I met Heather about 5 years ago when she arrived from Canada to coach my synchronized swimming team leading up to SA Nationals.  I was about to quit swimming at that point, but she helped me find the love again and the enthusiasm for one more year! 

Being a bit of an adventurist, she moved to Norway after her time in SA and met an Irishman called Alex who swept her off her snow covered feet.  Funny - another couple who met on an internet dating site. That's 2 couples in a row!  Alex and I got into a conversation about it and he told me that over in Norway, internet dating is an exceptionally common way of meeting people.

Alex and Heather are in SA this time around as a starting point for their 'across Africa' journey.  For a month they will be traveling from CT to Namibia, into Zambia and back down into South Africa.. I have no doubt that it is going to be one EPIC adventure!

Now - here's the exciting news...  

During our entire photoshoot, Alex was carrying around Heather's engagement ring in his pocket, tied to fishing gut.  He did the stadium swing at Moses Mabhida  with it in his shoe, and proposed to her that evening over dinner.  He had planned to propose while in Namibia watching a romantic sunset...but I guess he just couldn't wait.  I can't blame the guy!!!  I have already got a savings jar on my shelf labelled 'Wedding in Ireland'.

It was so lovely to get to know you Alex, and I'm so pleased that my friend Heather has found such a wonderful man to spend her life with. Even if he IS a ginger (KIDDING!!!!!!)

 loads of love, and can't wait to hear stories from your African adventure.

Xx

Sneaky sneak sneak!! 

Heather, My sister Kendra, me and Alex

While Heather and I took a dip in the ocean, kendra snuck a quick photo of the ring. Heather had NOOOO idea!!! 

...And the silly season has begun!

A few friends and I decided to start off the season with a courtyard dinner.  We've been talking for a while about hosting an evening where people like myself who only ever play music in private (or write poetry or short stories) can stand in front of trusted friends and pour out our hearts. 

The party went so well. The food was delicious, the mood was great and we sung under the moon until after midnight.

I'm so looking forward to having another one of these in a few months, maybe when the post holiday blues begin.

Michelle and Ben are the sweetest couple.  He's from the States, she's from SA and they met on a Christian dating website.   I'll save their story for when I blog their wedding photos.  

For now though....enjoy the sweetness that took place at Ushaka Beach on the Moyo pier.  It took us a while to arrange a day to shoot as Durban has seen a lot of rain recently...but when we got it, it was beautiful!!

High -: seeing dolphins from the pier, Low - getting stung by a blue bottle. :(

As I drove into the gates of Giants Castle in the Berg, I felt incredibly nostalgic.  This was the place that I first experienced the world of wedding photography while assisting Jacki Bruniquel about 4 years ago.  Up until then, I was terrified at the idea of photographing the most important day in a couple's life - and the potential of messing that up. I didn't feel that I had the technical experience behind me, or the life experience to handle the pressures of such a big day..  The truth is that I didn't - BUT, what Jacki showed me was that it really didn't have to be as scary as I was making it. and that as soon as I got a bit more shooting experience - I'd be ready. I've continued to follow Jacki's work and very helpful blog posts and feel privileged to have a friend in one of SA's top wedding photographers.

So here I sit, with the popular months of 2013 already fully booked...about to blog one of my best weddings yet.

I met Lyndsay at Adventure Boot Camp.  As we ran up and down a set of stairs she told me about her 'wedding woes' including the conversations she'd been having with photographers. I didn't say much (I was hyperventilating from exertion) but sent her an email later that day with links to my website.  

Lyndsay and Dave are the nicest people with so much energy - and you'll know that I'm not making this up once you watch their wedding video.  Charity Sarah did an exceptional job on their wedding highlights movie and this is now something that 'Derryn Semple Photography' offers as an add on to your wedding package.  We're still new at it, so I wasn't sure how well it would all come out. But I am ecstatic! and watching the tears fill the corners of Lyndsay's eyes - made all the hours and hard work worth it!

Enjoy the movie - enjoy the photos!

Xx
Derryn

Click the title below  - you'll be re-directed to Vimeo where you can enjoy the movie.  I haven't figured out how to embed it yet.