For one reason or another, we kept having to push back this family photo session date until we were right on the edge of the holidays. But, it didn’t matter because it turned out that the day we were finally able to shoot was completely perfect. The boys were in great moods and SO hammy for the camera (didn’t they pull off their dapper purple velvet suit coats so wonderfully?) and the entire family looked oh-so posh and ready for a night on the town. People kept looking at us while we were shooting…trying to figure out if this family was famous (of course they are!) or if perhaps we were shooting an ad ;-). I’ve done so many sessions with this crew over the years and this one will definitely stand out to me. I know the years are numbered where mom is going to be allowed to dress up her guys and I’m glad we were able to do this at least once more. THIS image makes me laugh every time I think about it.

My work is typically focused on smaller, immediate family groupings, but I do marvel at the importance of and beautiful interworkings of the extended family. It is quite a special thing when families from all walks of life, joined together by marriage, are able to create such a peaceful and loving and fun little unit as this family has been able to do. And I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to witness their bonds in action and see the magical little world they have created for all of their grandchildren and hopefully, future great-grandchildren.

Sabrina (an extremely talented photographer in Fort Worth) is not often the one in front of the camera and I know how hard it is to switch from being the photographER to the photographED. But, I have to tell you, she did quite an amazing job coordinating all of this and then stepping back and letting the session unfold. That is *not* easy to do (I’m not very good at letting go myself), but she and the entire group were an absolute pleasure to work with, rolling with whatever hurdles came our way (say, a baby that refused to nap that day and unpredictable weather) with grace and a fantastic sense of humor.

I have lots of favs from each of the groupings, but HERE’s one in particular of Sabrina and her lovely daughter that really grabbed me.

I feel like I have watched these girls grow up right before my eyes. Actually, I *have* in fact watched these girls grow up right before my eyes. Each photo session with this family has been unique and memorable for various reasons. This evening was memorable for me because of the absolutely AMAZING weather and lighting that we had. Such a treat! It honestly felt like I was hanging out with my own family, enjoying the beauty of Austin. My absolute favorite shot from this family session is HERE.

Putting it out here again: We are currently booking for the 6th Annual FREE Pinkle Toes Photography Kids Only Holiday Minis! A little sneak peek of the set is HERE and to find out more (and see more pics) and snag your spot, inquire HERE. There is a bonus offer that is ending soon, so you’re going to want to learn all about these ASAP!

Things you should know about this photo session:
1. These may be the most down-to-earth and laid back people I’ve ever met in my life and it is SO good for me to work with people like that. Their calm draws me in and makes me lighten up and see things that I might not have seen otherwise. I’m not sure mama realizes it, but it’s true.

2. The same thing happens when I’m lucky enough to have her as my yoga instructor at Modo ;-). And that’s why I love that place so much!

3. The breakfast tacos were a bit of afterthought, but it was perfect! During session planning, I asked her what they liked to do as a family and she half-jokingly replied, “Eat breakfast tacos.” Well, the early start to catch the sunrise began to take its toll on little man, so we decided to just give in and head over to grab breakfast tacos. I had no idea how CUTE and photographically awesome that place was. WIN!

4. I LOVE big sis’s freckles.

5. I also LOVE this pic totally improvised between mom & dad ;-).

6. That adorable fence where the kiddos are holding hands up there is now gone!!! It was a reminder of how quickly beautiful things come and go and how fast Austin seems to change sometimes.

When it comes to lifestyle family photo sessions, the person who schedules the session is technically my boss. But if that photo session happens to involve an adorable, precocious two-year-old, it is pretty much a given that she becomes the boss…of all of us. And so it was when we got together in downtown Austin a few weeks ago. It was super early in the morning (to escape the heat) and it took her a little bit to decide if she liked me okay or not, but it wasn’t long before she was leading the way, eager to explore everywhere and beckoning us to follow along. This family dynamic was something really special and it is clear that she is the center of their universe and everyone is completely okay with that. So many laughs that morning and sweet, sweet moments sprinkled throughout!

Melt my heart!

Oh! Mom’s shoes were SPOT ON!!!! If I could walk in those, I would totally own a pair myself 😉

That look!

And her ring matched her shoes???? How amazing is that?!

We thought we would try to play a game that she loved, but she had other ideas. These expressions crack me up!

Sister. Brother. Best. Friends. I really hope one day my boys will get along with their sister just like these two. Their relationship is so special!

Yup! Pretty much sums it up. I really enjoyed all of the personality that really came through in these images. I laughed to myself several times when editing this proof set. THIS one made me smile really big, though.

Every single second of this Austin urban family photo shoot was fun, dynamic, and full of love and energy. And that’s extra impressive because we meet up at about 6:30 in the morning to take these photos. I was TOTALLY impressed with how everyone rallied and even more amazed there was really no posing and not much direction required. They were amazingly skilled at just being themselves, something that isn’t necessarily easy for kids or grown ups to do. This was definitely my kind of photo session! One of my many many favs HERE.

When I first learned that my daughter would have to start going to gymnastics in Cedar Park 4 days a week this spring (which is about a 30-45 min. drive one way), I was none too pleased. But thanks to a tip from Katie (who also did Rebecca’s beautiful hair and makeup for this photo shoot ;-)), I chose to make the trips to Cedar Park EXTRA worth my while by taking classes at the new Pure Barre studio that had opened there. And that’s where I officially met Rebecca, the owner of this Pure Barre studio. It was so much fun to get to see her outside of the barre…all dressed up and without her headset ;-). Her family is pretty amazing, too, and I was totally smitten with her son. Sure, he has a lot of energy (what little kiddo this age doesn’t?), but he’s got a great sense of wonder and enthusiasm for *everything* around him and you can’t help but to be drawn into that with him.

Loving the family snuggles up there!

So precious, the two of them. Dad is soooooo tall. Baby boy is soooooo small. Love the contrast between the two of them, knowing that one day, he’ll be just as tall (if not taller than) his daddy.

When I’m running in Cedar Park, I often pass this amazing rock wall. It looks prehistoric to me, with the ferns and greenery growing out of it. I was so happy to finally get to use it as a backdrop.

This. Dress. Um. Wow. Does it not show off that Pure Barre definition perfectly?

Such a handsome young man! We did have to have Mickey Mouse along for the photo session, too. By the way, his dad does a SPOT on Mickey voice!

This last photo is one of my favs from the session. While I’m usually pretty decisive when it comes to color vs. black and white, I happen to love both versions equally.

Rebecca…thank you so much for getting up soooooooo early to take these pictures and you did a fantastic job pulling everything together. I feel so lucky that barre has introduced me to so many people I might never have met otherwise, and that absolutely applies to you!!! I respect and admire what you’ve put into your studio and what you are giving your clients with each and every class!

In the world of Pinkle Toes, this was everything a family photo session should be: genuine, dynamic, fun, meaningful, vibrant, colorful, quirky, energetic, and full of LOVE. I really feel like they nailed it with their choice of location, style, wardrobe, and the overall feel of their session. What radiant smiles!! You can’t help but to smile along with them. Another favity fav can be found HERE (Pinkle Toes signature blue sky, green grass, and negative space;-).

1) Tell us a little bit about your family… We are a family of 3 + 3 pups. Our dogs are part of our family! Dad works in Healthcare Sales. Mom worked in Finance until recently and is now at home. Little is in 1st grade and enjoys all sorts of extracurricular activities, including Girl Scouts, gymnastics, horseback riding, soccer and kickball.

2) What made you decide this was the time to do a photo session? Were you marking any special occasion, etc? It’s been about 2 years since our last session. We missed a year because we were moving and renovating a house. So it was time…I hate that we missed a year because we treasure these professional photos so much!

3) Where was your session held and why? In the wildflowers. Because, WILDFLOWERS! We had never had professional photos done in the bluebonnets before and they were fantastic this year, so it worked out perfectly.

4) What did you like about your session location? Flowers!

5) What was your favorite part of your session? It was an adventure! We had to hike through some pretty big grass to get to the one patch of yellow flowers. Something none of us will soon forget! I love that Michele is willing to take the risk to get the perfect shot! [Um, I was shaking I was so skeered. The grass was much taller than what I originally thought. I was very impressed that they were game for the adventure!]

6) Was there anything you were nervous or worried about before the session? Well I always worry about whether my daughter will cooperate. But I’m unsure why at this point as Michele always makes it work no matter the mood. My daughter LOVES her, as do we!

7) Any funny stories or interesting happenings during your session? Yes, aforementioned hiking through tall dense grasses. Ha!

8) Any advice to other families before their photo sessions? Try and relax leading up to it(advice to myself included). Michele will take care of everything and your photos will be spectacular! [Thank you, dear!]

9) What made you choose Pinkle Toes Photography? The first time because I was impressed by what I saw on the website. And we keep going back because her work is amazing!

10) What do you hope your kids/family will say years down the road when looking at these images? That we had fun taking them and they are glad we have them to look at and remember our life along the way.

Pinkle’s FAV from this session HERE!

I honestly don’t even know where to begin as I have been positively ITCHING to finally get to these photos and at last, here we are! I’ve known Katie with Modern Muse Beauty in Austin, TX for what seems like an eternity now and I think of her as my creative partner in styling for photography. {As a stylist, makeup artist, balayage and unicorn color expert, I hope most of my clients have already had the chance to meet/work with Katie. If you have not and you have a session coming up with me in the near future, do yourself a favor and book Katie NOW.} Katie is a Type A creative, just like me and she just gets it…she understands the artistry of photography and she’s so much fun to conceptualize with. When it came time for her family photo session this year, location was a big factor. You see, I don’t know if you remember it, but last time, we were at a castle, which set the bar ridiculously high for this next shoot. At one point, I think we had talked ourselves into driving out to Marfa, thinking that was what we needed to do to “top” last year’s session.

Turns out, we only needed to drive to Fredericksburg, TX. I’m SO glad Enchanted Rock was our destination, because it. was. gorgeous! I never knew a place like this existed in Texas and it had everything we were looking for in this particular shoot. I’ve been very inspired by the desert lately (as evidenced by THIS and THIS…a project in which Katie happens to play a huge role) and Katie’s styling just set the entire atmosphere for what ended up being one of my most favorite sessions to date. In my mind, this just might have topped the castle.

This image…I adore. And I can’t decide if I love it more in black and white or in color.

She is sooooooo lucky to have her Nonnie with her. Soooooooo lucky.

The light at sunset was just beyond!

Ohhhhh….I spy some pretty awesome Kendra Scott up there ;-).

There is soooooo much more I want to say about this evening out at Enchanted Rock, but my words escape me right now. ‘Tis the season. But I’ll leave you with this: 1. Katie is stunning. 2. Her daughter is pretty much an exact replica of her husband. 3. Katie should seriously consider adding styling to her list of services and talents. 4. I’m so thankful to have Katie as my creative partner and friend. xoxo, Katie! I hope you love these just as much as, if not more than, your castle shoot.