We are currently looking to employ 2 unique & capable individuals to become part of Peartree Photography.

Please note NONE of these are Photographer Positions!

Position 1.  PA | Marketer | Studio Manager

Non Negotiable Prerequisites :

• Passion for Admin
• Marketing Experience
• Apple Mac competent
• High EQ & Value System
• Vibrant Personality
• Good communicator
• Available 4/5 days a week
• Live in Stellenbosch
• Bilingual, Driving License, Car
• Available from 1 October 2011

Deadline for both applications are 11 September 2011 after which we might contact you for an interview.

Please email

1. your CV to us at info [at] peartree.co.za
2. Indicate clearly which one of the two positions you are applying for
3. A short paragraph (200 words max) telling us a bit more about yourself in your home language
4. A recent photo of yourself (max size 300kb)

I entered my teenage girl phase. I needed to do something to feel better. I didn’t think.  I randomly walked into one of the thousand Regent Street Technology shops and managed to spent all the money I had on a Nikon F60 with 2 kit lenses.

The bitter sweet of a dream come true. I hardly had enough money to get back on the red line to my shack in Leytonstone.  Not even to mention not being able to buy no name brand fish fingers for supper.  I lost a few pounds.  I walked a bit more than the average Londoner.

Looking back, this here was one of the sweetest moments of my life …

It was my camera that accompanied me on a number of adventures during my teenage girl stage.  We travelled through Africa & Europe.  We saw oceans together, ancient ruins, high mountains and beautiful people.  And it was my camera that helped me to escape to a place where I could find myself again.  To move from a teenage girl to a man.  From playing to earning a living.  From mundane to supernatural.  And still, more than 11 years later, the story continues …

I will try to post as much as I can during the next two weeks.  My Blog, Facebook, Twitter – all will be utilised to share this amazing time before me.  Feel free to join me on this journey.

A Rough Guide to My Next 2 Weeks

• S28  Fly to Bloemfontein for Wedding
• S29  Fly to Johannesburg to connect with my international flight to Italy
• M30 Arrive Rome.  Pre-wedding shoot with my client
• T31   Travel to Lake Albamo
• W01   Wedding Ceremony Tivoli, Couple Shoot Lake Albamo, Reception in Castel
• T02  Night Shoot (Surprise)
• F03   Orthodox Ceremony, Central Rome
• S04   Fly to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• S05   Fly to Lalibela
• M06   Lalibela
• T07 Lalibela
• W08  Fly to Addis.  Commercial shoot Hotel & German Beer Brewery
• T09 Back to SA
• F10  Wedding Cape Town
• S11  Wedding Wellington
• S12  Family Day & Rest!

There is a reason that there is no pictures in this post.  Allow me to fill the gaps as the days go by.  Also feel free to follow me at the above mentioned places.  Your comments during this time will be welcome!

IT  IS  THAT  TIME  OF  THE  YEAR  AGAIN!

Are you passionate about the beauty of life and capturing it naturally through photography?  Any good at it?  So you think you’ve got what it takes?

Most of you will not know this, but Peartree has successfully been running an Assistant Learning Program (ALP) for the past 3.5 years.  We are happy to mention that it has thus far produced 8 brilliant photographers who are making a decent living whilst living out their passion.  Developing others to their full potential in partnership is what it is all about!

We are currently finalizing our group for the 11-12 Wedding Season and thought we’ll give you a chance to come in contention for this specifically chosen group.  Please make sure that you can tick all the boxes before applying – we are seriously (with reasons) looking for a specific type of people who already share our uniquely fresh approach, first in life and then also in photography.

We are looking for people who

• are willing to serve selflessly and learn well through observation
• have a passion for nature, people and anything that is real
• are extremely energetic, athletic & hardworking
• have a general knowledge of shutter speed, aperture, ISO settings, depth of field & DSLR cameras (you do not have to own one, just know how it works)
• have a valid driving license and are residing in the Stellenbosch area or close vicinity (for practical reasons)
• are solely relying on another source of income and have weekends available
• and I suppose you need to like Peartree Photography’s style of photography, otherwise you will get really bored, uninspired and ultimately unhappy!  :(

(Only) If you can tick ALL the boxes, sent us a short CV or paragraph on yourself by email.  Also include 10 pictures (that you have taken!) that shows your style and interest in photography.  Please make sure these pictures do not exceed 200kb / picture.

We will get in touch with you for an interview if we feel you are a possible candidate for the group.  We are looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Applications close at 1200 on Monday 14 Feb 2011.

CONTACT US through the Toolbar link above!

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

Are you passionate about the beauty of life and capturing it naturally through photography?  Any good at it?  So you think you’ve got what it takes?

Most of you will not know this, but Peartree has successfully been running an Assistant Learning Program (ALP) for the past 2.5 years.  We are happy to mention that it has thus far produced 5 brilliant photographers who are making a decent living whilst living out their passion.  Developing others to their full potential in partnership is what it is all about!

We are currently finalizing our group for the 10-11 Wedding Season and thought we’ll give you a chance to come in contention for this specifically chosen group.  Please make sure that you can tick all the boxes before applying – we are seriously (with reasons) looking for a specific type of people who already share our uniquely fresh approach, first in life and then also in photography.

We are looking for people who

• are willing to serve selflessly and learn well through observation
• have a passion for nature, people and anything that is real
• are extremely energetic, athletic & hardworking
• have a general knowledge of shutter speed, aperture, ISO settings, depth of field & DSLR cameras (you do not have to own one, just know how it works)
• have a valid driving license and are residing in the Stellenbosch area or close vicinity (for practical reasons)
• are solely relying on another source of income and have weekends available
• and I suppose you need to like Peartree Photography’s style of photography, otherwise you will get really bored, uninspired and ultimately unhappy!  :(

(Only) If you can tick all the boxes, sent us a short CV or paragraph on yourself by email.  Also include 10 pictures (that you have taken!) that shows your style and interest in photography.  Please make sure these pictures do not exceed 200kb / picture.

We will get in touch with you for an interview if we feel you are a possible candidate for the group.  We are looking forward to hearing from you soon.  Applications close at 1200 on Wednesday, 30 June 2010.

We are super excited about the start of the World Cup here in South Africa today!

In case you didn’t know, we are currently running a Really Ridiculous World Cup Special on any 2010 Wedding where you will save R2010!  News to you?  See our Peartree Specials page for all the details!  Pass it on!  You don’t want to miss it! (All soccer terms … punn intended of course!)

Enjoy this special time in ZA’s history!  Go Bafana!  The rest … be prePEARed!

See HERE and/ or the video below for the new features we’ll be able (or rather, we’re supposed to be able!) to do with this new 64-bit product from now on!  (We have tested it in demo mode and it doesn’t work like magic as most people think … but at least it gets kinda close!).

.

It always great to hear back from our clients. Next week I will be shooting a couple who have added one more to their family since I’ve photographed them 4 years ago at their wedding. The same will be happening in September when another couple I shot 3 years ago will be coming from the UK for a family shoot with us. And of course since we have walked the path together before, we bless them with a massive discount for making the natural choice … again!  What a privilege to be part of their lives, rather than just being of service for a day!

We also have some of them regularly commenting on our Blog and Facebook page.  Thank you for your continues support and interest!  We also have a page for you to join where you can post shots from your wedding and leave comments of our service.  Feel free to join the Peartree Client group here.

To finish off, we have received this in the post the other day and thought to share it with you.  We honestly have the best clients in the world!

Yesterday we looked at some quick highlights for the first 6 months of our Blog’s first year.  Today we continue to look back at the exciting past 6 month journey through pictures & words that became memories for so many out there.

December 2009 :  Decembers are the test for any wedding photographer.  Long, hot days of continues shooting, scouting, backing up, little sleep and ‘kop hou’ while being extremely creative (and happy for the couple) day by day.  I invite the critiques who look down on wedding photographers, to join us for this time of the year.  You might just change your mind.

All weddings are extremely dear to me.  The one session that stands out though must be the 24 hour dream of shooting in Namibia on 12 Dec.  I finished a wedding at about 2230 the previous night at the Onrus beach and before I knew it, I was driving through the gates of the Otjiwa Game Farm just south of Otjiwarongo, Namibia late the next morning.  The contrast was huge.  The possibility to fail even bigger.  But it was time to capture two lovely people in the real Africa I fell in love with.  And it was His time to show off a bit as well …

January 2010 :  The new year started with an exciting trip to a wedding in the Eastern Cape.   There were many highlights in this equally busy month, but I must admit one instance quite stands out.  It wasn’t part of our original planning, but the sun was setting and we needed a sea background as soon as possible.  We turned off at an unknown turn off and flew down the road with our eyes fixed on the waving sun.   We arrived, pointed the game-for-anything couple in the direction and shot this award winning shot close to one of my favourite venues.  What an absolute rush it was … and totally worth it!

February 2010 :  As all our editing are done by us personally, we know what we can get from our RAW files & software.  So we always approach the shoot with the final product in mind.  I will for instance decide to look for specific black & white potential in a vast environment.  I remember seeing the potential of this shot.  I just needed to get down very low.   On a normal day, this would be peanuts, but February served us the most windy and warmest weddings of the year.  This was the windy one … extremely windy one!  There was no way that I could physically see if it would work.  As soon as I would bend lower than my hips, a wall of sand hit me at a tremendous speed.  I had no choice.  I composed my stance, got down really low and with closed eyes, at the right moment, got the shot I was hoping for ( …and sand in every hole in my body of course!).  Worth it!

I finish off with a shot of the two people who inspire and support me the most.  It was just taken yesterday when beautiful laughter interrupted my work.  Dankie aan my pragtige vrou Adri en seuntjie Elih.  Julle is absoluut my hart se punt.  Dankie vir al die bederf, aanmoediging, spasie, uit die werk uit hou, sorg en sommer al die lag & pret!  Julle is my vars oë, nuwe denke en vreugdevolle dryfveer. Ek love julle ongelooflik baie! X

So we have come to the end of this one year journey.  Thank you for all your support and interest as well.  We only promise you more pleasure for the year to come … naturally!

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