Today we are sharing with you, the lovely lady behind Vanilla Photography.
Bubbly, blonde bombshell, Bron Veale is a sensational photographer with a heart of gold. Her clean, documentary style and chic, high-class approach to weddings has us with our jaws on the floor almost every Monday when we stalk her insta feed and drool over the delicious imagery she creates.
Her photography has taken her all over the world, to Italy, the UK, Spain, Mozambique, Thailand & Mauritius. Our brides are so lucky to have this gem of a human with international wedding standards right here on our doorstep.
We sat down with Bron and got to know a little more about the behind the scenes; How she is balancing life as a mom and girl boss, the highs and lows of being a wedding photographer and the advice she wishes she had when she first started her photography journey.
Hooray: Please tell us your name, the name of your company and your area of specification
Bron: Hi! I’m Bron Veale from Vanilla Photography.
Hooray: Tell us about yourself
Bron: I am a new mom, and totally besotted with my little girl, Harlow Anne. I’m a wife, and mother to two gorgeous little fur kids too. I have a serious addiction to cheese, and travelling!! My husband and I love to travel the world shooting weddings, but I’m just as happy shooting in our beautiful South Africa!
Hooray: How did you get into the wedding industry
Bron: I started working as an Interior Designer, but realised my true passion was photography. After doing a few night courses, and practicing my toosh off, a friend asked me to shoot their wedding. I took the (very daunting) plunge, and have never looked back!! I am so passionate about what I do, and just love being a part of such a special day – it’s an honour!
Hooray: What inspires you?
Bron: Travel! Experiencing new places, new people and new cultures. It gets all my creative juices flowing. I don’t really follow wedding blogs, but rather fine art photographers, and travel photographers & interior designers. I like to rather draw inspiration from all sources of creative outlets.
Hooray: Do you have a passion other than photography?
Bron: Interior design, dogs, and being a mom! Maybe not in that order… Haha!
Hooray: Running your own business can be hard, do you have a daily routine?
Bron: Yes! I try to keep up my routine as much as possible so that I don’t spend the day in my pajamas!! I wake up and hit the gym/pilates or yoga class. This gets me refreshed and ready to start the day. Coffee, rusks and emails to start the day after that, working my way into my editing in the afternoon after lunch.
Hooray: Since becoming a mom, how are you balancing the mom life + work life?
Bron: Balance? What is that? Ha! I’m trying… I am lucky enough to have a fabulous nanny, and a wonderful mom that helps with Harlow when I try fit in some work hours during the week. But working from home has it’s pros and cons. It’s awesome to be able to take breaks and spend time with her, feeding lunch etc. But also hearing her in another room while I’m trying to get editing done gives me FOMO!
I guess the balance will come with time… When she’s 16 maybe?!
Hooray: Do you work with a team?
Bron: I always work with a second shooter, and recently we’ve collaborated with Wavecrest Pictures to offer videography as well
Hooray: The “must have” in your camera kit
Bron: My trusty 50mm f1.2 ! I pretty much shoot the whole day with it.
Hooray: Can you describe your style?
Bron: I have a documentary approach, where I try to capture all the real moments as they truly unfold. I feel it’s important for a bride to discover her wedding day as a guest when she receives the images, and not just all the moments she was a part of.
Hooray: Tell us about your ideal wedding client
Bron: My ideal clients are couples that are passionate about keeping it ‘real’. My documentary approach leans to following the day as it truly unfolds, rather than setting up moments. My ideal clients would prefer me to keep this vibe, rather than waiting to be directed all day. It’s so important to take in each and every moment and try to be aware of each other and all the amazing friends and family that have joined to celebrate YOU, rather than the cameras!
Hooray: What do you love most about your job?
Bron: The people I get to meet!! I have had the privilege of making the most incredible friends, both in the wedding industry that I get to work with all the time, as well as the incredible couples that hire me and treat me as one of the family.
Hooray: If there was one thing you could change about the wedding industry, what would it be?
Bron: I wish people would see each other as friends and colleagues, rather than competition. We’re getting there slowly but surely.
Hooray: Name 5 of your favourite wedding vendors that you enjoy working with.
Bron: Only 5?! Oh my… Michelle Rabe Videography, Margie Harel from Aubergine, Carolyn from Adore Weddings, Kate from Crystal Barn, Belinda from Orchards.
Hooray: Your dream destination for a wedding?
Bron: Oh wow… I recently got to shoot on the Amalfi Coast, which was a big bucket list tick for me. So the next destination would probably be Mexico or Barcelona?!
Hooray: The funniest thing that has ever happened to you on the job?
Bron: My pants split while bending for photos during the bride prep! AWKS!
Hooray: One piece of advice you would give yourself if you could go back to when you first started?
Bron: To work as a second shooter/ assistant to someone you admire is SO important. I skipped this step, and made lots of mistakes at the beginning that absolutely could’ve been avoided if I had just watched someone else work a few times first.
Bron, thank you so much for sharing with us, we love your heart, your style and the fact that you have joined us in the mother-hood!
If you would like to get in touch with Bron you can pop her an email here:
bron@vanillaphotography.co.za
You can also see more of her work here:
website
instagram
facebook
