A short while back I mentioned in an interview that new photographers in business should decide what they want to photograph, and focus most of their attention and skills on that particular genre. I recently read this at the bottom of a wedding photography website, and it is a good illustration of what I don’t mean,
“we specialize in weddings, studio photography, corporate functions and events, product photography, schools, matric farewells, modeling, families and birthdays”
We had a professor in Homiletics class who had to constantly remind us that, “if everything is important, nothing is important”, referring specifically to the way some students were basically yelling all the way through 40 minutes of preaching.
If you specialize in everything, you don’t really specialize in anything. So, what is it that you want to shoot?
Nicky and Warren’s was a sweet, intimate wedding in a romantic dark chapel, with looming clouds waiting for us outside, which later had us pulling out our jiffy bags for camera protection during our photo shoot in the woods, right across that mile long driving range (who hits a ball that far?). It wasn’t really one of those romantic kind of showers, you know, where the couple spends a few minutes dancing around the wet with the photographer creating stunning “I’m singing in the rain” kinda images. No, this was more like the kind of rain that Noah could have expected, and had us praying that someone with a giant umbrella would magically show up. It didn’t happen, at least not for us. Upside is that if I had to choose a place for this to happen, Casalinga would probably be it, with guaranteed caffeine goodness awaiting you after any wet escapade.
Following are a few images, and I included some details shots this time…we actually do shoot them.
…on stringed instruments
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It would seem like I found a little niche in that area of the world, seeing that this is our fourth wedding in that small town. This time I am posting late as I decided from now on to post on the blog only after all the editing has been completed. I have several reasons, but one is that I do not waste a day looking for images I want to post, and also I get to post the images that I really like after having spent some time on them, and not just the ones that initially caught my eye.
Jenny got her images this morning and sent me a heart warming message,
“Ben, THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH, I am so impressed and grateful!!!!!!
Much appreciated!!!! Sjoe I don’t even have the words!!!!”
I’m not sure who made the dress, but Dress by Jean Nalida Designers, it’s pretty ornate and seems like it could have taken ages to create.
I’ve never seen a groom suffer as much during his speech as Raymond did. The poor guy was completely drenched long before half time, and not with sweat
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Yes, it finally caught up with me and my heart breaks not being at the party.
at least I have a vuvuzela…
one from the archives…quite a while back
If you were in Ballito around 20 May, stoned, and vaguely recall asking a photographer in a restaurant toilet to take your picture….
Well, I have your picture, contact me.
We are back in the land of impatient road hogs…funny how obvious the fact is if you spend a mere two days away from all the chaos. Swaziland is gorgeous, even though the most we saw of it was on the way back via Bulumbo (?) border.
I know I know, it took me irrisponsibly long, but I think I’m finally getting my head around this Lightroom thing, and it is very liberating indeed. I might actually have a life some day soon.
Warning to all non-photographers taking road trips with photographers: Better to leave the Jo-ASAP-hannesburg mentality snugly at home, the trip WILL take a substantial number of hours longer than usual, no matter how freezing cold it is.
30km off road towards the border, through a muddy forest, sometimes spinning and sliding our way up hilltops. Lots of oohs and aahs, the kind you made after a hiding in primary school.
We stopped in Kaapsche Hoop for a pancake, and the best Milo on this side of the border
There is a short little interview with me up on Angel’s Weddings. I just wanted to make a couple of notes on that discussion.
1st: If I absolutely had to choose a favourite photograph, say from last year, the one below would be it.
2nd: I don’t really have a penguin pose, and certainly not one that is trade marked. That’s just me being silly. I would however definitely sell a body part to go to Antarctica (figuritively speaking).
We are off to Swaziland for a wedding, and will be back in action on Tuesday.
So you have packed your camera bag. Extra cameras, extra fully charged batteries for all cameras, extra lenses, plenty CF cards. Even added a flash just in case! Arrive at the gig without being hijacked, all good. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, just so you know, your pants can actually rip open down the middle from front to back, about 15 minutes before starting time.
Anyway. The band is Nagskof, covered a few pics for Andre and the gang. Not my usual kinda gig, but fun.
Probably my two favourites of the evening. No.1 was photographed during sound check, and just before I turned immobile.
Cindy mentioned that I looked kinda sexy in the borrowed pants. Big thanks to those who helped out.
Alright, these are in no particular order, but coming up in the next day or two will be weddings which have taken place in the last few weeks.
I won’t be telling stories though. My brain is a bit fried and the first thing that tends to go is my very fragile ability to put anything into words, be it written or spoken. The other weddings will follow this post on the blog, so scroll down for later entries.
Without further ado, Louisa and Eitzaz at Shepstone Gardens.
One quick thing about this wedding though…KIDS, so many that Shrek would have had nightmares all over again. Cindy loved it of course!
I have to mention something about this final photo, because I can foresee a possible situation where someone tells a kid to sit in front of the group and look disgusted 
. We do family and group photos in a more traditional way, for several reasons, many of them related to Cracker Cheese. This group photo just happened this way, thanks to the sometimes “free” ways of kids. I would never try to set up a photo in this way, and if I did, it would become completely obvious and the impact of the photo will be lost. Everyone is not an actor, no matter how good the director is.
Anyway, cute are they not?
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Just a couple of pics here, mostly of the reception. I might add a few more later on today or tomorrow.
I’m not sure if they put something in the food, but guests always seem to have a blast at Emoyeni. How is that view over the northern suburbs?
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