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

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.

Ten years ago, they began their life together when they married right here at Old Glory Ranch in Wimberley, Texas. We went back to that beautiful, charming place as they marked this momentous occasion and celebrated their 10 years as husband and wife and reflected on what must have been one of the most challenging years of their lives. The trials they faced in 2015 only made them stronger and more loving and more appreciative of the simplest and purest joys. In the years that I have known them, I’ve seen their connection and how they adore their family, but this year in particular, after surviving two of the biggest scares imaginable, that glow has been magnified times a thousand…

Wearing her mother’s wedding dress. I certainly hope that one day, if she gets married, these images are on display at her wedding.

One of my FAVS HERE.

These are also the pink Converse her mommy wore when she got married!

Just a few days after our time here at Old Glory, Amy got the most miraculous news: her tumor is gone! I can’t even tell you how loud I shouted when I read that wonderful, wonderful news. I am just blown away by the grace and determination with which Amy defeated this cancer. She is the ultimate inspiration!

From the moment we stepped onto the University of Texas campus to the time we closed their engagement photo session down, all eyes were on these two. And it’s not hard to see why! They are lovely and IN LOVE! I could have played all evening and we pretty much did. The sun finally had its way and we had to stop, but I was so thrilled to get to help them celebrate their engagement.

Oh, the light!

 Loved when she did this!

Yes, I like to use this courtyard a lot. Because it’s tucked away and GORGEOUS!

Yes. Seriously beautiful people!

This is how he proposed to her. And I thought it was AWESOME!

Her idea and a great one at that! HERE’s another take on it. Hook ’em!

Well,  I guess even the sun going down couldn’t stop us. It was just too perfect of an evening! Congrats to you both and thank you for letting me tag along and document your little world together. [As always, flawless hair and makeup by the wonderful, talented Katie of Modern Muse Beauty!]

I lived in Virginia growing up, but had several visits to TX throughout my childhood. Every now and then, I would get a chance to hang out with my cousin near Fort Worth. I regret the fact that while I was all wrapped up in my tween-ness, since she was a couple of years younger than me, I never really took the time to get to know her personally. I so touched and honored that she asked me (me???) to do an engagement photo session for her and her fiancé last December. After my time with them that evening, my childhood regret grew quite a bit as I realized just how much I missed out in not hanging with her more often. She is graceful, confident, brilliant, beautiful, funny, engaging, charming and caring.  We were able to pick up conversation like we were life-long best friends (family is always family) and that evening shared with the two of them over at my place will forever be a joyful memory. I very much look forward to many more years of gatherings like that. And I mean it, you two!!!! Congratulations on your engagement and I cannot wait to see your beautiful wedding photos!

I think it’s a miracle we were able to make this session happen. I just happened to have a reschedule for the month of April and put out a call that I had some openings. I got an urgent message from this gentleman explaining that we was preparing to ask his girlfriend to marry him and wanted to surprise her with a Pinkle Toes engagement photo session as well. I absolutely loved what he wrote about their relationship and his plans for the weekend and I just knew that it would be an amazing session. He knew she’d be excited as well…he jokingly mentioned that she *might* be more excited about the photo session than the actual engagement, lol. Alissa is a newborn photographer herself and I knew she had an appreciation for photography. It was going to be incredible.

But wouldn’t you know it, the morning I was supposed to do their session, I got THE phone call (at about 4 a.m.) that my sister would be having her babies in just a few hours. I so did not want to reschedule their engagement shoot, but they were incredibly kind and understanding and allowed me to spend the entire day with my sister and my new nieces. I am so very thankful for that.

And so finally, the day came when we could actually get together and it did NOT disappoint. It is such a joy to get to see two people who are so in love and in tune with one another. It’s especially amazing when it happens to be two very creative and talented people. I can’t wait to see what they do for their wedding! (Notice that ring box? Well, he actually had it specially made from an old Nikon lens case! Isn’t that awesome???). We had a fantastic evening together and I felt very privileged to get a glimpse into their life they are building together. And maybe one day in a few years, I’ll get to revisit them + 1 ;-).

Congrats again you, two! You are beautiful people, inside and out!

[Oh, and you don’t want to miss this picture HERE.]

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]

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!

We met up on a beautiful evening a few weeks ago to celebrate their engagement and upcoming wedding in true texas style: in the bluebonnets. Fun, fun couple with lots of energy and even more love between them! More bluebonnets HERE! And do you see the ladybug, too?

Kinda can’t believe I haven’t blogged this session from Virginia last fall either. Kinda been dying to share THIS IMAGE in particular and I think it’s pretty fitting for today. Kinda loved absolutely everything about this session. Kinda got pretty lucky that even though we played with the umbrellas, the weather cleared up and we didn’t actually *need* them. Kinda adored her kiddos. Kinda adored mom and dad as a couple. Kinda glad we got THIS, too ;-).