The W Family {Austin Newborn Photographer}

To say I enjoyed every minute of this session would be an understatement.  I was able to do this couple's anniversary portraits in early 2011, and then their maternity session in May (click here).  We wanted to get some "after" shots to go along with a few of the maternity shots we captured, so they scheduled a mini-session to get that done.

For true newborn photography, mini-sessions (30-minutes) are not a possibility, because in order to get those "sleepy baby shots," it is best to have a session done by the time baby is 2 weeks old.  And a true newborn session takes anywhere from 1.5-3 hours due to baby's schedule, need to feed, and the time it takes to get baby to sleep during poses.  By 2 weeks of age, the baby starts waking up a bit more compared to the 5-10 day olds who sleep a lot.

But - if you have a new baby and didn't get your session done in that 5-14 day old timeframe, you can absolutely still get wonderful images of your new addition while they are still tiny!

Here is an example of a baby that was 5 weeks old.  She was pretty alert, but I love the fact that her eyes are open and she's interacting a lot with her parents in these images.  What a little beauty!  If you can believe it, this was a 30-minute mini-session!  I had things lined up and ready, and we got priceless memories captured on camera for her mom and dad to enjoy always.

Sneak peek into our session...

Shots like the one below are totally "ah hah" moments for me in this business.  I adore them because they show the true tiny-ness of a newborn, and we all know that doesn't last long!  Our photographer got one of me and my sweet baby girl this spring, and I will always cherish it.
 

And this is what the sweet baby's mama sent to me after the session.

"Oh my! Sarah you are absolutely AMAZING! Our morning had been totally crazy before we arrived, but you made sure that our shoot was calm and FUN.

Plus, I was SUPER impressed with the variety of shots you accomplished in such a short time, and that my less than cooperative little one didn't phase you a bit.

Thank you SO much for capturing these precious family moments for us- I can't wait to display more of your beautiful work in our home. Again, thank you thank you THANK YOU!"

~Jessica  

Mama Mondays: Multi-Tasking is an Art

I have always been a multi-tasker.  If you ask my mom, she would probably tell you that I used to braid my hair while I brushed my teeth or something. 

And since becoming a mother in 2009, starting my business while working full time in 2010, and then becoming a mom of two this spring, my multi-tasking abilities have been put to use in ways I never even knew they could.

A few weeks ago, I enjoyed doing a maternity session with the beautiful Jessica and her adoring husband.  (Click here for their first photo shoot with me.)  We wanted to get the studio feel for portraits, but we also wanted to take advantage of the amazing wildflowers that were out.  (Does her hubby get brownie points for doing two sessions in one day or what?!)  So we did the studio session in the morning and followed up that evening with the wildflower location.  (And her husband said that it was even fun!)

Now, I am on working mama duty M-F from about 7am-7pm because my hard working hubby is at work.  So I told him, "Sweetie, on this night, I need you to meet us at this location (there was even a playscape for little Miles) to take over duties with the kids because I have a photo shoot."

It was such a beautiful night, and the multi-tasker in me thought, "I would love to get some pictures of Miles in the high chair I just refurbished and the wildflowers."  (The high chair was my Grandad's when he was a baby - over 90 years ago!)

So the kids and I arrived about 20 minutes early to do just that.  Picture this: Photographer lady carrying a tiny baby on her front in a carrier, a wooden high chair, a camera bag, and a prop bag walking about 50 yards with a two year old.  Fitness sure does come in handy!  Everything was going well (for the first 30-seconds) until it all of a sudden it wasn't.  My sweet boy didn't get to climb on the bike racks as he normally did, and he let me know about it.  (So picture this... now I'm still carrying all that stuff, trying to verbally convince my two year old to follow me so we can get some pictures of him. Uh huh. For real.)

So we're trekking through the grass (even having to pass by the playscape - try explaining THAT to a two year old!).  I get the high chair set up, put Miles in it, and then he gets attacked by gnats!  So now my poor sweet boy is itching and clawing at his face because the gnats are relentless, and his mommy on the other side of the camera is just praying for them to stop so he can be his usual smiley self.  Doesn't happen.  And I have learned just to let it go when it doesn't.  There will be another opportunity later.  (Thankfully, my daughter is fast asleep on my chest by this time in the baby carrier.)

It's now 7pm (the time my husband is to arrive to take over kid-duty).  Only he isn't there.  And I realized I forgot my cell phone at home.  Jessica and her husband arrive, so I call him on her phone.  He had totally forgotten about meeting us (and felt so badly about it), because he was dealing with an air conditioner being out at one of our tenants' apartments.  Uh!  So here I am with two kids (one of whom has had it and is ready to play) and a photo shoot about to start.

I knew my multi-tasking abilities were strong, so I had to put them to use.  As a photographer, when life gives you lemons, you make great photographs!  Thankfully, Jessica and her hubby and Miles go way back (they are huge Miles fans), and her hubby played with Miles at the play scape while I (wearing my 8 week old baby) headed into the wildflowers to get some great shots of Jessica.  And then we did couple shots.

Here are some of the beautiful shots we got.

And now... behind the scenes.  :) Never a dull moment with these two and my quest for balance being a work at home mom.  But do you know what?  I wouldn't have it any other way, because I absolutely adore these babies.  (I just don't take them on photo shoots with me.)  :)

And guess what?  I even got some sweet shots of Miles in the wildflowers afterwards, and the top picture below is a big canvas wrap in my livingroom and it is SO beautiful.  Makes my heart melt every time I walk by it.  So... you never know what you might get on camera... even when you're thrown lots of lemons!

Mama Mondays: Countdown to my Cowgirl

On one hand, I cannot believe I am just a matter  days away from meeting my sweet baby girl face to face.  On the other hand, I feel like I have been pregnant for two years.  Do you feel me, mamas?  


My first pregnancy was pretty easy-breezy.  I was able to exercise throughout my pregnancy.  (I ran the fitness/wellness program at the University of Texas, so had a paid lunch break and access to all kinds of fun gym equipment just outside my office door.)  I slept pretty well other than a few weeks here and there.  I was tired, but had the ability to sit down on the couch every now and then and kick my feet up.  And then came the second pregnancy.  :)  (Again, do you feel me, mamas?)  


This time around, I worked part time at UT without a paid lunch break, much more limited workouts, did photography 20+ hours a week at all hours of the day and night and weekends, and had a very cute 2 year old boy to keep up with.  The last time I have slept through the night was 2 weeks after I found out I was pregnant.  That was in August 2011.  Ouch.  When I tell people I am ready to have a baby so that I CAN sleep again, they give me a funny look, but it's true.  When I have her here, at least I can cuddle her and know we're on a path to sleeping again.  :)  I know she will be here before we know it, so I'm trying to savor every sweet moment of pregnancy, as it truly is a miracle and it could possibly be my last one.


My sweet friend, Jessica, was kind enough to come over to my house and studio set up spaces to snap pictures for me.  I prepared some detailed plans, set ups and samples, and she brought them to life through my camera.  So grateful to her, and so looking forward to doing her baby bump (she's having a girl too!) session in a few months. 

Here are some of my favorites... The countdown to our little cowgirl is on!!  (Click here for a cute story about the pink dress.)  

Mama Mondays: Remember These Times...

If there is one piece of advice I have heard over and over as a mother, it is to "Remember and cherish these times, because each stage goes by so quickly, and little ones are only little for such a short time."  And I have to say, that is so true.  I feel like (in some ways) just yesterday, I was sitting here with my baby boy in my belly.  And here he is... a big boy already!

I was reminded of that piece of advice on a little outing Miles and I recently had.  A "Mama moment" that I will never forget...

So last Friday was the day of my own maternity shoot.  (Thanks so much to my sweet friend Jessica for bringing my ideas and set ups to life!)  The countdown to baby girl is on!

A few hours before my maternity shoot, Miles and I made a quick trip to Target to see if I could find anything pink / girlie to wear.  You see, I grew up on a little farm in the Midwest with two older brothers, and would not say I was a "girlie-girl."  At all.  Pink was never in my wardrobe.  Dresses were a rarity (sorry mom!).  I was usually either in athletic clothes playing sports, or farm clothes caring for my animals.  But as I have grown up, I enjoy adding a little color into my wardrobe, and thought since I'm having a baby girl (and have definitely become a lot more girlie over the years), I thought a pink dress might be on my list.

I grabbed a few things off the rack and put them in my cart.  (Mamas - you know that shopping with a 2 year old means you literally GRAB them quickly like a drive-by grab off the rack!)  We headed into the dressing room, and I tried a few things on.  When I put the pink dress on, you would have thought I put on a glamourous wedding gown by Miles' reaction.  He literally stopped whatever he was busy with and had this look of "awe" (bless his little heart) on his face and said, "WHOA, Mama... That dress is beeeeeautiful!"  I said, "You like it?"  And still with his little "awe look" he goes, "Yaaa... I don't want you to take it off."  Then he put his arms out and said, "Can you hold me?  You look so pretty.  Can you buy that?"

His reaction, the look on his face, the sweetness in his voice, and the sincerity of what he said (which by the way was SO appreciated when I'm feeling big as a house with pregnancy) are things I will never forget.  Ever.

Although motherhood is certainly the most challenging job, it is also the most rewarding one.  "Remember and cherish these times, because each stage goes by so quickly, and little ones are only little for such a short time."

I wanted to make sure to get a picture of he and I (wearing "the pink dress") to help me remember that sweet, sweet day.  :) 

Surprise on My Doorstep

I have to tell you, this dream of photography... the art form that it is... the incredible people I get to work with... It is all a bit of a dream sometimes.  (Although days like today when I'm working most of a Sunday doing "on the business" stuff and year-end things and a huge stack of receipts brings me back to a reality... a great reality, but definitely a "you run your own business" reality.  If only there was one Sarah to run the business and one to shoot and edit.  :)  One day...)

The other day, I was heading out of the house for something, and on my doorstep sat a cardboard box.  I looked at it and saw it was the address of a friend and client from Iowa.  She was one of my roommates for a year in college at good ol' ISU, and I did portraits with her sweet little family during my Iowa mini-sessions last October.

I opened the box, and what did I find?  The following letter and AMAZING gift.  I was just floored with excitement and appreciation, and reminded about the daily rewards that photography has given and continues to give me.

And her timing couldn't have been better... the bag I had been using for my shoots that is similar just had a strap tear at my last session.  :)  Thanks, Jessica!  Many blessings to you and your family this year...

How to Get the Shot...

I love this shot that I got of Miles a few weeks ago, because it is "so him." 

He LOVES dirt, and he loves saying "I'm a dirty dog!" when he's dirty.  So every time I see this photo in the frame on my stairway, I just smile.  (And of course he says, "I'm a dirty dog!") 

My sweet friend, Jessica, who helped me do photos at the event we were at, just happened to snap a photo of me taking the picture.  I thought it was interesting, because it really shows what Miles' dad, mom, and papa were trying to do to get him to look and smile, as well as what a little editing can do to enhance a shot. 

BBQ4JD Event Pics {Austin Event Photographer}

I loved every minute of being at and photographing the BBQ4JD event last Friday, April 29th.  And I got to spend an hour and a half with BEVO himself... he is so cool! 

I have to say... the slogan on the back of the event t-shirts could not have said it any better... COMMUNITY CHANGES LIVES.  I am so blessed to be part of such an amazing community that comes together to support each other.  The Hartmans are incredible, and this event was a great tribute to them and to JD, and to how much people are supporting and praying for them.

A special thanks to my sweet assistant, Jessica, for helping to take great photos of the event!

Cool

A few weeks ago, I did a photo shoot with Jessica and Brian. (Click here.)

Jessica is Miles' daycare provider extraordinaire, and Brian helps out by making the kids laugh and playing them (amazing!!) music on his guitar when he is there. Some music he even writes himself!

(Ah... I remember the days when I had time to sit outside in the sunshine and write songs and play guitar. Now I'm limited to playing/singing "Itsy Bitsy" (spider) and "EIEIO" as Miles requests / calls them. But it's precious nonetheless, and when he cheers and says "YAY Mommy!", it absolutely melts my heart.)

It was so fitting that I captured some great pics of him playing guitar at our shoot. How cool is Brian (or "Bah" as Miles calls him)?!

The Watkins = Picture of Love {Austin Couple's Photographer}

If ever there was a couple that was the perfect "picture" of what love should look like, it is these two. What a fun, sweet, and loving couple they are!

I count it one of my biggest blessings in life to have met and to know them, as Jessica cares for my son while I am working and has just given him so much love, quality teaching, and encouragement in his little life. So has Brian, or "Bah!" as Miles likes to call him.

I had such a great time with these two during the shoot, and Brian could not believe how fun it actually turned out to be. (I hear he is normally not a huge fan of photo shoots.)

And a bonus was that I even got serenaded by Brian while he played the guitar in some of the shots! Too cool.

More shots from this session are on my "Miles of Smiles Photography by Sarah" Facebook page.