{PORTRAITS} Shelley

I walked into the kitchen at church to return my coffee mug and gleefully greeted my friend Shelley, who was standing at the sink washing dishes. There must have been something in my voice that made Shelley think I already knew her news.

If anyone knows anything about me, I am usually the last to know anything about anyone else's good news. This may or may not have something to do with my Enneagram type (apparently we fours tend to be a little bit self-absorbed but I don't believe it!!) but I think it has more to do with the fact that some people still think we live in a culture with oral traditions and that good news naturally travel fast!! Anywho, I digress.

Shelley, hands still in soapy water, asked me excitedly/announces her news, "Shannon, do you know that I am pregnant?" "WHAT??" was my response as I drop my mug into the soapy water and began to hug her!! "This is the best news ever!!!" And it was the best news. 

Last week I offered to do some maternity shots for Shelley so that she could share (via Facebook) her growing belly with family and friends all over the world. We laughed alot, and I think these photos really capture the joy she feels as she and her husband Kendall prepare to welcome their wee little man into this world!! Can't wait to meet you Baby Boy K!!

For some reason, more often than not, I am simply in awe of Shelley whenever I see her and baby belly!! As the following photos really show, she is simply rocking the pregnant look so I am thinking she should do this a few more times!!! (PS: gotta love lens flare - I really do actually!!!).

Love & Sunshine,

Shannon-May

{maternity} candice and mike

good things come to those who wait. who persevere. who trust that God will do great things in His time.

for more than two years, candice and mike waited for the little stick to turn pink with a plus sign. i still remember when candice called me back in july to tell me. she had only just found out a day or two before and i am pretty sure i squealed in her ear when she told me the happy news that she was pregnant! it had been a long journey for candice, wrought with tears and questions. but she persevered with grace, determination and strength, and those who know candice would have expected nothing less. 

when i was home last winter i remember watching both candice and mike with their friend's little boy. the delight and pure joy that were all over their faces was evident at how much they wanted to be parents, and left no questions that they would be the best parents! the love they have to give away to their own little "nugget" is limitless.

it was so thrilling to see candice in her pregnant glory! candice... i have never seen you more beautiful.

  

the following image is my absolute favourite.

love & sunshine,

shannon-may

{maternity} meghan and jeremy

when my ticket home was all set and i knew the exact dates for my time in vancouver i posted to my facebook that i would be home and available for a few photo shoots!! one of the very first people to email me was bethany. her sister meghan and brother-in-law jeremy are expecting their first little baby and bethany wanted to gift them a photo session!! i was thrilled!

we met at their apartment in coquitlam and then walked the short distance to lafarge lake - a nearby park and manmade lake where jeremy and meghan like to go for walks and spend time together. it was the perfect location, and meghan and jeremy were the perfect couple to work with!! and holy beautifu, stylish and stunning are they!!!

this was my first maternity session and i am IN LOVE with photographing the belly, the happy expectation and all the wonderful ways that couples interact!! meghan and jeremy, thank you SO MUCH for making this one of the best experiences i have had to date!!

meghan and jeremy were only married a few months when they found out they were expecting!! a happy and wonderful surprise... even though it may have taken about four months for the shock to wear off! these pictures poke a little fun!!

happy friday!

love & sunshine,

shannon-may