Kerry de Bruyn Photography | Hotel and lodge Photographer | Lifestyle and wedding Photographer

Our honeymoon in Bali | Part 1

admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 07:15:31 +0000

We arrived in Bali in the sweltering heat at around 8pm. The streets were covered in scooters the way ants are all over a spilt drop of concentrated juice and the noise of honking horns was the only thing we heard. We had arrived in Denpasar, a very busy part of the island. As we drove on, the roads became quieter and people started dispersing, being replaced by huge trees and deep valleys with trickling streams. Our first stop of the beautiful island was Ubud, the cultural heart of Bali. Ubud is filled with artists, stone carvers, wood carvers and rice fields. It was a piece of heaven in our eyes. We stayed at the amazing Maya Ubud Spa and resort. I have never seen so much emerald green in my life. This hotel was probably the best looking hotel I have ever stayed in. You feel as if you are on a movie set or in a dream, everything about the resort is just beautiful, down to every little detail.

During our stay in Ubud, we frequently visited the streets of the inspiring village, stopping at beautiful little restaurants and more than eating, tasting the local drinks such as Bintang and Arak – both delicious. One thing that I was most looking forward to was visting the temples and the cultural parts of the island. So on our third day we visited the active volcano, the tea and coffee plantations (also seeing the famous Kopi luwak coffee and the Civet who produces it). For those of you who don’t know what this is – a Civet (although they call it a mongoose on the island) is fed coffee beans and excretes them, producing the most expensive coffee in the world…ummmmm ya, I didn’t taste it. We also visited the famous and amazingly beautiful rice fields – something everyone should see once in their lives – they were absolutely incredible.

One of the first temples we visited was the Goa Gajah or Elephant cave in English. At the entrance of the cave is a relief of various menacing creatures and demons carved right into the rock at the cave entrance. The primary figure was once thought to be an elephant, hence the nickname Elephant Cave. Inside the cave are various religious statues that are each given offerings and prayed to at least twice a day. Every religious statue in Bali is clothed and so, it makes it easier for tourists to know which to not touch or ask to buy…Religion is very important in Bali and outside every shop, restaurant, stall, house and hotel, are offerings to the ancestors and gods, filled with things that the deceased loved. So you’ll often walk by an offering (they are everywhere so you have to be careful not to step on them in the streets) and notice some cigarettes, rice, even honey or jam inside the offering. They then light an incense stick and let it smoke so that their loved ones can eat it all up. Once the smoke stops, it means they are finished eating.

From Ubud, our adventure carried on to Nusa Dua in the south of Bali, but we’ll save that for Part 2 Here are a few shots from this part of our beautiful trip.

Fine art Wedding favours | Johannesburg, South Africa

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:07:09 +0000

One problem I faced when planning my own wedding was the lack of original and beautiful favours for your guests (ones that they actually want to keep!). After going through loads of ideas for my own wedding we finally came up with a great idea that wasn’t too costly (first and foremost!), it was something everyone would love to have in their home, it was very personal, it was memorable and original and it went with our wedding perfectly – we got married at the Fairmont Zimbali in Ballito and our decor was very earthy and nature inspired.

We gave our guests original fine art canvas prints of beach scenes, each signed by me, and wrapped in twine and hessian with silver fish charms and wooden beads (detail is everything!). Everybody loved them and just wanted more which gave me the idea of selling these to any bride and groom who would love to have a personal and original touch to your wedding and use as favours for their guests. Obviously each and every wedding is different so whatever the theme or inspiration I will make work with the fine art prints I choose for you – the ideas are endless!

If you would like to find out prices or more about this product please don’t hesitate to contact me!

The Mostert family | Family photo shoot

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 07:10:49 +0000

I had the opportunity to photograph a beautiful family 2 weekends ago on a lovely day before the cold began, and had loads of fun running after Daniel around the park. He was a bundle of energy as most little boys are but I always have a blast playing around with them. Little Kathryn was not in the best of moods that day but still managed to have a little fun herself

Luke’s first birthday | Johannesburg country club

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:32:25 +0000

This is the third shoot I have done with this adorable family and Luke is always a happy bundle of fun to shoot. He had a jungle animal/barnyard theme birthday party complete with pinata, monkey cake, jumping castle and tons of space to run around and play in. Johannesburg country club is a great place for childrens’ birthday parties and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who asks. Every time I get asked to photograph Luke he grows up a little more each time I see him and it’s great to watch him grow and turn into a little boy!

The Rault and Le Roux family | Family photo shoot

admin — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:35:53 +0000

I photographed the Rault family on a sunny Saturday morning in one of my favourite spots by the river. To get little Riley used to the camera was a bit of a challenge but we managed to still get some great shots – she is too cute! Look at those eyes and lips! Katherine’s brother and his girlfriend, her mom and dad were also part of the shoot so it made for great family pictures for everyone. Riley is certainly one adored baby girl!

Mountain Sanctuary Park | Landscapes

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:40:20 +0000

A few weeks ago my little brother and I went to play around at Mountain Sanctuary park, about an hour and a half from Joburg. We were on the hunt for some landscape shots and had plenty of opportunity to take some great shots. The park has numerous hiking and biking trails, huge rock formations, rock pools and interesting tree formations growing out of rocks and on the ground. We were on a time crunch that time but next time we go I’ll definitely stay longer – I can imagine what else there is to shoot – especially the cave/grotto which has a waterfall in the middle of it – unfortunately we didn’t have enough time to get there but still got some great shots.

Throughout this blog post you’ll see rare photos of me on the job and one of my favorite’s; the photo of Matthew jumping into the rock pool (that pool was so deep but tiny! Maybe 1.5 by 1.5m – (and he’s doing a bomb into it!) The things we do to get that shot

Rebecca | Newborn

admin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 07:35:33 +0000

A few weeks ago I photographed Rebecca’s mom and dad (and her) while she was still a bump and now she is ready to join the world! Rebecca was born on the 27th of February 2012 and is also my very first niece! It was a little bit of a challenge to get her to keep her beautiful little eyes open for a while but despite that she was a perfect little model and was super cute no matter what she did.

M.Y. Coetivy | Luxury Yacht Photography Seychelles

admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:16:53 +0000

While I was in the Seychelles at the end of last year I had the opportunity to photograph a luxury yacht that is owned by The Wharf hotel and Marina. I have never been on anything quite like this. To put it in a few words – it is absolutely amazing. As you step foot onto the humungous yacht you feel like P Diddy should be following you in. Saying it is luxurious is putting it lightly. Unfortunately on the day we photographed the yacht, it was raining on and off so we tried our best to get some great shots. One of the things that I didn’t manage to shoot due to the weather was the huge jacuzzi on the top (third floor), but I’m sure you can imagine the parties that would go on there.The yacht has four bedrooms, plasma tvs, a kitchen area, lounge and decks looking in every direction. The Wharf hires out the yacht for private functions or day trips (like below which includes a stop at a tiny island with a lunch) and you can even hire it out for a few days and sail through Seychelles water, jumping out and snorkeling wherever you please. And yes the picture close to bottom, looking through the window is a shower…can you imagine taking a shower and watching the turtles and fish swim by??? Here are a few of the shots from the shoot.

Nikita, Floyd and baby Deagan | Baby bump

admin — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:29:57 +0000

I have known Nikita since high school and was very excited when she asked me to do a baby bump shoot for her. I’ve had this idea in my head for a while now but getting the weather to play along with us was quite a mission! All we wanted was some golden light…please!! So finally on the third attempt at the shoot the weather decided to like us and we could go ahead with the golden idea I love how these pictures have come out and really enjoyed photographing Nikita and her preggy belly. I look forward to doing loads more baby bumps!!!

Brett and Chantal | Baby bump

admin — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 07:03:09 +0000

As I write this Brett and Chantal are enjoying their new little bundle of joy, Rebecca, she was born yesterday and is absolutely gorgeous! I look forward to taking some proper pictures of her soon! But for now here she is still inside Chantal’s tummy

Published

admin — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 06:56:56 +0000

Don’t forget to get your March issue of Getaway magazine this month! My image from the top of Mount Kilimanjaro was published in the Ultimate Getaways section! If you haven’t read my story of the journey to the top yet you can read it here!

Chané and Eugene | Wedding at Baraka Monkey sanctuary, hartebeespoort

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:14:56 +0000

Chane and Eugene had a beautiful wedding at the stunning Baraka in hartebeespoort. It was an awesome day filled with love and laughter and anybody could see how happy they were. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the way Eugene was looking at Chane as she stepped next to him by the alter – he was in awe! They had beautiful table decorations and every bit of their wedding was complete even down to the adorable meerkat toppers for their cupcake cake! I wish you guys a lifetime of happiness and thank you for letting me be a part of your special day

All you need is love…

admin — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:24:10 +0000

I thought this would be appropriate for today…a bond between a mother and her cub is easy to see. I took this sequence of photos in the Serengeti last year. Until now I wasn’t happy with just one of the pictures and couldn’t decide to share any one image by itself – I felt it didn’t give the same impact as the way I was seeing them all together or what I felt when I watched this interaction. This morning I thought of sharing them all together and finally they came alive. The one ‘thing’ that makes these photos interesting – love

Luke, Christine and James | Family shoot Parkview

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:54:43 +0000

With the craziness of the end of last year I forgot to blog this adorable family. Luke is so cute and bubbly and was such a pleasure to photograph as were his parents I will soon be putting up Luke’s baptism as well which I did at the end of last year. Here are a few pics of the family shoot we did last year.

Chané and Eugene’s engagement shoot | Eagle Canyon

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:08:51 +0000

When I first met Chane and Eugene, I knew they were going to be a fun couple to photograph. Eugene loves to joke around and they are always laughing – something I love about a couple! We shot in a beautiful forest close to the feeling of their wedding which they had at Baraka in Hartebeespoort so it was a perfect fit

Olivia and Ryk | Wedding at Baraka, Hartebeespoort dam

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:35:25 +0000

I met Olivia and Ryk for the first back when they had their engagement shoot and I knew from the start that they were going to be a great couple to photograph. They are very relaxed and super cute together! Their wedding ceremony was held at the Monkey Sanctuary which forms part of Baraka and it was just beautiful. Held in the tree tops on a huge deck overlooking a forest filled with adorable monkeys swinging around. I just love this venue. I wish you guys a lifetime of happiness (which I have no doubt in my mind you will have) and thanks so much for choosing me to photograph your special day.

Indian Ocean lodge | Seychelles Islands, Praslin

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:08:26 +0000

This was my second time working with the team from Mason’s Travel ( a large and well respected travel group that is based in the Seychelles). The first of the lodges I did for them was the amazing Denis island. Indian Ocean Lodge is just beautiful as well, although it is not on a private island it has it’s own charm and beauty. Praslin for me, is my favourite island in the Seychelles – it is quiet and busy at the same time, you just need to know where to go. It feels like a private island but with some hussle and bussle.

Indian Ocean Lodge is a beautiful lodge right on the beachfront with amazing rooms and a relaxed atmosphere – just what you need on holiday! Here are a few of my favourite pictures from the trip. Thanks again to Nathalie for all of her help!

2011 looking back

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:19:38 +0000

2011 was a big year for me. When I decided that I wanted to be a travel photographer my sole intention was to travel the world! Of course I thought this would start straight away but like with all good things it took it’s sweet time…finally this year I got to do a bit of what I have always dreamed. My year started out in Zanzibar photographing Ocean paradise lodge and Mnemba island lodge – it was my second trip to Zanzibar and was hot as hell but I had a great time and met some awesome people. One thing I didn’t know about being a travel and hotel photographer was the amount of awesome people I would meet…I met Lakshmi in OPL and had an awesome time working with her. My first job through andBeyond was at Mnemba island lodge and here I met super friendly Claire, Karen, Jason, and Sarah – all who were such great people to work with and made me feel right at home even though you were a million miles away.

The next trip of the year was to Thailand but this one was for pleasure – I just got engaged and my fiancé and I then flit off to the aqua seas and islands of Phuket

The Serengeti was next on my agenda – a place I have always wanted to go my whole life (one of my first loves of photography is wildlife). I will never forget getting the email saying I was going there – it was unreal! This job was also with andBeyond and to my surprise I bumped into Karen and Jason at Kleins camp. I also met the wonderful Tiff and Matt who were managers there. At Grumeti tented camp I also met Danel who was ‘my assistant’ for that part of the trip and when I say assistant I mean the person who was my partner in getting and owning Tsetse fly bites – I don’t think we have ever been so itchy in our lives! I always adore doing jobs with andBeyond, the vibe is relaxed (but of course we still get the job done) and it is such a calming and friendly atmosphere to be in and around. Congrats to Tiff and Matt who are expecting their second little baba!

Zambia was my next stop for a short trip where I photographed Drifters Victoria falls and Taita Falcon lodge.

The next half of the year I spent visiting the beautiful Seychelles. I was lucky enough to get jobs at Denis Private island, Chalets anse Forbans, Coco de Mer and Black parrot suites, The Wharf hotel and Marina, Indian ocean lodge and Coco d’or. All of which I had an amazing time at. I met a great group of people while visiting Seychelles, namely, Nathalie, Ash, Brigitte, Darryl, Sam and Carolyn and hopefully I’ll be going back there for a holiday soon! And remember my house is open for a holiday here anytime

In the beginning of the year I made a pact with myself to take a photograph of me at every place I visited this year (sometimes this isn’t so easy…especially by yourself) but I tried and this is me during 2011…

Mnemba isalnd lodge feeding a Suni

Intendance beach in Mahe, Seychelles

Denis Private island, Seychelles

Photographing a yacht for The Wharf

Trying to pose like Seychelles girls in Praslin (there is a reason why I’m behind the camera!)

The remoteness of Mnemba island

Checking out the view at Taita falcon lodge in Zambia

Phi Phi islands

Photographing a bush walk in the Serengeti

Coco de Mer and Black parrot suites in Praslin, Seychelles

In 2011 I was bit by Tsetses, mosquitos, sand flies, Seychelles mosquitos (who have a thing for South African blood), fish and spiders but I would have all those bites again just to see the places I saw this year again. I feel super lucky and blessed to have been able to do my job and love it to bits and pieces and I’ll try my hardest to carry on doing what I am for as long as I can. 2012 is going to be a big year for me, hopefully bigger than 2011. I’m getting married in March, planning to expand my little business and of course take over the world (in my little mind that means travel the world!!) Here’s to bigger dreams ahead! Have a great festive season everyone

The Wharf Hotel and Marina | Mahe, Seychelles

admin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:48:04 +0000

I was lucky enough to visit Seychelles for the second time in 2 and a half months and got to photograph 3 more beautiful hotels. I love photographing in the Seychelles – the blue skies, aqua seas and people always make it such a great job to do. The Wharf was my first stop, a super elegant hotel in the marina close to Eden island. They had amazing food and a beautiful view overlooking the marina and sea. The Wharf also owns the most amazing yacht I have ever seen in my life – those pics however will be in separate post – the yacht could be classed as it’s own hotel! Anyway here are some of the pictures from The Wharf.

http://www.wharfseychelles.com/

Peninsula Club | Macaneta peninsula, Mozambique

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 07:45:18 +0000

This past weekend my family and I went up to and see an awesome development on the coast of Mozambique near Maputo. The Peninsula club is an exclusive development on a never ending beach in Macaneta. You literally have this entire beach to yourself and the Cape cod style house is a stone’s throw from the water. Sleeping there is a wonderful experience, you see and hear the ocean like it is at the tip of your toes while the breeze pours in throw the windows. I took a couple of pictures of the beautiful house and setting while we were there.