FESTIVE FALL FEVER WITH THE McNALLAN FAMILY

What a special treat it was to be back a year later shooting the McNallan family under the amazing autumn surrounds of Fish Lake. Last year baby Tyler was still tucked away in mummies tummy and Aiden was still 'finding his feet'. From the blue skies of last year to the cooler and rain saturated temps (2 degrees celsius) of this year this blog highlights the magical moments of human nature - 'from tummy to Tyler'. Thanks to Pam and her gorgeous family for highlighting the truly vibrant COLOURS OF LIFE.

Aiden sporting his bubble umbrella, which is inspired by Eric Carle's classic tale 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' from Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Very-Hungry-Caterpillar-Bubble-Umbrella/dp/B00435RJDY)

Inspired by nature--when I saw the leather pads on the elbows of Aiden's cardigan, I had to add this image I took of an oak leaf, which seemed to perfectly mirror the leathery feel and texture.

          Purity

              Welcome to baby TYLER who has just celebrated his first birthday

Autumn leaves not only providing perfect colour but the perfect backround boken 'blur' too

        MAPLE MANIA

   

Aiden and Tyler are the 'Style Generators' in their adorable and trendy Babygap jumpers 

(http://www.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=35792&departmentRedirect=true#department=166)

                         An the Oscar for the cutest little sad pouting face goes to Aiden 

                    Ashy Oak leaves looking pretty in Pink

Things are looking UP for dad and son - love the matching reds of Tory's shirt from Macy's (http://www.macys.com/store/event/index.ognc?action=search&storeId=902) 

               Last year - September 2012 and baby Tyler still safely tucked away in mom's tummy

           Look mom--its festive fall-time WHOHOOHOOO

                                                                                                                     Until next time ...

RENE & JASON'S BIG DAY ON 'THE RANGE' IN TOKAI, CAPE TOWN

This wedding day will go down in the history books as one of my most memorable, with bride Rene as my most nervous and entertaining bride and their horse-drawn carriage which morphed into a mud bathing session as one of the most comical moments.Thanks to Jason and Rene for all the love, laughs and moments of hilarity that will be forever etched in my memory with great fondness.

       The groom sporting his 'spicy and hot' wedding socks, given to him by daughter Ashanti.

Rene's classically flowing tiered wedding gown (http://www.evesbridalwear.co.za/Default.aspx) complemented by an exotic spray of white phalaenopsis orchids designed by Monica and Sheron from the Fairy Factory (http://www.thefairyfactory.co.za/about.htm)

Jason enjoying the ride of his life in their horse-drawn carriage, thanks to the Cape Town Carriage Company (http://ctcco.co.za/Weddings.html)

The Range in Tokai providing the perfect combination of views, vistas and smokey mountains in the distance.

(http://www.therange.co.za/)

Notice the brides surprise when the horse passes by for a bath - I was laughing so hard I proceeded to blur the entire 'mud bath-in-motion' photographs that followed. Hilarious wedding moments.

Bride & groom sneaking a kiss behind the iconic Tokai Stone Chapel, a national monument built  in the 1890s in a neo-Gothic manner (http://www.sahistory.org.za). Fortifications were a necessary feature of the early Dutch settlement at the Cape and neither the Fort of Good Hope nor the Castle were in a good strategic position to guard the bay, resulting in a semi-circle of fortifications stretching from Salt River to Hout Bay.

Sheron and Monica from the Fairy Factory designed the beautifully creative fingerprint tree, enabling all  guests to literally leave their 'mark' after the wedding ( http://www.thefairyfactory.co.za/about.htm)

Dad trying to keep up with his daughter Ashanti's énergized dance moves thanks to DJ Portia 

(https://www.facebook.com/portia.mackenzie?fref=ts)

Light painting with LOVE. Thanks to videographer Andrew from A-Frame video 

(http://aframevideo.wix.com/aframevideo#!) and his team for their assistance in helping me 'get the shot!

CHRIS & KATIE TIE THE KNOT IN ICONIC DULUTH ATOP SPIRIT MOUNTAIN

Thanks to Chris and Katie for a gallant day of celebrations, peppered with jolly American traditions like the dollar dance and exuberant and endless views on offer at Spirit Mountain. The delights of the heaving dance floor are a charming reminder of what weddings are ultimately all about--the party zone! 

 A novel coat hanger for the new 'Mrs' in the house

     The bride sneaking a peak

 An innovative way for this little page boy to deliver the ring to the fishing-crazed groom, Chris - check out the sheer delight on his face!

Fishing for compliments

       Loving the jailhouse rock'n socks of this wedding guest

 Katie looking lavish in her stylish wedding gown from Brides of France (http://bridesoffrance.com)      

 Caressed by a kiss and serenaded by breathtaking views of Duluth (www.visitduluth.com)

 Loved the pragmatic bride walking both up and down the aisle barefoot -it is the closest one can get to any romantic notions of a 'beach wedding' feel without actually being on the sand. Jubilation all around!

 The wedding party highlighted by Duluth's aerial lift bridge - a major landmark in the port city of Duluth, Minnesota (www.duluthharborcam.com/)

 Riding high on Spirit Mountain with Lake Superior and Duluth looming large in the background. (www.spiritmt.com)

  A wedding party that is clearly 'on the move' and 'going places'. 

 Playing with my angles as I 'shoot' this wedding party

 The tradition of 'clinking' of glasses until the bride couple kiss originated in medieval days when wine was often spiked with poison, and hence a way of the host proving his innocence and ultimately a sign of trust, honesty and a toast to good health (www.westchestermagazine.com/Blogs/The-Wedding-Guru/)

Let the kissing games begin....

 OH MY WORD....everywhere I look people are just kissing and snogging all over!

 Love the watermelon's romantic seal of approval and the towering floral arrangements thanks to (www.petersonandersonflowers.com) 

 Bridesmaids start collecting money for the Dollar dance - a tradition which started in Poland but different countries enjoy different traditions. In the USA it has morphed into a Dollar dance and in Hungary and Portugal the bride takes off her shoes and puts them in the middle of the dance floor and then passes them around for a donation.

 The Dollar dance is an excellent way for all family members to enjoy some face-time with the bridal couple and wish them good-luck.

 The bride and groom having a festive time adding up their new united 'Dollar Brand'

 Thanks to Anna Plys for her delectable cupcakes and to (https://howsweetitiscakes.squarespace.com/) for the wedding cake

 Sweetening things up before the party begins in earnest

 And finally HAPPY HOUR has arrived--time to let loose and get into the groove with DJ Donjon (www.djdonjon.com)

      The pain and agony of bopping to THE BEAT

 1 tequila, 2 tequila, 3 tequila ......... FLOOR!

  Chris rocking the party zone!

 Movers and shakers of the dance floor!

Beware of the 'camera-less' photographer. Austin powers would have loved this one--YEAH BABY YEAH!