ashley & richie: engaged
February 3rd, 2013 by sharaleep | 3 Comments »
so. much. laughter. these two know how it’s done.
so maybe it was nervous laughter, but hey, i will take it. then again, maybe it was fearful laughter as richie’s friends and family were all nearby working in the barn and he was terrified they might see him playing model. let’s just say it was joy bubbling over from the prospect that in a couple of short months they will be gazing into their love’s eyes, saying their vows and walking away husband and wife. yeah, let’s say that.
to book your wedding or engagement, call me at 604-791-5163.
primrose: new life
January 22nd, 2013 by sharaleep | 8 Comments »
so, pretty much everyone loves babies. even if they don’t like to hold babies, they like to look at them, coo at them, put sunglasses on them and laugh…you know how it goes. and of course, parents are always downright smitten with these little creatures. even the toughest of new dads tends to melt down into googoogaga talk at some point and even the most tired of new mamas won’t be able to keep their eyes off their child for more than a few moments. we expect it, right?
and while all of that is beautiful and touching to witness, let me tell you what really gets me every time. as these two exhausted people gaze at their sweet sleeping baby, sometimes for just a moment their weary eyes will meet and in that few seconds, so much love is exchanged. a mutual admiration and respect, a newfound depth of “knowing”; knowing that together they have participated in creating life, knowing that this life bonds them to one another like never before, knowing that while they have a huge responsibility laying before them in the form of a pink, chubby and completely dependant human being…they also have each other. this. this expression of family really and truly gets me every. time.
see what i mean?
fort st john winter wedding: daniel & amy
January 15th, 2013 by sharaleep | 3 Comments »
amy and i have known each other since she was in high school, but really got close when we lived in a house together a couple of years ago. we had a few chats about boys and settling down and she was pretty sure she wanted to wait awhile before making that commitment. so when the baby-faced german started coming around, i was curious to see where it would lead. the time was approaching when daniel would have to return home, so when amy decided to head in the same direction taking on a position as an au pair it became clear this was the real deal.
they chose a short engagement and a simple wedding in a log church overlooking charlie lake. daniel’s father was able to fly in from germany for the occasion and friends and family from all over the world watched the very personal ceremony as it was broadcast live on-line.
everyone chipped in to transform the town hall into a beautifully soft space for the reception with chiffon and hundreds of twinkle lights.
it still kind of feels like a dream – i was in town for less than 48 hours and i still can’t believe we got sun AND snow…seeing as it had been -35 the day before i arrived, we were seriously blessed with incredible weather. couldn’t have asked for more! thank you amy & daniel – it was so cool to be there to watch you commit your lives to one another. love you both!
snowy winter wedding: nick & katie
December 29th, 2012 by sharaleep | 6 Comments »
it’s such a gift to watch two people fall in love…the first night katie came home after meeting nick she was all smiles and glow, but wouldn’t admit that she liked him. soon enough the commitment was made and as everyone has said, we all knew the wedding day would come as these two weren’t the kind to enter into anything lightly.
you two are most certainly meant to be together. can’t wait to be a witness to the continuation of your story!
christmas
December 24th, 2012 by sharaleep | 1 Comment »
i’ve struggled all day with what to write here. truth be told, i haven’t been up for writing much lately (hence the sparse presence on the blog). and spending the morning in the dentist chair hasn’t helped inspire any creativity (seriously – who goes to the dentist on christmas eve?).
christmas is weird. don’t get me wrong, i love it. like, LOVE IT. but it comes with a lot of mixed emotions, mixed motives, mixed nuts (haha)…and while i enjoy going to parties and love giving and receiving gifts and decorating and all of the other sweet things that come along with this season, christmas also holds much deeper meaning for me.
now i know this blog is about my business. but the reality is that it’s also about me because my “business” is me and when you hire “sharalee prang photography”, you get me. you get the dorkiness and the strange sense of style, but you also get (i trust) the hope, the joy and the love that are inside of me because they’ve been given to me to share. i rejoice with you as you take those first steps down the aisle as a married couple…i see and experience the hope in your eyes as you dream of all the things your sweet child will one day become…and i love you. not to creep you out or anything, but i do! that’s the reason i’m able to do what i do. and that is why/how i celebrate christmas. i know that sacrifices were made in order for me to fully live and to love others. which is also why i can grieve with those of you who are experiencing pain and brokenness and unmet expectations. it’s an miraculous thing, love is. so good and so hard.
so as i sit here in my little home thinking of you and your families settling in for the evening and the sound of my crazy children laughing trickles up from downstairs, i can’t help but say, “thank you jesus. for your sacrifice and for your love. and sorry too. that i get caught up in the frenzy and i forget. thanks for meeting me in the midst of it and gently reminding me why i’m here. to love like you did.”
a little insight as to where i’m at today.
and since i’d rather not suck every last drop of christmas spirit and leave you completely depressed on christmas eve, i will leave you with this. this is the sixth instalment in a pretty impressive collection of horrid santa photos(and no, it wasn’t simon’s birthday). merry christmas with love…
wicklund: new life
December 10th, 2012 by sharaleep | 4 Comments »
you know those women who were always meant to be moms? i feel like katie is one of those people. as soon as i saw her son in her arms, it was like he had always been there…like they had always been a family. i was so excited to be welcomed into their home so i could help introduce their little man to the world.
dave & camille: engaged
December 4th, 2012 by sharaleep | 2 Comments »
i love shooting in vancouver. can i shout it from the rooftops?? I LOVE SHOOTING IN VANCOUVER. i love my home in the valley with the quiet neighbourhood and the natural beauty and the huge yard, but dude…there’s nothing like being in a place that has endless backdrop options, interesting light and rain?…not an issue as there are a million awnings and creative spaces to tuck a couple undercover.
now that i got that out of my system, i introduce you to dave and camille. they are fun and beautiful and quirky and wonderiful.
i feel like this next one is a shot out of a movie. kissing in the rain? like, come on. movie material fo shizz.
the jones’: family
November 28th, 2012 by sharaleep | 3 Comments »
in the midst of meeting brides and planning for the 2013 wedding season (oh my word, friends, next year’s weddings are going to be uhmaaaazing), i’ve had the chance to fit in a few sessions. one of them being this lovely family that met me on a dreary day to document the end of this second pregnancy and celebrate the expansion of their family.
now i know you’re going to see the pictures and say “how can this possibly be the ‘end’ of her pregnancy”, but it’s true folks. she’s a mere 5 weeks away and ladies (you must know that she is an absolutely delightful person and you are not allowed to hate her) she is still wearing regular jeans. i know, i know, it took me a few moments to come to grips with it too, but like i said she is wonderful which made it impossible to be mad 🙂
chris & mallory: married
November 21st, 2012 by sharaleep | 5 Comments »
chris and mallory are delightful. that’s the best word I can think of to describe them. they are kind, they love their friends and family and they like to laugh. they didn’t even mind when i poked fun at them every once in awhile and certainly weren’t afraid to dish it out either, which always makes for a fun day for me.
it was cold and beautiful and cold (did i say that already?), but we did our best to make quick work of the picture time so they could get back to enjoy the party awaiting them.
bless you in this beautiful journey you’re beginning together!
fraser river lodge wedding: dennis & kelsea
November 15th, 2012 by sharaleep | 5 Comments »
i first met dennis & kelsea at kevin & megan’s wedding back in march. kevin and dennis are both kielstra boys and are the first two out of three to be married in a mere 13 months.
kelsea and dennis are a sweet couple…very private and not much for pda. it was fun to hear the story of how they were set up and how their relationship quietly evolved leading up to their engagement and wedding day.
kelsea executed her classically elegant vision for the day flawlessly. you wouldn’t be able to tell from her ruffly dress and the delicate details that she’s a farm girl through and through, but when she insisted we visit a torn down shed in the pouring rain with the bridal party for pictures, it became clear that she was one tough chick.
Ceremony: Agassiz Christian Reformed Church / Reception: Fraser River Lodge / Decor: Valley Weddings / Flowers: Vaandrager Nursery / Hair: Transformations Hair Design / Make-up: Chantal Arends
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