Matric Dance – Rondebosch Boys High School

2017

The Matric dance comes around every year and every year they come around faster than the last.  I always enjoy photographing matric dances.  There is so much excitement about them.  Normally, the girls are all about the dressing up and the boys are all about their “ride”.

This year was no different.  The girls all looked beautiful, even if it wasn’t their own dance.  The boys, looked dashing and handsome.  But their rides were something else!  We saw some of the most expensive rides in Cape Town but we also saw how some of the boys used their imagination and arrived in some unexpected rides.  We saw the likes of Ferrari’s, the latest Merc’s to boys arriving in police cars, army trucks or even lifting dates on their mopeds.  This was definitely the fun part of the evening for the onlookers and the boys.

The boys met at the  grand old lady, Greenways Manor.  This stately guesthouse is situated in the leafy suburbs of Claremont and was a perfect backdrop for the dance photographs.  The Manor is a throwback to yesteryear and was quite intriguing.  There was definitely no lack of perfect spots to take photos for the young couples.

I had fun with all the boys and their dates.  Each of them brought a different energy to their session.  It was also fun to get them with their excited families.

This was a trip down memory lane for me as my own children went to this school.  My youngest matriculated in 2011 so it has been quite a few years now.  It was familiar to me and yet not.  Much had changed.  Teachers were no longer the same and it stands to reason that most of the boys were not familiar to me.

There was just one familiar sight to me, besides the school and the grounds and that was Cathy Duncan.  Cathy, is the Matron at the hostel.  She played a very important role in the boarders lives. It was great to see her still taking care of her hostel boys by delivering them safely to the dance!

Dirtybootsandmessyhair shoot can be viewed here!

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PORTFOLIO – LARA

Portfolio shoots are always so much fun for me.  I get to get gorgeous young ladies …or men …in front of my lens and we get the chance to be creative and try out new locations and fashions …and  I get to call it work ..I mean seriously …what more could a girl ask for!  Lol, I know it sounds too wonderful ….and for an hour or two it seriously is ..but then we do get a reality check along the way ..we have to go back to the office and chain ourselves to the desk and edit.  Unfortunately the fun bit is about 10% of the total task ..but hey …I dont want it any other way!

It was so much fun hooking up with Lara again.  The camera seriously loves this young lady.  You might remember that about two years ago, I did a shoot for her when she was still in matric.  She is still a lovely young lady ..maybe slightly more matured ..I am sure varsity definitely matures you in lots of ways.  She is studying drama and I could imagine that will do brilliantly at it.  In actual fact, Lara studying drama made it so easy for me when I was directing poses for her.

We used a few locations locally.  I am always looking out for new and interesting locations but I also must admit that  I have my few trusted favourites, where the light is always awesome and the location always delivers!  Lara chose her own outfits and it gave us a good variety of looks to use.  Most agencies need to see models and actors in their natural states so it doesnt make any sense to make the portfolio shoot too styled and looking unlike themselves.  Check out Lara’s previous session with me here!

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Matric Dance 2015 – Fairmont High School

Micaela

01 October 2015

Matric Dance Fever took over on 01 October 2015.  The majority of Cape Town schools held their  dances (senior proms) on that evening.  I cannot tell you how many desperate phonecalls I received over the week heading up to dance fever week.  Micaela had thought ahead and booked me well in advance for her matric dance.  The dances cause major excitement for communities  as young couples dress up to the nines and arrive in the fanciest of cars for the dance that culminates the end of their school career.

I just wish schools would stagger their dances as the traffic jams that are caused on this evening is beyond imaginable.  All businesses such as hairdressers, dressmakers, nail technicians and obviously photographers are definitely spread a bit thin on that day.  There were at least three or four high schools having their dance that night in my area.  Totally hectic!

Micaela’s parents hosted a few other parents and couples as well as some family members.  It totally felt like a red carpet event as the crowd watched her leave for the dance.  Luckily she wasnt Cinderella that evening and didnt need to be home by 12pm.

Micaela wore a gorgeous gold dress for her dance.  It complimented her beautifully and offset her gorgeous red hair beautifully.  Micaela’s parents live on a smallholding just outside Durbanville and cows graze in the fields.  Micaela really wanted to have a few photos in the fields with the cows but apparently there was one mad cow who was a bit temperamental so we spent our time looking over our shoulders to make sure he wasnt charging us!  Dont ever say I dont live dangerously!  Luckily we remained safe and Micaela and her handsome date were able to drive off safely in a sexy black Audi TT  to her dance.

Very small world but I only found out just before the dance that Micaela and my niece are good friends.  Kelce is also an past Fairmont Student.  Her matric dance can be viewed here!

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