My pre-wedding photoshoot of Hong Kong model and actress Ankie Beilke has been featured in everyone’s favorite Cantonese publication, Apple Daily and Hong Kong’s very own popular entertainment site ON.CC! For those of you who don’t read traditional Chinese characters, here’s a little glimpse behind the headlines.

I’ve been photographing the talented beauty that is Ankie Beilke since I took her headshots in 2014 after an introduction by another talented actress and model, Raven Tao. Ankie was also gracious enough to star in a power yoga pose for a 2015 charity calendar I produced and dedicated to Hong Kong’s Women Helping Women charity foundation.

I was naturally thrilled when she asked me to be her pre-wedding photographer with dashing soon-to-be husband Simon Van Damme, and their gorgeous toddling son, Sebastian. Speaking to Apple Daily reporters about Sebastian, who was born in February last year, Ankie said, “It’s been especially interesting to add a son to our family. The three of us are very happy together, and having a child brings a lot of life into the house.”

So, shortly before sundown earlier this week, our team headed up to Hong Kong’s Victoria Peak to catch the all important “Golden Hour” light. As Ankie is both a model and a photographer, I knew we were in for something special.  Adding to my delight was the presence of Ifat Kafry Hindes, an experienced model and mom herself, who provided great location tips and behind the scenes support.

We shot two styles, one with Ankie in a stunning white wedding gown by world renowned designer Susanne Soo and Simon in a classic tux by legendary RS Fashions, and another more Chinese look where Ankie wore a fashionable red number from iconic Shanghai Tang and Simon donned a changshan-style jacket by Shanghai Tang as well. 

The light was absolutely beautiful on Victoria Peak, and so was the happy family!

WANT TO FOLLOW IN ANKIE’S ELEGANT FOOTSTEPS? BOOK A PRE-WEDDING SHOOT WITH ALI G STUDIOS!

Despite being half German and born in Germany, Ankie told the newspaper there was no contest as to where her pre-wedding shoot would take place. “I’ve always known Hong Kong and lived in Hong Kong, and I will get married in Hong Kong,” she said, “so it’s the perfect fit to take my wedding photos here.”

The couple will marry at a registry office in Hong Kong on November 18 and may host a reception party after (depending on Ankie’s busy schedule). Talking about wedding planning, Ankie admitted there are always challenges.

“It’s always hard to plan a wedding…We will register first and have a party, but I’ve decided to have another Chinese wedding ceremony next year. That way everyone will be happy!”

And who could fail to be happy watching this beautiful family make it official? I’d like to extend all my congratulations and celebrations to the happy trio!

Also a big thanks to Apple Daily reporter and videographer Luo Huimin and Shen Jiancheng, makeup artist Wing Tee and hair stylist Timothy Lee. In addition, thank you to Mavis from Quest Artists & Models Agency for a helping hand on the day!

Here’s Apple Daily’s Chinese version:

獨家！貝安琪本月拉埋天窗 一家三口山頂影婚照

中、德混血名模貝安琪（Ankie）即將喺本月18號同加拿大籍男友Simon van Damme拉埋天窗，喺香港舉行婚禮兼註冊，日前兩公婆就去到山頂影婚紗相，Ankie點名由攝影師Ali Ghorbani操刀拍攝，用咗短短兩個鐘就完成，捕捉日落前嘅magic hour，拍攝出自然唯美一面。

Ankie去年2月誕下囝囝Sebastian（小龍），婚紗相除咗兩公婆，緊係唔少得小龍一份，喺車度瞓晏覺叉足電後，小龍出現嘞！但係近排特別黐身嘅佢唔係搵爸爸就係要搵媽媽，搞到大家喊笑不得，不過熱愛足球嘅小龍一見到足球心情好快就平靜落嚟，仲同父母玩到癲晒，乖乖完成一家三口合照。Ankie話：「加埋小龍，特別有意思，3個一齊特別開心，小朋友係好活潑。」

Ankie曾經講過用500%嘅愛愛Simon，Simon亦對愛妻送上冇限嘅愛，Ankie話：「Simon係成日搞笑嘅人，佢令到我好開心，佢對每樣嘢都好細心，尤其係我哋個仔，佢好專心照顧佢同我，佢會100分去try his best令我哋開心。佢所有嘢都諗得好正面，呢樣嘢令到我個人都開心咗好多。」

Simon相當幽默，拍攝時逗得Ankie好開心，Ankie揀香港拍攝婚照，原來有特別原因，佢話：「其實我哋搵咗兩位攝影師，兩輯相都好唔同，我哋都好鍾意，因為想有兩個唔同風格。始終我哋喺香港識、住喺香港、喺香港結婚，所以喺香港影係好適合。揀呢個地方係攝影師提出嘅，我哋拍拖就鍾意去沙灘多啲，不過如果去沙灘影就太辛苦嘞，嚟山頂影個個都舒服啲。」

仲有兩星期就真正成為人妻，Ankie話：「好開心，就嚟到、就嚟完成，其實一路籌備都唔太辛苦，但最後係因為家人同朋友嘅意見就辛苦少少，不過我依家都唔係好理，我哋兩個先最重要，媽咪話我係太西方嘅諗法，我始終喺德國長大，但都好尊重中國傳統文化，一定會擺酒嘅，18號會係好細嘅party，先註冊，我哋決定明年再搞一次中式同一次自己嘅婚宴，中式嘅媽咪全權搞晒，咁樣個個都開心。」

採訪：羅慧敏
攝影：Ali Ghorbani
攝錄：沈健程
化妝：WingKee
髮型：Timothy Lee

 

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A big thanks to Phottix for the professional lighting equipment provided to Ali G Studios. 

All photos are © Ali Ghorbani and Ali G Studios