Archive for 'Austin Birth'

Want to see a birth? [Google Reader peeps…you’ll have to actually click the link to view]:

1) This was the first time that I actually arrived at the hospital *before* the expecting parents. I was so afraid I had gone to the wrong hospital or something. It was really neat to get to capture literally *everything* from beginning to end.
2) She was brave. Very, very brave.
3) I love how baby girl’s brother and sisters were all so excited to see her. It’s easy to tell she was loved even before she officially arrived.

[I have only two openings left for birth photography in Austin for 2011. Check out the session openings page for dates.
 

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Congratulations to his family on win! They will receive this image on an 11×14 canvas AND a $500 gift card good toward a Premium Session this year. 

But wait…there’s more! We have two runners up who are each going to receive a $100 gift card:

joyru_austin_newborn_baby_photographer.jpgkatieru.jpg
Annnnnnd, the family of our grand prize winner selected THIS image as our 3rd Runner Up, also to receive a $100 gift card:

bevru_austin_birth_preemie_photographer.jpg[Side note: Can I just point out how AWESOME it is to have TWO birth photographs featured up there?]

Congratulations once again to all of the winners and the nominees. And thank you to everyone who took the time to place a vote to help make a very difficult decision!! It was incredibly close!!

QUICK LINK TO VOTE HERE!

[Also, don’t miss the annual “Year in Review” slideshow at the end of this post]

austin_family_kids_birth_child_newborn_baby_photographer.jpgLet’s kick off 2011 the best way I can imagine with a recap of 2010 and determining our 2nd Annual Pinkle’s Pic of the Year Winner! Each month in 2010, I selected an image (or images) that moved me, but now (as before) it’s YOUR job as the Pinkle Toes Blogstalkers to decide
which of these was the best image of 2010.

M’kay, let’s vote! You can click on the images in the poll to view larger:


[Poll not showing properly? You can also vote via THIS LINK.]

The winner will receive an 11×14 canvas of their winning image AND a $500 Pinkle Toes gift card to be used
on a Premium session in 2011. Two runners-up will each receive
a $100 gift card and the Grand Prize winner gets to choose a 3rd
runner-up, also to receive a $100 gift card!

The fine print:

  • Voting will run January 1st-31st (ending at midnight central time)
  • Voting is monitored by IP address, so no multiple voting.
  • Results will not be shown, but I will announce winners on the blog Tuesday, Feb 1st.
  • I reserve the right to disqualify entries or terminate/modify the contest if necessary.
  • No purchase necessary to win.

Just like last year, I have absolutely NO clue who is going to take this prize. I’m just as excited as these families are to find out what will happen. (Did you know we had more than 1,400 votes last year??? Craziness!)

And of course, I can’t start a new year without taking a look back at all of the amazing people I’ve had the fortune of working with last year. I love making this slideshow every year…I love remembering each and every session. Be warned, though, this slideshow had to go pretty fast so I could fit all of the images in. Be sure to watch because it’s full of my favs from the year and many, many images that I haven’t even blogged yet:

I’ve said it many times before, but thank you…a million thank you’s to all of my clients. I truly feel blessed to have met each of you. Thank you for inviting me into your homes, to the births of your children, to glimpse into your lives and for trusting me to capture what makes your family so special and beautiful.

Much love,

Michele

Dec 19, 2010

j_austin_birth_newborn_photographer.jpg

I can’t imagine a better way to spend this Sunday. Welcome to the world, little Jove. There were many people who were very excited to meet you…especially your big brother. As you can see, you’ve made it to the “Friend Wall” as his new best friend. Such a beautiful entrance this afternoon. Congratulations on this precious bundle!

Sep 30, 2010

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To a wedding photographer, “First Look” means photos of the bride and groom when they first see each other. To a birth photographer…well, “First Look” is something a teeny bit different…

first2_austin_birth_photography.jpgShe came into this world today surrounded by love. Can you tell?

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tonight was almost too easy.

But back to the somersault:

r2.jpgNo worries. I caught her ;-). Oi.

birth_cover_austin_photographer.jpg…you’re quite literally on the COVER of Midwifery Today Magazine (image from the birth of my beautiful baby girl created by my wonderful friend and fab photographer, Lyndsay–congrats again, Lynds!)

…AND…

…the photos *you’ve* taken at other births are featured throughout the same magazine (including one of another amazing photog and close friend, Mariah). I just had to giggle. It’s like the Austin photogs have taken over Midwifery Today ;-).  Or maybe Austin just makes birth look that cool.

I know I’m a tad bit late on this, but it was a tough choice. We have a tie:

horse_austin_baby_photographer.jpgI’ll be posting many, many more from her session soon.

Aaaaaaaand…

austin_nicu_birth_photographer.jpgJust because

[What does this mean?]

Aug 28, 2010

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Well technically, it was an early birth. Very early. 12 weeks early. The first time I actually met his mama was while she was in the recovery room…about a 1/2 hr after he was born.

When I got the call that this would be “the day” I was so caught off guard. He wasn’t supposed to arrive until the end of August. This was the middle of JUNE! But it was an emergency situation and he had to be born…immediately. Driving over to the hospital that day, I was so full of concern and emotion and I just kept wondering how in the world these parents (first-time parents) would be able to deal with what was about to happen? I mean, it’s scary enough having your first child, but to get a surprise like this and not knowing how this new little life would manage outside of the womb…I can’t even imagine.

I remember sitting in the waiting room…alone (nobody had time to get there), waiting for some sort of news when a man in glasses strode through the door leading to L&D. He was grinning from ear to ear and perhaps still a little white from the shock of it all. His son was here! He was tiny (2lbs 3oz), but he was healthy and it was an absolute a miracle!

I’ve had only a little bit of experience with preemies, but in that experience, I knew that this new family of three had a long road ahead of them. A road filled with machine beeping and tubes and tests and unknowns and ups and downs and infinite 3 minute hand-washings. While I was supposed to be there to capture the “birth day,” I knew that all of those amazing first moments of this particular birth would be delayed over many, many days (67 days in all). And so I asked them if they wanted me to chronicle this very different birth journey. And so we did.

babym_austin_newborn_nicu_birth_photographer.jpgBeverly (who happens to be a very talented photographer) has allowed me to share the birth of Baby Miles with you all in the hopes that it will help other parents who are in or may someday be on a NICU journey and to generate support for the March of Dimes. After watching Miles’ birth slideshow, if you are so inspired, perhaps you could donate or volunteer? In fact, to help celebrate Miles’ homecoming, I pledge to contribute $1 per comment left on this post (one per person; up to $300) left between now and Sept. 1, 2010 to the March of Dimes.

So here you go. This is Miles’ birth story…from the day he was born…to the day he got to come home. Truly something to celebrate:

[Music by Philip Hintze and “Welcome Baby” by my dear friend Michelle Jamail. Interestingly, I used this same compilation for previous births, but it fascinates me how “Welcome Baby” took on an entirely new meaning here.]

m_austin_birth_newborn_photographer.jpgThis little sweetie finally got to go home. Many tears of joy and I couldn’t help but cry right along with them. Quite a journey and I was very humbled to be part of it. I hope you guys have the most peaceful wonderful happiest night’s sleep you’ve had in a long time tonight.