At long last, we are ready to start booking for our 2010 Xpressions Sessions! To see the dates and all the info, visit THIS PAGE (we’re doing some new things this year, including special discounts AND themes!).  These openings are very limited and will fill up quickly. Graduating high school students in Austin…now is the time to book your Xpressions session for senior portraits! Also, clients who have already booked a 2010 Premium Session or who had a Premium Session in Nov. or Dec. of last year qualify for special discounts and get first priority on our openings. 

I’ve been meaning to blog more images from our last round in Fall 2009, so I figured now would be a good time. So many incredible families and oh, we had the most perfect weather and light! I can’t wait until we start doing this again this year…especially with the fun new themes and seeing new places all over Austin. (As with all of our Xpressions sessions, these images have not been retouched.)

It was a beautiful (albeit chilly) evening in Austin, Texas when we got these families together for their photo session. The girls were amazing and I just loved their exuberance and how their love for one another shows. Most importantly, their patience totally made the session as their little cousin had entered a bout of severe separation anxiety the minute he arrived. But bless him and bless his parents, after hours of coaxing, we finally got him to warm up…a little bit. Doesn’t matter. He’s still cute as heck.

Loved the drama here!

[Quick link to choose YOUR fav for Pinkle's Pic of the Year 2009]

I wrote a book. Kinda. Actually, my first book was a few years ago, when my eldest was 3. I did an entire construction-themed session just for him and then (with the help of his daddy) turned those images into a storybook just for him. I really, really, really wanted to do the same for my Logi Bear, but I could never summon the inspiration or energy. But at last, he’s got his own book based on his favorite word, "Awethome!"  [Hmmmmm...I wonder if I should have spelled it in the book like it's pronounced ;-)]  Okay, so I maybe writing children’s books aren’t my forte, but I LOVE these images of him…probably my favorite ones I’ve taken of him ever because they’re SO *him*. And the graphic art by Elizabeth is amazing, no? Or should I say, "Awethome?" She and I are working on a very special project for PT4P to be released later this month.

M’kay…here’s the book: 

 [P.S. 800 votes and counting...choose your fav for Pinkle's Pic of the Year 2009!]

I feel as though I’ve known them forever. We’ve had many, many sessions together but each one has been so unique…so different. And now that baby number 3 is on the way, I just can’t wait to see what changes this will bring to their loving family dynamic.

Love.  As in, "I would have LOVED to have a pic like this of me and my sis growing up." As in, "I LOVED these colors." As in, "I LOVED this session!"

Deadlines. As in, we are going to be closed for the holidays starting December 16th, so if you have last minute orders for holiday gifts, it needs to be done by the end of the week.

Oh, and who bought out all of the winter coats and boots in this town??? I’m getting ready to go to D.C. and I’m going to freeze! I swear the whole "snow in Austin" thing was just huge marketing ploy.

The bad thing about blogging sessions is that it can be a little tedious to post images and in the end, there are so many that you don’t ever get to see.  I’ve been showcasing sessions here and there and I would like to try to do that more, starting with this newborn session. When I walked into their home, everything was crisp, clean, and modern. Mom happens to be a photographer herself and I know she must LOVE the absolutely perfect soft light that makes the whole living area glow beautifully. Of course, a perfectly snuggly, perfectly sleepy, and perfectly perfect little baby boy doesn’t hurt either.

And the full session: 

(Dying to see how your book turns out, J…you’ll have to send me some pics!)

P.S. Don’t forget about the FREE Bump Mini’s on Jan. 9th!

We held our last round of the Austin 2009 Xpressions Sessions today and all I can say is, "Wow!" I cannot even begin to tell you how beautiful all of these families were, how wonderfully charming the kiddos were, how kind and patient the parents were, and how absolutely outstanding my baby sis/assistant was. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who made these Xpressions sessions FANTASTIC!  As always, the images shown have only received basic edits to enhance contrast/color, but no full retouching.  I’ll show you an example of the difference at the end of the post.  Also, before I forget, if you’re pregnant in the Austin area and want maternity portraits and are due in February, March, or April of 2010, you can get a FREE mini maternity session (kind of like these Xpressions Sessions) in January. And, I *still* have a few spaces open for the Xpressions photo sessions in Washington, DC and Richmond, VA in December.  Meanwhile, to continue these awesome sneaks:

And to illustrate the difference between the digital negatives (the files that are sent on CD with the Xpressions sessions) vs. the files that are fully retouched (prints ordered through me or those that are available as part of a Premium Session):

Oh, I cannot wait to go through all of these images! Today was a great day all around. Thank you all again!  I’m so honored to get to do this for you.

Thought it was time to feature this oh-so-colorful session. These two were so easy-going and such a blast to work with.  I know that having a baby won’t phase them one bit.

And she’s that stunning in person.  Well, unfortunately, this was another one of those sessions where I had a tough time narrowing down the sneaks, so here it is in full:

And I have a confession: we were in Fort Worth, not Austin. LOTS more fall color there.

Actually, two confessions: the pool was heated.

We all went through a LOT to get these images (most of which involved security guards, sticker bushes, ill employees, and a slew of other mishaps), but we pulled it off. It is always such a joy and honor to get to photograph this family (they’re featured in my promo video) and I’m thrilled to meet baby #3 next year!

It’s now officially 2 a.m. and I’m glad it’s the end of this marathon posting session.  Please be kind and go back to view all 8 sneak peeks so I don’t feel so guilty tomorrow when the kids are wide awake, but I’m not. ;-)  ‘Til next Sunday…

I’m going to *try* to just narrow it down to a few favs for the blog. But I’m not promising anything. Aren’t they a BEAUTIFUL family? And such a joy to work with them.  The kids had great personalities and everyone was game for whatever I threw at them. Truly couldn’t have asked for a better session!

Okay. This is just too difficult. I can’t help myself. Here’s their session in full: