Phew end of the season, start of the world cup, I think the neighbour’s kid has been blowing his vuvuzela non-stop for the last two days (how does he breath?). Last weekend I was privileged to shoot Barry and Deidre’s wedding at the Johannesburg Country Club. Irreverent, classic and lets just say that the guests were a little on the fun side, not something that the JCC is famous for.

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 got to shoot this weekend with Andrea, haven’t shot with her for ages and kind of forgot how much fun we have when we shoot together. Annelise was wrapped in a dress that looked equal parts couture and architecture, in other words, coolly elegant in an effortless way. The venue, 10 Bompas is one of those boutique hotels that manages to look casually superhip. The wedding was intimate, stylish and had none of the excess that one normally associates with over the top weddings.
So where did we do the shoot? On the construction site of a boutique hotel in Rosebank. We revel in irony.


The photoshoot was of those moments where everything comes together, lighting, location, bride and groom and loads of atmosphere. It was definitely very urban and very edgy in a scene that seems to push pretty gardens. Annelise and Brett so kicked ass at the venue, and were total rockstars, although I was glad the dress designer (someone give me the name please) was not there to see us taking his dress into a building site.

Don’t ever say we don’t push the boundaries and bring you images that defy the sepia-toned-walking-down-the-road-holding-a-just-married-suitcase cliché (I’m so tempted to link to some of them, but you know who I mean). Anyway, only one image this week, it’s been a very long one. I’m sure plenty more pics will pop up on Andrea’s blog soon.

We photographed our first intimate wedding at The Grace in Rosebank this weekend. An intimate wedding is a package for those couples that are looking for a photojournalistic approach to their small wedding.

It was a beautiful sunset wedding for a really amazing couple. Christine and JP’s wedding was emotional and touching and perfectly located on the terrace at The Grace with an incredible view of the sun setting over Johannesburg. I also loved the fact that they had placed photos of loved ones who couldn’t make it to the wedding on the mantelpiece in the centre of the room. You guys belong together and it shows.

Another first for us was the fact that Christine and JP decided to see each other before the ceremony. It was a beautiful and touching moment seeing them see each other for the first time surrounded by their close family, tears on their faces, hugging each other, whispering in each other’s ear. A few moments alone before the wedding, getting ready to face the future together.

I’ve heard people refer to this as cali-style, and I must say that it isn’t very popular in South Africa, but I think it really works. You get a couple of moments together before the wedding, alone, with close family, without the weight of being in a chapel in front of a priest. Just a couple of moments together, to hug, to whisper, to clutch each other before the ceremony.

There are actually too many amazing photos.

[Vendor Prop] – This one has to go out to The Grace. Excellent service, amazing venue and wow, what a view off that terrace.