Posts Tagged 'austin maternity photographer'
Jan 01, 2012
I sat down to post the annual Year in Review slideshow, but instead, I’m finding my mind is still swirling from what happened yesterday. I need to explain to you just how grateful my heart is on this first day of 2012. As some of you may have seen on my Facebook page, I spent the very last day of 2011 worried sick over my baby sister in the hospital. She had been complaining of a pain in her leg since her trip to New York earlier in Dec. and she called me early yesterday morning saying she had just blacked out in her hallway. My first thought was a blood clot…and then immediately, the fear of a pulmonary embolism. [I want to pause right here and thank someone very special–she will know who she is–for unknowingly giving me a key bit of knowledge about this very dangerous condition and possibly helping to save my sister’s life. Thank you and my heart was very much with you during this holiday season.]
My first words were, “We’re going to the hospital..NOW!”
As she was going through the barrage of tests with so many unanswered questions and the very real fear that my sister could die, all I could think was how desperately I wanted the gift of another year with my sister. Just the day before, she and I watched this and marveled over his courage and peaceful outlook on life and death. While we were waiting in the hospital, we read this and this, pleased with how many of those we had done and vowing to check off the rest this year.
Turns out, she did indeed have a blood clot in her leg, but thank goodness her lungs were clear!!! She has started treatment, but now we have to figure out why the clot formed so we can keep it from happening again. She is so young and a very healthy, non-smoking young woman…this kind of thing just doesn’t make sense for her. As I’m writing this, I am actually glad to share this story with you in the hopes that should you or someone you know experience symptoms of DVT or a pulmonary embolism, you’ll know to get immediate medical attention.
2011 was one of the busiest years I can recall in a long time and I know that busy=blessed. I had the privilege of meeting and/or working with hundreds families and photographers from all over the world. (It’s funny how small my world has become thanks to Facebook ;-). However, to be honest right now, when I think back over the year as a whole, it’s pretty much a blur to me–the only thing I can really remember is yesterday.
But I feel it’s important to always acknowledge and thank the people who allow me into their lives and trust me photograph their most important family moments. I want to remind them how beautiful they are…how special their connections are…what a gift their families are. So, like I’ve done every year since 2007, I pulled just one image from each session to create the 2011 Year in Review…
(Google Reader users: you’ll need to click THIS LINK to see).
My sister, my mom, and I all had separate plans for New Year’s Eve yesterday, but all of our families ended up at my house last night. I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful evening…cooking up an impromptu batch of homemade chili, all of us watching the 360º of fireworks in the horizon at midnight, listening to “Auld Lang Syne” on the iPod, toasting in paper cups, ringing in 2012 together. Grateful.
[p.s. Clients: I sent out the details on the 2011 Pinkle’s Pic of the Year contest to you all. If you had a session with me in 2011 of any kind and did not get this info, let me know ASAP so I can get you up to speed.]
Dec 27, 2011
We were scheduled to do maternity portraits for her. We had the perfect timing…waiting until her hubby was home from deployment. And then about 5 weeks before this little baby was supposed to arrive, baby boy surprised everyone. Listening to his mama tell the story of his birth brought tears to my eyes. I don’t think she believes me, but I think she was an incredibly brave, powerful, and strong woman. In the wee hours of the night, she went into labor. Alone. His daddy was still gone, her MIL was a long plane ride away. So, She. Drove. Herself. To. The. Hospital. IN. Labor. And she had that baby boy…all by herself. Pregnancy, labor, and birth can be frightening even with a room full of loved ones there to support you, I can’t imagine doing it without someone like that to help. Wow!!!
His newborn session was one of the most beautiful, peaceful newborn sessions I’d had in a while. I loved being at home with them…watching the three of them together (at last!)…seeing the love they had for their new baby. I very much look forward to seeing this little guy grow up!!
Nov 23, 2011
I spent the most delightful morning at their house a few weeks back. Her session was all things sweet and simple and easy and cuddly. In proofing her pictures, my gosh, she reminded me SO much of my daughter as a newborn (her room even has owls, too!). I’m very much looking forward to seeing how this little cutie grows up over the years.
Nov 08, 2011
UPDATE 11/22/11 – ALL SPOTS ARE FULL!
Oct 28, 2011
As I was sifting through my archives the other day, I found myself getting lost looking through past sessions. I thought it might be kind of fun to bring back a few blasts from the past every now and then:
I sometimes wonder what I sacrifice in exchange for improving technique. At the time of this session, I think I was about a year in and had only photographed a few newborns. I wasn’t as technically proficient as I would like to have been and maybe just a teensy bit heavy on the photoshop. But I felt like I had a vision…like I did see things from my own unique perspective. Do I still do that or am I too focused on trying to get something technically perfect these days?
What do I remember about this session? Hmmmm…I remember I was captivated by how handsome these two brothers were. The toddler was very charming and actually quite well behaved for his age. I remember I loved the layout of their house, but I was too afraid to photograph much indoors ;-). Their mommy was stunning, but she didn’t want to be in the pics and I was soooo bummed. We had fun flipping through her wedding album after the session. And little man’s slack lip when he fell asleep just made my heart leap.
Aug 16, 2011
This day was a big deal. In more ways than one. His birth definitely brought happy tears from everyone in the room. If you haven’t been reading Andrea’s blog, you should be. She is a phenomenal writer and helped create an incredible source of healing for many women all over the world. After you watch Carter’s birth below, you should definitely read Andrea’s words on her experience. She tells it much better than I ever could. Andrea…I can’t tell you enough how happy I am for your family and how wonderful it is to get to watch Natalie and Carter grow up through your lens and your inspiring words.
May 16, 2011
Gosh…they were so happy here. And her eyes were so captivating!!! Pregnancy certainly agreed with her. And so does motherhood. I’ll share pics from their precious newborn session soon.
May 12, 2011
This was sooooooo special to me because:
1) I took her maternity pictures back in the day when she was expecting her first baby
2) it was really neat to see how differently she showed in each of the pregnancies
3) well…I got to watch him be born last week (first time photographing an actual c-section which was an incredible experience!)
4) I get to bask in his newborn cuddliness this weekend!
and 5) this is another one of those situations where my clients have become good friends and I simply feel blessed to know this family.
1) I took her maternity pictures back in the day when she was expecting her first baby
2) it was really neat to see how differently she showed in each of the pregnancies
3) well…I got to watch him be born last week (first time photographing an actual c-section which was an incredible experience!)
4) I get to bask in his newborn cuddliness this weekend!
and 5) this is another one of those situations where my clients have become good friends and I simply feel blessed to know this family.
May 10, 2011
I quite enjoy the opportunity to photograph a maternity session where the focus is on the family. Here they are…at this time…together…getting ready to bring a new life into their family. In spite of having a toddler, it’s peaceful compared to what changes are about to take place.
(I could have worked in this yellow room all day!)
Big sis “to be” got a little sleepy during our session and so she spent a little quiet time with her parents. These were my favorite moments.
And of course, the pupster had to be in some pictures!
(I could have worked in this yellow room all day!)
Big sis “to be” got a little sleepy during our session and so she spent a little quiet time with her parents. These were my favorite moments.
And of course, the pupster had to be in some pictures!
(Oh, doesn’t mama remind you of Natalie Portman??? Well, I thought so anyway.)
May 04, 2011
I can’t imagine a more beautiful day for his birth! And I can’t imagine a more wonderful family to share this special day with. He’s perfect…just perfect!