It occurred to me yesterday that I prefer small weddings, it was a thought that was immediately followed by the realization that I have a preference about weddings!? I think I’ve only ever been to one wedding where I wasn’t the photographer, and that includes siblings and even extended family.

I think it has to do with the fact that the bride and groom know everyone and it’s just a close group of people having a blast. Saturday was one of those kinds of weddings, you could tell everyone was having fun. Of course the whole Benoni factor didn’t hurt, and the fact that Sam went to Rhodes … well … we all know about Rhodes people.

The venue was the Londmeadow Piano Lounge which is probably one of the most relaxed, hang-out-in-the-garden-while-the-sun-sets venues in Johannesburg. All my memories of this place are of really friendly people having fun. Lots of photos of friends and family being themselves.

Right, some pics, but before that our usual facebook announcement that you can find more photos from Sam and James’ very very casual wedding on our Facebook page.

you can find more photos from Sam and James’ very very casual wedding on our Facebook page.

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I think it was the dress that sticks in my head the most, an exquisite Pronovias number that fitted Talia perfectly, add some serious Liz Tayloresque looks and she looked like she had stepped out for the premier of Giant, somewhere East of Dean and west of Hepburn. For once, for once the weather played nicely and we got the most incredible range of golden colors, naturally my instinct when it came to post production was to use cooler colors, something more dramatic and classical and timeless.

Did I mention that they brought the swagger to their classical photoshoot?

A couple of people we worked with who were pretty cool:
The coordinator at the Longmeadow Piano Lounge, didn’t get a name sorry, but really on the ball and just pleasant to be around.
The videographer, whose card I did take and promptly lost, very calm and casual and really fitted in with our style of photography.
The makeup artist, who was actually an artist, didn’t get your card sorry, but I’m sure Talia or someone will let me know.
I know, I’m terrible at networking, but as soon as I get the names and details I’ll put them up.

Some more killer bee images from Talia and Dewald’s classic wedding can be seen on our facebook page.

Some more killer bee images from Talia and Dewald’s classic wedding can be seen on our facebook page.

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Just finished this corker of a wedding, 800+ images all finished off by hand, many late nights but it had some real killer bee stuff in there – can’t wait for these guys to see what happens when we get a full hour to do the portrait images.

Lets see, some info about the wedding.
Reception + Ceremony: Casalinga – Incredible food and nice ambience.
Getting Ready: Monte Casino Palazzo Hotel
Dress: Patricia Nascimento

and just about to start editing this one from Longmeadow Piano Lounge:

I’ve been really getting into The no1 Ladies Detective Agency for some unapparent reason, its so not me in any way, but I’m really enjoying it. And its not just because every second episode shows a baobab.

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If you’ve been following this blog for any length of time, you’ll know that I’m kind of obsessed with natural moments, interactions between people, the moments in between. Its not a very well kept secret that the portrait session, or creative session, of the bride and groom is the easy part of the day. Its the capturing of the reception, that interplay between people, showing the couple something that they didn’t see on the day that is the hard part.

Sunday, and we are inching our way through traffic, the 94.7 cycle race is on, and the organizers seem to have decided to isolate north western johannesburg from the rest of the world. A maze of side streets, hooting cars and very very irate drivers. We turn back and try make it to the N1, its the only way to get to the Longmeadow Piano Lounge, the N1 has only one functioning lane and a 10 minute journey turns into a two hour bumper to bumper stress fest.

Hours later, everyone has relaxed and is having a good time, all the guests have finally arrived, the reception has started and V and I are capturing people having fun. In our consultation Claire asked us to concentrate on documenting the day. This is the fun part for us, no-one is posing, the moments are real, people are laughing, drinking, children have passed out exhausted, friends are having a good time. Its a group of happy people hanging out together in the sunshine, a coming together of two families, friends and families who came from all over the world. We try to capture those moments.

Thanks for all the laughs and jokes and messing around and general good times, I’m still smiling at all those rabbits walking back in a line. V and I had a blast, and you guys raised the roof at the reception, did you only invite people who could dance really really well? cause I’ve never felt that I needed to get some serious dancing lessons as much as I did last night – I’m pretty sure I saw a woman being dipped in the wrong direction at about 100km/h. Enjoy Paris, take the wedding lemon with you and plant it somewhere where no-one is looking.

So much to say about this wedding that I’m not sure how to start. I’ve never really been at such a chilled relaxed happy wedding, I think the guests had a grand time, I loved photographing you guys. You were so easy to photograph it was ridiculous, thanks for trusting us enough to let us shoot you where we wanted and the way we wanted. We did take some safe shots, but it was great to just be able to take the kind of images I love.

Now, onto the pics. Yes it rained, yes it was cloudy, yes it was my favorite kind of weather to photograph in.

Ceremony: St John’s

Reception: Longmeadow Piano Lounge

It’s still raining btw – this is the fifth day in a row now where it hasn’t stopped raining. There are uprooted trees in my neighbourhood, the ground is too soft to hold them up.

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