For 40 years, The North Coast Courier has told stories that shape the community, and professional photographer Barry Wray Bowditch is honoured to have had his journey woven into the pages.

Barry has spent decades capturing brides, businesses and some of Ballito’s biggest, most unforgettable moments.

Originally from Johannesburg, Barry and his wife Denise moved to the North Coast in 1993 when he took a position at a corrugated packaging company in the Isithebe Industrial Park.

“When we arrived, Ballito was still a little seaside gem with just a handful of shops and four venues to dine at,” recalls Barry.

“By the time the packaging company folded in the mid 2000s, we had already fallen completely in love with our community.”

Photography had been Barry’s passion for more than 30 years, but never his full time profession. Taking that leap was not easy.

“We stood at bridal fairs and pretended we had been doing it for a million years,” laughs Barry.

“A full page article in the Courier changed everything, it gave us the boost we needed.”

Slowly the business grew, eventually expanding to three photographers and four editors. But when the pandemic hit, everything stopped overnight.

“What kept us going were the 500 weddings I had photographed, 500 references from people who believed in our work.”

Every image is still edited by hand, and that obsession with quality continues today. That attention to detail no doubt contributed to Barry being named Best Photographer in the Best of Ballito in all four years the awards have been held.

“To the people of the Dolphin Coast and across South Africa, thank you for propelling us to the top year after year, and for the bragging rights that the Best of Ballito awards have afforded us.

“Your support is the heartbeat of Barry Wray Bowditch Photography, the passion only grows and the talent is still on the viewfinder end of the camera. Congratulations to The North Coast Courier on 40 remarkable years of serving our community.”

Find out more at bowditch.co.za or at 082256 0006.

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