Well, the website seems to have vanished today due to some issues at our hosting provider, so I’m setting this up via an automated update tool, which should post it as soon as the website is back up. The studio will be closed until the 15th, I’m off to write my exams and spend a couple of days in Cape Town recovering from the last six months of wedding photography – I’m not as fit as I used to be.

A quick sneak peek of Melissa and Steve’s album which I’ve just finished, hopefully once I’m actually online I can upload all these albums fairly quickly. I’ve already posted so many images from this wedding that I’m only going to post a couple of pages from the pre-wedding section of the day. It’s my favorite part of the day, everyone is excited and nervous and there is so much energy and emotion.

This is almost a Dror rant, so if you’re a prospective bride feel free to skip over this one.

For the last year or two, especially over the period when I was posting on the Digital Wedding Pro, I’ve had emails saying that various people are copying my images. So this is my official stand on the matter. I don’t mind, I don’t believe that photographers can plagiarize someone else’s work, you can shoot in the style of someone or give it a similar treatment. There is no actual way of shooting the very same image. So basically, if you’re going to copy my images, I’m flattered.

Now, this last week, I’ve gotten two emails saying that another SA photographer is pretty much giving answers from my blog to interview questions. Wow, doubly flattered, all those rants and brainwashing about breaking out of this SA wedding ghetto and shooting real images of real moments, who knew that you guys actually read that! Hopefully we’ll start seeing some real shifting of what counts as photography in this industry. Anyway, if you’re a photographer have a look around, you’re welcome to borrow any image you feel like recreating.

Expect to see many copies of this image soon. It’s an artwork at The Cradle called Fallen Angel. Beautiful. If you have a version of it and want a free link, leave a link to the image in the comments. You know you want to.

btw that’s from Melissa and Steve’s wedding at The Cradle.

UPDATE: Was just informed that Fallen Angel is by Beezy Bailey.

I remember I was photographing a wedding at The Westcliff and this person turned around to me and said “You’re going to photograph my wedding next year”, being the socially well adjusted person that I am, I replied, “Who are you?”. I tried to give my usual explanation of how we only take on a few weddings a year and … and … and … completely unphased, or maybe she just didn’t understand my accent, she said, I’ll give you a call later to sort out the details. I shot that wedding last night, it’s already tomorrow morning so I guess that makes it last night, V has given up and gone to bed a while back.

I just wanted to post a couple of images while I was still feeling the day. More images on Tuesday maybe, and the full story of Melissa and Steve’s wedding, I need to first post a couple from Thandi and Tom’s wedding before they head back to Australia.

I’m always asked for recommendations for various people, so just a couple of technical details, both the dresses Melissa wore were designed by her, amazing amazing classical, vintage, 50’s dresses – think Grace Kelly and Bardot. I got to shoot for the first time with Tanja Vogt, who was fantastic (thank you), oh and the videography was by Emily (I think her surname is Munton, I need to check that) from lighthouse films who was also very cool to hang out and shoot with. The co-ordination was by Mela Events, who I’d never worked with before but Stefan and Enelra were a real pleasure to work with and are highly recommended. Sheesh, almost forgot, Lynn (Edited: her surname is Kennedy) was the makeup artist and I adore working with her cause I never have to do any retouching on the brides (She also did the makeup for Nicky and Andrew’s wedding). I know I’m terrible with getting full names and contact details.

Ok, some quick photos before my last burst of energy is gone for the day:

UPDATE: Yes, it is an amazing outfit. Yes, she is very talented. Her name is Melissa Botha, her studio is called Melba, it’s in Parkhurst.