Good to Know

Your questions, answered

Bookings, timelines, pricing and delivery — the things couples ask most, answered honestly so you know exactly what to expect.

Wedding Photography — Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before booking — from packages and what’s included, to what happens on the day and how we work with international couples.

Vrede and Lust couple ceremony exit vrede en lust cape dutch manor

Booking & Availability

For popular Saturdays in spring and autumn, 12–18 months ahead is common. If your date is within 6 months, get in touch straight away — I do have gaps and it’s always worth asking. Elopements and weekday weddings are generally available with shorter notice.
A 20% deposit of your total package value, plus a signed contract, confirms your date. Nothing is held without a deposit — I don’t keep pencil bookings.
The deposit is 20% of your total package value. It’s non-refundable but transferable if you need to move to another available date.
If you postpone to a date I’m available for, the deposit transfers to the new date. If you cancel entirely, the deposit is retained. The remaining balance is due in the week before your wedding.
I typically photograph one wedding per weekend to give every couple my full attention. I don’t double-book. Once your deposit is paid, that date is yours.

After a few hard lessons, I don’t hold dates without a deposit — I don’t own pencils. Once the booking deposit is in, the day is yours.

After 500+ weddings I’ve never missed one — and I’d shoot with a drip in my arm if I had to. In a genuine emergency I’m friends with a lot of excellent photographers and would move heaven and earth to put a brilliant one in my place.

Judge me on my work. If it moves you, get in touch; if the price fits your budget, come and meet me — you’ll know very quickly if we gel. That’s a promise.

Packages & Pricing

Packages start at R18 000 and scale with the hours and coverage you choose — the full breakdown is on the pricing page. Send me your date, venue and times and I’ll come back with exact figures.

Every package includes: all usable images fully edited, high-resolution and social-sized JPGs delivered via Smash, a teaser set within 3 days of your wedding, your full gallery within 3 weeks, and a pre-wedding consultation call. No image cutoff, no upsell to unlock more photos.
Every frame I shoot that meets my quality standard is delivered — there’s no artificial cutoff. A full wedding day (8–9 hours) typically results in 600–800 images. You get all of them.
A second shooter is available on request for most packages and is included in the extended coverage package. Let me know at enquiry stage and I’ll build it into your quote.
Yes — as a standalone session or as an optional add-on to your wedding package. It’s a great way to get comfortable in front of the camera before the wedding day, and you’ll have images to use for save-the-dates or social media.

Engagement shoots start from R4 500.

The booking deposit is 20% of your total package value. The balance is due the week before the wedding.

There isn’t much room to move — the rates are set so I can run a sustainable, long-term business, and they’re very competitive for what you actually get. That said, weekday or off-peak dates can sometimes be discounted, and if I’m out of your budget I’m happy to point you to good photographers who’ll fit it. Just ask.

The first 100 km of the round trip is included. Beyond that it’s R5 per km, and for weddings far from Cape Town I’ll need a night’s accommodation, quoted with your package.

Val De vie couple confetti petal exit val de vie wedding
couple outdoor petal confetti ceremony exit guests

On the Day

Ideally 60 minutes without travel between locations. I’ll work with whatever your timeline allows — if we only have 30 minutes, we make the most of it. I’ll give you guidance during our pre-wedding call on how to structure the day for the best light.
Very unlikely. During the ceremony I stay as invisible as possible and use lenses that let me shoot from a distance without disturbing anyone. Most couples tell me afterwards they forgot I was there.
We work with it. Some of the most atmospheric wedding photos come from wet weather — moody skies, soft light, reflections. I’ve shot at nearly every Western Cape venue and know the indoor alternatives at all of them. We’ll have a backup plan before the day.
I’ll need a list from you of the groups you want photographed, and a point person (best man, bridesmaid) to help gather people. Budget roughly 1–2 minutes per group. The sooner after the ceremony we do these, the fresher everyone looks.
Of course — I have no problem with guests taking photos. The only ask is that during posed or directed shots, they step back so we don’t end up with people looking in different directions. I’ll only mention it once and very politely.

An all-rounder. I can talk to anyone, I stay calm when things get tense, and I genuinely feed off the energy of a wedding. I’m mostly invisible in the background — but I’ll happily hop onto a chair to round up 200 people for a group shot.

I love natural light and use it as much as possible — with a soft kiss of flash when an image needs it, especially later in the evening. Never harsh.

Yes. Some people groan at the time, but they’re almost always the images that get enlarged and treasured later — and it only takes a few minutes.

I’d rather not — I keep moving for the in-the-moment shots. Far better to do proper group shots at the pre-drinks: relaxed, interactive, and everyone still looking their best. If you want guest photos, ask me about the photo-booth add-on.

Yes please (and my second shooter) — otherwise I might have to pop out to KFC and miss your first dance. A spot to sit, eat, and safely leave my gear is all I need.

Good chance I’ve already shot there — I’ve photographed most venues in the Western Cape. If you’d like me to scout it specially, there’s no fee within about 30 minutes’ drive; further out it’s a flat R650.

Your Gallery

You’ll receive a teaser set of 20–30 edited images within 3 days of your wedding. Your full edited gallery is delivered within 3 weeks via Smash — a download link accessible from anywhere in the world, in full resolution.
Via Smash — a download link you can access from anywhere in the world. High-resolution files for printing, and social-sized JPGs for sharing online. No physical disc, no postage costs.
Yes. All images are delivered in full resolution without watermarks. You’re free to print for personal use. For commercial use — such as a venue using your photos in their marketing — please contact me first.
I shoot in colour and convert selected images to black and white during editing based on what suits each photograph. You’ll receive a mix in your gallery.
Every image delivered has been individually edited for colour, exposure, and tone. I don’t batch-process and deliver. The editing style is true-to-life — enhancing the mood of what was actually there, not changing it.

You’re free to print, share and enter the images in competitions for personal use. I keep copyright for commercial use — so if a venue or supplier wants to run them in an ad, they just check with me on rates. I also keep the right to feature wedding photos on my site and channels (tell me if there’s a real privacy reason not to and I’ll happily accommodate you).

Yes, yes, and yes again. I keep multiple copies for at least three months after handover — after that, please keep your own backups of the gallery too.

No major plastic surgery — I keep you looking like the best version of you on the actual day. Natural retouching where it counts, like bridal portraits, but nothing reinvented.

black white couple hands holding wedding rings
couple petal confetti exit cape dutch wine estate

International & Destination Clients

Same as local — just with a video consultation instead of in-person. Around 60% of my couples plan their Western Cape wedding from abroad. I’m used to remote planning, digital contracts, and WhatsApp communication across time zones. It works seamlessly.
Yes. Western Cape travel is included in all packages. For destinations requiring flights or overnight accommodation, I provide a travel quote upfront as part of your package discussion — no surprises.
Absolutely — many overseas couples add an engagement session on the day they arrive in Cape Town. It’s a great way to get comfortable with me before the wedding day, and you’ll have images from your time in South Africa.
All packages are priced in ZAR (South African Rand). For international clients this often works favourably given the exchange rate. I’m happy to provide a ZAR amount alongside a USD, GBP or EUR equivalent for budgeting purposes.
Yes. I’ve photographed weddings internationally. If you’re planning a wedding outside South Africa and want to discuss coverage, get in touch — we’ll work out what’s involved.
riekert nobg

Still got questions?

Let’s make sure you’re sorted

If something’s not covered here, just ask. After 500+ weddings I’ve heard every question — and I’ll make sure you feel completely at ease before the big day.