Sometimes, you just get overcome with the need to create and when you are able to connect that need with people who 1000% get your vision for what you want to create, MAGIC happens!!! I left this session physically exhausted but mentally buzzing with joy at what we painted with light and sparkle that day. I was so grateful to these two (and their family) for trusting me to do just do whatever I wanted and being able to instantly set the tone and embody the glam that we were hoping to capture. Definitely one of the most unique (and somehow also very Austin) senior portrait sessions I’ve ever gotten to do!!!

It’s that time of year once again and I couldn’t be more excited to bring you this year’s mini session theme: Holiday Haus. We have secured an adorable cottage off of South Congress Dec 2-3 and will be filling it to the brim with holiday magic and a warm, cozy glow. As always, the only way to snag this FREE mini session for your child(ren) is by booking a session for 2024. If you’ve never had a Pinkle Toes session, this is a wonderful way for us to get to know each other while also creating amazing photos of your kid(s) for the holidays. Or, if you haven’t had a Pinkle Toes session in a while, this is a great opportunity to come back and see what’s changed. And don’t forget, everyone who brings an unwrapped toy to their mini for our annual toy drive will receive an additional free file! These holiday minis are a hit every year and truly help everyone feel the holiday spirit! Please drop a line to learn about the family session options and score this coveted mini session for your child(ren). Openings will fill up quickly!

I can’t believe I have now known this beautiful mom since we were running buddies with Gilbert’s Gazelles starting back in 2018! We spent countless hours running together throughout downtown Austin (including the location of this particular family photo session), learning so much about one another and each other’s families. I’m so proud that our friendship has remained even after our marathon goal was completed and I am always honored that I get to photograph her boys as they dote on her.

I was super eager to get to use the boardwalk, located on the shores of Lady Bird Lake, as the backdrop for their family photos not only because it’s gorgeous (duh), but because we all have so many wonderful memories along this trail. During our pre-session consult, mom showed me her stunning yellow dress and I just knew we had chosen the perfect place to show her off!

In spite of the fact it was during the wee hours of the early morning (big fan of sunrise photo sessions, especially in the hot Texas months), the boys were eager to explore the boardwalk and play around. The boardwalk offers such an amazing variety of locations in which to shoot; from the sun sparkling on the water, to the majestic skyline, to the beautiful trees that line the shore, we made full use of all little vignettes and lovely light to create a diverse set of images to cherish.

One of the things I love most about working with families year after year like this is that I start to feel like part of the family…like an aunt with a fancy camera. The boys are super comfortable around me now and they have no problem being themselves. They don’t require many prompts at all and are thrilled to create their own unique poses and shot ideas. In fact, their candid shots are some of my favorite images from the session, as they capture their true personalities and emotions. In fact, we have our next session coming up very soon and I can’t wait to see what they create this time!

This family is certainly no stranger to the Pinkle Toes blog and when mom first contacted me about their upcoming session, she mentioned that they wanted to do something different and fun. Over the years, they have set the bar pretty high (exhibit A), so I was a little nervous that we would be to do yet another session that would highlight this dynamic crew properly. But when mom brought up the idea of using color powder, I knew it would be a huge hit with the kids and make for incredibly bold, colorful, and creative family photos for them.

On the evening of our session, before breaking out the color powder, we started with some traditional family portraits:

And then we had a costume change to serve as a blank canvas for the colorful splash we were about to make! We picked a place where the sun would shine through the trees and allow the vibrant colors to contrast beautifully against the natural Texas landscape. Mom had a great idea to put the powder into squeeze bottles and on the count of three, everyone squeezed their bottles into the air creating a burst of colors that looked simply magical. Kids and grown ups alike were screeching and giggling and having an amazing time, and I could tell that this was going to be an awesome session.

One of the things I loved most about this shoot was how unpredictable it was. You never knew exactly how the colors were going to mix, and every photo turned out differently. It was a welcome challenge as a photographer to capture these ever-changing and fleeting moments.

Even their wonderful nanny jumped into the action!

The leaf-blower was the icing on the cake for me :-).

It’s safe to say that their color powder family photo session was a huge success, even if it took quite a while to clean the powder out of our hair and teeth. We were all thrilled with the photos, but I think the memories created will have an even deeper impact. I can’t help but to imagine these kiddos all grown up, flipping through an album of these images and talking to their own children about this awesome day where their parents willingly let them make a gigantic mess! I can’t wait to see what other creative ideas my clients will come up with for their own family photos.

P.S. As promised, a behind-the-scenes look of the aftermath:

Honestly, I cannot even wrap my head around the fact that I have photographed ALL four of these precious children as newborns. Each of their sessions have been memorable, joyful, beautiful, and unique. I can recall little moments from every single one. I really should take the time to dig up the blog posts on each of them, but I worry that my heart couldn’t take the bittersweet sting of nostalgia.

Baby Scarlett’s session was no exception to the rule of gorgeous newborn photos. But there was plenty of *spice* here, too. I will give you one guess as to who kept us all laughing non-stop :-). I love it all. I love the amazing red hair (always a sucker for red hair). I love the breathtaking love and tenderness shown to this sweet baby girl. I love her chubby cheeks and perfectly pouty lips. I love the gangly folded knees and elbows. I love the upside downs and right side ups. I love the special bond that is visible between the sisters and between the brothers and among the individual siblings. Each person in the family is a crucial puzzle piece. Each person has something to contribute and something to gain from one another. It is and always has been a wonderful dynamic to watch blossom each time I see them.

In case you missed it on Instagram, be sure to check out the image we worked SO hard to recreate from a past newborn photo session :-).

This photo session is filled with all the things that make my heart sing: beautiful sunlight, hair play, and smiles that radiate from within.

This cold, blustery weather of today immediately reminded me of the morning I spent with this sweet baby boy last fall. He was SO brave and being out in the elements like this, but also much preferred to stay in the warm cocoon of his parents’ arms whenever possible. I loved the pop of color those beautiful red balloons provided against that crisp blue sky. I also love how the blue skies brought out the gorgeous blues in his eyes. But my favorite was the fact that he had just discovered a new trick that you will clearly notice in most of the images :-).

I am thinking that once this cold front (and RAIN) passes through, we are going to be welcoming some gorgeous wildflowers in the coming weeks. Now is the time to reach out to me to see about scheduling a spring session because ones those flowers start popping up, openings are going to fill pretty quickly. Please send me an email to info@pinkletoes.com if you’d like session info.

I am quite possibly in denial that Senior Portrait Season is in full swing here…probably because I have a senior myself this year. But I am LOVING meeting and working with all of these amazing young people who have more confidence and talent than I ever had at their age! I still have some openings left for March or April if you’re graduating this spring (Class of 2022) from a school in Austin, Pflugerville, Round Rock, Georgetown, Westlake, Lake Travis or anywhere in the surrounding areas. I am fully booked up for May, though, so don’t wait! Or, if you are in the Class of 2023, reach out and we can talk about having your senior photo session during some down time this summer. My contact form isn’t working right now, so just send an email to info@pinkletoes.com.

After a magical and hectic busy season, we are taking some time for much-needed rest and time with family. I will respond to emails and calls when we get back to the real world starting January 5th. Happiest of Holidays to you all and see you next year! (Don’t worry…if you a session scheduled with me during this time, we’re still on!)

The Pinkle Toes (kids-only) Fa La La Holiday Minis

November 19-21 & December 3-5 

@ the Pinkle Toes studio in Manor

• This 10 minute kids-only* mini session is FREE to all clients who book a session for 2022 and includes (at least) ONE FREE digital file of your choice.
• You have options to earn more free files, too!
• Sneak peeks will be posted to Instagram so be sure to follow me there.
• As in the past, the only way to snag a spot for your child(ren) is by booking a full session for 2022.
• Sorry, but you cannot move a previously scheduled session in order to do so
• This mini session cannot be purchased separately.
• To learn more, contact me ASAP! Spaces for the mini sessions are very limited this year.

*This set can accommodate children of the same immediate family (no extended family/friends/large groups).