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[proposal] Sébastien and Céline, Hansar Samui, Bophut, Koh Samui (PART 1)

Sébastien emailed me about proposing to the woman of his dreams with excitement in April saying he wanted to propose while on holiday with his girlfriend, Céline. She’d told him it was her dream to be proposed to on the beach. So after seeing my photos from Brina and Rafael’s proposal at Hansar, he knew it was the perfect setting. Three months and countless emails later, the big day came! Unfortunately the weather had other plans on the day, which forced us to have the set up inside. And although not everything went to plan, he still got to spend the evening having dinner and surprising such a beautiful woman! I arrived early to capture the set-up of Sébastien’s many months worth of planning. Fortunately the downpour got lighter as the afternoon turned evening…  I think the dinner set up the staff at the Hansar created was beautiful either way, I mean what girl wouldn’t be happy with a table surrounded by flowers and candles and more flowers?! Their table was on the second floor of the Hansar restaurant, the H-Bistro and had this stunning view overlooking Bophut beach! This is the Beach Bar at the Hansar and if you’re

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[CMW] Pink N’ Pampered for Kids

Hester arrived on Samui in December 2012 and couldn’t have come at a better time, although I had already handed in my resignation to the hotel, we instantly got along and became great friends. We’ve now known each other for 1.5 years and I’m so happy to call her a friend, not only is she a great hotel manager, but an AWESOME Aussie as well.   And living in Thailand, speaking Thai most days… well lets just say another persons Aussie humour is welcomed with open arms. 😉  One day she asked me if I’d like to take part in a charity auction she was planning at her hotel, the Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui. I said yes, as I love doing anything that’s going for a good cause. The auction will be held this Saturday 2nd August, from 6 until 8.30PM. All proceeds will go towards the Samui Learning Centre for Special Needs. So please, if you’re on Samui as a tourist or you’re a local and have lived here for ages, please come along for a great night of PINK! The dress code is Pretty in Pink, ladies!  Tickets are 1,700 THB per person and it includes a

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[travel] Upcoming trip to Australia!!!

I’ve been holding onto this VERY EXCITING news (who know how!?) and keeping as quiet as I could since last December now, fearing the worst… that somehow, something might go wrong and my biggest dream for the year might not come true. BUT now? Well, I’m soooo happy to say that it’s come true! Nek actually got his visa granted, so we’ve booked the flights and we will be off to AUSTRALIA!!!! I can’t begin to tell you all, or even try to put into words how STOKED I am about this trip. For one, I’m dying to see my family again (as most of my friends and clients know) all of my close family and I made trips here and there within just a few months of each other, meaning we all saw each other around the same time and haven’t since. So it worked out that it’s been nearly two years since we all saw each other in person (I mean, I’m sure my brother will look completely different than when I last saw him – I’m talking different coloured hair and new piercings/tattoos, people!) and all I can say is… I love the internet. Thank god for

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[wedding] Pam & Matt, Villa Tassana Pra, Choeng Mon, Koh Samui

When Pam started telling me about the finer details of her day, I got so excited, knowing that I was her photographer… I mean, THIS VILLA!! And then there’s the stunning dress she had tailored, the DIY details, everything. They flew all the way from Seattle, USA to have this beautiful destination wedding on Koh Samui, and I think it was definitely worth it! Their day was so special with just a few close friends attending and making a week-long holiday out of their trip. 🙂 Pam actually organised this whole wedding by herself, she contacted all the vendors and decorated the villa, it really was such a lovely day to be a part of and felt so personal to them! I’d been lucky enough to come up to the villa a few days before the special day to have dinner with them, and felt so welcomed! Now I’m sad it’s all over already, but I’m so excited for Pam and Matt’s travel-honeymoon, which they are currently on… Vietnam, India and then Italy! As soon as I met them in person, I could tell why they are meant to be together. Sitting at the dinner table surrounded by their friends,

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[holiday] Valentina & Roman, Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui

Tina contacted me before their holiday to ask about couples photography, and to my surprise, said she is a model! They wanted some lovely blue skies in their photos, which is exactly what we had planned, and in the end it worked out perfectly! I met Tina and Roman at their hotel to get to know them a bit more, and over their two weeks stay in Thailand I we met up 3 times!! They came to see us at Mini Bar too!  It was so lovely to get to know them as a couple. These two are SOO cute together, you’re in for a treat! We decided to spend our session getting some photos along Chaweng Beach, where the water is a nice clear blue this time of year so was the sky, what a perfect day! Tina and Roman are from Slovenia, and it was their first time to Thailand, so they enjoyed it here on Koh Samui so much!  My first question to Roman was “Are you a model too?”, later when I introducing Nek to them both, he asked the same thing, haha! At first Tina tried to pull some ‘work’ poses on us but we

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[travel] Penang, Malaysia

This is one post that’s been a long time coming!!  I thought I’d start writing about my travels, since it’s something Nek and I both love so much and dream about often… we love to travel not just to see someplace new or go on a break from everyday life, but to experience different cultures and ways of life. I mean when I think about all the different countries, cultures, beliefs, traditions and upbringings people all over the world have, had it gets me all excited! And I want to learn about as many of them as possible! It’s my dream to find something I can hold onto from those people be it a part of their culture/ tradition that I love, or just a wonderful memory of that place, or an amazing experience we had there. I believe that travel truly can make you richer, in life.  And every time I travel, I hope to learn something that can make me a better person!  🙂 ANYWAY, back to telling you about Penang… Nek and I have been to there together twice now and I have to say I really like it. It’s a Malaysian island (and State) and that

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[CMW] Create a mobile app for your photo gallery… :)

I thought since my clients LOVE the galleries so much, (and so do I) that I should highlight one of my favourite features of all 🙂 Did you know you can actually create your own photo app on your smart phones and other devices? Well, here’s how you can do it 🙂 iOS devices; 1. Follow the link to your online gallery I sent you or go to www.cherrymayward-client.com and click on your gallery from your mobile device 🙂 2. Click the button in the middle of the navigator. 3. Select ‘Add to Home Screen’ 4. Rename the app as you like, and click ‘Add’… 5. You’ve sealed the deal!!! YAY! This is what the app will look like opened up on your iOS device 🙂   Android devices; 1. Follow the link to your online gallery I sent you or go to www.cherrymayward-client.com and click on your gallery from your mobile device 🙂 2. Tap the bookmark button in the top right corner of your browser window. 3. Select ‘Add bookmark’ 4. Rename the app as you like, and click ‘Save’… 5. Hold down the icon for your bookmark until a list of options pop up and select ‘Add

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[portraits] Jolie, Koh Samui

It was time for me to say yes to something new… ALTHOUGH… when Claire first asked me if I would be interested in doing a test shoot, I was hesitant. The voice in my head went something like this; I haven’t photographed I professional model before, I’m not a fashion photographer… ahhhh! ANYWAY Claire was like yes, yes… no, that’s not a problem, LETS DO THIS! Teamwork! Sooo, here is the outcome for you to enjoy 😉 I loved it, Jolie is a ball of FUN! And Jolie and her fiancé are getting married next year on Koh Phangan at what sounds like the most AMAZING resort ever! No hot water, or wifi, just a nature inspired luxury resort surrounded by you guessed it, NATURE and some of the most amazing views, ever.  She even wanted hiking boots for her birthday, I’m thinking Jolie and I can definitely be friends.     😉 Claire Salter is a hair and makeup extraordinaire, plus not to mention she is so much FUN to have around chatting to on the day.  I’m happy to have been able to meet and make friends with this lovely lady and now can’t wait for her to

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[anniversary] Soo Mee & Yen Peng, Rocky’s, Koh Samui

Soo Mee contacted me to photograph her and Yen Peng’s 10th wedding anniversary, and I couldn’t have been happier to get to wake up for the sunrise to get some gorgeous photographs with them. We chose to get some photos on the beach at Rocky’s with the sun coming up… Soo Mee wanted to bring some props and she chose these cute red heart balloons 🙂 We found some flowers to pick on the beach, and surprisingly there was a lot of purple around to match Soo Mee’s dress 🙂 I love this photo, Yen Peng decided to give a purple flower to Soo Mee 🙂 We ended the session with some photos in the Rocky’s Resort by the pool bar, I love the thatch roof of the bar! Happy Monday! Let me know in the comments where your dream anniversary would be and what you want to do 🙂 ……….……….……….

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[engagement] Stephanie & Brian, Villa Serendipity, Laem Set, Koh Samui.

I felt really lucky to be a part of this surprise for Brian… Anniversary photography That was until a few days leading up to our session when Stephanie told me he’d gone and done one better and surprised her with something she definitely couldn’t top! He’d proposed to her! I’m so happy for you two & wish you a big CONGRATULATIONS! Stephanie & Brian are two people you can tell are just meant to be together. From the way he looks at her, to Stephanie’s unstoppable giggles he holds her close, whispering something is her ear. 🙂 They were staying at a beautiful private villa high up on the hills of Laem Set called Villa Seredipity. It made for the perfect backdrop for the first part of their engagement photos! They had one of the most stunning views past the south of Koh Samui. You can see how much Stephanie means to Brian just by the way he looks at her. 🙂 Stephanie made so many cute little props for the photos. I love when my women are so crafty & talented! How beautiful is Stephanie?? Brian is one lucky guy! I love how happy these two are together!! Stephanie

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[personal] The Best Valentines / Makaboocha Day Ever :)

Dear future self, I’m writing this because I want you to be looking back one day and let this post put a smile on your face like it was yesterday (which it was yesterday, as of today, ha!)… and let this post remind you to chill out, if only once in a while, and let this post remind you to love more fully and be more grateful, as often as possible 🙂 In the evening we were in Maenam about to go to the temple for Makaboocha Day, and I was surprised when Nek asked the lady at the shop how much one of the bunches of flowers were, ha! In my head I was thinking ‘Nek, those aren’t the flowers you buy to take around the temple’..  After getting our actual bunch of daisies, incense and candles (times two), he turned to the lady and bought the bunch of flowers and then gave them to me! I even tried to make him give them back before accepting them, haha! They were too expensive! (It’s easy to tell who is the cheap-o of the two of us!) When Nek said “I worked hard to buy these for you” and I

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[CMW] Referral LOVE

To my dearly beloved past and current clients & who have become FRIENDS, I’ve always wanted a way to THANK everyone who loves my work enough to refer me to their friends or family… so today I’m really excited to announce my very own way of giving back!! Cue… drumroll (or dance music, which ever floats your boat) … I’m so excited to be offering 20 free prints from your photography session with me, when a friend or family member you referred books me as their photographer!   Haha, please ignore the cracked walls from our bungalow 😉 BUT feel free to LOVE my work desk!!! Nek and I had it hand made last October out of old wood & I’m so in love with it! Perfect size, awesome colours… it INSPIRES me 😀 SO… the details about these babies…. You can choose your favourite size from: 7x7cm square 7×8.2cm rectangle – similar to pictured with the white space below the photo like a polariod 🙂 6.5x10cm rectangle – same as above 🙂 9.5x14cm rectangle – pictured 😀 I LOVE these little cuties, because there are SO many ways you can use them 🙂 Right now I’ve got a stack

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