My boys used to go to preschool with these girls, so yes, we’ve known these guys for quite some while. After preschool ended, it became more and more difficult for us to get everyone together…sad how life and different schools and activities can pull you away from people you enjoy being around. None-the-less, we were able to get it together in downtown Austin for this very urban family photo session held in a building their daddy actually helped design and build. He’s pretty much an Austin architectural icon at this point ;-). And these girls have such PERSONALITY! What a blast we had that morning! (Loved this one of mom and dad alone for a couple of seconds, LOL).

It’s funny to me how when I phase into a new color obsession, my work starts to reflect that without me even realizing it. Lately, inspired by peacocks (?), I notice that I’m drawn to blues and greens and upon reviewing these proofs when they were finished, it hit me…blue and green. This family was so beautiful and connected and we had a really lovely time exploring a different (to me) part of Austin.

With a family filled with such personality, there are SO many options, so, we just did them all, LOL. Gang, we tried so hard to get a shot of everyone blowing a giant bubble, but I think we had the wrong kind of bubble gum and it just wasn’t happening. I was cracking up watching everyone try desperately to chew the gum and make a bubble. We’d get one, then two, then three, and by the time we’d get four, the first ones would start popping. I can’t even tell you how many shots we took, but finally, we happily opted for a composite…I think everyone’s jaws were getting sore…both from chewing and from laughing so hard! [Be sure to see another one of my fav’s not shown HERE.]

For the past three years, we’ve gotten together to do family portraits up right. Every session has been vastly different from the last, but every session has been equally fun, entertaining, and beautifully styled by Tracy (no surprise there since she is an amazing photographer herself ;-). I have to admit I get giddy each time she schedules her session because I know it’s going to be a beautiful collaboration. This is the most easy-going, most colorful, most loving, most fun-loving, most energetic, most dynamic family you will ever meet and I truly feel privileged to get to photograph them. Thank you, my friend.

I was literally got goosebumps when mom asked if they could bring their horse to the session? Um. A horse? A beautiful family? Girls in white dresses? Downtown Austin? Sure. I’ll take that. Our morning together was every bit as magical as we had dreamed it would be. I kept having to pinch myself to see if this was really happening. Especially when THIS happened. Truly one of those sessions that I will never, ever, ever forget or be able to duplicate. Thank you so much, Shelly, for an absolutely fantastic time! (Check out the last pic in black and white. I can’t decide which I like better ;-).

…and we didn’t jump on that opportunity to take pictures there, what kind of an artist would I be???? I was more than thrilled when K suggested this place for her family’s photo session in downtown Houston. Now, don’t get me wrong, the location was amazing, but I think it was the exuberance and fun-loving nature of this beautiful family that really made this session magical. I left their house on such a photographic high…windows rolled down, singing to the radio at the top of my lungs, totally honored to have been chosen to capture their relationships and love for one another and love for life at that point in time. And believe me, I pulled very much from that strength and energy in the days to come. Thank you L family…I don’t know if you’ll ever realize how much our photo session impacted me and it was a pleasure getting to work with you all.

{Want to know where this is? Check out this image…}

Was this really back in January? It truly doesn’t even seem like it was that long ago. What a FANTASTIC workshop group we had here and if it looks like we were having a blast in these pictures, it’s true…we did! Our in home newborn session demonstration was a dream and can you even believe the smile on that precious baby girl? (see it bigger). And, of course, there’s one pic not shown here. If you want to see that one, you’ll have to go HERE.

We had an equally amazing photo session with our family in downtown Austin later that evening:

Quick story: a workshop attendee asked me to demonstrate some poses with people lying down, so we had mom + daughter lay down on the ground for us. I asked them to get a little closer and they ended up with the worst forehead bump:

OMG! I felt soooooooo bad, but at least we all had a good laugh (cry?) over it.

And, some more fun random pics from the workshop:

Goodness me! What a talented and fun and smart and witty group of ladies! Each time I would open up a folder of pics sent my them, my jaw would just hit the floor. Man they rocked it! Check out their sites here:

• Kami Friday Photography – NH and Northern New Englandwww.kamifridayphotography.com
• The Life in Your Years Photography – NYC, Westchester County and Southern Connecticut http://www.thelifeinyouryearsphotography.com
• Little Branch Photo – Houston, TX – www.littlebranchphoto.com
• Paula Scherr Photography – Edmonton, Alberta Canadawww.paulascherrphoto.com
• Caroline Martin Photography – San Diego, CAwww.CarolineMartinPhotography.com
• Photo Jolie – Dallas, Texas www.photojolie.com/
• Laurie Herrera Photography – Dallas, Texas www.laurieherreraphoto.com

The ONLY workshop I have coming up with openings is in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in August. That is it. I know many folks have requested to be on wait lists for St. Louis and Charlotte, but that list is really long :-(. Oh, did I mention that we are planning a MAJOR Pinkle Toes Photography Workshop reunion in New York City in Spring of 2014? Very excited about that…loads of fun activities are in the works as well as a charity project. (Check out my post from Chicago’s reunion last summer…that should give you an idea of the whirlwind to expect ;-). 

They are no strangers to the Pinkle Toes blog, but this session was a little different. This time, it was just the two of them. Goodness gracious their eyes are amazing and I just LOVE how she always comes up with the coolest, hipest wardrobe selections. And who else can wear pink lipstick like that?! Also, can you believe the height he got on that jump? Craziness. Another take HERE. Love, love, LOVE!

Finally on the blog!!! Yay!!!! This workshop was the perfect way to kick of 2013! On day one, we all got to finally meet and chit chat and had fun playing with sunflare and headshots. After a laaaaaaaate night 😉 it was early to rise for an amazing in-home lifestyle newborn session demonstration:

Later that afternoon, we headed into downtown Austin to experiment photographing a family in an urban setting:

It was so crazy…it was sunny, sunny, sunny all day long and then wooosh! All of a sudden, in true Austin fashion, the wind picked up and the sun disappeared and we were out in the elements like Nat Geo photogs ;-). By the by, you should know that I don’t believe I’ve ever worked with siblings who were as connected and fun-loving as those two cuties were. They made me look really good that day. A little too good 😉

I present to you the Pinkle Toes Graduating Class of January 2013! Sharp looking group, huh? When you get some time, I highly recommend you check these ladies out:

• Sabrina K Photography Pearland and Houston, TX: http://sabrinakphotography.com/blog
• Captured by Chrissy in McKinney, TX: http://capturedbychrissy.com/blog
• Beth Fenwick in San Francisco Bay Area, Redwood City, CA: http://bethfenwick.com
• Claire Hill Photography in  Houston and The Woodlands, TX:  http://www.clairehillphotography.com/blog
• Leslie Clawson Photography in Frisco TX: http://www.leslieclawsonphotography.com
• CK Design & Photography in MA http://ckdesignphoto.blog.com/
• Dear Ellison Photography in San Antonio, TX and surrounding areas: https://www.facebook.com/dearellisonphotography

Sadly, I don’t have any more workshops coming up in Austin (no room in my schedule ;-(). If we missed you, you can always chat with me about the Toronto, Canada workshop this August (very much looking forward to that one…my very first visit to Canada!) or if that’s too far for you, maybe we can talk about online mentoring.

See? Told ya. Here’s another one that made me say, “Awwww.” Our photo session had to be rescheduled and rescheduled and rescheduled (once because of a football injury resulting in the scar above his eye 😉 and as fate would have it, I’m SO glad we had to wait because otherwise, I would never have gotten the chance to photograph these two together. It wasn’t that long ago when I had the privilege of taking his sister’s senior pictures and now here we were, a few years later, back on South Congress to capture another monumental milestone for him (and his mom ;-). Senior portraits are always a little bittersweet to me: I LOVE working with subjects who actually stay where you tell them to stay (LOL) and it’s always a fun shoot, but I always picture myself in this very position in just a few years…watching my own children having their senior portraits taken and I can’t help but get a bit choked up at that thought. Thank you, Marianne, for (unknowingly) paving the way for me and for letting me see just how amazing parents can nurture and help develop AMAZING young adults.

Ah, yes! I forgot I wanted to show you these fun behind-the-scenes images his mom took during the session. You can check those out HERE. Did I mention that I LOVE pull backs?! Love it!