There were so many lovely portraits to choose from: all the new baby plan images, amazing bluebonnets, spontaneous moments at parks, and of course all the many mishaps that come with photographing children in a studio.

So many new babies were born:

We had a lovely spring:

And new studio shots were very fun:

Now it’s time for the big Longhorn game!
(What a difference one vote makes–this mama didn’t know she had an Aggie in her Longhorn photo until she saw the proofs!):

Thank you all for a great year!

This year I have three new Christmas card designs as well as a new portrait concept to represent a more reflective year. I’ve heard from so many of you, enduring uncertainty after a lay off or just worrying about the future. I too have seen a big change in my own business this year, and I wanted to create a new image concept that would express this quieter season.

I found some small LED lights for your children to hold in a lovely solemn image that can stand for peace, for hope, or, as this sample shows, a reminder of the holiday’s origin. You can go either secular or religious depending on how we word your card. Multiple children can hold lights together, or we could give the whole family a go.  Email or call me (512-347-0081) to talk about if this image will work for the ages of your children. If not, I have a brand new gallery of all my holiday card options to go through. There are some especially wonderful ones for baby’s first Christmas.

Despite the many trials in 2008, it IS a great year to be a Longhorn! The Littlefield Fountain on the South Mall of campus has been fully refurbished, so I took a shot of it during one of my photography classes to use for cards. Most any studio or outdoor shot will work with the card, but it’s really fun if you flash your Hook ‘Em Horns! (I also have UT photo ornaments for great Christmas gifts at $12!)

Last year I also shot the Zilker Christmas tree for cards. It makes a gorgeous card, and a perfect expression for those of you who love Austin as much as I do. Let me know if you want to use this card backdrop, as we should shoot the image carefully to match.

The tree is decorated and I think it’s the loveliest version of it I’ve ever created. Last year I spent the day after Christmas at Macy’s buying up amazing translucent pointsettias and gorgeous pinecone balls to dress the tree.

It’s definitely time to call or email me so that we can fit you in for the season! I still have maybe four or five slots where I could do outdoors with the sleigh if you want that instead.

I can’t wait to see you!

So what if it’s Texas and snow is a once-in-a-decade thing. We’re having a great time with the sleigh shoots! The dogs have been so much fun and the kids love to jingle the sleigh bells!

Some of you moms have insisted this is an odd year, and you couldn’t get yourself together in October, so I added one more weekend to the sleigh special, Nov. 1-2.

Come on out while the weather is so amazing. Thank goodness for fall!

Regular studio holiday portraits will begin Nov. 3. I’ve already begun booking them, so feel free to call and reserve your slot. I’ll have the new sample shot very soon–it’s a lovely one to send out during a trying year.

It is time for the sleigh special! It will run from Oct. 2-26. If you already know you want to do it, here’s the schedule, find a slot!

I have the PERFECT spot for these images in the back of Boulder Park, just four blocks from my studio. In a new section of the park, we have a little lane that takes a turn just in front of some evergreens–it’s fully shaded and looks amazing.

Bring your doggies if you have them! They can pull the sleigh! These images can be full family or kid only. No doggies? We’ll do close ups on the sleigh.

In addition to sleigh images, we’ll take traditional pictures around the park as always. See a whole gallery of family images at Boulder. The $95 sitting fee includes a portfolio that is yours to keep.

Feel absolutely free to let your friends know about the special this year. I have double the slots of last year, so plenty of room to get everyone in!

I can’t wait to see you all this year!

My sleigh is here! I got the final touches ready by buying some holly and bows for it yesterday. I’m so amazed by it — I can’t wait to start taking pictures of children for the holidays.

I decided to post an image of the sleigh on my blog, so I grabbed a camera and walked to the back door to unlock it.

And there was a deer there!

“Hello, deer!” I said. She was lying in a shady spot by the porch and sort of looked up at me as if to say, “Meh. You mean I have to get up?”

I had this elated sense of wonder that maybe she was some big symbol, that my holiday season would go well, and I would pay for this crazy sleigh I’d special ordered from Pennsylvania from an actual sleigh craftsman.

I dragged the sleigh though the living room and peeked through the door. She was still there. I opened it gently, and she peered at me lazily. I wasn’t totally sure she was going to move! I wondered if she were hurt, but she seemed perfectly serene.

When I started shoving the sleigh through the door — it was a tight fit — the racket did startle her. Still, as I pulled it onto the porch, she leisurely stood up and walked away a few feet to give me room.

I snapped pictures of the sleigh, and the deer kept watching. I wondered madly if I could convince her to stand by it!

I ran inside and searched frantically for some frozen corn, and finding none, opened a can, rushing back outside. She was still out there!

I made a small pile of corn and backed off, sitting in a chair to wait. She walked away from it, looking back at times, but showed no interest in food.

Eventually a motorcycle roared down the street and this noise startled her enough that she headed into the woods. I snapped more shots of her, knowing I could photoshop the two of them together if I wanted, and waited for the girls to come home, still giddy and elated that a deer of all things had come to visit as I finished my sleigh, like a little gift.

Sadly, I didn’t see the doe anymore, but since the sleigh was outside, I dressed up the girls so we could do a sample shot. We don’t have any dogs, but I’m encouraging families who do to bring them to the outdoor special in October. It will be a hilarious family portrait, the kids in the sleigh, the dogs “pulling” it, and the parents behind as if to send the sleigh down the lane. I will be doing sample shots with this in the next week or two.

The schedule is up for you early birds, although I won’t send any information out officially until I have my sample shots. I have double the number of slots as last year, as I do plan to take out an advertisement. Feel free to go ahead and reserve a slot if you know you want to do an outdoor sitting (then forward it to your friends!) We will do a whole session of sleigh, family poses, and kid shots in the grass, trees, and landscape of the park.

Indoor holiday shoots will begin November 1. I’ll have that schedule up in a few weeks. Can you believe this will be my 10th Christmas? Some of you have been with me all ten years! Thank you!

View the October outdoor special.

Summer means fun outdoor pictures in casual clothes. No fancy dresses! No shiny shoes!

Just kids having a blast. Click for more information on the special.