These two (three?) did it up right! While they are expecting their baby any day now, a short time ago, they took a much deserved babymoon together to relax and to celebrate this new life to come. Wow, she looks amazing, doesn’t she??? What a perfectly round beautiful baby bump she has and you can just SEE their happiness shining through. My FAV.

[Makeup and hair by Modern Muse Beauty]

And this was the first time it was ever CLOSED. Gah, we were crushed, but not for long as we quickly regrouped and found a new place to shoot, which was pretty much in the same place, but from a different perspective:

Oh man! This is a FUN bunch! Look at all of that personality!!!! I promised the kids each a turn to photobomb me (what’s with the obsession with photobombing, anyway?) and you know what? I LOVED the results. Baby girl is just the icing on this 6-layer-cake! She’s kinda got someone (well, more like 5 someones) wrapped around that cute dimpled pinky of hers.

It has been such an honor and a beautiful journey to get to photograph this family as each of their children reach milestones of “fives.” I first met this young lady when she turned five and I’ll never forget her mom begging me to move her session up as soon as possible because she wanted to capture her before she started to lose her baby teeth. That really struck me because at the time, I just had my boys who were ages 3 and 1 at the time, I believe. I couldn’t imagine the day when they would start losing their baby teeth. I couldn’t imagine that it would be as significant to me as mother as it turned out to be. But thankfully, this mommy prepared me for it.

And now she’s TEN! I cannot even believe our first meeting was five years ago. And look at what a beautiful young lady she has become. Next milestone will be FIFTEEN. I don’t even know how I will be able to hold myself together for that one. And before we know it, we’ll be celebrating brother’s TEN year milestone. Oh, I can’t take the passage of time sometimes.

While this photo session was focused on the kiddos, at the end, we just couldn’t miss out on this amazing sunset, so we got the whole family in ;-0.

P.S. The swing shots crack me up. So very big sis + little bro.

Let’s do this, gang! Flights are BOOKED for the Pinkle Toes summer photography workshops! We are headed to New Jersey (that one is full) as well as Northern and Southern California and Washington (never been to either of those states, really) and I’m so excited! And oh yes, you are more than welcome to come visit me in my home of Austin if you’d rather ;-). Will I be seeing YOU at one of these workshops? 

The more I work with this little ray of sunshine, the more I get to see that exuberant spirit and endless love for her family.  She is a spitfire, yes, but that giggle…that giggle is infectious. Still my fav image of her I’ve ever taken, even though her talented mommy has bazillions from which to choose herself ;-). Oh, and she had us ALL cracking up when she found that mirror. Mom…I think she needs to get one of those in her room somehow. Maybe you can paint it pink and add some flowers to dress it up properly?

———–

By the way, did you know her mommy is a Pinkle Toes Workshop graduate? AND I am SO excited I get to see her as well as 20+ other grads at our SECOND Pinkle Toes Workshop Reunion trip to New York City NEXT WEEK???????? Yeah, I’m a little excited and I cannot wait to hang with all of those talented ladies again AND see new friendships form as workshop groups from the past three years mingle and meet for the first time.

If you want to be a part of future workshop reunion trips (by the way, there is no fee to attend those reunions…just the cost of your trip, food, etc.), you simply have to have attended a Pinkle Toes workshop. We still have openings for one of the Austin workshops (where attendees get to stay at my home!) as well as Northern and Southern California and Washington (housing is included in all of those, too, and let me tell you, our hostesses have found some AMAZING spots!!). Oh, and the “Everything’s Better with a Friend” special offer is ending April 30th ;-).

She is a BUSY gal. Her boyfriend is a busy guy. And my oh my, we had to work very hard to get our schedules to align just perfectly. So you can imagine my worry when I saw a huge chance for rain on the very afternoon we were slated to shoot…outdoors…atop Mount Bonnell in Austin, TX. We pushed up our start time as much as we could to avoid the rain and darkness and I think we finished our session just in the “nick” of time!

She is such a lovely young lady and so patient climbing around through the rocks in high heels. And her beau was such the gentleman. I quite enjoyed working with them as a couple. They are good together. I am very excited to see what the future holds in store for her…and him…and the two of them together.

Still my fav (her idea!).

Graduating high school seniors, Class of 2015: NOW is the time to schedule your senior portrait photo session. Please, please don’t wait until next spring as my calendar fills up so quickly. Contact me ASAP for more info!

I’m pretty sure he was only two (right, Kara?) when we first started working together and let me tell you, he was SPEEDY! LOL. He’s still speedy, but in a different way…he’s so grown up now! And he makes me laugh with his hilarious expressions. But one thing is quite clear, he sure loves his parents and loves to be loved by them.

Speaking of love…we happened to do their photo session literally ON their 10 year wedding anniversary! Pretty outstanding, you two!!! So happy for you and for the life you’ve created together!

Still my fav. But this one *might* be tied.

When my sister had to check into the hospital due to PPROM–quite literally the day after her baby shower and and just one day shy of 25 weeks–the time was so tenuous. Pretty much all of her pregnancy has been tenuous and full of worry and fear. Not knowing how much longer she would be able to carry the babies, we did a few quick pictures of her beautiful belly as best we could in her hospital room. Love how Uncle Chad expertly covered the IV’s and hospital bracelets ;-).

My sister has been in/out of hospitals since January and spent every.single.day cooped up in a hospital here in Austin for the last FORTY days and counting. Really. Incredible. And things are still going well, girls are still getting stronger. These chickadees have made it PAST 28 weeks (a magical milestone) and PAST 30 weeks! They are so amazing! And lest we forget to thank Uncle Chad, who has taken diligent care of his wife while working full time and trying to maintain the house. Yup. This family is full of fighters…in a good way.

Oh, I can’t wait to meet these girls and let them know how proud we are of them. And of their parents. Not much longer, my friends. We could welcome them safely any day now and that is in an amazing place of happiness to be in right now. Sigh…

All this to say, I have joined in our family’s team for March of Dimes in Austin this May. While Jen’s babies are doing well and we don’t know when they’ll be born yet, we are much too aware of how many babies are born prematurely and the immeasurable challenges they face because of it. If you have just a few minutes and few dollars to spare, I would be so grateful if you would consider sponsoring me in the walk.

xoxo,

Me

And it did not disappoint. Why? This photoshoot for momma and her twin daughters embodies lifestyle photography. It’s fun! It’s relaxed! It’s documenting the activities that you do in everyday life. Those activities that seem small and insignificant at the time, but become part of your culture as a family. Cooking with your mom in the kitchen, dancing around in your playroom, snuggling up to watch your favorite Michael Jackson music video (Earth Song for the win!) in your pj’s. These are the things that memories are made of! My absolute fav shot from this session is HERE. I wonder, years down the road, what will be their favorite images from this session. Favs will probably even change over time. And again, that’s the beauty of capturing everyday life like this!

xoxo, K. Thank you so much for letting me do this for you and I hope you and your sweet little girls enjoy these images and the memories they contain for years and years and years to come!

This entire session felt like it could have been oil on canvas, really. Which is entirely suiting as she is an artist herself (I spy one of her works in these images, actually). She is a senior in high school, yet she is completely sure of who she is and the person she wants to become…she doesn’t even have to say it. Her eyes speak it.

I could relive this session over and over again and it would still be just as refreshing and invigorating as it was that evening. There is an unexplainable magic in the air when you are able to collaborate with people who contribute so much to and can somehow share your vision at the same time.  Photographer’s high.

Another image HERE and then see my FAV larger HERE.

Good luck, S, as you wrap up your final year of high school. I have no doubt great things are in store for you.

Class of 2015 – Juniors currently enrolled in Austin-area schools (Westlake, Georgetown, Round Rock, Plugerville, Lake Travis, etc.): NOW is the time to schedule your senior portrait session. I will be starting these sessions in December of this year through April of 2015. Do not wait! If you want images in time for your graduation, that window will close before you know it.

[As always, perfect hair and makeup by Katie at Modern Muse Beauty].