Those people who know me, will probably be very surprised at this post. I am not a baby/newborn photographer, its not really my thing, but when a good friend who you have know for ever invites you to meet her 9 day old little package of sugar and spice, its very hard to resist taking the camera with.
Candice and Michael were blessed with the arrival of the tiny but incredibly feisty and beautiful Isabella on the 12th of September. This adorable little girl was such a great model for us, as she slept through all of the photographs, and even pulled some of the cutest faces. Here is a peak at the perfect little Isabella, congratulations again to my lovely friend Candice and her fiancé Michael on the birth of your first child together. Love Chantal XXX
2 Comments
Samantha and Francois, had the most beautiful and very steamy engagement shoot in March this year. Their E-shoot was scheduled during the wettest months in Johannesburg, where we had no sun for days on end. Poor Samantha was very stressed out, and was ready to postpone right up until the morning of the shoot. A few panicky messages went back and forth between us, but as morning dawned, we woke up to the most perfect sunny weather. I do believe, to this day, that it was a sign that these two are meant to be together! We arrived at the rather wet, but fabulous venue for the shoot, Reefsteamers in Germiston, and were greeted by the friendliest people, who are all volunteers that restore the old steam trains. They were so excited to see us and showed us the engines we could go inside and opened up the sheds so we could use different locations for the shoot. Samantha looked beautiful, having had her make-up done that morning by Shandre, and the couple looked amazing together in their simple but elegant outfits of blue jeans and white shirts. Can you believe, Samantha and Francois had never really been in front of a camera and were super nervous about this? They are smoking hot and the camera just loves them! This young couple are just so in love and comfortable together, they needed very little coaching to get the steamy and sexy images. Here is a peak at the E-shoot we did with this fabulous couple .... Sam and Fafa, I love you guys, you are amazing and I am blessed to have met you and to now call you my friends! A huge thank you has to go to my second Chris who ran around with me, climbing up and down engines and made the day run a bit smoother, as well as to the amazing Team at Reefsteamers who provided us with the perfect location. Love Chantal XXX Reality TV shows, such as Cake Boss or our local Charlys Cake Angels, have changed the way we see, think and feel about wedding cakes. Especially the way they look and taste. These shows have led to an explosion of different and unique options, sizes, shapes, flavours, colours and decorating techniques – nothing is impossible or too much. As there is just so much choice out there, I have decided to try and give you a few tips to consider when choosing your bakery and wedding cake. The first step, before even meeting with your decorator is to think about what colours you want your wedding to be. For some brides this is easy as they have been planning this day since they were 5, while for others it is a little harder. The best thing to do is to start gathering ideas and inspiration of the things you love. This can be done online (Pinterest is a fantastic tool) or by looking through magazines. If you have a Pinterest board, this will make it a lot easier for your decorator to get a feel of what you like and want for your wedding day. Booking your cake decorator: To avoid disappointment, it is best to book your wedding cake decorate/bakery early. Like most things wedding, all the good decorators get booked months in advance and are therefore quickly fully booked. And specialist bakers will limit the number of cakes they make a week. When you make an appointment to meet with your prospective cake decorators, be sure to bring along your Pinterest board, magazine pictures or any photos that can be used as a guideline. Also bring along a copy of your invite, table centre pieces and/or flowers. Think about the theme and colours you want on your cake: traditional white with splashes of colour or maybe something more fun and unusual. A great thing to bring along is fabric swatches, as they can give the decorator a good idea of the colours, theme and general look and feel of your reception. Keep in mind that, your cake should match the theme of your wedding and can or should be the centre piece of your reception. The size of your Wedding Cake: The size of your cake is traditionally determined by the number of people that will be attending your wedding and when you are planning on serving it. You do not want to be left with three quarters of your cake after your wedding. Therefore, it is important to discuss this with your decorator. In terms of when to cut your cake, it’s a new trend to cut it straight after the ceremony, as this gives your guests something to nibble on while you are having your photos. Another trend is to use your cake as part of your dessert table. Hence, be sure to discuss the number of people and when you are planning to serve your cake with your decorator, so they can advise on the size of cake required for your wedding. Type of Wedding Cake: Tiered cake, cupcakes, mini cakes, cake pops or push pops? A tiered cake always has a wow factor and really forms a centre piece at your reception. However, cupcakes, mini cakes or cake pops are just as pretty and much easier to serve. Something to keep in mind is that people can easily take home their cupcake, meaning you are not left with additional cakes. However, with a slice of cake, unless you provide boxes, they are not easy to take home. Wedding Cake Flavours: Wedding cakes are no longer just plain fruit cakes; they now can come in whatever flavour you desire, whether it is vanilla sponge or red velvet. The options and choices are limitless. Therefore, it is best to decide between yourself and your fiancé what flavours you like and which you don’t like. This will make your choice a little easier. However, if you can’t choose, select a few flavours and ask your decorator if you can do a cake tasting. Often a cake tasting is an additional cost but it is worth it, as you want a delicious moist cake that you and your guests will enjoy on the day. Overall look of your Wedding Cake: Buttercream icing is delicious, but doesn’t give a beautiful smooth finish to a cake like fondant does. Also, fondant allows your cake decorator to be creative with your decorations and make beautiful trimmings for and on your cake, such as sugar flowers, piping and painting. Another trendy icing option is chocolate ganache, which is very rich and gives an almost smooth finish to your cake. If you like the look of fondant but not the taste, speak to your decorator about the possibility of icing your cake with buttercream or chocolate ganache and then covering it with fondant. This will mean that it looks great and tastes great too. Just remember elaborate decorations, sugar flowers, trimmings, etc will add to the cost of your cake. An easy way to make your cake look fun and unique is to include cake toppers. A relatively inexpensive option is to purchase cute porcelain or plastic bride and groom toppers. Alternatively, you can order monogram letters. Otherwise, speak to your decorator about making sugar flowers or gum paste figurines to top your cake. These are edible but can also be kept for years. Paying for a Wedding Cake: Cake prices are usually based on the size of the cake, i.e. number of servings and the intricate, time consuming little details that need to be added to the cake. Be prepared to pay a deposit to secure your booking, as you are unlikely to find a decorator that will even start your cake without a deposit. The balance is usually payable 2 – 3 weeks before your wedding date. It is important to find out if your cake decorator will deliver and set up your cake on the day. As well as, what the additional cost would be or if it is included in the cake cost. Finally, keep in mind that you will need a cake stand for the day of the wedding. A lot of cake decorators hire them out. You would need to find out if that is possible and what the cost would be. There are many hidden or forgotten costs when choosing a wedding cake, so be sure to ask all these questions and more upfront. Last thing to remember is "let them eat cake" and enjoy your wedding day! A big THANK YOU needs to go to L’il Delights (www.lil-delights.com) for helping me gather and put all this info together, and for the increase in dress size as I am often used as the taste tester of all sorts of deliciousness! When the family comes to visit all the way from Australia, what is the best thing to do? A family shoot of course!!! My friend Robynne contacted me when her family decided to visit South Africa again and asked if we could do a family shoot with everyone as a little memento of the trip. It was awesome having this family together, they were so much fun and it was anything but the ordinary "Say Chesse" family portrait session.
From the crazy but loving antics of the adults to the boisterous boys and the cutest little girl on the planet, this was an awesome morning filled with loads of giggles and laughter. And, if you were wondering .... yes there is a theme in the outfits, everyone had to wear something purple! Here is a peak at the Wyatt family's photo-shoot at Horwood Farm. One of the most amazing couples I know, Carrie and Greg, got married in December at the beautiful Morrells in Northcliff. Their theme was vintage French and it definitely had the wow factor! The shabby chic decor included a variety of flowers, little perfume bottles, silver teapots and bird cages with little birds. The little details along with the fabulous venue suited this classy couple so well with its simple elegance. When I first met them, Carrie explained that the little birds that were incoporated in the decor were a tribute to her Mom who would be watching over them from heaven during the day. I am pretty sure that this little touch, along with the amazing lady that Carrie is, made her mom proud and smile down at the beautiful couple. Carrie looked magnificent in her vintage inspired gown from De La Vida Gowns, she took her handsome grooms breathe away as she walked down the aisle. The day was perfect in every way for this lovely couple, even the weather played along with us, as the huge thunderstorm that threatened all day only hit when every one was inside the reception enjoying the delicious cocktail dinner. A big shout out goes to all the suppliers (listed below) for making Carrie and Greg's Wedding day so perfect. Another big thank you goes to my amazing second photographer Sherrie for all of her hard work in assisting me. To Carrie and Greg, my ginger couple, you guys are fabulous and I just love you! I am so lucky to have met you and to have shared your day with you. Its awesome to count you as friends, and I wish you both huge success in your careers and a very happy and long life together. Here is a peak at their special day Love Chantal XXX A huge shout out to the amazing suppliers that made this day so perfect:
Venue, Food and Flowers: Morrells – rynhardt@morrells.co.za Wedding gown: De La Vida Bridal Couture - justine@delavida.co.za Wedding Officer: Ryan Hogarth – ryan.hogarth@gmail.com Wedding Cake: Annicas Cakes – annicas@mweb.co.za Grooms Suit – Khaliques Fordburg Wedding Stationary – Scrap Crazee Meyersdal (Kathy)– scrapcrazee@mweb.co.za Make up – Makeup By Monique - info@makeupbymonique.co.za It is pretty rare to see a cactus flower, especially as they only flower once a year and for one day only. So I was super excited to see one of our cacti had 2 buds on it! I started watching the plant every morning to ensure I got at least one photo of the flowers, and low and behold, one morning I got up and both buds had opened on the same day! I rushed off in my PJ's and slippers to get my camera and managed to get a few awesome photos of this rare occurance!
Here is a peak at the beautiful flowers that appeared one morning and was gone the next! Glamorous is the word that comes to mind when I think of this young couple ... Nikki and Fotis are both Doctors who have the most insanely busy schedule, but they pulled off the most fabulous wedding at Saheti and the Johannesburg Country Club in Woodmead last October. From the colour scheme which reminded them of the sunset on the beach in Greece where Fotis proposed to his beautiful bride, to every last intricate detail, this is a wedding I will never forget. Nikki looked amazing in her fabulous gown, Fotis very handsome in his bowtie and tuxedo. They are a beautiful couple in every way. It was my first time photographing a Greek wedding, and things are slightly different with the exchanging of rings by the best man and maid of honour and the Stefana ceremony followed by the walking around the altar, so it was very exciting for me. To top it all off they celebrated into the night with the traditional Greek dancing, throwing of the plates and the men dancing around the whisky glass. I would like to thank all of the suppliers who made this day so perfect for them, as well as Chris who was my second photographer for the day, and took care of things when we were at different venues. Lastly a message to the lovely couple ... Nikki and Fotis, it was so special being part of your big day. I wish you both and your families all of the best and that you have many happy years together. Here is a peak at their fabulous day Love Chantal XXX Many people have asked what is happening, why all the secrecy about the future ... well we have been working hard at creating something so fabulous, we just had to keep it a secret!
Chantal (Beautiful Boudoir & Shelley (Pretty Boudoir) have finally joined forces and also brought on board the super talented MUA's & Hair Stylists Monique & Shandré! Together they are invincible and glamorously gorgeous! Our new boudoir website (www.femmefataleboudoir.co.za) and blog has arrived! Hello SA and welcome to the world of sexiness! We are here and more stylish than before! Have a peak at the new website and blog ... We will update the blog as much as we possibly can...we want all of you gorgeous ladies to be part of it. So comment, ask questions, if you have a shoot then give tips to newbie clients, let's get some chatter and a vibe going on here! Looking forward to working with all of you sexy ladies! xxx The Femme Fatale Girls Shelley, Monique, Shandré & Chantal Morongoa and Basil are a beautiful couple with a stunning little family. The minute I met them in the little coffee shop in Brooklyn Mall to discuss their wedding day plans, it was an instant connection. I love the way they look at each other, the way they interact and of course how good they look together. Their love story is pretty awesome, Basil saw Morongoa in a Mall and instantly knew that he wanted to know her better. I think for him it was love at first sight! A couple years later and a little girl who arrived to complete their family, they decided it was time to get married. As they both love nature and water, we decided the best place to do the shoot was at the Pretoria Botanical Gardens. The afternoon arrived, it was perfect weather and the whole family including Morongoa's 2 daughters joined Chris and myself for this fun and fabulous shoot. Here is a peak at a few of our images from their E-shoot, I would like to thank Chris who was my second and ran around with the children for most of the afternoon. To Mo and Basil ... words can't describe how much I love you guys! XXX The 25th of August was the big day for one of the most amazing couples, Evadne and Jerome, who tied the knot at a spectacular winter themed wedding at Avianto in Muldersdrift. I worked closely with them during the planning of their big day and as they are both perfectionists, not a thing was out of place. The decor was spectacular with crystals hanging from the trees and sparkles everywhere, and true to their nature the guests were well taken care of with a very yummy sweet table and flipflops to dance in. Evadne was fabulous in her Maggie Sottero Gowns and Benjamin Adams shoes, while Jerome was an incredibly handsome groom. It was a very emotional wedding, and both Sherrie and I had to wipe tears away during the vows. My absolute favourite moment in this wedding is the look on Evadne's face when Jerome tells her she looks beautiful as she got to the front of the ceremony. To this amazing couple, thank you for being so wonderful. You both looked fabulous on your wedding day and I loved being part of your magical day. I wish you great success and many happy moments together. Thank you also to the suppliers (listed below) who helped them to create the Winter Wonderland! All our love Chantal and Sherrie XXX Thank you to the amazing suppliers listed below:
Make up - Janell Donders DJ- Chilli funk Deco- Perfect day Venue - Avianto Dresses - Eve's bridal wear Cake - Cupcake boutique Suit - Khaliques Shoes - Christiaan Michael |
AuthorQuirky and often described as rather eccentric, I am a lover of all things beautiful. Capturing special moments and making my clients look and feel beautiful is what makes me happy! Archives
April 2017
Categories
All
|