A post from over the moon

For all the photographers and business owners out there you'll know what I mean when I say a good website/shop is a must. I think about a website being like a shop - if you're a pretty, friendly &orderly shop, people will visit you again, but if you're a shop with a bit of chaos, clothes struin on the floor and not very helpful, chances are slim that you'll have many returning customers. When I first started thinking of what my ideal website would look like I thought of the colours, the design, the layout, the user functionality but I really wasn't sure where I should begin or what to do where even though I had this picture in my mind of what I wanted. When I found Plus Plus Minus I knew I'd found the one who would be able to conceptualise all my thoughts, wants and needs for my website. Everything about my brief has been followed and I couldn't have asked for a site that is more "me"! It is now nearing the final stages but here's a sneak peek of my wonderful new site where you'll be able to follow my blog posts and updates. :) It's blurred I know, but wanted to keep the true reveal a surprise! Watch this space! :)

Fair Trade Tourism

Yesterday I was asked to photograph products for Fair Trade Tourism. It's a pretty cool initiative that empowers "Fair Trade" in industries on small scale farms. All the products are made in fairness and the workers all have good wages, good work environment, communities are set up from the money made by these products and the most awesome thing is that the products are being manufactured and Made in South Africa. So much raw materials are being exported and very little of the profit from that RAW material goes back to the communities that made it. So now with Fair Trade Tourism, they have introduced this to the Hotel and Tourism sector where you can choose to have a "Fair Trade" holiday. It's almost like the "Green" movement or "Organic" choice, where people choose to live their lives to help the environment. This is much the same, except it is a movement that makes sure that people at the source of industries get paid properly and have communities set up for them. These will soon also be available in Pick and Pay. I will be blogging the products soon, but just to show you the sorts of products they have :) As though I needed more chocolate - I have finitoed them already! :)

Check out Fair Trade SA

Venue: Peech Hotel

Lauren and Andrew's Longmeadow Piano Lounge Wedding

Lauren and Andrew's wedding at Longmeadow Piano Lounge was absolutely beautiful. A mixture of elegance and antique colours were the theme of the day. Lauren looked gorgeous in her dress and her blue eyes just popped! Here's a peek at their wedding.
Second shooter Kate van Onselen

Oh isn't she just gorgeous!!!!

Venue: Longmeadow Piano Lounge

DJ: Rowan Sherzinger 011 465 8669

Dirk Surprise 30th Party

It was a tough job keeping a secret from Dirk. He can be such a sneak when it comes to presents around his birthday and Christmas time. It was his 30th and I wanted it to be special so I started plotting a surprise party. I had to hide any evidence that I was planning this. He's such a sports fanatic - mainly rugby and cricket but generally all sport, so what better theme than "The Olympics". Everyone was so awesome in helping me keep this a secret, and the best surprise of all - his sisters came all the way from Cape Town and Grahamstown for the party! The day and night before was the toughest time to keep the secret. I had been baking all day and when he came home, he smelt 'chocolate cake' but I denied saying it must be the next door neighbours baking. Then he kept on asking about my "photo shoot" (which I had sneakily said I was going to do so it would get me out the house to organise the party) In order for Dirk to get to the party, I had organised Gump (thanks Gump) to pick him up for a game of golf (Dirks other favourite sport) It all worked out perfectly as Gump lied like it was second nature! :) A HUGE thanks must go to Jen and Craig who generously let us use their house for the party. It sure was a cracker of a day & night. We all hid behind the wall and as they drove in, we shouted SURPRISE and I think I might've seen a glimpse of a tear as he saw everyone which made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside that I'd done a good job! Lots of punch (thanks Paul and Tara) and beer flowed, an awesome braai (thanks braai man Dave) and a few Olympic games followed. Here's a few photos from the day which I managed to sneak in between playing hostess. :) Thanks so much to Jen H, Jen S, Tara & Links for helping me with food and setting up!

SURPRISE!

Yes, I dressed him as an Olympic weight lifter. :)

Watching the slideshow I did for him.

What's a party without cake?!

Almost All Girls

When Jannine contacted me for a family shoot she was so excited to have it as her sister was in town with her family. I love it when people really want a photoshoot because it makes it so much fun! Dirk joined me on this shoot and it was a lot of fun as once the girls started warming up to us we really got some great shots! :)
Dirk always manages to make people laugh which is a bonus but he also takes some gem photos too when I'm at the other side and miss some moments.

Dirk took this one of this little beauty. soo cute!

She looks like a barbie doll!

Greg and Marcia's Wedding - Part IV

My last blog post features their first dance and then with their mum and dad. It was so beautiful, as people held tealight candles all around them as they danced. And lastly, the incredible spread of dessert to complete their Winter Wonderland.

I wish Greg and Marcia a lifetime of happiness. Their wedding was a beautiful day to the start of a beautiful marriage.

Greg and Marcia's Winter Wonderland - Part III - The Decor

I have decided to dedicate this blog post to the amazingness of the decor and venue of Greg and Marcia's wedding. It truly was a wonderland to photograph.
I honestly get a smile on my face when I see how beautiful this decor was and the detail that went into planning and arranging each and every table to perfection. Everything from the bows on the place settings to the alignment of the chairs was perfect. Guy and Anton from The Wedding Emporium truly out did themselves.
Instead of babbling on and describing it - I'll let you have a look at it yourself.

Main Photographer: Dori Moreno

Venue: The Forum - The Campus

Decor: The Wedding Emporium