Continuing from yesterday’s post, after a few days spent in Georgia, we drove to Charleston, South Carolina. I was beyond thrilled to get to take my family back there after the trip I had last May with all of my photographer friends. I just couldn’t be that close to Charleston and NOT go back.

And, I couldn’t be in Charleston again without visiting with a family that I had been working with since this little one was a wee babe :-). A…it was just magical to reconnect with you and to see how she has grown up. What a beautiful child she is and I’m so glad we got to capture a piece of her childhood right here on the beach! It was a session I will never forget, my friend!

Oh, and you do NOT want to miss this balloon image HERE.

Wait. Can we talk about that amazing dress for just one second here?

Yes, please. And is that a goldfish in a balloon on that dress? Yes, yes it is. I want that dress. For my daughter. For myself. I want to be the person that created that dress. Okay, back to the photos of the adorable little girl, but this time, she’s in a towel, accessorized with a lollypop 😉

From Mama:

1) Tell us a little bit about your family… We moved to Charleston, SC from Texas about 2.5 years ago and we absolutely love it here. We are a family of three girls: Mommy, Harper, and LaScala (our King Charles Cavalier). We have lots of fun and lots of laughs through a lot of fun family adventures.
2) What made you decide this was the time to do a photo session? Were you marking any special occasion, etc? Michele was coming to Charleston and we are trying to commit to one annual spring photo shoots to capture our family as each year passes.
3) Where was your session held and why? Kiawah Island …. on the beach at the Sanctuary. [In case you can’t tell in the images, this is the most magical place on Earth. My family loved it, too! And thanks so much for THIS idea, A!!!]
4) What did you like about your session location? It is a perfect representation of a child’s dream playground. It just so happens its in our backyard, figuratively speaking.
5) What was your favorite part of your session? When Harper changed into her D&G dress and then sat down in the water to play. That was my last outfit change and I thought….its over! Looking forward to seeing the candid pictures. [I present to you, a D&G dress…in the water…]

6) Was there anything you were nervous or worried about before the session? Nope
8) Any advice to other families before their photo sessions? Just have fun and let kids be kids!
9) What made you choose Pinkle Toes Photography? I love Michele’s work and style. I was thrilled when she reached out to us stating that she was going to be in the area. Like the consistency of a family photographer that captures life changes.
10) What do you hope your kids/family will say years down the road when looking at these images? Wow….what fun!

It was last year (and it feels like forever ago), when this Mama contacted me to see if by some chance, I would ever be interested in heading to Savannah, GA to photograph her and her sweet daughter. Once the idea was planted in my mind, I thought, “Why not?” and we started making plans for myself + my whole crew to head to Georgia over Spring Break. It turned out to be a magnificent trip all-around, but I have to say I quite enjoyed our afternoon together here. I ADORE Brandi’s decorating style and getting to witness these sweet little moments between mother and daughter was delicious!

Looking for their other kitty. There we go!

This one in the basket was cracking me up!

My personal fav from inside their home HERE.

Ohhhh…and then we got to go to the BEACH!!! Yaaaaassssssss!

How lucky is she to have a mama so willing to let her play and hang out on the beach and get dirty and sandy and splashy and run and do all the things that little girls should do as little girls?

From Brandi:

1) Tell us a little bit about your family… Amelie and I recently moved to Savannah and share a home with our two fur babies, Macy and Lacy. We enjoy all things silly and we are always on the move (mostly because at this age, she can’t sit still).
2) What made you decide this was the time to do a photo session? Were you marking any special occasion, etc? After a long and hard divorce, Amelie and I now reside by ourselves, without her father. We have taken professional family photos annually since her birth but for the last two years we haven’t. I wanted to make sure that these years were still documented, even if it was just she and I. I want her to know that she is and always will be loved even though her parents live in different homes.
3) Where was your session held and why? I was born and raised on the coast. Now that we are living near the ocean again, Amelie will be too. There is something so peaceful and calming about the beach and I want her to always remember where she is from no matter where life may take her as an adult.
4) What did you like about your session location? It was super laid back and casual, just like our household.
5) What was your favorite part of your session? That Amelie was able to express herself and be the crazy ball of wild energy that she is. I hope she never loses her adventurous and carefree spirit.
6) Was there anything you were nervous or worried about before the session? Not really…
7) Any funny stories or interesting happenings during your session? Can’t recall anything right off but we had a lovely time!
8) Any advice to other families before their photo sessions? Just go with it…if your kid is being wild and letting their personality show, let them. My child is a total ham and I found myself wanting her to calm down and be more relaxed during the session. Looking back, I realize I was trying to get her to behave more like an adult, but she’s still a kid. Let the kids be kids…soon enough they will outgrow it. Let Michelle document their youth as it is.
9) What made you choose Pinkle Toes Photography? I’ve always wanted our lives documented in the way only Michelle can capture. I’ve admired your work for years!
10) What do you hope your kids/family will say years down the road when looking at these images? “I remember that day, Mom! It was so much fun!”

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.

Every year, she steals my heart a little bit more. And she wins (again) on wardrobe ;-). Oh, and for my sweet Christmas present ;-).

I may have 2-3 openings left for the Kids-Only Holiday Mini sessions tomorrow. After that, it’s all over for 2015. The session + one digital file of your choice is FREE to all clients who book a full session for 2016. Please message us for more details and do so quickly before all the spaces are gone!

Okay, so my two boys are about the same age difference as these two brothers, but I gotta say how LUCKY this family is that those brothers love each other as much as a they do! I mean I don’t know if I’ve ever seen my boys get along like this…not now and certainly not 9 years ago either. And it’s not forced at all…they are buds…”Nano” worships his older brother and his older brother dotes right back. I also have to admit I never dressed my boys this hip. Not now and certainly not 9 years ago either ;-). My favity fav family pic can be found HERE.

NOTE: If you are a past client of Pinkle Toes Photography, you should have received an e-mail about some pretty special things going on next year. If you didn’t get that e-mail, let me know and I’ll be sure to pass it along to you. If aren’t a Pinkle Toes client yet, you might want to be. 2016 is going to be a super year for Pinkle Toes and everyone with which I get to work ;-).

I get choked up to think that I’ve been working with him since he was in his mommy’s tummy. I remember each of our sessions together in great detail, but this one really struck me. He was ON for this session…so engaged, so charming, so much fun. He was such a little ham! I feel pretty honored to get to work with this dapper little dude! My FAV HERE!

From his Mommy:

1) Tell us a little bit about your family… Happy, grateful, active. We love Henry and he is our entire world. We feel so grateful to have him. He is our everything. Feel blessed beyond measure.
2) What made you decide this was the time to do a photo session? Were you marking any special occasion, etc? We are Pinkletoes through and through!!! Annual shoot around Henry’s birthday starting when I was pregnant and no signs of stopping us! 🙂
3) Where was your session held and why? Hotel Ella. We love the traditional architecture and timelessness of the hotel. We also love the idea of shooting in an iconic ‘Austin’-y location.
4) What did you like about your session location? Everything. Mostly, love the second level balcony area with views of downtown Austin and the gorgeous columns.
5) What was your favorite part of your session? Henry was in a GOOD MOOD! He was photo-ready! And thank Goodness he is finally into it. 🙂
6) Was there anything you were nervous or worried about before the session? Nothing. Michele can use any location and can turn a parking lot into an award-winning photo. Also, we are Pinkletoes trained! I had my wardrobe changes, my accessories, my props, my snacks, nails checked….I was READY!
7) Any funny stories or interesting happenings during your session? When Henry posed by the vintage car (Vogue) and the crazy pigeons. 🙂
8) Any advice to other families before their photo sessions? Come prepared. Engage with the photographer. Relax and be yourselves. Your energy SHOWS in photos. If you are nervous or uncomfortable, it will show. If you are most relaxed in bare feet, then schedule your shoot that way. Be yourself.
9) What made you choose Pinkle Toes Photography? We got LUCKY a long time ago in finding Pinkletoes. We look forward to our annual shoot like it is Christmas.
10) What do you hope your kids/family will say years down the road when looking at these images? “Look at Henry’s smile!”. “How did she get him to do that?” “We look like a happy family”.

Now, the pupster came very close to stealing the show during this awesome family’s downtown Austin photo session, buuuuuut…the girls were so adorable and fun and kept me on my toes so it all evened out in the end. One of my other fav shots HERE and how about this super cool successful HIGH FIVE at the end of the session when mom and dad were congratulating one another on a job well done! Much-deserved, guys!!!!

Words that come to mind when I think of my evening spent with this family:

Busy, bustling, boisterous, creative, reading, books, art, collections, exploring, wonder, amusement, laughter, love, family, home, together, comfortable, at ease, happy, admiration, and peacefully chaotic.

There was so much to capture about this family…they are such a dynamic bunch. This session felt so real to me…so authentic. The little guy holding the frog up there…he was SOOOOO excited we found him in the pool! And THIS look on his sister’s face when she was oh, so curious but a bit timid as well was definitely my fav! The fact that the oldest brother was still holding his book even while snuggling with his mom was priceless. The way baby sister fits into her family so naturally and watching everyone try to win her affections made me smile. They’ve got quite the family here and it was not difficult at all to bring out their bond on camera.

I’ve been mulling over this post in my head for YEARS (no lie) trying to come up with the a guide to helping families make the most out of their photo session experiences. While editing these images for Kody (a photographer herself!), I realized that her session was one of the BEST examples for what to do to get meaningful, authentic, fun, and relaxed family images. (Kody, I hope you don’t mind being the star student tonight ;-). So here you go…these are my Top Ten Tips to Having a Perfect Family Photo Session (or as close to perfect as you can get):

1. Make it authentic to YOUR family. Kody lives on a farm. They spend most of their days there at home and playing outdoors.  One of her favorite parts of the day is getting dressed with her baby girl and it was very important to her that we captured this memory and this time. These photos are very authentic to her family and I know they will trigger powerful memories for her and her kiddos down the road.

(My favorite image from the “getting ready.” Please have this up somewhere on her wedding day. kthanksbye.)

2. Hold your session in a place that’s meaningful to you…in this case HOME! Truly. Being at home for your session allows us the chance to photograph memories for you and your children that you/they might not even realize until years and years later. Plus, everyone is more comfortable at home and there are usually no surprises (traffic, crowds, closures, etc.). If the kids get hungry, break for a snack (see below). If something spills on an outfit, change clothes. Easy. Peasy.

3. Grown ups should be just as involved in the photos as their children. You can’t expect your kids to take a photo shoot seriously or even want to be a part of it if you’re not willing to do so yourself. I love, love, love that these two are excellent role models for their kiddos for photo sessions (and actually, life in general).

4. Let your kids be. Think for a moment if you had some stranger with a big ol’ camera in your face AND your parents were constantly telling you, “Smile! Smile! No, not that way! A *real* smile!” Would you be able to smile a real smile? Would you want that to last for an HOUR or more?? Probably not. Take a cue from this mommy and daddy and just hang out with your children. Snuggle and play and tickle and be silly and let your actions and love bring out those natural, real, authentic smiles (read: laughter) in your children instead of barking commands or threats or bribes.

5. Go with the flow and let us create together. Yes, it’s important to have an overall vision for your session, but keep it broad enough so that you leave room for you and your photographer to create. Kody did a great job of this, telling me a couple of key moments she wanted captured, but then stepping back and letting me go wherever the kids and the light took us. If we were having to stick with a Pinterest Board of 30 different family poses and five outfit changes and a super detailed shot list, we would never have had the time or been open to seeing amazing photographic opportunities as they played out all on their own.

6. Pad your schedule. While this typically doesn’t apply to a session at home, it is probably a good idea no matter what to simply add about 15 minutes before AND after your scheduled shoot time. SOOOOOO much goes into setting a shoot start time and it is not arbitrary by any stretch of the imagination.  If you’re late to your session (even by just a few minutes) OR if you arrive on time, but you still have to get dressed/put on make-up/eat dinner/knit an afgahan,  that will cause a domino effect and you may miss out on amazing light or amazing temperatures or inadvertently shorten your session time.

Surprisingly, the same principle applies to after your session, too. It’s not a good idea to schedule something right after because #1 everyone is probably going to be tired and hungry and #2 it adds pressure to finish a session exactly at a certain time which can put a damper on creativity.

Once again, these guys get an A+ in this department. Of course, their session ran long because it was soooooooooooo good, but fortunately, they had no where else they had to be…except in bed, which also provided some wonderful photographic moments for us.

7. Dress comfortably and be willing to get dirty. If you’re trying to chase around after your kids in stilettos and your hubby is miserable in a suit and tie in 100 degree weather and your kids are fussy because their clothes are scratchy or uncomfortable…well, it becomes a losing battle trying to keep everyone happy. I totally understand wanting to dress up your family (I definitely do it for my family’s pics), but just try to be reasonable in your choices. Kody did a fantastic job of having everyone look nice, but also feeling comfortable. She let her kids play in the dirt (YES!!!!!!!) and she even got down there herself (DOUBLE YESSSSSSSSSS!!!).  Trust me, her babies are going to CHERISH these images when they get older.

8. Never assume we can just “…Photoshop that out…” (or in ;-). Yes, photographers have tools and tricks to help make images as pleasing as possible, but some things are just not simple fixes or cannot be addressed in 60+ images. If your child gets a boo-boo (especially on the face) right before the session, send your photographer a photo so s/he can decide what to do. If someone cannot make it to your session last minute, let your photographer know, because no, we can’t just Photoshop that person in ;-). If someone is wearing glasses/transition glasses, again, let your photographer know ahead of time so plans can be made. There are a multitude of examples and I can’t possibly name them all, so when in doubt, just talk to your photographer BEFORE the session. Kody totally gets this and there were no Photoshop surprises waiting for me when I arrived at their house (xoxoxoxoxo).

9. Enjoy the experience. It sounds so simple, but when the time comes for your actual photo session, your hard work is already done. It’s the photographer’s turn to take over, so you can just sit back, relax, and gush over your beautiful family. Don’t get upset with your kids if you think they aren’t cooperating. Instead, help your photographer find something that will keep them happy (once again, these parents were wonderful at redirection and keeping the kiddos involved and entertained). Family photos do not have to be a miserable experience for you or your kids and the best way to keep it positive is to be positive yourself. If you are anxious, your kids will pick up on that and become anxious themselves. If you’re calm and having a good time, they will eventually mirror your reactions.

10. Do it again. Children change SOOOOOO quickly and so do the dynamics of your family. Letting 5 years pass without pausing to record this metamorphosis is time lost that doesn’t come back. Yes, we are fortunate to live in a day when we can easily get snapshots with our mobile phones and that’s awesome for getting day-to-day memories captured, but it’s a very different experience allowing a photographer to show you what s/he sees in your family. Family photo sessions are kinda like going to the gym. Sure, it’s tough at first, but once you do it enough, it becomes familiar and a bit easier and more relaxed each time. (Okay, maybe the gym comparison isn’t 100% accurate, ‘cuz yeah, I will never feel relaxed after leaving the gym, but you get the idea 😉

P.S. This family totally gets bonus points for the red hair and freckles ;-).

And finally, from Kody (an amazing photographer herself):

1) Tell us a little bit about your family… My husband and I with our two little red heads are about as goofy as it gets. We love our life out in the farm and cherish the privilege we have to raise our kids in a quiet environment like in the “good ole days.”

2) What made you decide this was the time to do a photo session? Were you marking any special occasion, etc? This is the third year we’ve used Michele to capture our family. I enjoy the colors of fall and the cooler temperatures so we always try to book in October.

3) Where was your session held and why? At home, we want images that reflect our everyday life.

4) What did you like about your session location? Michele found so many forms of inspiration on our property. I see the homestead as a bit unfinished (as we are still getting the place just right) but she was able to find so many spots with hidden beauty I never would have thought of.

5) What was your favorite part of your session? The end with all of us reading he’d time stories just like we do every night. It’s a special time in our life with the kids this age and I wanted images of this to hold onto when the kids no longer want us reading stories and tucking them into bed.

6) Was there anything you were nervous or worried about before the session? Not at all, Michele is the best at what she does. Being a photographer myself I’m extremely picky when it comes to our images. Michele is the best at genuine moments on camera, crispy clean images and wonderful memories.

7) Any funny stories or interesting happenings during your session? Our daughter is going through her becoming independent stage, and fought against every moment of babying we tried to throw her way.

8) Any advice to other families before their photo sessions? Relax, getting your picture taken is an awkward feeling. But if you just trust Michele and allow yourself to have fun she will make magic happen!

9) What made you choose Pinkle Toes Photography? She’s the best at what she does, candid moments with real interactions between family members.

10) What do you hope your kids/family will say years down the road when looking at these images? Wow we had a magical childhood on the farm!

I admit that I nearly wrecked my car when I spotted this wall a while back. It was so nice to stumble upon something a little different and SOOOOO beautifully colorful among the bold, cool Austin graffiti. And I was delighted when this family decided to hold their photo session here! It made for the perfect backdrop against their bright, colorful clothing that simply reflected their bright, colorful personalities.

Baby girl was a big fan of sticking out that tongue…and it was too adorable!

Playing airplane while holding an airplane in front of an airplane wall = we are talking multidimensional family photography here.

And here’s another cute shot featuring the whole wall.

Time for reading their favorite books. I wish I had taken audio of the AWESOME voices everyone was providing!

And then…the high school band started up their practice across the street, so naturally, we decided to compete ;-):

#winning

These two are a wonderful, loving, relaxed, joyful, down-to-earth couple. Obvs. It really took zero time for them to warm up for the session.

Time to celebrate ONE YEAR with a cupcake smash!

Success!!!

From mom:

1) Tell us a little bit about your family…

We have been married for 11 years and have been living in Austin for a little over a year. Andrew (almost 4) and Alison (almost 1) are the light of our lives and we love watching them interact with each other and seeing their personalities shine through!

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

Andrew and Alison both have birthdays in early October so we wanted to capture them around their birthdays.

3) Where was your session held and why?

Our session was held at the “Hello” wall. I wanted to do an urban shoot in a space unique to Austin, so Michele suggested the wall and it was perfect!

4) What did you like about your session location?

It was just a neat space with lots of bright colors. It even had an airplane painted on it, and Andrew is obsessed with airplanes!

5) What was your favorite part of your session?

Playing the instruments and trying to be louder than the high school band practicing across the street! Also, watching Alison dig into her birthday cupcake 🙂

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

The humidity ha ha! The kids getting tired, hungry and crabby (but they did great!)

7) Any funny stories or interesting happenings during your session?

Going back to the humidity… we just weren’t expecting that. [True story: I would rank it is one of the top 3 most humid sessions I’ve ever done. It was BRUTAL, but everyone hung in there!]

8) Any advice to other families before their photo sessions?

Just go with the flow.

9) What made you choose Pinkle Toes Photography?

I had been following Pinkle Toes blog and love the vivid colors and overall fun atmosphere the photos depict.

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

That we had a really fun silly time getting photographed!