by Sarah | Weddings
New years Eve. A fresh start. A new outlook. celebration. excitement. love…… Randi and Brad married on one of the most exciting days of the year. The moment I met them, I knew we were a great fit. Randi is full of life and Brad has this amazing energy and passion, in fact, Brad had as much vision for the photography as Randi did. We created some beautiful images for their engagement session and finally, December 31, their wedding day, arrived. It was one of those crisp winter days, not terribly cold but also not warm- which the bridal party will attest to! Still though, I always say that we generally can’t ask for anything better than a winter day that isn’t -40 and blizzarding. I was able to capture both the girls and the boys getting ready which was great, especially because Brad also had some nifty gear to show off. The first glance was done on a roof top overlooking the city and Randi’s tears of joy were an indication of just how much Brad means to her. We were lucky enough to be able to use a family member’s AMAZING home for some of the creatives and I think the boys definitely channeled their inner ‘mad men’ and the ladies their true divas within. The whole crew were such troopers and their outfits looked amazing against the pristine backdrop of freshly fallen snow. Their ceremony and reception took place at the Calgary Zoo and I was so happy to be able to steal the newlyweds after the ceremony to get some shots under the christmas lights as Brad proposed in the ‘tunnel of love’ one year earlier. The night was topped off some great dancing and what seemed like hundreds of bags of popcorn and a customized hockey puck for each guest.
by Sarah | Weddings
Nothing completes a beautiful winter wedding like a magical sunset and weather that is fresh and crisp but not bitterly cold. Ashley and Justin’s wedding day was certainly all of the above. Their sunset ceremony was held at the Calgary Golf and Country Club right in front of the gorgeous and massive fireplace. Justin is a born and bred Quebecois, as were his groomsmen- I truly enjoyed the accents and the banter but I have to say, I do wish I spoke the language… Well, then again- maybe not (as I was told several times by the groomsmen) ha! Maple syrup was a welcome sight on the tables, brought all the way from Quebec. The dining room was a festive sight of the perfect amount of glitter, lights and beautiful floral arrangements. I was particularly taken with Ashley’s dress, which was beautiful from the front and jaw-dropping AMAZING in the back. I absolutely loved how warm and friendly everyone was and it was certainly a room filled with love. Hurricane Hollywood created and masterminded one of the best dances I’ve ever witnessed and it complimented the photo booth so well. To top it off, a late lunch of chocolate fondue and poutine was served. It really was the perfect winter wedding. Until next time, enjoy! x
He sang the most beautiful impromptu rendition of “That’s amore”. It was like something out of a movie.
by Sarah | Engagement, modern photography, Weddings
I was so sooo excited for Erin and Colin’s wedding. Not only because I have known Erin for forever, but also because it was set inside Heritage Park {read: photographer’s playground}. There is an abundance of fantastic spots for creatives, in fact too many. I felt like my eyes were being overpowered, my head was going to explode. Okay, okay, that might be a bit dramatic, but still, you know what I’m getting at. Add another beauty of a fall day and it was all perfection. Erin and Colin chose a first glance and creatives prior to the ceremony which worked out great. I loooooove how Erin surprised Colin by covering his eyes. I even think she might have said “Guess who” just for good measure. There were some spectacular moments, namely that of the train steam. The train conductor was patiently waiting to move the train when we made eye contact and he asked if I wanted steam. Why yes. Of COURSE I want steam. In an instant, a puffy white cloud enveloped them and after a split second of sheer terror that I had ruined my couple, I actually got some pretty awesome shots. I loved every minute of this historic wedding, complete with old fashioned rides, candy and a really fantastic photobooth. And let’s not forget the dreamy, out of this world, heavenly sunset. Dear beautiful skies: I look forward to your return in a few months! That’s all for now. Enjoy! x
by Sarah | Engagement, modern photography, Weddings
In the summer, as I was driving to Emerald Lake Lodge for Shannon and Erik’s wedding, I spent most of the ride deep in thought. For some reason, my mind drifted to same sex marriage and the fact that these types of marriages or unions do not seem to be represented on the internet even a fraction as much as hetero-sexual marriages. It was also during the time of the debates and voting on same sex marriage down in the states. As I drove, I felt a familiar feeling of needing to do my, albeit small, part in bringing this love front and center. You might think I’m making this up but almost as soon as I had decided what to do, an ad for Calgary Pride Week came on the radio. It was to be the following week. I am NOT kidding. I live my life by following and listening and looking for paths. Certainly this was something I could not ignore. Hence my Show Me Your Pride contest was born.
I really enjoyed all the entries and it was very VERY difficult to choose. But in the end, with help from friends and colleagues, Jessica and Penny were chosen.
Here is her entry:
So you want to know why my Partner and I should win a photo session with you!!! Well I could go on for hours but I’ll try to keep it short. If you’re anything like me, I LOVE hearing LOVE stories, and so I’ll start with how we met. Penny was this beautiful stunning girl from Lethbridge who was visiting a Calgary bar with some friends that happened to be mutual friends of mine as well. I knew I’d be with her forever that night when we first met, and I still remember asking her if I could kiss her. We didn’t go a single weekend without making trips to see each other, and after a year, I too become a Lethbridgian. We started our lives together, and we have now bought a house, have two cats and a dog, and our lives are getting better and better. On June 16th 2012 I asked Penny to be my wife. I surprised her and did it while we were in Quesnel BC for her High School Reunion….it was truly the most amazing moment of my life. Then on August 24th 2012 Penny Surprised me with a proposal of her own, Roses, Red wine and a perfect engagement Ring. We have yet to get engagement photos done and we’d LOVE this opportunity!
I had such a great time with them, I could see just how much they love each other and it was a breeze to shoot. Thank you girls! Enjoy! x
by Sarah | Engagement
I am a graduate of the Alberta College of Art and Design and my years there gave me much more than my B.FA in photography, they gave me lifelong friendships and the most wonderful colleagues. Although there are still a number of my classmates living and working in Calgary, two of my faves moved to Vancouver and have built up their respective businesses and thrived. One of them is the fantastic Chelsea Hailes owner of Crinoline photography, and she was to be married the first week of October on the stunning Galiano Island at Bodega Resort. Her photographer of choice was none other than classmate and friend Jarusha Brown, owner of Jarusha Brown Photography. I’ve had a couple very successful workations in the past year and the thought of shooting in Vancouver and on the island was almost too much. So I did what any photographer might do with just an ounce of free time smack dab in the middle of wedding season… I asked to second shoot. It actually worked out perfectly, Jarusha had quite an extensive and large wedding to shoot the weekend before and was in need of a second shooter extraordinaire. I jumped at it and before I knew it I was off on a plane to YYV for a week to shoot and work our butts off. I wasn’t kidding when I said I planned this trip right in the middle of wedding season. Both Jarusha and I were enjoying our busiest seasons yet and so we hunkered down in her (and the wonderful, accommodating Colin!) and worked. And drank tea. And went for runs when we couldn’t work anymore. It was one of the best decisions I ever made; it was so amazing to sit with another peer and blurt out questions as they arrived in my head, sharing information back and forth, learning and listening. As a little thank you for letting me invade their space, I did a little session for Jarusha and Colin who were newly engaged. Also while I was there, I had the chance to photograph the cutest family. Meg, Matt and little Ruby. They make such a gorgeous family and I was so happy to capture them. All in all, the two weddings, the information sharing, the tea, the dinners, the runs, the family session; it was one of my best trips of the summer, if not the year.
