Vanessa & Peter | Wedding | Tanglewood

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"The Greek and the Porra"

The Greek surfer, and "pretty much any outdoor sports fanatic" architect originally from Durban meets the Portuguese shoe-crazy, domestic goddess, interior architect originally from Johannesburg, in Cape Town - and fall in love!

The joker and the sweet-heart.

So opposite yet SO perfect for each other!!

I love their energy and their zest for life, freaking weird experiences (Peter) and people - family and friends.

Peter is a true guys guy and the stories and scandal that came out at the speeches had me in absolute stitches!!!!!!!!!! I LOVED IT!!!

The guys got hold of an out of the ark gaming console - the ones we 80's babies had as kids, and spent the morning gaming as well as enjoying the estate's facilities (namely the pool) - I love how super chilled they were and how they chose to enjoy their lead-up to the wedding ceremony!

Vanessa on the other hand was managing final touches and organising and delegating final details - the decor was a SERIOUS team effort from collecting of glass bottles and containers, sourcing fabric, ribbon and string, making bows and bunting and generally sewing up a storm - Vanessa, Mom and Bridesmaids - you did an awesome, super-human job and the reception looked INCREDIBLE!!!

The ceremony was so touching and beautiful and full of emotion and so much laughter, as was the reception and the speeches!! I was looking forward to the Greek vs Portuguese quips and jokes!

I loved how so diplomatically Vanessa's uncle gave advice to Peter about marrying a Porra as they call themselves, and said this: "... Portuguese women, without disrespect, make good cooks and good housewives." So basically he was telling Peter he had struck gold.

Peter's father has such a dry wit and with one short sweet sentence started his speech with: "We Greeks are quite tall unlike the Portuguese, but anyway, no disrespect."

All round this was a festive and jovial affair.

Vanessa & Pete - I wish you many beautiful, happy, crazy years together! XXX

Cheers!

To view their engagement shoot click here.

To see the full post click here.

Candice & Jacques | Wedding | Bon Amis, Bloemendal Wine Estate

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Theirs is a beautiful story of the Beauty that is loved but does not see that the man before her is the man she has always hoped for. A very similar story to my own..

These are the stories that make my heart quicken with excitement.
From personal experience and from observing others, this Once Upon A Time has an everlasting happy ending that grows in love and friendship daily through discovery and sharing. Its just so beautiful!! And to witness it is precious.
It is sacred, the way a union of two hearts should be.

The beauty of total vulnerability within total trust is indescribable. The giving of two hearts, one to the other, for life - entrusting another with your most prized possession -  your total self - these gestures happen in moments and echo into eternity.
The emotion is thick, the definitive moments tangiable - and when the kiss is shared and the union announced, it is the most wondorous fraction of a moment in time.
And to capture this moves me beyond words.
Even as I write this I relive every moment like this that I have had the pleasure of witnessing and it still touches me, everytime.

Over the months leading up to the wedding, I had the priviledge to get to know Candice, but little did we know that the BBM message screeches we shared when she asked me to be her photographer would lead us to the precious, irreplaceable friendship we now share. I treasure you and Jacques my friend!!

Candice sent me a link to a blog post the other day and when I read the title, I knew I would need a day before I read it. I knew it would talk about what I hope to share with all my clients if they are willing and that it would speak about what caused Candice and I to now have the friendship we do.
Have a read if you're a bride - as Nadia Meli, the photographer who writes about How to NOT pick your wedding photographer and shares how it was the same for her as a bride.
It was the same for me when I was getting married way before my photography days.
(That went for my dress, make-up and hair as well in my case).

Be blessed by the images of the love and sheer joy these two share!
To see their engagement shoot we did December last year click here.

Click here to see the full blog post.

Vanessa & Peter | Engagement Shoot | Philadelphia

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Vanessa and Peter are such a sweet, fun couple - there was constant teasing and giggles with Nessie getting her own back every so often!! 

Vanessa is all kinds of beautiful, radiating an immense love for life and the people she cares about - and especially for her Peter. And as much as Peter loves to tease her, its beautiful to see his tenderness for her. You guys rock it together!!!

Watching these two play and have fun together was so flippen heart-warming!! Of course I was cheering for the wee Nessie as even in her killer heels she still a head and a bit shorter than Pete - but a feisty and quick little sweetheart she is!! 

While shooting with them I noticed something that Ive heard of but never tested and decided nows the time. Have you heard about people choosing partners with similar facial features and structure as themselves. This isn't always true but when you look closely at Pete and Ness, you begin to wonder...

The last photo on this post shows something quite special. I admit - rather weird at first as Ness has beautiful large doe-eyes and Pete has strong crystal clear blue eyes - but for those who know these two, its flippen beautiful to see ;)

Enjoy this post of these two amazing people, who by the way (for those readers who don't know them), exchanged their vows on Thursday 23 February 2012!!

Click here to see more of the photos in this post.

Susanna & Dewald | Wedding | Neethlingshof, Stellenbosch

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Susanna & Dewald met during their community service year in White River, Mpumalanga - The boy from Namibia and the girl from Stellenbosch fell in love in the balmy Lowveld and so their journey towards their Forever began.

Their ceremony was thick with the presence of the Holy Spirit - what a beautiful celebration of love! It's an indescribable thing to witness two people stand before the Lord and publicly declare their lifelong commitment to one another.

I love these two for their warm, caring, generous hearts towards people not only in their personal lives, but also towards those in their every day - Dewald is a medical doctor and Su is a speech therapist; and so have dedicated their lives to others.

Together, they are perfect for each other. 

Love is so complex and so beautiful - its both public and private. When Im photographing a couple and they get lost in each other, what I get to witness moves me greatly - the intimate and private tenderness of love. What I was able to glimpse during their engagement shoot last year, I've been priviledged to observe more closely as I've gotten to know them over the past months, and I believe what I saw in winter 2011 is exactly what I saw again on their wedding day, and now that they are husband and wife that intimate tenderness I glimpsed in the private moments, are beautifully public. Love you guys!!

Thanks to my awesome husband Francois for assisting me on the day - babe, we make an incredible team!!

Here is a collection of photographs from their beautiful wedding day.

Click here to see the rest of blog post

Alta & Bevan | Wedding | Palmiet Valley Estate, Paarl

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A bitter sweet story of love across the world!!

Alta and Bevan have been together for 7 years of which the 4 most recent years, Bevan has been in Israel working as a professional soccer player and Alta stays in Johannesburg. She is only granted 3 months entry at a time and so has been traveling quite a bit the past years!

They are amazing together, they ooze love and tenderness for one another!! I loved the joy that permeated their entire wedding - from themselves through to all their guests. They are well-loved and love well.

Alta and I clicked immediately the day we finally got to meet a few weeks before her wedding day. She is so down to earth yet such a diva all wrapped up into one - she had me in stitches, and on the wedding day - even more so! And it helps the girl loves the camera and the camera loves her!!

Bevan arrived 1 week before his wedding day - he had fractured his foot but that didn't stop him from enjoying his day with his beautiful bride, friends and family.

A special mention and congratulations to Bevan's older brother Glenn, who resides in Italy, flew down to celebrate with Bevan and Alta. On 23 December 2012, 2 celebrations took place: The Fransman wedding AND Glenn is now a father as well!!

For anyone that knows me I LOVE live shows, acts etc and I didnt realise Glenn is a professional singer in Italy - he performed two beautiful songs for the newly wed couple.

I thoroughly enjoyed your wedding - you guys KNOW how to party!!!

You two are so awesome together - here's to many happy years together (preferably in the same city)!! ;)

Enjoy this sample of the photos from your wedding day.

A special thank you to my assitant Roxy Laker - you rocked!!

Family and friends, feel free to leave a comment or if you struggle to leave a one on the blog, email me what you wish to say to kimdutoitphotography{at}gmail.com (Please replace {at} with the @ sign when retyping).


Click here to see the full blogpost.

Alta & Bevan Wedding | Alta Bridal Prep Prelude

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I don't usually do this but when my heart flutters the way it is right now, I have to share what the fuss is all about.

The wedding I'm currently working on is that of Alta & Bevan who exchanged vows at Palmiet Valley Estate on 23 December 2011.

This wedding was the best way to end off 2011 and I am loving editing the images from their beautiful day!

The reason for the fuss, Alta has an incredible bone structure and I just loved how the light accentuated her lovliness and these are just 4 images that I've been itching to share.

Make up: Merlene Joy - always a pleasure!

Readers, feel free to post a comment to let me know what you think.
To see the other three photographs, click here.

Wiesie & Pieter | Couple Shoot | Between Franschoek and Villiersdorp

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By the time I finally got to meet Wiesie and Pieter it felt like I already knew them! They currently live in Natal but will be moving to Cape Town in April (Unfortunately they will be doing long distance for 4 months until Wiesie can join Pieter here in the Cape).

I loved these two and their love for beautiful landscapes and the bush!!! Wieisie found this treasure trove of a field and I was smitten!! And to just add to an awesome couple shoot they are such an incredibly cute-together couple, so full of laughs and sweet moments - it was such a joy to photograph them!!

Looking forward to seeing you guys again soon!! 

Enjoy your photographs! XX

Hair & Make Up: Caren Blom

Readers, feel free to leave a comment.

To see the rest of the post, click here.

Candice & Jacques | Engagement Shoot | Gordons Bay

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These two people are exceptionally perfect together. I've known Candice for a while now and really got to know her since they became engaged, but to be able to observe them for a few hours was such an amazing experience. The way they love each other is so beautiful. So full of laughter all the time - they get lost in each other and truly enjoy each others company and that is precious and beautiful!

We decided on shooting at Gordons bay as it has many special memories for them - they love to go eat fish and chips and watch the sunset, or sketch together while enjoying the blue-green ocean and yachts, or eating ice cream while strolling along Bikini beach.

I wanted to do something extra special for Candice, so Jacques and I joined forces and schemed together to acquire a yacht for our shoot. She was totally oblivious and I loved the devious-ness of how Jacques and I would communicate with looks and head jerks while walking on the piers in between the yachts.
We decided to pretend that the entire shoot would take place on the piers and just as we started heading back to the club, jacques grabbed a set of steps and urged Candice to join him.
Being the sweetheart that she is, she immediately said "But surely we can't get on someones yacht?"
It was such a heart warming moment to see the look of utter joy and surprise when she learned we would be spending the afternoon on the yacht!!

I cannot wait to shoot their beautiful wedding on 4 February!!!
Candice is a Senior Designer at Secret Diary Creative Concepts and Designs. The invites were created by Candice and Jacques and all the images seen on the invite were hand sketched by them both (and then put into Photoshop). They are incredibly creative and talented!

You two are such awesome people and the way you are with each other - you couldn't be a more perfect match!

Here is some photos from their engagement shoot. To see all the photos click here.

On a personal note - "Is your wife "the" Kim du Toit?"

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A lot of people have been asking my hubby Francois if I am "the" Kim du Toit; the one that does photography. This has been happening more frequently so I thought it about time to update my blog's About Me page with photos of Francois and I.

It makes me chuckle everytime! Hopefully with some pics of me it will help more people put two and two together :D XX

So, This is me:

The day we got engaged (I had brown hair then) - Photos taken by one of my favourite photographers, Jaco Le Roux

Our wedding day - Photos taken by another one of my favourite photographers, Lizelle Lotter

Ida Webster | Portrait Session | Stellenbosch

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I first met Ida when she did my hair for my wedding day - we got on like a house on fire!
Since then she has extended her portfolio to bridal and occasion make up as well.

I love working with Ida, as a client, and also as a service provider on weddings we work on together.

She asked me to take a few photos of her to use for her website - go have a look at her portfolio of work here: Ida Webster - Bridal Hair, Make-Up and Nails

Another amazing hair stylist and make up artist did Ida's hair and make up for the shoot; Alicia Buckle.
You can have a look at her work here: Alicia Buckle - Professional Hair & Make Up Artist

Here are a few photos from our session.

Feel free to leave a comment.

To see the rest of the blog post click on the photo.

Shirley, Chris, Baba Callum & Bounty the Beagle | Family / Couple Shoot | Blaauwberg Beach

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This was definitely one of the most fun shoots I've had the pleasure of doing - Shirlz and Chris, you guys are AWESOME!! So much fun and spontaneity!!

And Baba Callum is such a cutie pie full of giggles! AND it was his very first time at the beach! He was totally in awe of the waves and the sounds of the ocean it was so precious!!
Bounty the 1 year old beagle stole my heart with his energy and cuteness!
Together these 4 make up such a beautiful family!!
I left this shoot with a big happy heart - I hope one day I'll have a family like theirs!

Enjoy the photographs!

Click on the photo to see the rest of the post, and feel free to leave a comment to let me know what you think.

Astrid & Mario | Wedding | Swellendam

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Swellendam has always had a very special place in my heart - it's countryside and the beautiful colours of its vast landscape at dusk stirred me to follow my heart, leave all I knew behind me and pursue my dream to become a photographer.

This incredible place is also where Francois and I had our first real date: a road trip, with an impromptu hike through the forest that ended in the most magical waterfall and my heart deciding this was the man I wanted to marry. (Way before my head did, mind you) ;)

It's so funny how things come together - I'd had a conversation with a friend about how I would LOVE to shoot a wedding in Swellendam and within a week I received an email from Mario that they would like to book me for their wedding at Gaikou Lodge, in Swellendam! I was ecstatic!!

Mario and Astrid are an incredible couple, so full of love and joy.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them and their family - I didn't want to leave the next day after the breakfast we all shared together - I felt apart of the family and loved hearing all the stories!! Such a warm and full of love group of people!

Mario is so comical and full of fun!

Plus he has a BIG heart for his family and friends!!

He organised a lot of the wedding - he was incredible - all the details were well thought out and perfectly executed.

Astrid lives in a sweet little place in the farmlands called Buffeljagsrivier. She has a love for people and her community that moved me deeply. I heard all about this from her mom the next morning.

Astrid, you are a beautiful woman inside and out!!

Enjoy the photos of these two awesome people!

A big thank you to Tiffany Burnham for assisting me!

Click here to see the rest of the photos.

Candice & Dawid | Couple Shoot | Philadelphia

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I eat up stories about a boy and girl who have been in each others lives for years and one day cupid's bow hits, they see hearts and wonder "Where have you been all my life?" - As they get to know each other they realise, like these two did, they had been at the same high school, had mutual friends and they both loved ice-skating. When they finally met per chance, they were attending the same church!

Here's how the story goes:

[So what would one of these stories be without a bit of scandal ;)]

Dawid messaged a 'Candice' on Myspace, thinking it was the girl he'd met the previous evening, but instead it reached the Candice in this story!

[Then girl politely bats boy and boy persistently pursues girl]

After Candice explained she wasn't the 'Candice' he'd intended the message for, Dawid said "Let's be friends anyway!"
As she explains, "His bubbly, over the top, CRAZY personality (over emails), led me to stay away from church for three weeks".

But the inevitable happened and they finally met, Dawid wasting no time to asking her for her number.

He called her two evenings later, asked her how she was and before she could answer, replied "Don't tell me now, tell me at our coffee on Thursday!" Dawid knew exactly how to ensure she said yes :)

They went for the coffee and Dawid decided then and there that he liked this Candice that had been in his life all these years and wanted to spend time getting to know her. Their coffee date ended with a walk on the beach; the same beach on which he proposed two years later!!

[Aaaawwwww!!]

In present day, its been about three years and they are very happily married!!

We had so much fun on their couple shoot in Philadelphia! A big thank you to the Pepper Tree Restaurant who so kindly allowed us to photograph some of the images on their beautiful premises!

If you haven't made a trip outside of Durbanville, do yourself a favour and visit this sweet little town for a lazy summer Sunday lunch. The vibe is amazing as the little town buzzes as people from all over come and enjoy Philadelphia.

Enjoy the Full Post from Candice & Dawid's Couple Shoot.

Click on the photo to see the rest of the Post.