I received an email early in 2025 with one of the most unique enquiries. Jia and her soon-to-be husband have decided to travel all the way from China to Cape Town, South Africa, for their pre-wedding photos. I've always found it an incredible honour to be a part of people's journeys, celebrations, and milestones, even more so when it comes to pre-wedding photos.

I was given a list of iconic Cape Town locations that the couple was eager to incorporate into their photos, and it was my job to make their dreams come true. Instead of the standard one-day shoot, I suggested and designed a custom multi-day option. This allowed us to travel more, photograph up to six different locations, avoid exhaustion, and benefit from having three sunsets (soft late-afternoon light & golden hour). This approach will not work for everyone, but it was perfect for us.

We did have to make a few unexpected last-minute changes to our timelines due to Jia getting ill along the way, but we ended up with a three-day session, covering the Cheetah Outreach, Maiden's Cove, Glen Beach, Bo-Kaap, Cape Point Nature Reserve, and Bloubergstrand. With August being the last month of winter in South Africa, we were fortunate to avoid the rain & wind. But even with sunny weather, there was still a chill in the air, and poor Jia had to put on a brave face every time she had to remove her jacket for the photos. Another bonus of shooting in the off-season is that there are fewer people out and about, and you don't have to fight your way through a sea of people to make the most out of the scenic locations.

DAY ONE

14h00 - 18h00

We started our day with an extraordinary experience at the Cheetah Outreach in Somerset West, where we could get up close and personal with one of the most majestic animals on earth. The Cheetah Outreach does an incredible job of giving sanctuary to rescued, injured, and orphaned cheetahs. It's only on rare and special occasions that they allow these shoots to happen, and the funds gathered from these sessions go straight back towards the upkeep and well-being of these cheetahs. It took a team of four handlers to ensure our safety. The team was incredibly friendly and shared a ton of cheetah fun facts throughout the session. It truly was an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Thereafter, we went back to Cape Town to end the day with the iconic views from Maiden's Cove & Glen Beach. A fan-favourite by locals and international travelers, and definitely one of the best places to watch the sun set.

DAY TWO

14h00-15h00

One thing I can say with certainty is that it doesn't matter how well you plan your timeline, or how many times you check the weather app, things don't always go according to plan. On day two, we ended up photographing at only one location, the techno-colour daydream that is the Bo-Kaap. Simply irresistible to most people sightseeing in the city, and who can blame them? The pop of colour is enough to brighten up anyone's day and really is a one-of-a-kind backdrop, rich with South African history that you won't find anywhere else. Unfortunately, due to Jia getting ill and the clouds covering Table Mountain, we had to cut our day short, but not before walking away with some spectacular photos.

DAY THREE

10h00-18h00

For the big finale of our multi-day pre-wedding Cape Town photos, we ended it with a BANG! We went all the way to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve to take photos at Cape Point. It's a popular tourist attraction, wrongly believed by many to be the southernmost point in South Africa. Unfortunately, that title goes to a small town called Agulhas, located approximately 170km from Cape Town. Still, Cape Point is gorgeous and worth the trip! The views are indescribable.

Thereafter, we drove to Bloubergstrand to capture a sunset session on the beach with the iconic Table Mountain in the background. The images looked like a daydream that had come alive - we couldn't ask for a better way to end the day.