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.

Melissa Botha, mellisa botha, lynette melissa ben botha, melba dress designer, melissa, melissa botha cape town bloubergrand, melissa botha designer, 

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.

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It is one am and we just got in from shooting Louise and Dan’s incredible wedding at The Westcliff. The day started off with yoga at The Towers and ended with a wonderful couple surrounded by their closest friends and family. What a truly glamorous day for two amazing people. The wedding was elegant and beautiful and filled with characters who you would expect to find in books written about mythical families. We had a grand time and I think the photos reflect that.

and the there is this one which I love although you will have to scroll sideways to see it properly.

Check out their sneak peek here

[ vendor prop: Edited to include names I had forgotten ] – There were may people to choose from this week, from the make-up artist who did such an amazing job I don’t think there is going to be any photoshop retouching on my side, to the two chefs who made the most delicious cake, to the Reverend Bercovich who delivered an incredible ceremony. My vendor prop though goes to Melissa Botha and Cotie Kurtz who made the dresses. The dresses were some of the most incredible creations. Louise looked radiant in her gown, and I love the message that was threaded into the layers “Can I Keep You”. They were really some of the most amazing gowns we we’ve ever photographed. Contact Melissa at 082.807.0567 and Coti at 083.444.4644 or coti[at]chikaybridal.co.za

BTW Louise and Dan are on honeymoon in Mauritius at the moment, which Louise informed me was bound to be warmer than Dallas. I only have one thing to say in reply to that. There are small sections in Alaska that are warmer than Dallas. I hope you guys are having a blast.

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