Let me share a secret.  When I was much younger, the most times I thought about photography was when I was out running in the mountains.  My wish was that there would be someone passionate / mad enough to carry all their gear up mountains and capture me as I ran freely in Montagu’s spectacular mountains.  To be honest, half of it was probably to see if my calf muscles showed up when I ran … they were definitely not around when I stood in front of shoe shop mirrors pretending to look at new shoes.  :)   But I had to let the dream go as I got older.  The calf muscle man search would be abandoned and lost forever …

So I had to become something else.  I became the passionate / mad guy with the gear.

You can guess how excited I was when Regardt & Antonette asked me to do their wedding.  Regardt is now a Kwela celebrity (he was on the show on Tuesday!) with their Zanzibar Circumnavigation on Stand Up Paddle Boards (SUPs).  I have run into him a few times at the Crazy Store Mountain Challenge and knew this guy has serious potential for an adventure shoot.  Antonette did extremely well and both of them enjoyed the workout.  Here is a few shots from before, during and after the Lion’s Head Trail run.  Click on the slideshow if it hasn’t already started (and enjoy the upgraded blog on your tablet or mobile phone alike – go test it!).

And by the way, they both have calf muscles…

I am so looking forward to shooting this beautiful ZA-Colombian couple’s wedding in November.  They wrote me the following email on the same night as this shoot.  I’ve asked them if I can share it here as this is exactly what we strive for in all our shoots.

“Dear Wil,

Now it is quite late and both Lorena and I will go to bed shortly…but…..I had to make a note to you and say thank you for such  a great engagement style today. Wow. 

You were never intrusive, yet guiding. Playful, yet respectful….perfect balance with both of us.

And now we understand why your logo states “the natural choice”.

We are both happy that we have entrusted our special day to you….the natural choice.

Once again, thank you for a  blessed experience, rather than a regular photo shoot.

We can honestly say that you naturally orchestrate our flow of love into photographic poetry.

Best regards and warm blessings,

Alistair and Lorena”

These encouraging words came exactly when I needed it most … kind of  like the sun’s appearance later in this shoot.

What more can I say – I am humbled … thanks so much guys!  See you soon at your wedding!

Destination Wedding Photography Cape Town South Africa

This really cute couple flew into Cape Town fresh from Moscow, Russia on Christmas Day for a holiday in one of their favourite places on the globe.  I met them in the lobby of their hotel at around 7am the next morning after setting up the shoot over email.  We decided on the Bo Kaap, V&A Waterfront and surrounding areas.  We laughed together at their ideas for the shoot and decided just to have LOTS of fun!

Keep a look out for their potential Destination Wedding later in 2011 …

What better way to end this great year by sharing a chronological slideshow mix of our Wedding, Commercial and Personal shoots.

Wow – what a year it was!  Thank you to all my lovely clients, word of mouthers, loyal blog followers, colleagues, family and friends.  I have said it before, but I only seem to get AMAZING PEOPLE to photograph in AMAZING ENVIRONMENTS!  Thank you all – you make me look good!

May 2011 be a extended time of grace and favour for us all!

Blessings & Love,

wil punt

e-shoot Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch

We had a total blast in the rain … no wonder people always tend to sing about it!  Hendri & Imke will get married in June 2011 … and we can’t wait to bring you more of this lovely couple!  Bly verlief julle – dis pragtig!

A few previews of exciting posts to come, things that currently keep us busy & learning curves galore …

Carroll and Angi are in love, engaged and set to get married in September 2010!  They are fun, fun, fun and really energized me to get some unique shots.  We made use of Carroll’s 6 ft 4 and Angi’s 5 ft 2 to get some great contrasting shots (as well as a few hilarious ones!).  They also wanted some shots of their everyday activites (like making tea, chatting … and of course kissing!).  hehe!

I love this couple and am really looking forward to their wedding in 3 months time!  Keep up the fun guys!  I can’t wait …

It is the Peartree Blog’s 1st Birthday today (on Africa Day of course!).  Happy birthday to us, happy birthday to us … traalalaa

My lovely wife always encourage and reminds me to celebrate the milestones in life … a time to reflect, rethink (or just to think!), dream and to thank.  If you have the time, join us for a short snippet highlight journey through the Blog the past year …

May 2009 : Welcome to the Blogosphere Peartree!  To celebrate the birth, we put together a Short Video explaining who we are and about our Natural Approach.  And of course this shoot for a art piece that was blown up to 3 x 2 meters!

June 2009 : I visited the North of India for a wedding in the Himalayas.  In retrospect, I am sure I picked up Swine Flu on the way there and worked my way through it during the 3 day wedding.  India was needless to say really tough and amazing at the same time. This wedding featured on numerous blogs around the world and I believe, have established Peartree Photography as Destination Wedding Photographers.

July 2009 : I have just arrived back from India.  I had 3 days to spend with my lovely family before I was airborne again for a Friday wedding in Natal.  The very next morning I was back again in the Grabouw mountains for a wedding in the pouring rain.  The fun we had that day will stand out for a long time!

August 2009 : We took you on a 7-part photographic journey through Africa.  I did an exhibition in Esbjerk, Denmark on the theme “Instead of Ashes, The Oil of Gladness” and shared this 2004 journey in words and pictures.

September 2009 : We extended our range of equipment and redeveloped our Uniquely Fresh style in Natural Environmental Portraiture.  We can really see the difference!

October 2009 : Apart from doing loads of weddings, we covered commercial and family shoots.  Joel Potgieter is one of my son’s friends.  I had the privilege to spend some time and captured this boy as he explored life in all his fullness.  What a joy!

The last 6 months will be posted tomorrow as Part 2 / 2 of  our 100th of a Century Peartree Celebration

What better way is there to start your Saturday morning by spending an amazing time with the one you love in the beautiful Jonkershoek Valley  and then breakfast at Basic Bistro to discuss your dream day?!  I love the natural look and feel of these shots!  Martin & Debora will be getting married at Molenvliet Estate, Stellenbosch on 18 December 2009.   Dankie vir ‘n heerlike ontmoeting – Desember gaan ongelooflik wees!