Lauren and Warren's Spring Engagement Session

Niki M Photography has a brand new website! Visit www.nikimphotography.co.za to view all my latest work :)

Lauren and Warren make such an amazing couple... which is starting to make me wonder how I manage to get the cream of the crop when it it comes to young, funky, energetic couples in PE? I don't have answers as yet, but I am definitely not complaining :)

We decided to head out to Heatherbank to play in the gorgeous yellow flowers for a little bit. And Lauren brought along Chloe their Yorkie, who was too cute for words! Vertically challenged or not, this doggie made it her mission to see us through the long grass and flowers - even if that meant chomping her way to us.

Might I add that these two seem to have excellent luck... beautiful blue skies with high wispy clouds... on a weekend... in the afternoon... and in PE? Not too often that happens :)

It's my birthday! Well... kind of :)

Niki M Photography has a brand new website! Visit www.nikimphotography.co.za to view all my latest work :)

Whilst driving around the other day, I suddenly remembered that I started this blog around this time last year. Eish! I nearly forgot my bloggy-b-day!

Well happy birthday dear blog :) Its been a wonderful year of memories and progress in all spheres. But little blog was in need of some TLC so it got a super make-over! A new look and feel, some added pages which will fill up soon I promise. 

I'm so excited that I thought I'd do a giveaway :) Not an average giveaway - average isn't my style. So, for the next two days I will be giving away (yes, for free) hugs and cheek kisses (I have to specify here) to everyone!!! Who's first?

The time spent on this re-design was well worth it :) I hope everyone enjoys the new blog - let me know what you think?

Thanks to everyone who follows and brightens up my days :) 

Nix xxx

Rolecia and Leon's Picnic Themed Engagement Shoot

Niki M Photography has a brand new website! Visit www.nikimphotography.co.za to view all my latest work :)

Rolecia and Leon won the Bridal Fair competition that ran earlier this year - and I am so happy (skip-down-the-street kinda happy!) that they did, because they are the sort of couple that comes into your life and simply lights it up!

I could not have asked for more in a couple, and the love that they have for each other is so huge that it's all you can feel when you are around them (*happy sigh*). You two rock - and I cannot wait until the big day :)

P.S. Did I mention that this was the first couple shoot I did with my BRAND NEW CANON 5D :) Oh happy day!

 

Ella's 3rd Birthday Party

Niki M Photography has a brand new website! Visit www.nikimphotography.co.za to view all my latest work :)

It has been a long time since I photographed The Berning Family and little Ella... an entire year has passed! So it was really awesome to be back and snapping away :) Ella is so cute, and both she and Jamie have grown so much in the past year.

This party was serious fun! With a super gigantic and incredibly beautiful coral tree, a hammock to play in, things to stick and things to smear, pass the parcel, musical statues, sweets, and cake to boot. These kids had a blast... and I think the adults enjoyed a little down time too :)

Bailey at 3 weeks

Niki M Photography has a brand new website! Visit www.nikimphotography.co.za to view all my latest work :)

As with every shoot, there is a story behind this one too.

Shae and I met in standard 6. We disliked each other - or should I say seriously disliked each other. But life is such that we ended up best friends (amazing how that happens)... and years later, through school life, hating boys, then boyfriends, horrid spin the bottle memories, house parties, varsity, and all the other noise in our lives... we learned to be quiet together. We learned the art of not having to speak. And that is what I miss so much in a friend. There is a peace that grows between two people, in-between the sentences. So many of us find that in our loved one, husband, wife. But not very many of us find that in a friend.

And so it was that we grew up and I moved away. We got jobs, got married, and now one of us has a baby. Its so funny how life happens, without us even giving it a second thought. But we always stayed in touch. And when Shae had her baby, she allowed me to fly up especially to see Miss Bailey. The one thing that strikes me the most is how much Shae has grown up. She's a mommy now - and that is one of the most amazing things I have seen. We all see mommies with babies - but to see one of your closest friends with a new baby is a sight so amazing that it brings tears to my eyes.

I wanted these photos to document Shae and Bailey (oh, and a little bit of Grant too, sorry Granty). We thought about poses, and cute headbands, and even baskets. But that just didn't seem right.

So Shaki, I hope that you enjoy these - I love you to bits and thank you for allowing me to photograph something that is so precious to you. I hope these photos will bring you happiness and memories because if they do, then I was able to return the favour xxx

Winter Sessions 2

Niki M Photography has a brand new website! Visit www.nikimphotography.co.za to view all my latest work :)

I present part two of my personal project called the Winter Sessions - a bit of a contrast to the previous post, these photos were taken in Johannesburg on the day it snowed. The snow was actually a mix of snow/sleet/hail - and ended up as sludge, but made for beautiful photos :)

Winter Sessions

Niki M Photography has a brand new website! Visit www.nikimphotography.co.za to view all my latest work :)

The winter sessions were born after discussion with fellow photographer Rikki Hibbert. She has an amazing line of fine art prints, and she suggested I go out and give nature photography a fresh go. It has been a while since I whipped out the macro lens, just for fun, so a trip to my Dad's farm in Heidelberg was a perfect opportunity. The highveld is incredibly dry, and it seems hard to believe that the place will erupt in blooms within the next few weeks.

All photos were taken with a Canon 100mm Macro IS lens at F2.8

Anne Rimbault Pottery Studio

Niki M Photography has a brand new website! Visit www.nikimphotography.co.za to view all my latest work :)

Anne runs a beautiful pottery studio (I was about to say little, but not so much) from her home in Bordeaux. I used to attend pottery lessons religiously before we left for Port Elizabeth, and still miss those cozy mornings sitting in the warm sun or next to the kiln, just creating.

Anne asked me to take a few photos of the studio for her when I was last in Joburg. We decided that it would be a very relaxed shoot with natural photos and thus opted to do the shoot during a morning lesson instead of styling the shoot. The results are really fantastic. I got lost in all the small details of the studio. It is awesome to be able to look at these photos and remember not only all the small things, but also all the friends I dearly miss.

If you would like a new hobby, I really recommend pottery - it may sound a bit 'homely' but you will never look back. I can't even explain how much pride I felt giving people presents I had made especially for them, and making gorgeous creations for my own house. I even attended a chiminea workshop and proudly walked away with my very own, home-made chiminea (its a Mexican freestanding fireplace made of clay - google it).

Visit Anne's website at www.annerimbault.com, or give her a call on 011 886 2976. She also sells a range of to-die-for tagines (see photos below), and does commissions.

On to the photos...

Bernadette and Chris

Niki M Photography has a brand new website! Visit www.nikimphotography.co.za to view all my latest work :)

Bernadette and Chris celebrated their fourth anniversary and decided to commemorate the day with a late afternoon photoshoot - before heading off for a romantic 'mystery' evening that Chris organised. Such an awesome couple to work with - tons of love and laughter :) And the afternoon was made even more special by Laddy the horse, who took an instant liking to us. All in all, it was a very memorable afternoon and we got some sooooper doooper shots. I'm very excited to share these photos with everyone, enjoy!

The Raath Family

Niki M Photography has a brand new website! Visit www.nikimphotography.co.za to view all my latest work :)

The Raath family is so amazing! They just welcomed a new little one into their family, and Colinda and I chatted about doing a photo shoot with the whole family instead of the traditional baby shoot. She took so much time and put a lot of thought into the perfect 'tea party' family photo shoot - and the results are awesome. I don't think I have ever seen a little girl so excited about a cupcake (you'll see what I mean!).

Hard to believe this is a winters day in Port Elizabeth, and harder still whilst looking out of the window at the mist and rain... but let the antics of little Adelaide and the gorgeous face of Gabby, plus the cute pooch Nuggy warm your heart! I smiled the entire time that I edited these photos (and I'm not making that up!). That is a lot of smiling, people! So now its your turn... Enjoy the loooooong weekend :)