childhood unplugged: august
August 1st, 2014 by sharaleep | 11 Comments »
with wedding season being in full swing, i rarely get to take a proper vacation in summer, but this year we decided to stay more local and head down to the seattle area to a house by the sea.
this was the best decision we’ve made in awhile…it was so relaxed and beautiful and while we thought we would do more of exploring of the city, we were happy to just stay home and enjoy the view. my kids read books, collected crabs and played card games – so dreamy.
my sister lives down in portland with her husband and four children and we were so excited to host them for a few days. last fall, their family took a trip down to florida to meet the family of her two adopted boys. shortly after they came home, melissa asked if they would be open to coming to oregon to visit, so three of their siblings made the trek on their first plane ride across the country to live with them for 6 weeks. we are so grateful to their florida family for being willing to share them with us.
please be sure to check out the other amazing women who are a part of the childhood unplugged project!
chilliwack farm wedding | chris & mariah: married
July 30th, 2014 by sharaleep | 5 Comments »
okay, i feel like i’m going to have a hard time finding words for this one. so it’s a good thing i took a lot of pictures.
chris and mariah are honestly one of the dearest couples. they have been together since mariah was in high school and you can tell…their way with each other is one of ease and delight and they are so fun to be around.
their day was so personal…the wedding in a dear friends’ yard and the reception held on her family’s farm, their pictures taken in the orchard where she used to play, her flowers prepared by her sisters and so many dear family and friends in attendance.
i think mariah broke the record for number of hugs i’ve received from a bride on their wedding day. her gratitude was humbling and something i will never forget. and now i’m crying. OK! look at some pictures while i go find a kleenex 😉
venue: chilliwack corn maze/ | food: restaurant 62 | flowers: sisters of the bride | dress: bisou bridal | hair: montana bullied | favours: anita’s organics cookie mix
vancouver wedding photographer | matt & sam: married
July 22nd, 2014 by sharaleep | No Comments »
while july 12th, 2014 was their wedding day, their story spans more than a decade. it all started when they were teenagers, both attending the same boarding school. they were friends and spent a fair bit of time together, but it didn’t progress much further than that. years passed, relationships came and went, maturity occurred and their paths crossed again at their ten year reunion. it was only then that sam realized all these years she had been comparing other guys to matt – none of them had all of the things she was looking for but him. i loved hearing their perspective, knowing that if they had tried to commit earlier on, it might not have worked. it took those years of growing up for them both to recognize what they needed and wanted and who it was that would fill that void. here’s to another few decades…together this time around. 
venue & caterer: fraser river lodge | wedding planner: erica mckeddie of filosophi events | decor: valley weddings | hair: jamie fox & dana parsloe | make-up: denise elliott | flowers: holly tree florist | band: side one
abbotsford wedding photographer | ryan & brittin: married
July 18th, 2014 by sharaleep | 3 Comments »
i took their picture before i knew their names. for the average person, that’s a weird thought, maybe even creepy. for a wedding photographer, it’s pretty standard practice. I spend much of the day, when not fully trained on the bride and groom, scanning the room, searching for moments, connections, beauty to document. just so happened, ryan & brittin were that beauty on a hot summer wedding day last year. little did i (or they) know that a year later after that candid shot i took of them snuggling on a couch, i would be shooting their wedding on a less hot summer day.
so beware…maybe having me take your picture as a guest at a wedding will be the new “bouquet toss” omen…you’re next!
venue: tanglebank garden | caterer: brambles bistro (the food was INCREDIBLE) | dress: everything but the groom | make-up artist: becky austin | bride’s hair: kevin hughes
chilliwack family photographer | leif: new life
July 9th, 2014 by sharaleep | 4 Comments »
these are dear friends who have added another little to their clan. poor big sister wasn’t feeling well, but we managed to get a couple of grins out of her close to the end. so thankful to have people like the nash family in our lives!
abbotsford lifestyle photographer | asher: new life
July 7th, 2014 by sharaleep | 1 Comment »
it’s hard for me to talk about this family without tearing up just a little…so thankfully i’m in the comfort of my own home as i write this and can cry all i want.
it’s a long story and a short one all at once, laced with the strength of love, the power of community and most of all the grace of God. this sweet baby is a miracle, one who was prayed for, cried over and dreamt of for years. so was his sister, born just shy of two years ago, a beautiful girl named quinn who i had the pleasure of meeting just after she arrived. and while these two siblings will never play together in the yard or squabble over legos they share an inexplicable bond. they are both loved deeply by the people who know their parents and they have both greatly impacted the world around them, even in their births. so we walk forward in celebration, remembering the past and living in hope for what the future holds for the zacharias family. welcome asher…we love you so much already!!
jeremy & stephanie: married
July 3rd, 2014 by sharaleep | 1 Comment »
he was a masters student from california, she a local girl making a switch from nursing school to do a semester at regent. it started at orientation…they checked each other out, he asked her on a date, they talked for an hour and that was that.
family: the bergs
June 29th, 2014 by sharaleep | No Comments »
i love getting to see a couple who have set an incredible example in life and marriage for their kids. it’s amazing to witness the fruit of their commitment to each other and to see their children adopt many of the same values in their own families. that’s what you call a legacy.
5 family units, 10 kids 7 and under makes for absolutely beautiful chaos.
ubc boathouse wedding | brody & amanda: married
June 15th, 2014 by sharaleep | 4 Comments »
you may remember them from their snowy engagement (which was amazing, if i may say so myself), but i remember them from their warmth, their kindness and their absolute devotion to each other. this day was such a celebration…of the lives they’ve lived and of where they are headed. it was a beautiful tribute to their faith and to how they’ve chosen to honor God in all they say and do. what an incredible gift to stand with them, laugh with them, shed a few tears with them and wish them all the best as they become one. so much love for you two.
Venue: UBC Boathouse | Caterer: 293 Wallace | Dress: Truvelle | Men’s: J. Crew | Flowers: Floral Design by Lili | Hair: Jenn Jewett | Make-up: Nova Makeup | Second shooter: Ciaa Bella Photography
A huge shout out to all of the amazing vendors. Everyone came together so beautifully…special props go to the super sweet valet at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport who helped me find parking and made sure I knew where I was going. So impressed with their service!
abbotsford wedding photographer | corey & ashley: married
June 11th, 2014 by sharaleep | 1 Comment »
ashley & corey. as evidenced in the following pictures, this day was SO FULL of joy. one of the many things i love about this couple is that they were incredibly organized in advance…minute to minute schedules, labeled thank you envelopes, detailed lists…but when it came to the actual day and there happened to be a few glitches, there was no hysteria, no freak outs no bridezilla. ashley was cool as a cucumber. even when the ceremony started an hour late, you could not wipe the smile off that girl’s face. that’s how it’s done, friends! when it’s all said and done, no sense worrying about the things you can’t control.
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