Enjoy!

This morning I was up at the crack of dawn to drive to Canmore for a session with recently married Les and Charlene.  It may have taken the aid of a large Tim Horton’s coffee but it was entirely worth it. The early morning mountain air, the sweet light, the sheet of dew. Oh it was just divinity.

Also, if you are wanting to contact me this weekend it may take me a couple of days to reply as I am participating in the 60km Weekend to End Women’s Cancers. If you happen to see the hundreds of walkers in Calgary either Saturday or Sunday honk your horn, break out the sprinklers on your front lawn, or smuggle one of them (aka. me) into your car to the last pit stop (okay maybe not so sure about that last one). Every word or jester of appreciation is awesome!

Here are two images from this morning – I can hardly wait to put the rest up!

You may also notice over the next few weeks some changes with the blog – it is a work in progress!

Enjoy and leave a comment!

Meh.

I couldn’t help but smile at how Jordan would look at Jason and say, “I love him”. So infatuated!

Enjoy!

I am so enthralled with our recent weather! Such balmy temperatures can be attributed to Calgary’s marvelous chinooks as seen in this image. Aren’t they just a rad couple? I think so!

My is it good to be back and shooting! Not to mention kicking things off with this rocking couple – Tammy and Jonas.

Turns out Tammy has actually been head over heels in love with Jonas since the tender age of 13. Now, being a typical male it took him several years to catch onto this.  But are we ever glad he did!  :)

Thank you so much Tammy and Jonas for letting me photograph you and get to know you better. I stand by my statement that you two are the most adorable couple this side of the big pond!
Enjoy!

Several weeks ago, Greg sent Vanessa on an epic cross city hunt which led her to his Nose Hill Park.

The final location was Greg,

down on one knee.

and she

replied

“YES!”

So there always happens to be stories from the e-session itself. As I was peeking at a possible angle to photography a shot (this is after Vanessa has been mentioning she has been hearing something rustling around at which point Greg and I just laugh at her), there is this crazy amount of rustling and lo and behold not 10 feet from me a pheasant comes squalling (I really can’t describe it.. half flight half run) from the brush. Needless to say I pretty much jumped out of my runners.  There goes Thanksgiving dinner!

When I was editing these few sneak peeks I couldn’t help but giggling to myself. If you know me you will know that I pretty much adore older folk. (You are probably wondering where this is going here, as these two are ridiculously young and good-lookin’ people!)  Older people just have that aura about them, that experience, and ohmygoodness you meet the right one and they have that humor which will pretty much knock you off your feet. The one person that comes to mind when I ramble on about this topic is my Aunt Anita (well, really she is a Great-Aunt by marriage and Great-Great-Aunt’s daughter if you want to figure that one out go for it). She is coming on 89 later this year and she still drives around, does her own shopping, goes to all her appointments and get this… she is making plans to travel. Maybe to Europe, maybe across North America. Like, how amazing is that? When I am 89, if I even get there, I am just hoping I can still grip onto my wheelchair and go for spinnies!

So, where I was going with that. When I was going through these few images I could just envision Anna and Arun in 60 or 70 years time whipping around the old folks home together putting all the other grannies and grandpas to utter shame. There are a very few minority of couples that remain in a perpetual honeymoon stage and I am positive Anna and Arun are in this minority.  I can’t wait to see where life takes them!

Here are just a few. Check back for more later :)

Story time! I don’t know why but guys have something for Zoolander. Not certain if this is Magnum or Blue Steel but Arun pulled it off ridiculously well. Anna was impressed as well quite obviously. Lucky girl ;)  [update: it's magnum :) ]

Enjoy and check back in a couple of months for the giant wedding extravaganza post!

I love these moments. When couples just interact – no posing required.

Something you may not of known about Luke is he is a very talented rock skipper. No seriously, he has consistency and distance down to a T. I on the other hand (and I regret to stay Alyssa) are quite successful at what I like to call ‘ker-plunking’, or in simpler terms: throwing rocks.

Ah! I can’t even describe how much I love it when couples get silly! There are some great moments in there and you know what, grandma may not be framing these anytime soon but how fun will they be to look back on in fifty years time?

I just found this quote.. had to share.

Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly. -Rose Franken

Enjoy and check back :)

I have so much respect for the men, women, and their family’s that serve in the military so that we can enjoy the freedom we often take for granted.  As cliche as that sounds, my travels to countries of various social and economic levels have made me realize that being a Canadian is one of the many blessings I should be thankful for.

Here is something a bit different added to this blog post. I had originally driven around Turner Valley and Black Diamond area for a couple of hours scouting out some locations for their session since Evan is a farm boy (and I found some goodies!) – but… I was told that morning that they would have to leave at a certain time because Alex had planned a surprise party for Evan! (I didn’t even let it slip! What a shocker!) So, at the last minute I had to find another location. I have been eyeing this relic for a while. When I first moved outside of the city 6 years ago I would see this farm constantly with a nice collection of llamas and horses, there was always some sign of life. A pulse. Well, a couple of years ago, whoever lived there moved away and now the driveway is barely visible and four foot tall weeds stand there instead. With the help of some junior high friends who were on Facebook reminiscing about Grade 8 Social tests of old – this song by David Francey came up.  As an integral part of Canadian culture I am sure all 13 year olds were learning the lyrics to Canadian folk songwriter’s.. right?  I have attached the music (I wanted to embed it into the post but unfortunately it is 3am and I haven’t been successful yet) and the lyrics. Being the granddaughter of two proud Ontario farmers, one of who’s farm is currently being developed into the newest local development – I find this song somewhat bittersweet – old barns such as this were such a memorable part of my childhood summers.

Torn Screen Door by David Francey

Late summer day and my love and I went walking
Over hills and fields we walked, laughing and talking

Came across an old farmhouse standing broken and bare
It used to be someone’s home now no one lives there.

There’s a red barn standing held together with nails and dust
And a tired old Massey Harris all wires and rust

Weeds overgrown in a garden sown with care
It used to be someone’s home now no one lives there

And through the crack in the window pane I hear the sound of the falling rain
Another farm being left run down, another family moved into town

Had a life that they tried to save but the banks took it all away
Hung a sign on a torn screen door nobody lives here no more

They worked their fingers to the bone nothing left they can call their own
Packed it in under leaden skies with just the wheat waving them goodbye

Had a life that they tried to save but the banks took it all away
Hung a sign on a torn screen door nobody lives here no more

—

Thanks you two for being such a joy to everyone around you!

I’m putting this one up just for Evan.  At their engagement session I had asked Evan for a shot to think about the word ‘pensive’ for an expression. Upon saying this the first expression that came to his face was extreme confusion; then a question. “What is pensive?” At this point Alex broke out in hysterical laughter and Evan asked “I am going to need that in smaller words”. Well, I am not much of a walking Thesaurus but Alex is! She came up with some of the following: serious, speculative, thoughtful, somber just to name a few.  This was of course replayed at their wedding, and this session.

Well, he almost got it! –ish.

One thing (of many) that I absolutely adore about Alex and Evan is that you are bound to hear them before I see them.  Both of them have a sense of humour that if measured would be worth a mound of gold.