This is a bittersweet post for me. I love this session with Cherise and Chloe for 2 Bellas so much! It was so perfect, and the beautiful tree with its pink blossoms truly blessed us on this day.

The inspiration behind this shoot came from Cherise, she wanted to do a “Once-upon-a-time” shoot where the story transitions from one reality to another. You will clearly see it where Chloe steps through a frame into a different set. Little did we know that soon this fantasy will become a reality.

My heart is broken for Cherise and Chloe’s loss. Two weeks after this session Cherise lost her hubby and Chloe said goodbye to her dad for the last time.

I consider myself so privileged, to have known their dad/husband, to have been able to spend 2 weeks with Cherise and Miguel in Santorini in 2014, where we met. I had the opportunity to stay with them for a week in Germany in 2015, where Cherise bought me a pregnancy test and the result was: ”Schwanger” in German.

I photographed their stunning, intimate wedding in Johannesburg and saw them at many gatherings. Many, beautiful moments. They have always been the same beautiful people who have shown a lot of compassion and love to me. So I just want to say thank you Cherise, Miguel and Chloe, and I know that your beautiful memories will now live forever in your hearts and in the images I was fortunate enough to capture of you. We will never forget Miguel!

At the memorial service, the MC “Marums” as Miguel used to call him, introduced Cherise with the following quote by Maya Angelou:

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour and some style”

These words totally describing exactly who Cherise is, and Miguel was.

This shoot was done for 2 Bellas. Styling, make-up and set design by: Filipa O

This song was Chloe and Miguel’s song.