Victoria | A Portrait Session

It was a warm, sunny day; one of the last days of 2011. We were downtown thrift store shopping with friends and decided to squeeze in a mini-session. Victoria’s one of those people who makes you laugh everyday. She lives life fearlessly & dreams big. She co-runs a fashion blog & is rawwwther wonderful at it. She can pull of anything. While she was here, she decided to try this idea from Pinterest. Bravely, she let me (who has never, ever dyed hair before) apply the colors. It turns out, I’m practically a superstar at dying hair…ya’ know.  ;)

Vic, I hope you love these photos. It was so enjoyable to photograph a fellow artist. Enjoy!

 

 

 

The Armstrong Family | A Midland Portrait Session

I love this family. I met Kathy through Midland Community Theater as we were both in the Christmas Musical “The Sound of Music”. Kathy is hilarious, she keeps everyone at the theater laughing. She & I became friends shortly after rehearsals started and shared a lot of jokes & lemondrops & deep conversations after that. Thus, it was really happy when I got to meet her family and take their 2011 portraits. I wanted to kick off the New Year with posting this shoot; I have LOVED editing it, almost as much as I loved the session itself. Her children are adorable. Such a handsome family. Honestly grateful to know them.

 

The Simmons | A Family Session

For the past few years, Geoff & Rita have let me have the privilege of shooting their family portraits. They’ve been awesome from the beginning. When I was a baby photographer, still trying to figure out my camera, they went to the park with me, let me pretend I knew what I was doing and take their photos. Since then we’ve always tried to squeeze in a holiday sesh every year. Last year, I didn’t get to be out here for Thanksgiving and I missed our annual family picture tradition. So we definitely made up for it when I came to live out here for a few months. Last Sunday, we braved the cold and did a little mini-session of their gorgeous family.

I love these people. Geoff & Rita, well, Geoff & Rita have always just been fabulous. They are always so inviting and encouraging. They’re the sort of people you want to be around, the ones that make you feel loved and special. And their children? Can we just say beAutiful?! Emma & Sally are such fun, and I’ve loved the cousin bonding time we’ve gotten to have since I’ve been out here. Between getting our nails done, shopping & talking Taylor Swift, we make pretty good friends. Ben is an amazing dude, such a little man! He likes doing BOY things, including super heros and sports. He’s quite the little soccer player! He was so fabulous for the pictures. Smiling, standing still, goodness! This kid is amazing!

Simmons, I am so glad to call you family. Thanks for always being so wonderful to me. I hope you love your photos!

P.s. – Had to share this treasure! This is from our late night shopping trip to the Mall with Brooke a couple weeks ago. :)

Brooke & Tyler

I love family. I love uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, all of it. And Brooke & Tyler are my cousins. It was so fabulous when came for a short visit out here in Midland. We most definitely took time to go shoot some photos at one of my favorite parks. I love both of these people muchly. From Tyler & I’s Wii competitions to Brooke & I’s shopping trips, we tend to have fun.

Tyler’s 10 and so sweet. He’s constantly giving me hugs, saying hi and asking if I want to jump on the trampoline (he taught me how to do a flip!)

Brooke’s 13 and fabulous. She’s absolutely beautiful, inside & out. We both like music, and we’re both tall. We get along just grand. 

Love you both!

 

I love family.

The Englestads | A Family Session

I met Caroline the evening I auditioned for the Sound of Music. When I got the cast list I was excited to see that both she and I would be on Team Nun. With her charming British accent & laughing smile we quickly hit it off. That & trying to learn latin harmonies together; that always seems to make friends. So when Caroline FB messaged me and asked if I could take their family portraits, I was thrilled.

I loved working with Caroline, Carl, Hope, Noah & Jake. We met at a small yet gorgeous park not too far from downtown Midland. We laughed a lot and enjoyed the setting sun while catching pictures of the kids & fam.

Englestads, I hope you love these pictures as much as I loved taking them. :)

 

Thanks for being so fabulous, you guys!

And to the rest of everyone, come by and see Caroline singing Latin in our habits! Team Nun! ;)

The McCormacks | A Family Session

The McCormacks were fabulous to work with, I’m not just saying that. From the moment the kids tumbled out of the car to when we said our goodbyes, it was full of laughter and fun. These kids know how to be kids. I love that.

Joy contacted me via email asking if I would be interested in doing their family photos while I was Midland. She’d heard my name from their neighbor, my Aunt. I said yes, absolutely! And we quickly decided that an early Sunday morning pre-church photo session would be best. The McCormacks went with my mini-session package. Just long enough for the littles to keep their smiles on, but still produce loads of good family photos for all the upcoming Christmas cards.

I’m a fan of this family.

Um. How can you resist that? Absolutely adorable.

McCormacks, I hope you love these photos. It was such a delight to meet your family & take your photos.

Project: Midland

Since I’ve been in Midland I’ve been busy learning latin harmonies, marveling at the short distances to everywhere, staying up too late, making friends I’ll be sad to leave, looking forward to my birthday, checking the drive-in movie schedule, and enjoying family & the World Series, (go Rangers!)…

These are just some snapshots of the town I’m privileged to call home for this Fall. Places I liked the look of, or that play a role in my little world. Hope you enjoy.

 

The 7-Eleven! I grew up getting slurpees here, yummm.

The theatre I’m so honored & thrilled to work with…

My little art studio of sorts. Loveeee.

 

 

 

I get to swim here!!!

…for them.

I have some friends that are living a story worth the telling. Who are spending themselves for the sake of others they’ve never met. For the sake of others that nobody may ever meet. And for the future generation that is slowly dying away. I wanted to share a letter from my friends Avery & Angela.

—-

A few months ago we attended a worldview conference and after hearing multiple pro-life speakers we felt extremely convicted to try and make a difference in the way people view abortion and the people it affects. We’re doing this by spreading the truth of what really happens behind closed doors and how much it affects the life of the mother, child, and everyone around them. We are planning on going to multiple universities, churches, and organizations with a table set up with a display of life-like, realistically molded babies from week 7 up until they are born. We’re also going to be talking about the truth that lies behind abortion, how it is performed, and how the baby develops over the gestation period of nine months. Along with this display table we’re also selling bracelets (below is a picture of them) with the phrase ‘I Choose Life’ on them for $2 a piece and giving all the proceeds to help purchase a sonogram machine and other materials for the local crisis pregnancy center Austin LifeCare (www.austinpregnancy.org). By selling these bracelets we are hoping to spread the awareness of this growing tragedy all over the world and educate those who aren’t entirely sure what abortion entails or those who have been told lies. We will be blogging our process as we go along, and also posting different testimonies from people who have had or come to close to having an abortion and posting testimonies from those who have been personally affected by abortion in other ways too. We can’t do this all on our own though. We need you’re help to spread the word, raise money, and help saves lives. So follow our blog our blog, tell everyone you know about us, and help spread awareness by purchasing a bracelet. 

For a deeper description of what we’re doing, or to find out how to buy a bracelet,  please go to: http://ichooselife4them.blogspot.com/

Thank you, 

Avery Martin & Angela Bohm

—-

Consider stopping by their site and buying a bracelet (or hey! two, or twenty) . You won’t regret it. Be a part of something good; choose to live a story worth the telling.

 

Choose life…for the ones who have no voice. For them.

The Clay Family | A Story Worth Telling

It’s called Cockayne Syndrome. You probably haven’t heard of it. Most people haven’t, because only a handful of people have it. And even less people have Type 2. Knox is one of about a dozen people in the United States with type 2 Cockayne Syndrome; one of only two people in all of Texas.

But, Knox is by no means alone. Baby Knox was born into the sort of family whom everyone wishes they could have. They love and care for him, and truly enjoy being his family. Last Saturday, I got the privilege to go photograph them. As I stood behind my camera I found myself so, so grateful to be able to have an inside look into their deep family dynamics. For a few minutes I was able to watch how much they love each other, care for one another and enjoy each other’s company. There was a lot of laughter.

Cockayne Syndrome isn’t the sort of disorder you deal with an move on, it’s the sort of disorder that deeply alters your entire life. It’s the kind that changes the way you live. But for a little while there in the evening sunlight, it was simply about them being a family. And what a family…they are a team. The kind of team that will win the championship because they all work together & watch out for each other. They held Knox close, smiling into his eyes. Jack made goofy faces and wonderful smiles. Rose laughed her cute little laugh often, and Maddie helped get all the kiddos rounded up while managing to look so lovely herself. Scarlett & Brandon just beamed with all their little family near. Like I said, it was a honor to be a part of this.

Scarlett is a photographer & artist herself. So she decided to put her interests to good use. She opened an Etsy shop to raise funds for research for Cockayne Syndrome. I already ordered my first item from her shop, I think you should too. I’ve seen her art before, you won’t be disappointed.

The Clays are living a story worth the telling. I am honored to have the chance to tell it.

I’m so grateful to know you guys, Clays. I mean that with my whole heart.

Rachel & Michael | An Austin Wedding

They don’t remember when they first met, but Michael will never forget that moment he decided to “add as friend” on Facebook that girl he’d seen a few times. They started talking. Slowly becoming better acquainted. Then one day, they played the piano together. That’s when they knew….

Rachel & Michael both love music. And their wedding day reflected that, from the choir that sang Rachel down the aisle, to the song Michael sang to her during the ceremony. Their passion for being musicians for the glory of God & ministering to others in this way just shines.

Rachel was an amazing bride. Her excitement just illuminated her face, but she kept everything really chill. Michael was all laughs, jitters and smiles. Every time I’d point the camera his way, his face would light up with an ecstatic face.

The wedding was held at Hyde Park Baptist Church, on the outskirts of downtown Austin. The large sanctuary was filled with friends and family coming to celebrate with Rachel & Michael.    

While the girls finished getting ready upstairs, I met the guys downstairs for some photos.

SO excited.

After we finished with the guys we brought the girls to the same spot for some photos. [above photo credit to my second shooter, Justin Louis]

I started telling Rachel how excited and happy Michael was during his photos and she bust out laughing. She knew just what I was talking about. I love how happy these two are together.

These two were ADORABLE. Oh goodness me-oh-my.

The above photo is from my third shooter, Shelley Dormont. She captured the wedding from the balcony, and got such beautiful shots. She also captured the next one of Michael singing to Rachel during the ceremony. Beautiful.

This one is Justin’s shot. I felt so privileged to work with such an amazing team of photographers. They made the day so smooth & took such fabulous photos. My word of advice? Never, ever shoot a wedding alone.

After the happy, meaningful ceremony, we all headed downstairs to a quick reception with family and friends.

Michael MADE this cake himself. [photo by Shelley]

The following shot is Justin’s. Loved the lighting and emotions he captured.

[photo credit: Justin Louis]

After they said goodbye to their guests, Justin and I met them at the Capitol of Texas for a quick photo session.

[^ photo credit: Justin Louis]

We started out on the grounds outside the Capitol. It was so fun to watch strangers come up and congratulate Michael and Rachel. Everyone was so happy for them.

Loved this above shot by Justin.

We didn’t stay outside long; this is Texas Summer after all. So to beat the 1oo+ degree weather, we went inside.