Friday night we’re at Summerplace for a 007 themed event. Bond girls, fireworks, a blackjack and a roulette table, martinis and an Aston Martin. I don’t have model releases for the evening so I can’t post pics, but I’m pretty sure I can post some images of the cool decor.
Venue: Summerplace
DJ: The mighty mighty DJ Ricky H
Event Management: Otto De Jager Events
Cake: Sugar n Ice
Catering: Taste Explosion
7h30 photo call, its early, way too early, but in an hour or so the soft light will turn into harsh contrast and way too much African sun, and in four hours Claudio and Ivana will be on a plane to Mauritius and we’ll be trying to catch up on sleep. Got to work quickly, we have an hour and a bit to create some killer bee pics.
So sunglasses on, take out coffee clutched in my hand, a couple of memory cards shoved into my jeans pocket. We’re outside the Market Theatre, caffeinated to the gills, its been a long weekend of very little sleep and V and I are feeling it. I’d torn my rotator cuff two weeks ago and my physio had recommended I rest my arm. Yeah, right, rest the arm that holds up the camera during our busiest season. That’s likely. I’m slightly gratified when Claudio rolls down the car window and him and Ivana both look slightly shattered.
We take it slowly, a couple of images under the highway, super chilled, swapping tips about Mauritius, Claudio and Ivana are the most calm relaxed couple, just unfussed about anything,letting us do our thing. Catching some killer bee images before the sun turns the day into a washed out mess. Its not a trash the dress session, there’s no water anywhere, but Newtown is pretty dirty, and some of the images I’m wanting to make require a bit of bravery. Ivana’s answer is … its a dress.
Three quarters of an hour later and its a quick trip to the center of town, historical buildings, authentic backgrounds, just around the corner from the ANC building. A bit more of a Joburg scene. A million miles away from yesterday’s shoot at Summerplace, I silently wish I’d brought a couch.
someone call you know who and complain, the photographer cut the grooms head off ….. 
Hang on to your bellbottoms I’m going to post the previous couple of shoots in random order.
Hey, a preview for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland just came on the telly. I can hardly wait, and its in 3D. I may have to break my no-cinemas-not-ever-again rule and head out into popcorn land.
You have to be pretty tough to survive being a groom at a jewish wedding.
Jan/Feb are catch up months at the studio, so I’m posting bits and pieces that catch my eye as I edit.
Yesterday, Elrésé and Reghardt at the Moon and Sixpence
more later … and yes I know, it was that kind of wedding.
All it took was one person saying sachten to someone else and I was back in my childhood. Amazing how little it actually takes to kickstart that part of your brain that houses your childhood. People dancing the dabke, a rocking tent set up in an old estate house, all Gatsby in white, vintage cars and black tie … one of my favorite elements of a wedding are the way that traditions and family histories get incorporated into the day. Anyway, I’m not going to say too much, expect maybe to mention that for one night the center of the universe was relocated to Houghton.
Ceremony: Rosebank Catholic
Reception: Noordhoek
Couple shoot: Glenshiel
Decor & Coordination: Otto De Jager
DJ: DJ Ricky
I love this image – just a perfect moment
It was looking like rain, not heavy rain, but that soft soaking rain that seems to have taken up residence in Johannesburg for the last couple of weeks, the kind of rain that wouldn’t put a cramp in your style but might seriously get under your skin after a while. That kind of rain tends to produce soft light, very green greens that if you mute them just right you can get that old world kind of look.
I was back at Shepstone Gardens, the rain had kind of stopped, the rogue hen was scampering about and Nicole had told me earlier that she wanted something a bit edgier, something less pretty. Once the ceremony in the dutch garden was over we took the retinue and headed into Newtown, dodging a photographer shooting what looked like a cover for a youth magazine or maybe an edgy model portfolio, and locating a spot where the light fell just right.
Nicole was cool, relaxed, knew what she wanted, in love with her Brett and the architecture of the inner city. A great start to the year, some killer bee pics in the inner city and probably my all time favorite bridal retinue pic. I don’t often like to take the retinue with us on the couple shoot because they tend to distract the bride and groom, but this lot were perfect, we used them as background, as foreground and we even did some formal group photos under the bridge.
I’m busy working on Joanne and Adrian’s wedding at Oakfield Farm, and spotted this one, which reminded once again that not all things are what they seem but the moments between the kisses sure make for some pretty cool wedding photos.
Simultaneously while editing, I am also really enjoying Damon Winter’s double exposures series.
Congrats to Christine and Roger whose wedding was featured in Wedding Collection magazine. Their wedding was out in Intundla and Christine was just one of the most chilled, happy and relaxed brides we’d had last year. Perfect for our natural photography style.
I see that people have been using our testimonials page to navigate the blog. Probably the most interesting way to do so.
I’ve been pretty immobile this week, trying to give my foot a chance to recover. A quick visit to the radiologist has resulted in a diagnosis of ‘prominent degenerative change with end plate irregularity’ which I am hoping is doctorese for ‘getting older’ rather than doctorese for ‘needs a metal plate in his foot which will set off every metal detector in a five mile radius and hurt like hell on cold days’.
I’m very excited to announce a photographic workshop by Andrea and I – RE.INVENT. For around the cost of a root canal and a lot more fun, you get a whole day of killer bee photography knowledge. It will be taking place at Forum Homini on the 23rd of Feb and there are still a couple of seats available. More info at http://www.theworkshops.co.za. I’m looking forward to meeting some of you blog stalkers.
21/01 THIS WORKSHOP IS SOLD OUT! THANK YOU.
I’m pretty sure that Sunday was the hottest day of the year, maybe even the decade. The BBC weather report had promised thunder showers and had a very nice icon of dark clouds on their site, the kind of clouds that have photographers drooling about textures and moody skies. All a lie. It was hot, Africa hot, the kind of hot that would have made Tarzan want to go back home, sunny with the kind of contrasty light that makes wedding photographers want to call their mom. I was trying to manage over 200 people into a large group photo, not my forte, they wanted out of the sun. I tended to agree with them.
Since I was last here, Oakfield Farm had installed those misting systems that spray a fog and cool down the air, I wanted to stand under one of those for an hour or two. Of course the artificial fog plus the sun setting through the trees made for some killer bee images, got to love irony – and artificial fog. Lets see, Joanne and Adrian, fun, a blast to be around, and just a cool couple, add a seriously elegant dress (I was introduced to the designer, but promptly forgot the name, sorry), twin flower girls, skinny ties on the guys, a couple (and a coordinator) who are used to my often bizarre sense of aesthetic and trust you to pull off very very different images. It was a pretty rockstar end to the year. Thank you both.
Ok, one thing before I show you some pics from the day. I was recently at Letamo, and I was chatting to a woman who turned out to be a hair dresser and when she found out I shot weddings, she said that the number one regret of her clients after their wedding day was that they didn’t have photos of the people partying at their wedding. Well, something along those lines, she said it more eloquently. So I know I show a lot of photos of people partying on this blog, but since its on my mind at the moment, a couple more.
got to start with a couple of pics of Joanne, who looked like a moviestar
I hardly ever show our parents photo – but this one was pretty classic.
Chum Char – or as I overheard one of the guests call it “expensive tea” – I suspect that may not be a direct translation.
Adrian is tall, very tall, and he tends to laugh a lot.
If you think Joanne and Adrian look familiar, I shot their couple session a while back, some of which they had used in their guest book – I felt cool.
Our merry band of suppliers on the day were:
The incomparable Cathy Heaton on make-up,
Michelle from Hair Innovations on hair,
Johannes Schoutsen on video and,
Jazzanova(?) on upright bass, drums and keyboards.
The weatherman had promised us rain, thunderstorms and even more rain. Naturally it was blisteringly hot, not a cloud in the sky, and we were dressed in black. Sharon and Barley wanted a urban feel to their shoot, so we headed into Melrose Arch, permits in hand, and stopped traffic. Literally. So an urban feel, a serious 50’s style dress, Harajuku Lovers shoes, skinny ties, Scarface references, traditional African mixed in with high end style. Killer bee images left right and center. There was even a Mbira … it was that kind of day. The sound of the main table getting down and singing along to Bumper to Bumper is on heavy rotation in my head.
probably my fav image of the day, but then I’m a sucker for b&w street scenes
A bit of a Scarface vibe at the Cigar Lounge
A couple of people have asked about my tweet about sharpness being overrated. If you didn’t follow the link, it was a comment on the fact that every week we see wedding photographers over-sharpening their images to a crisp. Think about it.
The one thing that I do miss about watching DVDs is the adverts. Some days they’re the most interesting thing on the telly. Christmas, Lachapelle style, beautiful lighting throughout. (Link is NSWF)
“Just call me Roz, Rozanne is when I’m in trouble”. I smiled. I’d kind of been expecting the same old venue to shoot at, trying to find something different to shoot without going too overboard. Making beautiful photos at a venue that’s been photographed to death hundreds of times. Roz and I must have been on the same wavelength because one of the first things she told me when we arrived was that we were going out of the venue for the photos.
She had found this most incredible spot. Something out of a JG Ballard book, an abandoned hothouse at a rose farm, roses growing wild, a roof with large gaps where you could see the sky – no one does dystopia like JG. The experience of being there was amazing, I wish the camera could have caught just how hot and humid it gets inside that place, the intense rich smell of the roses. Kind of keeping with the whole wedding, which was unique and different and authentic and just cool.
Thank you guys for being so thoughtful and welcoming and just rockstars. Thinking back though I’m still not 100% sure why Dawie was carrying a pomegranate.
Did I mention that Roz is also a wedding photographer?
Shepstone is fast becoming our regular wedding venue it seems, either that or we just get a lot of cool, funky clients. Last weekend, no rain, no scorcher of a day, wedding running late – bonus, extra time, which means we get to do some killer bee bridal portraits. Add to that a very smooth, and calm bridal couple and you have the making of a serious party – hang on, it did rain, in fact it came bucketing down, seconds after I had finished the last group photo, I remember now, I spent a good 20 minutes in the rain looking for a lens cap I’d dropped.
Anyway, this week I wanted to post a couple more posed, classical kind of portraits. For me, they were that kind of couple – although the speeches did leave me in stitches.
this is probably my photo of the day, and I love the grading
I always try to find a different spot to photograph at, so that everyone gets unique images
I could on for hours about the benefits of having a videographer who knows what they’re doing and doesn’t light up the dancefloor like the space shuttle is about to land. These are the kind of images you get when you happen to have one of those.
Rob and Santi from Digital Video Images, always helpful, always getting their lighting just right. Always keeping us entertained
This is a mostly weekend position, usually entailing 2-3 Saturdays a month, and may grow into a full time photography position. You’ll need to be organised and practical, be able to foresee and evaluate potential problems, and deal with the unexpected in a calm and efficient manner. You should know how to operate digital and traditional cameras, pretty much everything else will be taught.
Other requirements, good command of English language and sense of humour. Must have own transport and current passport.
Drop me an email to jobs@droreyal.co.za with a letter of motivation and salary expectations.
12/09 THIS POSITION IS FILLED – THANK YOU.
Just a quick one today – I’m still backing up. From this weekend’s wedding, an unexpected speech from the bride and a look of adoration on the groom’s face.
taken at the temporarily relocated center of the universe
We’re back to having issues with our internet connection, and have spent a glorious couple of days not being able to press the send/receive buttons on our mail every couple of minutes. Telkom is having a look and we should be back up to speed soon.
I’ve been hanging on to this couple session for a while, one of our favourite shoots of the year, old planes, extinct films, rockstar couple. Shot at the war museum in case you’re planning something similar and themed after the end scene in Casablanca and the original movie poster. I was tempted with some crunchy black and white, but decided that a bit of color would give it a nice twist, and make it look more like a movie poster.
Anyway, took me a while to settle on a single image, but this one may be my favourite.
What is rock the bridal bed? well, I’m glad so many of you asked. Step 1, get bride and bridesmaids on bed, step 2, get everyone to jump up and down, step 3, listen carefully for a creaking sound that may signal the photo-op is over … step 4, photograph natural smiles and laughter.
I’m listening to Hindustani Gangster at the moment, not completely sold on it, but it has seriously cool bollywood moments and its drowning out the neighbours kids.
Edited to add: Sorry James, its unfortunately only drowning out the neighbors kids …
Late on Sunday evening, just wrapping up the weekend, almost Christmas, almost another year has passed.
Mpopi Lenake (or did it change to Ntai?) – a window lit portrait.
yes, that copyright notice is annoying me too.
