this holiday season thus far and we had just a little wind during the shoot ...I didn't plan for the wind but the crazy shots of the girls and their hair are super cool!

Enjoy the photos and please add a comment at the end! 

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Teaser! Simone & Riley | Family Photography | Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, Western Cape

I had a blast doing some photos for Simone of her and her daughter Riley at the beautiful Cape Agulhas Lighthouse! Riley is such a sweetie!

Teaser! Simone & Riley | Family Photography | Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, Western Cape

“A daughter is one of the most beautiful gifts this world has to give" Laurel Atherton

I had an amazing time with Simone and her daughter Riley. Riley is a serious busy-body, and she made the shoot very interesting...let's just say we couldn't really do what we wanted but more like what she wanted...she is super cute though! I just love kids and she reminded me of my son Lian. Very strong minded and not afraid what the world throws at them!

I had a shoot with Simone last year, and it was good catching up with her. Riley was almost 1 year old last year and now almost 2...wow so many things happen in one year!

We did the shoot at the beautiful Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, the most southernly lighthouse in South Africa (amazing), and also the place where Simone and her husband Tyron did their wedding photos (I didn't know this, she told me when we were doing the photos). 

We had amazing weather these past few days, and today was the first day with some wind...I didn't plan it but the crazy shots of the girls and their hair are super cool!

Here's a little sneak peak to the photos. Enjoy! 

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Tertius & Monique | E-session | Harmonie Proteas

I had a blast capturing young love between Tertius & Monique during their engagement session at Harmonie Proteas. They are gorgeous inside and out!

Tertius & Monique | E-session | Harmonie Proteas

Song of Solomon 8:6-7a: Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.

Wow, I just love going out to Harmonie Proteas for a photo shoot, especially after a few days of rain. Then the air is cleaner as usual, which make the sunsets next-level...and this place has some of the most prettiest sunsets I have seen in my life.

I had a blast with Tertius and Monique. They are sweet, down-to-earth souls. They had knowledge of each other throughout their lives, and they went to the same school but they never really had conversation, until recently. And after dating for roughly 3 months they got engaged. Tertius told me: "If you know the Lord has given your wife to you, why wait?" Wow, thats amazing. And even more impressive is the way they love each other. They are serious love-birds. Lets just say...it wasn't difficult for me to ask Tertius to kiss his bride-to-be...he is totally in love with his princess! 

Monique rented a beautiful Silver Swallow Design Dress from Cocoberry.

I can't wait for their wedding next year at Memoire!

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

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My kids | Christmas | Holiday Photography

I did a small Christmas themed fun shoot with my kids. My daughter is also 3 months old, so we did a photo with 3 balloons and one with Hundreds and Thousands...because she is One-in-a-Million!

My kids | Christmas | Holiday Photography

“How do you spell 'love'?" - Piglet  "You don't spell it...you feel it." - Pooh”  Winnie the Pooh

I have said many times...being a dad is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I LOVE being a dad. Now that I have 2 kiddos...I never realised I could love this someone this much. I love my wife, but to love in action...I mean to see my wife with my kids...priceless magic, and it makes me even more in love with her! And then the to have those crazy days when you just want to sit in front of the TV and talk to no one...and then to have my little girl in my left arm and my son lying next to me...my heart wants to burst with love...I LOVE IT! 

In any case, my little girl was 3 months old yesterday, and my wife and I are doing a little project where I take a photo of Ilê every month, in the same spot, but every time adding a balloon. So today I photographed her with 3 balloons...obviously because she is 3 months old...and a few with Hundreds and Thousands...because she is One-in-a-Million! 

I also could not resist taking a few Festive Season or Christmas photos...and like always...my son is too curious and want to be included in the shoot. He surely is a "funny bunny" like I would call him. Ilé got tired of us taking photos, and Lian isn't the most calm little guy on the planet...so long story short...Ilé didn't get much sleep during the photos. 

Ilé's beautiful outfit (in the photo with the balloons) was made by Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Enjoy the photos and please get in contact if you want to do a Festive Season or Christmas photo shoot! 

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Cute little Jessica | Family shoot | Morningside Park, JHB

Beautiful family portraits of Peter and Lauren, and their beautiful little girl, Jessica! 

Cute little Jessica | Family shoot | Morningside Park, JHB

For you see, each day I love you more. Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow. Rosemonde Gerard

My wife (Juanita) is going a baby gym class for moms which was during and after her pregnancy with my daughter Ilé. Lauren is also going with her daughter Jessica, and they got to know each other and my wife had shown the pictures I had done of Ilé in her first month to Lauren, and she said to my wife that she really wanted to do a shoot with me...wow...I just love referrals...you get really amazing clients.

Lauren mentioned they know this amazing little park in Morningside, close to her mom's house, that we can use as the location, and what a GEM! Its next to the river, lots of rocks and trees and its really well looked after. A few residents, which stay in the vacinity of the park, has a key to the gate and if you want to make use of the park,  you need to make a small donation towards the upkeep of the park...really amazing! 

Peter and Lauren, you little princess is so adorable! Lots of blessings, and hopefully you will have great nights of sleep ahead! 

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

 

 

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Enchanted forest engagement | Chantelle & Kyle | Johannesburg

I just love it when clients trust me to do something a little different. Chantelle & Kyle's fairytale engagement shoot at Bryanston Pine Forest was so cool!

Enchanted forest engagement | Chantelle & Kyle | Johannesburg

The words that enlighten the soul are more precious than jewels. Hazrat Inayat Khan

I just love it when clients trust me to do something a little different. Chantelle is working in the creative industry as a freelance designer and art director, and she wanted a fairytale type shoot. She told me that has this vintage dress she wanted to wear which in fact was used as a wedding dress by several weddings in her family. This dress later on became a costume for dress up parties, and I believe she looked amazing in this dress. Chantelle really looked like a fairy princess in that dress, and Kyle looked great as well. We started the shoot with Chantelle in a midi dress, and ended with the vintage wedding dress. 

She also said she loves dramatic and colorful makeup, and Shelley from Butterfly Blush did such an amazing job doing her make-up. 

It was the first time I arranged for the make-up to be done at my home, and it worked out quite well. Bryanston Pine Forest don't have a place or venue to get dressed or do make-up, so it just made sense to do it at my home.  

I have bought a plastic tube (or fluorescent tube protector) and a flashlight and I want to start doing #Tubestories. Go check out this link: EricPare...this guy is insanely good. I showed the tube to Kyle and he said, why don't you try this on us? I was like...good idea! It didn't work out completely as I would have hoped, because you need complete darkness to achieve a great shot, but we got to play around a bit. That is what is great when you have people who trusts you...you can test new ideas on them as models, and they really enjoyed it. 

We had some of the coldest weather this year in November...super weird. I mean we had 50cm of snow in some parts of South Africa, and firstly it doesn't really snow here and secondly we had some serious snow. So the morning of the shoot I almost cancelled due to the weather being so cold, but I am so glad we didn't. The afternoon was a little warmer, and I actually loved the eerie weather in the end...helped with the theme for the shoot!

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

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*Teaser. Tertius & Monique | E-session | Harmonie Proteas

I had a blast capturing young love between Tertius & Monique during their engagement session at Harmonie Proteas. This place truly has next-level sunsets!

*Teaser. Tertius & Monique | E-session | Harmonie Proteas

For true love is inexhaustible; the more you give, the more you have. And if you go to draw at the true fountainhead, the more water you draw, the more abundant is its flow. Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Wow, I just love going out to Harmonie Proteas for a photo shoot, especially after a few days of rain. Then the air is cleaner as usual, which make the sunsets next-level...and this place has some of the most prettiest sunsets I have seen in my life. 

I had a good week. Francois, Tertius' dad, made an enquiry on my website, he phoned to set up a meeting, which we had at Starbucks at Mall of Africa, and they booked me for their wedding in May next year. And we did their engagement shoot today...wow what a week...I wish all my bookings happens this efficiently! 

I had a blast with Tertius and Monique. They are sweet, down-to-earth souls. They knew about each other throughout their lives, they went to the same school but they never really interacted, until recently. And after dating for roughly 3 months they got engaged. Tertius told me: "If you know the Lord has given your wife to you, why wait?" Wow, thats amazing. And even more impressive is the way they love each other. They are serious love-birds. Lets just say...it wasn't difficult for me to ask Tertius to kiss his bride-to-be...he is totally in love with his princess! 

Here are a few photos from today. Enjoy and please leave a comment at the end!

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a Father's love for his daughters | Father's Day | Hertford Country Hotel

A beautiful family shoot with Chandni and Kavita and their father Dave at Hertford Country Hotel. A father's love for his daughters is endless!

a Father's love for his daughters | Father's Day | Hertford Country Hotel

To a father growing old, nothing is dearer than a daughter. - Euripides

I have been wanting to do a shoot for a while where I can try to capture a glimpse into the love a father has for his children. My daughter Ilé has been born since the #sneakpeak of this photoshoot, and she has just been a blessing and joy to our family. So my love as a father has doubled by having two children.

WvdM_fathersdayshoot_fathersday_father_daughter_photoshoot_familyshoot_family_hertfordcountryhotel_thehertford_portraitphotography1.jpg
WvdM_fathersdayshoot_fathersday_father_daughter_photoshoot_familyshoot_family_hertfordcountryhotel_thehertford_portraitphotography2.jpg

I hosted a competition on my Facebook page and Chandni was the winner of the Father's Day shoot. Her sister, Kavita, also entered and they nominated their dad, Devdas (or Dave), for the BEST DAD IN THE WORLD...and this what they have to say about their dad: dad:

Chandni: To me he is the greatest man that has ever set foot on this earth. He has taught us many life lessons, inspired each of his children to be better than they ever thought possible and supported us completely in every journey we have taken. He is the one person who will always be there. No judgements, no questions asked. This was done to not only his children but with friends and family as well. This has taught me what true love really is. Love u to the ends of the earth dad!!!
Kavita: You are the best dad ever! You've always worked hard to put us first in life and you've never said no to us for anything in life. You always give us your unconditional support in everything that we do and you're always there to motivate us to be our best. As a girl growing up, you were my super man and always will be. Love you lots Dad!

Wow, inspirational stuff! I can truly see that their dad is a great guy, and during the shoot I could see he has this grace about him. He is sure of himself, and he is absolutely in love with his two daughters. 

Dave is a cattle farmer in Middelburg, so I wanted to do the shoot on a farm (which is fairly difficult to find in Johannesburg) but I knew The Hertford Country Hotel has a little horse stable with two horses so this worked well for the farm element in the shoot. I just love doing shoots at the Hertford because there is so many different aspects to work with, and every shoot I do there looks different. Chandni and her sister had dungarees which they wanted to wear, and it worked perfectly in the shoot, and when they added the "cowboy" hats it finished off the look I was aiming for.

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A smile starts on the lips, a grin spreads to the eyes, a chuckle comes from the belly; but a good laugh bursts forth from the soul, overflows, and bubbles all around. - Carolyn Birmingham

I think I am a funny person but my wife Juanita doesn't necessarily share the sentiment. Chandni on the other hand cracked herself for my jokes. I always try and make my clients laugh naturally in front of my camera. I believe it produces natural smiles and authentic moments, rather than asking my clients to "fake" laugh and the moment isn't authentic and it looks unnatural. I also believe that they have a light spirit, meaning they find joy in life and laugh frequently with each other. Their hearts are full of joy, so I think it wasn't difficult to make them laugh as much as they did in front of the camera. :) 

Enough said. Enjoy the photos and please leave a comment at the end. 

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