I finally made some time to edit my favorite images from my trip with Zani to the Netherlands from two years ago. Before we landed in Schiphol Airport, Zani and I listened to the Coldplay song, “Amsterdam”, on my iPod to start off our week in Amsterdam. This felt like second honeymoon. We mainly stayed in Amsterdam, but also visited places like Haarlem and Zaanse Schans. Amsterdam is a beautiful city and it truly gave me fresh new inspiration for my work.

I am planning to travel to Europe each year to photography weddings and other shoots in the summer season there. If your interested in booking me for your wedding or to photograph beautiful lifestyle portraits, feel free to contact me. I am available to travel all over South Africa and anywhere around world to capture beautiful moments.  Here is some of my favorite images that I’ve photographed while working and touring around the Netherlands. I will treasure these memories for ever. Enjoy!

Week 1, Moscow, Russia.

After 15 hour of flying we’ve arrived in a very hot Moscow; not knowing what to expect. Mother Russia opened up her arms to us and from day 1 we had a blast. We stayed with Vera in their small apartment just outside the main city. We were overwhelmed by rich traditions and different way of life the people in Moscow lifed. We had five days were we could do some sight seeing and explored Moscow before the wedding took place over the weekend. From watching ballet in the State Theatre to almost getting arrested for taking pictures in a flower market. The Russian language is a very difficult to learn and small number of people in Moscow understand English. Luckily, Vera was our tour guide and our translater throught the whole trip. She was a English tutor at a school and she can also speak German.

My little assignment that I’ve set up for myself was to capture the life of Moscow and it’s people. I was blown away by all the textures, beautiful architecture during our time in Moscow. I feel so inspired and ready for the new season ahead. Most of the time, I took pictures by just holding the camera low and shooting without looking through the viewfinder.  I’ll soon post photos from Week 2 in Saint Petersburg and the wedding. Here are some of my favorite moments in Moscow with a few more stories. From Russia with love to you!

This is the apartment building where were Vera stayed.

Staircase in the aparement complex

The Russians love tea. China is one of the bordering country.

These are family photos in Vera’s apartment. Her great grandfather (at the top) faught in World War II.

Entrance to the Metro (Underground)

The first Church that we visited was the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. It was destroyed in the revolution in 1930 and rebuild in 1990.

I just love this angle of the church photographed from the staircase.

A wedding tradition in Russia is that the groom carries the bride across a bridge. If he succeeds they lock a padlock (with their names engraved or painted on it) to a scenic spot and then throw away the key. Some bridges have so many of these padlocks. 

The Metro was always a great spot to photograph as people come and go.

People shoes on the metro.

Some of the Metro stations are really beautifully decorated.

VODKA!!! and lots of it!

Taxi-like mini buses were our way to get from our house to the Metro.

On our way to the Red Square.St Basil’s Cathedral celebrated it 45oth Anniversary this year. The architect was blinded after building the cathedral so that he could not re-create the masterpiece elsewhere. HECTIC!

All these shapes within the architecture of St. Basil’s Cathedral. Love it!

Matryoshka dolls. There were loads of them at the souvenier shops. We bought a Winnie the Pooh Matryoshka doll for little Amelie.

Second biggest Ballet Theatre. What a experience to see Russian Ballet in Russia! 

This is one of my favourite images.

Some of the night life scenes in the city

Russian cars

A summer pallace located in one of the parks.

Some Graffiti in Arbat

You’re not allowed to photograph the police, but I managed to steal a few shots.

Going down towards the underground Metro. Just enough light to create a beautiful contrasty image.

This is a portrait of Vera’s father.

A Space Rocket they have set up in one of their parks to commemorate the launch of the first Russian Spaceship.

Yes it’s me, photographed by Desmond in the Arbat District. Arabat was one of my favourite spots in Moscow. With my shave head I might also be mistaken for a Russian.

That is it! Tune in soon for more photos from Saint Petersburg, Amsterdam and the two international weddings.

2010… wow, what a year! A lot of ups and downs but surely a year that I will never forget for the following reasons.

Most South African will remember 2010 for FIFA World Cup.  This was also one of my hightlights of the year (since I am a big football fan), but the best moment by far was the day that we’ve  bought our first house. It has been our desires for a long time to have a house where our little family could live and work from home. In May we moved into our new house in Boston and a new chapter started for us as a family. The renovations on the studio has just been completed and we will start working in the new premises from the beginning of next year.

I also helped my wife, Zani, and our friend, Erna, launced their bridal couture business, Lace Blossom. I am truly proud of the two of them.  Their dresses are beautiful and I know this is the beginning of great things. Don’t dispise the day of small beginnings.

On the photography side, there were a lot of new steps taken this year. My first wedding publication was published in the Nubian Bride Magazine, I won a bronze award at the Sony Pro Foto awards and a few of my photos were published in the book, “Wedding Photography: A Guide to Posing”. I also did two workshop this year. One was my own Workshop of 5 and the other one was “Taking Jake Out of His Box” that I presented with Sybrand Cillie. I realised how much I love teaching people and I hope to present more workshops in the future.

Workshop of 5 – Photo by Mitchell Wong Ho

Zani and I celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary and the 5th year of my photography business. As a dad, it was great to see little Amelie grow up from a baby to a little girl. I am so greatful to love what I am  doing and to have a wonderful family who supports me.

A valuable lesson that I have learn this year is the following: “Don’t give up. Push through even if it feel like everything is falling apart. The new level await you just beyond!”

To all the people out there a Merry Christmas and a happy new year. This goes out to all the couples, service providers, other photographers and anybody else who visits the blog. Now open up the bubbly and have a fantastic festive time. I can’t wait what lies ahead for all of us in 2011. Cheers!

In the month of  May we moved to our new house and studio in Boston, Bellville. At the same time, I was busy finishing off with the busy season’s work, held my first workshop (Workshop of 5) and started with all the editing work that awaited me. But hey, that is part of life; to handle the new things that comes with each new season. I am so grateful to have a house to live in and new studio that is we are still restoring. Me and my family have so much to be grateful for. I had  hectic busy few weeks to find my bearings again and to get back to my usual old self.  Over the next few days I will be uploading all the shoots, news and weddings photos that I still post on my blog. There are some great moments and great photos that I would like to share with you. So stick around, get some hot chocolate for you and get ready to view some great photographic moments that I will share in the next couple of days.

We are moving in the last week of May. I also just want to assure all couples and clients that we are working around the clock to get your photos out as quickly as possible. This wedding season was a busy one, but there are really beautiful images awaiting all of you. Thank you for your support and your patience!

Special thanks to our family, friends, everyone who helped us to get this house and God. I am getting so excited writing this post.  I am glad to have a new place we will transform into our home; where we can lay down our heads and also earn our living. For everyone out there with a dream… don’t give up hope! I have not posted any photos yet, because we still need to receive the keys to our house. But in the near future I will take some pictures and share it with you. See you in our new house and studio soon!

This picture of Amelie looks like an abundant doll on a beach! Weird, but cool photo. Love the sunset.

A few weeks ago Zani and I made a thank you card to had out to all the people who helped us during the pregnancy/birth and to all the people who gave something.  We printed three little photos of Amelie a DL-size page and inserted it into the card.  Here is the three photos that we printed for the card.  I love the last one where she is laughting (my brother, Desmond, took the picture). I tell you, that little smile makes my day when I worked hard.  It is incredible how they grow up so quickly.  I treasure everyday with her.    Hope you guys enjoy it!