image-i-nation Photography

Tarryn & Matt at Mofam, Grabouw

2011-04-21T13:11:00.002+02:00

Just one of the things I love about this venue is that the bride gets to arrive at the ceremony by travelling across the lake in style on the barge, with plenty of time to fortify the bride’s nerves with some bubbly and build the anticipation of the waiting guests Everything about this day was perfect, even the overcast skies that made for beautiful soft light that complimented the lovely pastel décor of the venue. Tarryn and Matt were more than great to work with – we had so much fun during the shoot, despite the drizzle that moved in….the great thing about cooler weather is that cuddling up close for the shot is no problem at all!

Siobhan & Phil–Backsberg, 19 March 2011

2011-04-18T12:45:00.001+02:00

Every season there is at least one wedding dress that really stands out in my mind, and Siobhan’s satin sheath was the one this year….. absolutely gorgeous, flattering and elegant…she brought the dress with her from Ireland, where she lives and works and met her man, Phil. I loved the story of how they met – Phil took her in as a flatmate, despite the fact that she met none of his preconceived notions of the ideal candidate – except for her refreshing honesty! Good thing he made the right decision, because this couple are clearly perfect for each other. Guests from all parts of the world came to join the celebrations here in Cape Town’s winelands, and the couple wanted to be sure to have plenty of coverage of the people who shared their day. Thank you both so much, I know being in front of the camera is not your favorite thing, but you were fantastic and made my job so very easy!! I’m starting the post with one of may favourite pics of the day…..

Shannon & Andrew’s maternity shoot

2011-04-15T16:09:00.002+02:00

Over a year ago, when Shannon & Andrew were married, they’d asked me to photograph their wedding, and I was so sorry not to be available. So when they contacted me to shoot their ‘bump’ recently, I was very excited to be able to to so. Long story short, we ended up shooting over two sessions, and what a great couple they are – fun, easy going and super-excited about their new family member! It was so much fun, thank you guys for allowing me to do this! I’m guessing that bump will not be there much longer…..

Andrew is a big Man U fan, so there was no question about wearing the shirts!

if it’s a boy, it will be named after Andrew’s fave player….

and if it’s a girl…… (it was no mean feat getting these blocks sorted, but Andrew was determined!)

Liesl & Pete Married at Mofam, Grabouw, Western Cape on 26 Feb 2011

2011-02-28T18:42:00.002+02:00

Another wonderful day spent shooting a great couple at one of my favourite places ever…. couldn’t ask for more! A big thank-you to Paul Lotter for ably assisting as not only second shooter, but also barge driver for the bride! The décor was also absolutely divine, so couldn’t resist loads of shots…..

Tanya & Eugene 24 April 2010 Pringle Bay

2010-07-30T17:36:00.000+02:00

Cape Town weddings, professional wedding photographer, wedding photography, Kim Shaw

There are those days when everything just works out perfectly… and this was that day! Planning an April wedding in the Cape, Tanya knew it was Russian roulette with the weather, and her take on it all was that she was going to have a fab day no matter what - but the sun shone and all was well. The guest house perched high on the side of Hangklip was a challenge to get to but with stunning views, and the ceremony was held in a teeny Catholic church in Kleinmond. Then we headed back to Pringle Bay for the photos, where Tanya’s family has a property right on the water’s edge. Tanya & Eugene were amazing to work with, full of energy and fun – it was an absolute blast dashing around the beach (basically first time this season!) – it was one of those shoots you just wish you had more hours to play… so I’m starting this post with my ‘pic of the day’

Juani & Chris 9 April 2010, Kleinevalleij

2010-07-23T16:48:00.002+02:00

The fact that the rain barely let up once didn’t affect the wonderful atmosphere of this couple’s day. Juani & Chris have such a special connection between them that it literally lit up the day, and I don’t think anyone really noticed the weather! Juani’s bridesmaids were full of fun which made for a great atmosphere during her prep, with the ceremony held in the magnificent church in the centre of Wellington, then on to the reception at beautiful Kleinevalleij. Juani & Chris wanted to spend as much time as possible with the people sharing their day, so with the weather thrown in to the mix, our couple shoot was around the 15 minute mark, but there was a great vibe amongst the guests, and so much to capture in terms of all the gorgeous detail we were not short of images to capture….

Christelle & Hannes, 3 April 2010, Kleinevallei Wellington

2010-06-29T15:39:00.001+02:00

Cape Town Weddings, professional wedding photographer, wedding photography, Kim Shaw

Kleinevalleij in Wellington was the venue for this gorgeous wedding, and is now top of my favourites list of venues. Christelle had planned and designed everything so beautifully, so the venue looked like a fairytale, to match the lovely bride…. The ceremony was in the stately ‘moederkerk’ (another fave place) in Wellies, then back to the venue for pix and party. Christelle, Hannes and the bridal party were great – full of fun and game for everything with the photos. I could only wish we had more time because we were spoilt for choice, the light was amazing, and there was something special about the vibe with this couple ….

Karoo Roadtrip (with Drive-By Shooters)

2010-06-28T10:21:00.000+02:00

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to head off on a roadtrip around the Karoo with a group of Cape Town photographers – the first of hopefully many more Drive-By Shooters events. All are welcome, so check out the facebook page. These pics are a summary of my impressions of the places, people and critters in this amazing part of the country…

Golden Afternoon

2010-04-16T18:00:00.000+02:00

False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa. There might be a better place on the planet for taking sunset images, but not by much…. Table Mountain in the background in it’s ‘sleeping giant’ form is always a stunning backdrop, the light is amazing virtually any day of the year, and there’s always a perfect pic to be had….

Cape Town WorldCup Fan Park – 22 June 2010

2010-04-15T02:21:00.000+02:00

Table Mountain as the background, blue skies, thousands of very, very colourful fans, and Bafana bts France … what an amazing day!

the first goal …..

the second goal …

Western Province K2 Marathon @ Mofam River Lodge 31 May ‘10

2010-04-14T16:22:00.001+02:00

Susanne & Pierre 20 March 2010, Beloftebos, Stanford

2010-03-22T18:04:00.004+02:00

Cape Town weddings, professional wedding photographer, wedding photography, Winelands weddings

Sleepy Stanford just past Hermanus was the setting for this fantastic day – Susanne’s prep was in an incredible guest house with endless opportunities for shots, with the ceremony in a local stone chapel, and then off to Beloftebos for the reception. Luckily Pierre had already scouted and chosen some spots for our shoot, because there was just so much to choose from we could have kept right on going for hours… as it was, we ended up with great variety and had alot of fun in the process. This couple had the great idea of having a tree –planting ceremony at the reception – so they can come back every anniversary to see how it’s growing and relive their special day every time!

Maureen & Nick 6 March 2010

2010-03-10T15:21:00.002+02:00

Cape Town Weddings,wedding photography,Cape Town,Cape Winelands weddings,professional photography

I'm pretty sure this was the hottest day of summer in the Cape this year - and at our venue near Riebeeck Kasteel the mercury was around the 38 degree mark - with a mid-afternoon service it was definitely a factor in the day's proceedings! Keeping cool and relaxed and taking things slowly, Maureen & Nick braved the blazing African heat for their photoshoot at this lovely venue, rounding off the day with dinner al fresco with a beautiful sunset. Maureen's gorgeous dress was surprisingly light and floaty, great for the photos .....

Rob & Sharlene

2010-02-28T15:48:00.000+02:00

Planning your wedding from thousands of miles away is no easy task, but local girl Sharlene had Affinity Events co-ordinating everything on this side of the world, and the gorgeous decor was a perfect backdrop to the day at Allee Bleue in Franschoek. Rob’s family travelled from Ireland and the UK, and certainly must have been feeling the heat, but strolling through the estate’s vineyards and beneath ancient oak trees our photo-session was chilled-out in style if not temperature! FJS Productions were there to capture every moment, and as always adding to the fun of the shoot…

Zaren & Gary 27 February 2010, Mofam River Lodge

2010-02-27T16:49:00.000+02:00

Cape weddings, professional wedding photographer. wedding photography, Elgin weddings, Grabouw weddings

Mofam Estate near Grabouw is home, workplace and wedding venue to Zaren, where she is usually the one making sure everything is perfect for another bride. This day was hers, though…. and it was a stunning day in every respect – gorgeous bride, fab weather, beautiful decor, amazing settings and a groom who was not just easy on the eyes, but went all out to ensure that the photos were fun and what Zaren wanted. This couple met right here at Mofam many years back, so it was completely fitting that they tied their knot right here….

Move over, Minki …….

2010-01-15T21:50:00.005+02:00

Charly’s spur of the moment shoot – backyard ‘n beach - was great fun for both of us. This girl could really go far, her first real photoshoot and she was fantastic in front of the camera, and the camera loved her back!

Milanie & Jac - Karoo Wedding 12 December 2009

2009-12-26T16:25:00.001+02:00

There is quite simply no better place in the world than the Karoo – and the folk that live there are pretty nice too! We arrived at the farm on Friday evening to a warm welcome from Milanie and her Ouma, and next day the farm and town was buzzing with preparations. I think most of the town was either present as guests, or out on the streets to see the bride come by. Photos were on the farm around sunset time – fabulous light – but also unfortunately the time that the monster-size ants come out in their millions – that was an experience……Milanie had designed and created everything for the day in exquisite detail, and the results were just beautiful.

Val & Ciru Teaser…..

2009-11-02T15:27:00.002+02:00

International weddings, professional wedding photographer

Val & Ciru chose Ciru's homeland Kenya for their wedding - as a more or less central location for all their guests travelling from across the globe. The weather was a bit damp, but no-one complained as the rains were badly needed....and it didn't dampen this fabulous day at all! Ciru looked absolutely amazing, and every detail was perfection. The venue was a small boutique garden venue just outside Nairobi, and Val & Ciru were so great to work with during the photoshoot - even the sun peeped out for a while to have a look what we were up to. Thanks so much to you both for allowing me to be part of your special day, and for the wonderful weekend - I hope your photos bring back wonderful memories for years to come...

Yolandi & Rudi 25 September 2009

2009-10-08T12:59:00.002+02:00

Edenheim just outside Paarl was the venue for this amazing day … and it was truly perfect! Yolandi was so relaxed, and breezed through the day looking gorgeous on Rudi’s arm. They were fantastic to work with and the time we had just flew by – thanks guys, I enjoyed this shoot so much!

Erin

2009-09-04T20:14:00.001+02:00

Erin needed some updated images for her models’ Z-Card since she’s moved on from child to adult modelling – these are a few of the head & shoulders pics from the shoot at her home.

Hilda & Mark, Mofam, Grabouw, 25 April 2009

2009-09-03T21:57:00.002+02:00

Mark’s parents live on the farm where the lovely Mofam venue is situated, so it was a natural choice for their day. Hilda planned every detail of this day herself, and the result was absolutely stunning – every detail of the flowers and the decor was just beautiful. The weather was looking really bad, but in her research Hilda had come across an old tale – if the bride places a pot on her head and runs 3 times around the venue, it won’t rain – she did, and miraculously it rained all around us except at the venue!

Ingrid & Stefan, Asara Wine Estate 4 April 2009

2009-09-02T14:10:00.002+02:00

Ingrid and Stefan chose fabulous Asara Estate outside Stellenbosch for their venue – and as always it was a pleasure to be there…Ingrid and the girls were so relaxed and we had plenty of time to play before leaving for the church – where Ingrid’s father delivered a stunning, emotional ceremony. Then back to Asara for some more fun with the photos ….

Melissa & David 21 March 2009 at Diemersfontein

2009-04-13T15:31:00.002+02:00

It couldn't have been a more perfect day, at one of my favourite Cape Winelands venues.Without fail, I arrive at the venue to find the groom chilling out round the pool in a pair of baggies with about an hour to go before the service - and why not? Melissa and David are high-school sweethearts, and this was the start of the next chapter for them with friends and family from all over the world joining them for the celebrations .....

Mareli & Marnus - 14 February

2009-03-13T12:40:00.004+02:00

Porterville was the setting for this stunning country wedding, and Mareli & Marnus were just the most wonderful couple to work with - we really had a great time shooting the photos. It's the first time I've commited the photographers crime of running over our time - by a full hour.....but it was worth it, and the guests and family forgave us!

Raquel & Craig 7 February 2009 at Rheebokskloof, Paarl

2009-03-12T19:59:00.003+02:00

Paarl lived up to its Feb-weather reputation, and the day started out as a melt-your-shoes to-the-floor scorcher, but by the end of the day we had also had a bit of highveld-style thundershowers, and a tad of Durban humidity thrown in just for kicks! Not what we'd hoped for, and maybe a bit of a surprise for all the family that had travelled from Portugal to be here, but Raquel and Craig took it all in their stride, and with all the photographic options at Rheebokskloof we could have done with more time, weather no problem! Raquel was absolutely stunning in her gown - a definite must for a trash-the-dress shoot.....

Vanessa & Barry 24 Jan 2009

2009-02-09T10:55:00.002+02:00

Rickety Bridge in the Franschoek Valley was the setting for this gorgeous wedding, with masses of country flowers in shades of lilac, purple and pink decorating the venue and tables. Vanessa was the most stunning bride, and kinda shy about having her picture taken - but the more shy she was, the better the pictures were working - loved it! Barry was a star at leading his lovely lady through the photo-shoot, and we had a good time tip-toeing through the lavender, the devil thorns, the dust .......all worth it!

Raquel & Craig pre-wedding shoot

2009-02-06T11:01:00.001+02:00

On a friday afternoon we headed off to Llandadno for our shoot, hoping to find a bit of shelter from the hectic south-easter. It was a stunning evening at the beach, which was chosen as a contrast to the upcoming wedding on 7 Feb in the winelands. And splashing about on the beach is always a good idea .....

Dionne & Gareth 3 January 2009

2009-01-09T21:19:00.002+02:00

Celebrating 15 years together is not something many couples can brag about, but that's what this couple were doing today! Dionne & Gareth also came over from Ireland for a sunny SA wedding, and unlike my 22 Dec wedding, the weather pulled out all the stops for a perfect west-coast day at Strandkombuis, rounded off with a stunning sunset. Dionne's girls were stunning in powder blue, with the boys (big and littles) providing plenty of action shots ...

Lauren & Ryan 6 Dec 08

2008-12-30T10:36:00.001+02:00

Lauren & Ryan tied the knot in Cape Town RSA, with the reception held at Silvertree in the beautiful Kirstenbosch Gardens. Lauren looked absolutely gorgeous, complimented by her lovely ladies in blue. Ryan certainly deserves a medal for his fortitude - throughout the entire ceremony and photo-shoot he was suffering from food-poisoning... thought we had lost him there for a bit! By the time the reception was in full swing he was looking a little less green, and a great party was had by all.

Kerry & Shelden 22 December 2008

2008-12-22T15:58:00.003+02:00

"Everywhere you go, you always take the weather with you...." or so the song goes.... Kerry & Shelden came out from Ireland for a sun-soaked SA wedding, and ended up becoming my poster models for cape winter weddings.... I'd just like to say a big thank-you to this couple, for taking the pelting rain in their stride, and getting out there and having a blast. Nothing was going to put a dent in their day, and the results were some of my favourite "soft day" photos!

Laura & Alex 19 Dec 08

2008-12-19T21:53:00.002+02:00

Family and friends of Laura & Alex gathered at the Table Bay Hotel for the pre-wedding party, and then set sail for a sunset cruise to Camps Bay. Glorious weather, good company and a few bubbles thrown into the mix made for a stunning evening ....

Book layout Sarah & Bruce

2008-12-15T18:38:00.001+02:00

Wildfire

2008-12-09T02:00:00.002+02:00

After breathing heavy smoke for the last 24hrs, the fire finally arrived in our street. With the wind gusting at knock-you-off your-feet strength, sparks flying out of the main fire-line leapt across gaps and roads and pretty soon the house at the end of the road was in trouble. It was pretty hard to get shots too - blasting wind, incredible heat and suffocating smoke that makes your eyes all but useless! With no fire-trucks on the scene - not enough to go around - many neighbors jumped in with buckets and hose-pipes as we tried to keep the fire away from the houses and the open bush area next to them . It eventually was too dangerous to continue as broken metal sheets were flying off the roof of the burning house, so the score by 10.30pm was - one house lost, two or more saved, some minor singes, crispy hair and filthy camera and lense. The fire is now making it's way around the mountain ....

neighbors getting a bit worried

we go to check if the fire is going to jump the road.... it does

view from my front porch as the fire races downwards

then it leaps the road and is at the end of our street

and the guys manage to keep the fire from spreading through to the lower houses

this house we saved, by using the pool back-wash to flood the garden and throwing buckets of water on the bushes to stop sparks catching... don't know where the owners are, but sorry for breaking your pool pump...

but the house behind was hopeless, and too dangerous to try (tried using a twisted roof sheet as a tripod-come-shield, but ran for it when the sparks started blasting everywhere)

from the porch again, as the fire races on by

Deirdre & Adrian 5 December 2008

2008-12-08T08:34:00.000+02:00

An idyllic wedding - Llandudno beach on a sunny morning, 12 or so guests (no fussing and flapping bridesmaids), inspirational minister, and a relaxed and down to earth couple - all the elements were just right, and it was a beautiful day indeed..... a couple of 4-legged locals did pop up in the photos now and then, requesting "pleeeease throw my stick for me" or the odd slightly dodge swimsuit appeared in the background, but nothing to spoil the fun, and Deirdre and Adrian were happy to splash about in the water as if no one else were there. Loved it!!

Volvo Ocean Race

2008-11-16T21:24:00.002+02:00

This Saturday we were lucky enough to hitch a ride out to see the start of the next leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. The owner of the yacht Greg also happens to be a SA champ sailor, so always had us in the perfect spot to view the action - and it was truly something - those 70's are beasties of note, moving at incredible speeds. Even with the engines on at full throttle, we had no chance of keeping up, and shots had to be grabbed - whilst bouncing up and down - as the yachts sped by. The bay was swarming with spectators afloat, and some of them had chosen rather unusual modes of transport too. Again, a big thank-you to Greg of Setsea (next to the 70's, the fastest under sail out there!) for the ride.....

Shelley & Rory 25 October 2008

2008-11-11T01:30:00.002+02:00

Asara in Stellenbosch was the venue for the day - with just a quick dash through to Bishops in Rondebosch for the service at the school chapel - Rory is an Old Boy of the school - certainly can't get married anywhere else! Luckily for me, the only car older and slower than mine was the vintage Bridal car..... Shelley was amazingly relaxed from the start, and we had some fun with the stunning penthouse bathroom in the getting-ready shots, and perfect golden light for the photo-session. We kept Rory going by telling him "just 5 more minutes" .... the man was a good sport even though he was itching to get to the party! Thanks Shelley and Rory, it was a fabulous day with some great photos.