Today it is my privilege to share our interview with Tabitha (pronounced “Ta-bee-ta”) of Illuminate Photography. With an eye for beauty and detail, Tabitha has the magic touch when it comes to taking seamless, artistic images of two people in love. She manages to bring out the special connections between her couples and brings the natural surroundings to life in every one of her beautiful compositions. Inspired by nature, light, and travel, Tabitha’s work exudes a special radiance.

After years of studying psychology and visual art, teaching art at a primary school and travelling the world, Tabitha gained a wealth of experience and knowledge of cultures and locations − and the open mind that she now brings to the wedding days of her lucky couples.

Her humble outlook is refreshing and her style is effortless. Being a highly visual person, Tabitha’s photographs capture a story and can be classified as a mixture of fine art and documentary styled photography. She allows the natural beauty of the surroundings and the featured couple, to speak for itself.

Getting just the right shot is important to her. So you’ll find Tabitha on the ground, covered in dirt, or climbing a tree, just to get that perfect shot.

Going through her feedback after our interview, it’s evident that she loves what she does. In today’s blog, Tabitha shares a little bit about herself, her work and her top tips and advice to bridal couples looking for the perfect wedding venue.
 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Besides being a passionate wedding photographer, I am a big lover of creation and creating in many forms! In my free time, you’re likely to find me hiking a mountain, walking on the beach, or sitting at home in my robe, cup of chai in hand, doodling something in a sketch book. I also really enjoy meeting friends over a hot drink and good conversation! Right now, I’m at a very exciting new stage in my life as I prepare to become a first time mother! I couldn’t be more excited to meet our son in September!

Why did you choose to specialise in wedding photography?

Weddings are, and always will be something special! Each one is so different, and I can say with all honesty that after photographing over 150 of them, I have not yet gotten bored! What I love most about weddings is that the day is filled with so much natural emotion -­‐ there is always plenty of warmth, love and laughter going around -­‐ no need to stage anything! Documenting authenticity like that gets me so excited!

How would you describe your wedding photography style?

I describe it as “creative storytelling via the use of gorgeous light”.

I am a very visual person, so I get really excited about beautiful light, interesting compositions and raw emotion! I think this is strongly reflected in my style. Good light is key, and always the starting point of how I shoot. Capturing precious moments and genuine emotion is just as important to me so those two elements form the foundation of my photography.

What about capturing weddings do you enjoy most?

I love photographing the speeches! It lets me catch such great insight into who the couple are and how they are viewed by their friends and family, and secondly, it’s the best time to get natural reactions from all the guests! By this time, the bride and groom are also feeling so relaxed that they are not aware of me-­‐ this is perfect for capturing those sweet tears, stolen glances and beautiful heartfelt belly laughs!

                              

 

What is your favourite image you have shot recently?

I am such a big fan of super intimate close-ups like this one that focuses in on the emotion of the moment. I also love this kind of lighting -­‐ just after the sun has dipped, creating that perfect moody glow on the skin.

What has been your favourite wedding venue to shoot at and why?

I love any venue with an outdoorsy and rustic feeling. Bonus points if there’s a forest to get married in! Beloftebos, Rockhaven, Langverwagt and De Uiljenes are all at the top of my list. But there are SO MANY incredible venues!

Which wedding venue would you like to shoot at next? 

Die Woud sounds right up my alley -­‐ just dying to shoot there! And then of course the beautiful Babylonstoren! Any venue with a conservatory or glasshouse would be amazing!

Do you have any tips for couples who are looking for their perfect wedding venue?

I think a good starting point would be to try figure out what suits your personality best -­‐ are you more of the elegant, sophisticated type, or more of a relaxed farm couple that feels most at ease running around barefoot? This will already filter your options down significantly. Next, think about what your priorities are. Good food? Beautiful views of the mountains? Being able to party late into the night and have guests stay over? It might be helpful to write all of these things down. And then start your search in a more directed way, knowing upfront what it is you are looking for is. Looking at venues can be time-­consuming and exhausting, so it makes sense to narrow down your list by figuring these things out beforehand.

A big thank you to Tabs for participating in this interview! We hope to work with you soon and wish you the best of luck with the very busy up-coming wedding season!

To see more of Illuminate Photography’s work, head over to the website: 

http://illuminatephotography.co.za/

Shelley at Where's My Wedding