Wedding photography at La Roche Estate

Digital and film wedding photography at La Roche Estate – one of Franschhoek’s most extraordinary wedding venues

Wedding photography
by Curator Photography

{I} La Roche Estate
{II} Why I like documenting here
{III} FAQ

Mountains from la Roche estate from their Sanctuary.

Black and white of a bride in La Roche's manor house looking towards the mountains.

Wedding Imagery that captures the beauty of La Roche Estate

La Roche Estate is a place of remarkable beauty, hidden high above Franschhoek.With its iconic and momental architecture, Sanctuary – an island stone chapel and its mountain views the estate offers an extraordinary setting for a wedding — and an equally exciting one for photography.

When couples enquire with me to photograph their wedding here, they’re normally looking specifically for a photographer who can document their day as well as the beauty of the space. I believe the venue itself sets the scene for storytelling, and I find that makes it wonderfully easy to photograph couples and their loved ones honestly enjoying each other, the day and the estate. It really has a wow factor, which is so fun to photograph. There’s a real wow factor to La Roche, which makes it incredibly fun to photograph. Its combination of natural and crafted beauty also lends itself to bold, cinematic imagery. For that reason, I often find myself reaching for 120 film rather than 35mm here, allowing me to draw out the details, textures and artistry of the estate while creating photographs that feel intentional.

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Three reasons why I love shooting weddings at La Roche Estate.

The Sanctuary is perhaps the most distinctive part of La Roche estate. Set on its own island and surrounded by water, it creates an extraordinary sense of occasion. I love photographing people as they move towards it. Whether it’s by foot or by golf cart, the experience produces images full of life, laughter and anticipation.

The high, open space around La Roche gives the light a particular clarity. Because the quality of air is so good, the light can feel crisp and dramatic, producing strong contrast and shadows.

It is particularly well suited to the kind of cinematic, editorial imagery I love to create. Digital images have a wonderful sense of clarity, while film captures the richness of the light and colour in a way that feels tangible.

It’s a real treat to photograph here.

One of my convictions with Curator is that the tension between crafted and natural beauty is essential to good wedding photography. The grounds and architecture at La Roche make it one of the most compelling places in South Africa to explore that tension. Here, the two can exist together — each complementing the other.

Some of my favourite ways to draw out this tension are through the way I approach different parts of the day. I contrast the getting ready scenes in the immaculate manor house and the ceremony in the iconic Sanctuary with an honest, fly-on-the-wall documentary approach.

For private couple sessions and group photographs, I then guide things towards a more editorial style, using the mountains, gardens and open landscape as natural elements. Imagine vogue poses with mountain backdrops. I also love the old stone walls behind the manor house, which create a beautiful contrast for more contemporary imagery and modern styles.

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Frequently asked questions about wedding photography at La Roche

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I have several packages for wedding photography at La Roche Estate, with couples spending an average of R30 000 for digital and film with me. Please enquire for more details through my contact page.

No – Franschhoek falls within my service area.

Of course! I work with some incredible people within the industry. I suggest looking at SA Weddings for trusted vendors, or asking me directly when you enquire.