I know I will want to update you on the past few weeks and I have a LOT of blogging to catch up on, huh? But like my daughter says when I ask her how to eat an elephant, “…just one bite at a time.”

So, let me begin with this family…my last family photo session of 2013, as a matter of fact. These boys couldn’t have been any sweeter or more fun to hang with

I will be posting many more images from the last part of 2013 over the next few days, so stay tuned to the blog.  I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday break and that your 2014 is off to a great start.

Pinkle Toes Photography will be closed Dec 20-Jan 12 so that I can step away and spend some long overdue time with the fam. I will not be checking/answering e-mails or phone calls or other messages during that time and I apologize for any inconvenience. But if I’ve learned anything during this tumultuous year, it’s that time with family and friends is fleeting and not guaranteed, so I’m going to make the most of it. On that note, I wanted to leave you all with a little treat to wrap up the year…a compilation of photos from ALL of the families and babies and children and seniors that I’ve had the extreme honor of working with this year.  Thank you all for being a hundred points of light during even the darkest of times for us. You have each touched my heart and I’m so lucky to know you.

XOXO and Happy Holidays,

Me

She turned five. And I still can’t get past it. Tonight, on the eve of another arctic cold front, she allowed me to take her out just before sunset to capture something magical…fantastical. I love this girl. She is my world…

[For more on the “snow” see here.]

This session, my friends, was a DREAM come true! I’ve been working with this beauty every birthday since she turned 5 (a little bittersweet to me realizing that her mommy and I first started talking when I was preggo w/ my own daughter 5 years ago). I know her mommy (owner of Haute Child in the City, a children’s boutique in Austin, TX) had the concept for this session in her head for a loooong time and it was just amazing that it was finally the right time for it to come to fruition.

The theme for this shoot was “Dressed to the 9’s” and my word, our model couldn’t have been any more perfect! She has got the sassitude to pull this off, that’s for sure. I have LOVED watching her grow into a little lady over the past 4 years!

Side note, in case you missed the announcement, you you might want to consider following me on Instagram because I’m going to be giving something away that will only be announced on there. First clue coming December 1st!!!!

Another side note, I have just a *few* openings left for the holiday minis (one tomorrow and then a couple next weekend), so you can snag one if you’re quick.

See you on the other side of the holiday minis!!!!

Their mommy and I have been chatting about doing a session like this for quite some time. I am soooooooo excited that she finally gave us the go ahead this year. Her boys were the perfect ages to capture something like this. The memories will be so real to them when they look through this album when they get older. See what this scene looked like from the outside. Also, outtake of puppy dog HERE.

I left their home that evening grinning from ear to ear. How could I not? That little cutie’s energy and enthusiasm is wildly contagious. Plus, I’m a sucker for redheads anyway. But just look at how his parents were admiring him in those last couple of images. That boy is LOVED! No doubt about it! Fav family image HERE and then THIS ONE just slays me.

Just a reminder…I’ve got a few openings left for my holiday minis coming up at the end of November. It’s not too late to snag your spot, but in a few weeks, it will be :-(.

I love that this mama loves color just as much as I do (if not more?). I will maintain that this was the very last day of summer, even though this was just a few weeks ago at the end of September. While it’s not “cold” by any stretch of the imagination right now, it’s certainly not warm enough to do a kitschy, Airstream, all-American-summer-fun inspired photo session these days. I’m so glad we got to do this! It makes me think of my summers as a kiddo, where a soda pop, a pinwheel, and a blow up pool could turn an ordinary day into something magical! Another image HERE and my absolute FAV HERE and do NOT miss this one HERE!

No. Literally. When I walked through the door and saw just how much this little guy had gone from baby/toddler and turned into a little boy and I pretty much went crazy. I mean, we have a history together…even before he was actually born, and so you can understand my shock when I realized that his white-blonde hair had turned into more of a sandy blonde hue and his vocabulary had grown exponentially and he is becoming all the things that my own kiddos are becoming…older…grown up…more independent. I get choked up just thinking about it, actually.

Okay. Enough about that. This may have been one of my more memorable sessions with his family, mostly because it was so relaxed and so much about being together at home…as a family. I am WAY impressed with his dad and his “labor of love” he undertook when building that playscape by hand. My heart swells to think about the memories they have created for their son. Well done!!!

And of course, you MUST see my absolute fav from this session HERE.

These girls are SO strikingly beautiful and what little rays of sunshine! Hard to believe this is baby sis just a year ago. Still a little cherub ;-).

Totally off topic, but I am putting the final details together for the 3rd Annual Pinkle Toes Holiday Mini Sessions this week, so look for something soon! As always, these kids-only holiday mini’s + 1 digital file are FREE when you book a full session next year. This the *only* way to score one of these coveted spots, by the way.

And finally, here’s another one of our Pinkle’s Pic of the Year 2012 winners! I think it’s really cool that all three families chose to have their sessions on South Congress…so distinctly Austin! I loved the outfits mom coordinated for them…this vintage cowgirl look with a touch of modern. Well done! Of course, I love all the outfits she puts together for all of her sessions ;-). And, you MUST check out the pic that I have deemed most ironic photo I’ve ever taken HERE.