As I’m gearing up for the FINAL Pinkle Toes Photography Workshop of 2016 [by the way, there is ONE opening left and the workshop is THIS weekend], I wanted to take some time to reflect on how much we accomplished during the February workshop. Day one was spent getting to know one another, talking all things pricing and marketing and branding and then playing around taking headshots in a lovely winter sunset. We tried to go to bed early because day two is always super busy, starting with hanging out with this adorable little guy and his amazing parents for the in-home newborn lifestyle photo session demonstration:

He was such a sweetie and gave us plenty of chances for all of the attendees to step in and take their own versions of the shots we set up during the session:

And I loved that his family wanted to take a group photo with all of us at the end of our fabulous morning. Sigh…

After re-fueling on some food and re-grouping, we went out that evening for an urban-ish, outdoor lifestyle family photo shoot. I’ve known this mama for several years so it was a wonderful experience to get to see her with her family. What a dynamic group full of personality and love! We hunkered down inside the parking garage for a little bit and then braved the wind to get more images closer to sunset. It provided us with perfect opportunities to practice in all kinds of lighting situations.

How to use shadows and light to your benefit. And then, below, embracing full sun and making it work for you.

 

I’m pretty sure I teared up when this image came across the screen as we culled them following the session.

 

That sunflare…YESSSSS! And they were just so cute together!

 

Finally, on the last day, we were up much, much too early to catch an incredible (albeit, chilly) sunrise for our maternity model photo session. So fantastic walking around and observing the attendees who were able to take chances and discover new skills, practicing with different lenses and techniques. I was very impressed with the images they created for our models!

Here they are…the Pinkle Toes Workshop Class of Feb 2016:

Good looking group, no? And great personalities and energy to match. They made it a fantastic weekend for us all!

And now, please if you will, go on over to Missy Mayo – Dallas Family Portraits and check out her take on the workshop (that’s Missy up on the left, by the way 😉 Loved what she told me the other day about the Pinkle Toes Workshop:

I was warned that this workshop would ruin me for all other future workshops. It is true. Every aspect of being a photographer is covered – even the parts you don’t consider. I came home with a revived passion for my art and business and pages of ideas to try.

I am beyond thrilled that we were able to work out this maternity photo session for her because LOOK at how gorgeous everything turned out to be! Seriously, her wardrobe choices were on point (Boho chic, defined!) and I’m pretty certain that little baby is going to be here any day now so thankfully, we were able to check this box in time ;-). I cannot wait to see who this new little person is! Love the color version of THIS image, too, BTW.

I’ve worked with him and his family for years. It was jarring to me realizing that this would be the year we would have to do SENIOR PORTRAITS. While no tears were shed at the session itself, I know that this journey is going to be equal parts thrilling and heartbreaking for his mama. I may or may not have gotten choked up a couple of times imagining myself in her shoes in just a few very short years. And whoa…I know she has GOT to be so incredibly proud of him!

Listening to the soft sounds of him playing the ukulele at the end of our session was a tremendous treat. The joy on his face and the feeling of peace that washed over all of us, I will never forget. My absolute FAV image during this time is HERE.

This silhouette might be my second favorite image from our private concert.

But THIS was definitely my favorite moment of the entire session right here. His mom’s look. Sigh…

And speaking of his mama, the session in her words:

1) Tell us a little bit about your family… Its just the three of us – Preston, Parker and myself. Life raising two boys has been such an adventure. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
2) What made you decide this was the time to do a photo session? Were you marking any special occasion, etc? For Preston’s Senior portraits, I had no hesitation in booking Michele. It is such a bittersweet time – with Preston being my first born leaving for college. She has captured my family so perfectly, I would entrust no one else for a time as important as this.
3) Where was your session held and why? We held the session in downtown Austin. We have done a family shoot on South Congress (a favorite spot of ours) and one in Georgetown where we live. Preston loves the urban setting of downtown Austin, and despite of where he decides to spend his next four (or six!) years – Austin will always be *home* and he has always said he wants to come back to Austin at some point after he starts his career. We wanted the backdrops of his shoot to mirror the different shades of his personality and his passions. Knowing that there might not be too many other opportunities for a portrait session with him by himself – a senior portrait is much more significant than just about a kid graduating from high school. It captures that moment of transition from childhood to adulthood. It captures 18. It captures those last moments that a senior has at home before taking those significant next steps in life.
4) What did you like about your session location? I was thankful that Michele was able to find a location for us that in a short amount of time gave us such varied backdrops for Preston’s shoot. It will give Preston and I so much to choose from. In coming to know my family and describing Preston’s personality and passions, she was able to choose a location that would be the best fit.
5) What was your favorite part of your session? My favorite part was watching Michele enjoy Preston playing the ukelele during the shoot. Not just posing with it. I loved watching her ridiculous and awesome creative skill kick in – working to capture his personality.
6) Was there anything you were nervous or worried about before the session? Not one thing.
7) Any advice to other families before their photo sessions? Trust Michele. Let her do her magic. Follow her advice. Enjoy it. It is an investment you will never regret.
8) What made you choose Pinkle Toes Photography? I was a portrait photographer when my babies were babies. I am very particular and know what I want the end result of a shoot to be. In researching photographers after I moved to Austin, Michele stood out amongst them all. Her shoots capture personality. Capture life. Capture relationships.
9) What do you hope your kids/family will say years down the road when looking at these images? It’s not even a hope…I *know* that years down the road, we will look back and the series of photos of each shoot will take us back to that time in our lives. The images are like a little time capsule of memories that we will have to treasure forever. My only regret is not discovering Michele and her talent 10 years ago.

I had this post drafted and ready to go before this weekend and I was so wrapped up in our recent lifestyle photography workshop here in Austin (by the way, we only have two openings left for our last workshop!), I had to delay finishing the post until today :-(. You see, a few weeks ago, I got to spend the most beautiful morning with the most beautiful family celebrating a beautiful set of twin newborns! These babies were perfect angels throughout their entire session, causing fits of giggles over their expressions and perhaps a few tears when they would do something so precious. The interactions among all of the members of this family were priceless. There was an abundance of love visible throughout this photo session and I thought it was fitting to commemorate that with this little image HERE.

From the beautiful new mommy:

1) Tell us a little bit about your family… We are the Wallings- Keri, Greg, Graham and Whitney. Greg is an Austin native, we’re both loyal Longhorn fans (and proud UT alumni), and we’re so grateful for our bundles of joy, Graham and Whitney. G+W were born December 29, and have been making us smile ever since. Our first “baby” is Birdie, our cocker spaniel rescue.
2) What made you decide this was the time to do a photo session? Were you marking any special occasion, etc? This was our newborn session to capture our precious premies at this special stage. Our session was a gift from fellow Pinkletoes client Maya Pomroy and her family. Maya and Keri have been best friends for 10+ years, sharing many of life’s milestones together.
3) Where was your session held and why? In the comfort of our home, inside our newly-designed nursery.
4) What did you like about your session location? Being that we were at home, our session was casual, cozy and authentic. Loved it.
5) What was your favorite part of your session? Michele is awesome with babies. She makes even the tiniest people feel comfy in front of the camera. I choked back tears a few different times when I stepped back and watched the beauty of my twins interact. Michele caught all this precious moments on camera. Priceless.
6) Was there anything you were nervous or worried about before the session? Yes! With 4-week old babies, I was prepared for an all-out meltdown or spit-up!!! Ha! Everything unfolded beautifully. Michele was prepared and asked us to keep a pacifier handy, along with a blow drier (the magic bullet for white noise PLUS comfortable heat that makes the babies drowsy).
7) Any funny stories or interesting happenings during your session? full disclosure: as a new mom, I can’t remember for the life of me! Which is why I’m so excited to see these photos. They will help me jog my memory.
8) Any advice to other families before their photo sessions? Talk with Michele. She’s the pro. Trust her advice. She knows all the tips and tricks. Include your spouse. Greg had to work that day, but I asked him to join us that first hour, just for a few shots. I’m so glad he did. We got some beautiful family photos, and I cried watching him alone with the babies.
9) What made you choose Pinkle Toes Photography? As I mentioned before, we received the generous gift of our newborn photos from my best friend. Pinkle Toes has been doing her family photos for years.
10) What do you hope your kids/family will say years down the road when looking at these images? Oh, it’ll be so special, especially as twins. We’ll be able to look back and see that these little people loved each other and were each other’s best friends–even as infants.