Once upon a time, there was a beautiful, blue-eyed baby boy that grew up into a beautiful blue-eyed big boy and he let us celebrate this milestone with him one warm summer morning in a park overlooking downtown Austin.

After exploring the park, making adorably cute faces, and doing some baby yoga ;-), he was crowned a prince by his mommy ;-).

Speaking of his mommy, she had this to say about his one year photo session:

Tell us a little bit about your family…

Alex and I met in Austin and have enjoyed starting our lives together and now our family here. Michele took newborn photos of Henry last year that turned out so well.

What made you decide this was the time to do a photo session? Were you marking any special occasion, etc?

The photo shoot was for Henry’s first birthday. We know how fast they grow at this age and we wanted to get some photos while he is this age.

Where was your session held and why?

We did the photos at Butler park to get a nice view of the Austin skyline and to be outside. We did the newborn photos at home because it seemed too overwhelming to take him somewhere and too hot to be outside, but now that he is a little older and we are more comfortable as parents we felt like it would be fun to get more shots of him outside enjoying himself.

What did you like about your session location?

We loved the views of downtown Austin and the water. It was also really easy to get to and had ample close in parking.

What was your favorite part of your session?

When Henry started splashing in the water and when he was under the Magnolia tree in just his diaper.

Was there anything you were nervous or worried about before the session?

I was worried that Henry would be upset and not take great photos.

What made you choose Pinkle Toes Photography?

A coworker of mine had used Pinkle Toes to shoot her family many times and I had seen the photos and she highly recommended Michele. After using Michele for the newborn photos we knew we wanted to use her again.

What do you hope your kids/family will say years down the road when looking at these images?

Remember when Henry was that little?

These cuties are no strangers to the Pinkle Toes blog, but this is the first time I think we’ve worked together and I’ve really had the opportunity to experience their personalities. They are just getting to wonderful ages, where they are becoming more and more their own individuals and it’s been such a privilege to get to see that process happen in person!

This red wall was SUCH a find when mom pulled out all of this gorgeous red, white, and blue!

Sometimes, it’s nice to let the little ones take a step back away from the action of a photo shoot…where they don’t feel all the pressure is on them ;-).

And then…we got to RUN! And play! And RUN! And play some more!!

I was just commenting to someone about how much the Austin skyline has changed and so quickly! It’s amazing that while I may take pictures by the skyline nearly every 4th photo session, it’s NEVER the same it seems. Still crazy to think I can’t see the Frost Bank building from this vantage point any longer :-(.

 Okay, so at this point, they were starting to feel their oats and they were getting so crazy and sooooooo funny!

And as always, don’t miss my PERSONAL FAV from their urban family session!

From mom:

Tell us a little bit about your family…

We are a family of four. The boys love legos, the beach and being silly.

What made you decide this was the time to do a photo session? Were you marking any special occasion, etc?

We do a yearly session with Michelle right around the boy’s birthdays. I like to see how they’ve grown in a year.

Where was your session held and why?

It was held in urban Austin because we wanted to capture the feel of the city we live in.

What did you like about your session location?

True austin feel.

What was your favorite part of your session?

My favorite part is always thinking that the kids didn’t follow directions and that we won’t have good pictures… then realizing that Michelle always captures the perfect moments and the photos are amazingly beautiful.

Was there anything you were nervous or worried about before the session?

The heat.

Any advice to other families before their photo sessions?

Just enjoy it.. it always turns out perfect.

What made you choose Pinkle Toes Photography?

We’ve been working with Pinkle Toes for 6 years!

What do you hope your kids/family will say years down the road when looking at these images?

Mommy put together great outfits for us all! 😉 {Um…yes. Let’s talk about that for a second. Miss S…most of us have a hard enough time pulling together just one outfit for everyone in the family…I don’t know how you managed TWO sets??? You always rock the wardrobe department, my friend!}

Okay, his mommy and daddy and his two big sisters are beautiful people, there is no doubt of that. However, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that this little dude kinda steals the show no matter what he does! Whether he’s acting like a puppy dog (as demonstrated by lapping up the water in the fountain) or snuggling with his mommy or making funny faces, he is always 100% in the moment and 100% exactly who he wants to be at that time. And I have to admire that. I wish we could all continue to hold onto our childhood imagination as well as that inability to hide emotions. It just dawned on me that he is probably the most authentic he will ever be. As he gets older, social customs and expectations will start to take over and little by little, he will be more and more like a grown up. I don’t mean this to be all melancholy, but man, sometimes I do wish I could live more in the moment like little kiddos do. I think I’m going to try to take a page out of his book. If I feel like barking or whimpering like a puppy, maybe I will. Of course, at my age, that could land me in some trouble, couldn’t it. Okay, maybe I’ll just do it at my photo sessions ;-).

Torn on my favorites, by the way. It’s between the water fountain pic or THIS ONE.  What about you? Do you have a fav in this bunch?

{Hair and makeup for the gals by Katie with Modern Muse Beauty, whom I am seeing tomorrow. What should I do with my hair? I’m soooo tempted to get some crazy color done!}

I didn’t realize this until I started culling and editing this precious baby boy’s newborn photos, but I must have been really boring him because he yawned SO MUCH, lol! Here are just two examples:

Actually, I think he was just happy and content and why wouldn’t he be? Look at how well he fits into his little family! You all may remember those lovely red curls of big sister from the maternity photo shoot HERE. Well, it was so crazy because the whole time I was editing the images, I could NOT get over how much he resembles his big sister! Something about his nose and lips, I think? Wonder if he’s going to have the same red curls, too…

While he LOVED snuggling up with his mama, he was pretty awesome with his big sister, who LOVED to love on him! My personal favorite image is HERE, because you can literally SEE the wonder in his sister’s eyes as she is watching over her little brother. I teared up several times at her interactions with him. I know she is struggling to figure out her new role, but she loves her brother so much. You can just tell it.

She is one of the most gorgeous little girls ever, isn’t she?

Then of course, look at her parents ;-).

These two. So happy to hang out…

…and nap together ;-).

Counting baby toes.

I mean, seriously?

We had to work hard to wake him.

And to try to keep him awake ;-).

But I think our persistence paid off with the very last image of the session right up there.

To help celebrate baby girl turning one, our session started off overlooking the city of Austin. 

She was dressed to the 9’s. I think this little girl accessorizes better than I do!

And then…a RAINBOW appeared!!!

Snuggles with her mommy. Also love this image HERE.

“Spider-Man” kisses with her dad.

And then…it was time for CAKE!

She had no problems figuring out what to do!

And, was kind enough to share. A little.

Demolition.

But this last series has me absolutely cracking up. “Caaaaaaaaake!” Price. Less!

From mom:

Tell us a little bit about your family…

My husband and I have been married for just over 5 years and we were blessed with the sweetest baby girl last year!

What made you decide this was the time to do a photo session? Were you marking any special occasion, etc?

We wanted to celebrate out little lady turning one! We can’t believe this year has gone by so quickly!!!

Where was your session held and why?

We wanted to have the Austin skyline in our photos because we absolutely LOVE living in Austin. We also wanted some nice greenery and Michele suggested Butler Park. It was perfect!

What did you like about your session location?

The view of the Austin skyline was the best part. We were wishing the fountain would have been running but unfortunately it wasn’t. {Gah…I know. Made me sad, too.–M}

What was your favorite part of your session?

Getting to play around with our little one. Also, the cake smash was PERFECT!

Was there anything you were nervous or worried about before the session?

The rain and heat!! The weather tested us that day but it turned out great!

What made you choose Pinkle Toes Photography?

We choose Pinkle toes because of her amazing work. She captures moments perfectly!

What do you hope your kids/family will say years down the road when looking at these images?

I hope she can tell how much love we have for her and how much we love being together.

When I asked if we could start their family photo session in a corn field and they willingly agreed, I knew it was going to be a dynamic and fun time! I really loved most that the boys got to be themselves (mom and dad let them play in the creek…in their outfits….and even brought wooden swords and soccer balls with which the boys could play). My personal favorite family pic is HERE.

 Oh….but I adore this one with the two of them peeking out of the corn stalks, too!

His faces. Sigh. Love.

 “Arghhhhhhhhh!” (He’s a pirate, in case you couldn’t tell.)

 Um. She’s stunning.

This look of fierce determination. He’s totally going to conquer this creek.

 They snuggled up like this all on their own!

They’re doing yoga here. Obvs.

From mom:

Tell us a little bit about your family…

Family of four – two high energy boys, ages 4&6. Relish our time outdoors & love to be together when school/work allows.

What made you decide this was the time to do a photo session? Were you marking any special occasion, etc?

The boys are changing so quickly & I really wanted to capture them in their current stage when they’re not overly concerned with being silly & having fun around strangers & out and about in public.

Where was your session held and why?

At the park – I really wanted a natural environment where we could capture the boys in their element

What did you like about your session location?

All of the natural elements & being in an environment where the boys could just play

What was your favorite part of your session?

Watching the boys play in the creek.

Was there anything you were nervous or worried about before the session?

The boys melting down. The evenings are usually our witching hour & they already had an eventful day. Also, anything too staged or unnatural.

Any funny stories or interesting happenings during your session?

Leaving the park after the session & my oldest tripping & scraping his knee. Not exactly funny, but slightly comical the timing of it & par for the course.

Any advice to other families before their photo sessions?

Treat it as any other family outing or, in our case, trip to the park. We brought a soccer ball, etc – things the boys would normally carry along with them. Try to take a back seat & let the kids do their thing, so the pictures will hopefully convey a more natural quality

What made you choose Pinkle Toes Photography?

The natural, in stages feel of Michele’s photos.

What do you hope your kids/family will say years down the road when looking at these images?

What awesome parents you are to have let us roll around in the creek fully dressed! Did you not consider bringing swimsuits?;-) {Oh, man! I think they were so excited when we let them get in the water in their clothes! That made it for them!–M}

Do not let their normal, ordinary, everyday family appearances fool you. Trust me. I know for a fact that these people are SUPERHEROES. How do I know that? Read on and you’ll see…AND…make sure you go ALL the way to the bottom of this post. You will NOT want to miss it ;-).

Sure. In the images above, they look simply like a beautiful, loving family you might see hanging around the streets of Austin–and they are–but now I can reveal to you their TRUE identities….

Get…

Ready…

To…

Be…

Amazed…

When…

I present to you…

SUPER MOM! IRON DAD! AND ROCK STAR!!!!

I mean, seriously? How FUN is this?! This little lady is sure lucky to have parents willing to be seen on the streets of Austin in their Super Hero Attire ;-). I loved this idea and I am SO happy we got to make it come to fruition. Mom did an incredible job pulling everything together for it.

 FYI, that tattoo is actually her daughter’s writing. Definitely. Copying. That. Idea.

 She can fly!!! You won’t want to miss my FAVORITE version of this image HERE!!!!

Super. Perfection.

From Mom:

Tell us a little bit about your family…

Well it’s Brad, Addie and I…oh and 2 dogs (Incy and Stella) and 2 guinea pigs (Pickles and Hazel). Poor Brad…he’s the only guy in the mix. I LOVE my family…it’s my life…really.

What made you decide this was the time to do a photo session? Were you marking any special occasion, etc?

No special occasion…just what is becoming our annual family photo session with Pinkletoes. Now the challenge is to find something unique and creative to do each year. Poor Michele doesn’t realize what she’s getting into…well maybe a tad bit after this session.

Where was your session held and why?

After much thought we decided to start on the UT campus and then hit the drag. We had 2 different themes going on so it was a perfect fit. Brad graduated from UT so having it there was special for him. And the drag…. well it’s the drag. You never know what you’re gonna get there…superheroes fit right in. 🙂

What did you like about your session location?

The UT campus is amazing…and BIG! Did I say big?? There are SO many fun and unique little spots and Michele seems to know them all. And the drag is just SO Austin-y.

What was your favorite part of your session?

I can’t pick a fav part…sessions with Michele are just plain downright fun. I think you gotta do one to understand. And that’s not just my thoughts…driving home we all talked about what a fun experience it was yet again!

Was there anything you were nervous or worried about before the session?

Well yeah…parading around downtown Austin in a superhero costume…and it’s not Halloween. But needless worries…see above. Well we did get a few stares. But who cares?? Not us!

Any funny stories or interesting happenings during your session?

Addie loves it when Michele burps…and she didn’t disappoint. These are some serious burps guys! And then there was the moment it came time to change clothes so we popped into some random building on campus…maybe the only one without a bathroom to be found. So Michele stood guard while we donned our superhero costumes in a little alcove…kinda like our own little “phone booth”. [This was my fav part, too! – M]

Any advice to other families before their photo sessions?

Just go into it with an open mind and trust that Michele is awesome at what she does. Have fun and know that the product she delivers will far exceed any expectations you have. ***Repeat customer alert*** Don’t say you haven’t been warned.

What made you choose Pinkle Toes Photography?

Like I mentioned earlier this was our annual Pinkle Toes gig…a family tradition that we hope to continue indefinitely. And it’s not just her work…that speaks for itself. It’s also her business model…all of the little extra touches that mean so much. Thank you Michele…it doesn’t go unnoticed! [Aw, man…this means the WORLD, Karen!!! – M]

What do you hope your kids/family will say years down the road when looking at these images?

I read once that a photo is a “return ticket to a moment otherwise gone”. They are. My dad was killed in service when I was 4 and I treasure the few family photos I have. I want our photos to help Addie remember random moments in her childhood that pieced together show her that we lived and loved and laughed and had fun while doing it! She IS the center of our universe and I want her to know that. [Actually, THIS means the WORLD, Karen!!! – M]

Yes, okay, so we had to all get up crazy early to catch this beautiful sunlight without catching the yucky summer heat, but I think we can all agree it was totally worth it. I was totally obsessed with big sister’s amazing curls and little man’s joyous full-body smile. And the pupsters were so completely go-with-the-flow…they were kindofamazing!

Boys. Girls.

Love that we are able to see little brother’s sweet face peeking through the kiss!

I was properly warned that this sweet girl was NOT a morning person and yes, it took her a little while to fully wake up and put up with my silly noises (see below), but once she did, wow! What a sparkling personality!

 (Cinderella 😉

My personal favorite image is HERE.

From Heather:

Tell us a little bit about your family…

Wonderful husband, my sweet girl Elsa and my baby boy Cannon. Two goofy hounds Clyde and Daphne. 3 boys and 3 girls…lots of fun and chaos!

What made you decide this was the time to do a photo session? Were you marking any special occasion, etc?

I had always wanted family photos taken and now that our family is complete, it was time.

Where was your session held and why?

Heritage house in Pflugerville and a local creek. I wanted nature and old, vintage scenery with farm equipment etc. the location was great.

What did you like about your session location?

Everything…the big red barn, old farm equipment, the creek.

What was your favorite part of your session?

The creek. Michele doing funny things to get my daughter to laugh.

Was there anything you were nervous or worried about before the session?

Preparation for the day.

Any funny stories or interesting happenings during your session?

Michele would burp and talk in funny voices to make my daughter smile.

Any advice to other families before their photo sessions?

Be organized/flexible and ready for anything because anything can happen.

What made you choose Pinkle Toes Photography?

Her previous work spoke for itself.

What do you hope your kids/family will say years down the road when looking at these images?

That they love the photos and we had a great time that day together.

I’m not even kidding when I say that we barely squeaked this session out. My friend Lauren drove in from Dallas just before the flood of 2015 (of course, we didn’t know at the time there was going to be all of that awful flooding) and we had such a small window of opportunity to photograph her family. Our big plans to hang out in downtown Austin were crushed and replaced by big plans to hang out in downtown Bastrop. But, as they made their way into town, it was getting darker and darker and we did not think we would be able to hold the photo session before the sun went down or before the rain started. So, a last-minute idea had them visiting me at my place again (we shot here last time, too ;-). I was truly grateful for Lauren’s amazing patience and flexibility and somehow, we pulled it off! Her hubby and the kids get major bonus points, too, for jumping right into a photo session after a long day of finishing the school year and driving. Pretty incredible, these guys. Oh, and I got to meet sweet baby P and he’s absolutely perfect!

This little dude has quite the personality and he’s REALLY, REALLY cute. This is definitely one of my favs. Followed closely by THIS one and THIS one.

From Lauren:

Tell us a little bit about your family…

Well… we welcomed our fifth member to the family last July. 🙂 Our “bonus blessing” has brought such joy to us. As you put it, Michele, he’s the perfect little caboose to our family. 🙂

What made you decide this was the time to do a photo session? Were you marking any special occasion, etc?

We wanted to capture our family of five before our littlest one turned one year in July.

Where was your session held and why?

At the last minute, we decided to hold our session at the Pinkle Toes Studio due to travel restrictions and the always fun Texas weather! 🙂

What did you like about your session location?

I loved that we were all alone in a beautiful, private setting. It was wonderful to have such a special, private place where our children weren’t distracted by this or that and where we could let our guard down and just be “us.”

What was your favorite part of your session?

We loved all of it!

Was there anything you were nervous or worried about before the session?

Ummm, yes! I always feel (and often look) like a goober in front of the camera! [Ha…not possible…Lauren, you’re GORGEOUS!]

Any funny stories or interesting happenings during your session?

Hehehe, when Michele got ants in her pants. 🙂 [I’m glad you find that funny ;-)]

Any advice to other families before their photo sessions?

Just relax and let Michele do her thing…she’s awesome!

What made you choose Pinkle Toes Photography? 

I adore you!!! [Ditto!]

What do you hope your kids/family will say years down the road when looking at these images?

I want our children to look back on these photos and see just how much they are loved. We aren’t perfect parents, and we don’t have perfect kids, but we are so thankful for all that God has blessed us with (most importantly them) and want them to know that there’s nothing they can do to make us love them more…or less. We love our little family!!

The day I flew back home to Austin from the Pinkle Toes Workshop Reunion and family photo session in Charleston, SC, I was actually VERY concerned that I wouldn’t even be able to fly home that day due to the start of what would end up being historic (and historically damaging) rainfalls in Texas. By some miracle, I did make it home that morning and by the time our session rolled around for this beautiful family, the SUN even popped out for a few minutes. Of course, looking at the incredibly beautiful home this mama has put together for her family, we probably didn’t even need to go outside at the end of our photo shoot like we did, but…any excuse to soak up the sunshine that had been in short supply over the past several weeks was a good excuse.

We started off with a little mother/daughter time, snuggling in bed. Baby brother joined us for a little bit, too!

EVERYONE in this family gives the BEST smiles. They smile with their entire being and you can’t help but to smile yourself when they do!

 We spent some time in little brother’s room…I could totally move in here ;-).

 He is seriously one of the happiest little dudes I’ve ever photographed.

 Really glad we got to get away for a bit to get some images of just mom and dad together. It’s not always all about the kids 😉

 I changed my mind, I’m going to move into their dining room instead ;-).

 Guys, you should just see how this little girl dotes on her daddy. He is her prince right now, through and through. THIS image, something she did all on her own just gets me all choked up.

And this candid moment captured between these two…the wind playing with her hair…golden sunshine…authentic smiles. Melts my heart, too!

Beautiful makeup and hair by Katie with Modern Muse Beauty.