Nielen Bottomley's Blog

James & Amy – Greenways Hotel & the Foodbarn

nielenbottomley — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:42:09 +0000

James and Amy celebrated their big day at two different places. At Greenways Hotel where Amy’s mother used to work and at the Foodbarn in Noordhoek.

The detail and food at the wedding was sublime. It was so much fun taking photos of these guests, because they were always smiling. James and Amy are the perfect couple for pictures and it was great being a part of everything.

* A huge thank you to Anél who assisted me on the day.

Mattheus shoot

nielenbottomley — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:12:03 +0000

My vriendin Grethe het vir haar ouers ‘n verrassing gereël. Met hul kuier vir haar gradeplegtigheid het ons ‘n paar tradisionele graadfoto’s geneem. Daarna het sy hul verras toe sy aangekondig het dat ek’n paar foto’s van die oom en tannie self sou neem .
Dit was effe senutergend – ek’s nie gewoond aan paartjies was lank getroud is nie, maar die Mattheus-mense is fantastiese mense. Hulle het glad nie gekla nie en dit was heerlik om die middag saam met hul te spandeer

My friend Grethe organised a surprise for her parents. They came to visit her during her graduation time and we did some traditional graduation photos. Suddenly she turned around and announced that we would be doing a couple shoot of her parents.
It was a bit scary – I’m not used to couple who have been married for such a long time, but the Mattheus people are fantastic. They were game for anything and it was great spending some time with them.

Cassey & Jerall | Couple shoot

nielenbottomley — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:07:52 +0000

Cassey & Jerall were the first people to ever book me for a wedding. When I look back now I cringe at how little I knew back then. It’s always nice to see such a happily married and very geeky couple.
They’re moving back down to Cape Town soon, so we might be seeing a lot more of them on the blog

JD Naudé | Musician

nielenbottomley — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 19:09:29 +0000

JD is a music student at the University of Cape Town. You can hear some of his music here.

He approached me a few months ago to take some pictures for some promotional material. Here are some of the pictures of the day.

Update

nielenbottomley — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 18:54:25 +0000

I’m back on air.
Yay
It’s been a crazy fantastic, mind-blowing year of studying B.Phil journalism. I’ve met the most amazing people, sleep little and am generally loving life.
Even though I still take pictures, it’s been moved to the background a bit
So that’s a short update. I’ll try and post all the pictures I’ve taken in the past few months on this blog soon.

Michael & Jodi – The Oaks Room, Newlands

nielenbottomley — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:43:52 +0000

There are moments that take your breath away and then there are full days that take your breath away. When Michael and Jodi got married it was as though everyone present was breathless. These two are an amazing couple with an unbelievable love for one another. Looking at them is like looking at how God made a puzzle. They suit each other perfectly.

They got married at the Oaks Room at Newlands Cricket Stadium. Michael’s sister is in the states at the moment and they had a skype session with her at some stage through the evening. It was very special.

Thanks to Lourensa and Simey for helping me out on the day.

Chris and Emma – Silvermist, Constantia

nielenbottomley — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 21:14:03 +0000

Hector & Leandri – Lichtenburg

nielenbottomley — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:35:44 +0000

Dis altyd ‘n groot eer om ‘n troue af te neem. Dis nog meer van ‘n eer om ‘n jarelange vriendin se troue af te neem. Daar’s min woorde om hierdie dag te beskryf. Epiese donderstorms en donkiekarritte (met my wat uit ‘n spietkop se kar hang om foto’s te neem). Daar was sonneblomme en natuurlik Leandri en Hector.
Hulle’t gestraal en my kamera het gewasem en nou gaan ek ophou skryf want die oomblik is te groot Geniet dit almal (wat so lank gewag het).
Dankie aan Simey de Klerk wat ‘n fantastiese mede-fotograaf was.

It’s always an honour to take pictures of a wedding. It’s even more of an honour if the bride is a good friend. I don’t have enough words to describe the awesomeness of this day. There were epic thundershowers, donkey rides (I was hanging out of a speed cop’s window to get shots), sunflowers and of course, Leandri and Hector.

They glowed throughout the day and my camera steamed up and now I’m going to stop writing because the moment is too big. Enjoy the pictures everyone (who waited so long to see some pictures). THanks to Simey de Klerk for being an awesome second shooter.

Chris & Emma – Engagement Shoot

nielenbottomley — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:49:58 +0000

Chris and Emma are extreme people. It seems like they’re not scared of anything. I could tell them to bungee jump and they would do it. So having them for an engagement shoot was great. These two are getting married at the end of the month (Whoohoo!) and we got together to try and capture a bit of who they are (hence, the bicycle)

Van Der Merwes

nielenbottomley — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 21:46:04 +0000

Om oor die Van der Merwes te skryf is nie maklik nie. Mens mag dalk sê dat hul weet waar al die bargains in die noordelike voorstede van Kaapstad is. Mens kan dalk verwys na die feit dat dit nooit stil is as almal by die huis is nie en at almal van hul suiwer Afrikaans praat wat mens na ‘n HAT sal wil laat gryp. Andersins kan mens kan praat oor hoe hul harte oop is vir almal, dat hul my ingeneem het ten tye van nood en dat hul liefde vir mekaar inspirerend is.

Ons het onlangs ‘n familie-shoot gedoen in Kaapstad. Dis altyd lekker om gesinne af te neem wat mekaar so geniet. Ek het lank laas so gelag. Geniet die foto’s.

Writing about the Van der Merwes is not an easy task. One can write about the fact that they know where all the bargains are in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. One might refer to the lack of silence when the whole family is at home and everyone speaks perfect Afrikaans. Alternatively one can write about how their hearts are open to everyone, that they gave me a place to stay when I was desperate and that their love for each other is inspiring.

We recently did a family shoot in Cape Town. It’s always fun to do a shoot of people that enjoy each other that much. Enjoy the pictures!