I had the pleasure of joining Kat Forsyth as second shooter this last weekend at Shoana and Chris’s wedding. Take some time to look at her work i think Shona and Chris will be very happy. It was such a unique day, their family and friends came together to help out on their big day, and it turned out just perfect. The bride was so relaxed we should bottle her and sell her to other brides. I think that’s what made this wedding for me, the relaxed laid back tone, where the only thing that mattered was that it was shared with close friends and family and that they soon would be husband and wife. congrats guys, thank you for sharing your day with us. here are a couple more photos from the day

I had the privilege to attend the RE.INVENT workshop hosted by Dror Eyal and Andrea Carlyle at Forum Homini on Tuesday. It was quite an experience I would love to do it again. I learnt so much in one day, more than I expected.

I just want to say a quick thank you to both the hosts the day was really a great opportunity for me, thank you for awarding me the bursary even if my name was drawn out of a hat I’m glad I was the lucky person that got to be there. I picked up so much, besides my nice collection of mossie bites I think I walked away a more “enlightened” photographer.

The more I dabble into wedding photography the more respect and admiration I have for it. On that note a collection of my shots from the day I really couldn’t decide on just a handful they are all so different, so I thought id share all of my favorites.

As most of you know photography is my hobby, i enjoy trying all sorts of different types and like i said in my last post i have a new found respect for wedding photographers, i follow allot of your blogs and i just don’t know how you get some of the photos you do, i guess that’s what makes each photographer unique.. they all have there own style. i don’t think i have one yet i just take photos of what appeals to me..

this weekend ill be taking photos of my friends 9month and popping tummy could be allot of fun.. will post those soon. for now here are a couple more of the wedding i helped out at well lets say tagged along at hopefully Ursula and john from Harvestmoon photography can use a couple of the photos. Thanks for letting me tag along guys it really was allot of fun.

A while ago I was chatting to a friend Ursula, about the photography course’s I’ve been on and the course im doing.
she is a wedding photographer and actually did my wedding. I offered if they ever needed someone to tag along to help at a wedding im defiantly keen, and she was so welcoming next thing I know i’m “second” shooter at a wedding with her partner John.

When I started photography I never gave myself any limits, I told myself if you have a camera in your hands you can photograph anything, and from there on i’ve just gone full throttle, enjoying myself immensely from puppies,elephants, kids to models. I jumped at the opportunities even  though I was way over my head and nervous as hell, but every time I was done I could say.. I enjoyed that..

Life is to short not to try and do everything.. So if I think about it I have like a photography bucket list and I want to try everything.. Anyway back to the wedding, Ursula who I’m glad to say is becoming a friend, asked me to tag along. Luckily I wasn’t under to much pressure, although if you saw me that morning before you’d think it was me getting married.
All I can say is I’ve found a brand new amazing respect for wedding photographers, you guys are super human. Its such a tough job and the pressure wow.. I thought I had it bad as a multimedia designer but you guys.. YOU ROCK..
It was an awesome awesome day did I say awesome experience id if you asked me just after I left the wedding I thought sooooo not soon again and now after editing a couple of photos I’m like yes would love to again..

I’m rambling on anyway I’m just going to post the images that I like that I would choose if it was my album but for now just a sneak preview of the fist photo I edited, I never know if I go to far but then again this is a personal blog where I can be creative and post anything but I would love your comments the more input the more I can learn and the more exciting it is.
Anyone reading this I hope you all have a wonderful festive season
And be blessed in the new year.
All my love and wishes Mandy

A friend of mine is getting married next year, and ill be taking the photos, really looking forward to it, So I’m getting allot of “practice” in. This last Friday night I had camera withdrawals and bought myself a bunch of roses, and decided to take some typical Ring pictures, I gave myself a few challenges, I had to take the photos indoors on a flat surface, bellow Tungsten light (with a globe that’s only half functions)

I was only allowed to use my rings and the red roses, I had to try and remove all other backgrounds and the main focus needed to be either the rings or the rose..

After I played around with the different settings, on the camera and flash, I got the exposure I was happy with. I under exposed allot to get the dark backgrounds..
I tried to think of a way of taking the photos that wouldn’t be the “first solution” so tried all sorts of different angles and with allot of trial and even more error, with fast dissipating flash batteries, I came up with these solutions. They all seem quite traditional but then I think the dark effect works well.

I did edit in Photoshop,  I played with the curves and levels, I used the Stamp tool to get rid of the “rose blemishes” And I used unsharp mask…
Rose’s are so unforgiving….. They show every little bump and kink and flaw, I suppose were all so used to seeing the perfect 5 roses rose now days that when you take a picture of the average joe rose, it doesn’t cut it..
I’ve decide not to Guilt trip myself anymore on editing the photos, that’s what I can do, know how to do and studied for 5 years to do…
So I suppose ill forgive myself. Ask me tomorrow again though ill probably change my mind.

I have a studio session on Saturday, an introduction to studio photography, where a couple of our lectures that gave us our first course have started their own Photography school http://www.photoacademy.co.za/
Have a look, I’m hoping to soak it all up, and then decide which is the next best class for me to do, but in the mean time ill just carry on playing, and experimenting on my own. To view the larger images and a couple of extras click the more link.

I haven’t had a chance to work with my camera in a while and I’m missing it, but in the mean time I’ve edited a couple more from the Make up Trial.  Also allot of images, constructive criticism welcome..
Let me know if you like the layout of the images, i found a new option in my admin that i haven’t used before.

My sister is a make up artist and needs new images for her portfolio, so I tagged along this last weekend and took these “wedding Pictures.” The two models are stunning and made my job very easy, hope you like them sister. I’m very happy with how they turned out. Any suggestions and comments are welcome, still learning and would love some feedback.  There are allot of pictures so enjoy….