I just got done telling her mom how babies between 6 months and 3 years NEVER wear hats. Mom thought that would be the case with baby girl as well. Turns out, we were so very wrong. We couldn’t get the hat *away* from her!

We had such a fine time this afternoon. I give you Exhibit B:

 (I apologize for the camera shake…I was laughing too hard to pay attention to technique by this point.) 

Tomorrow, it’s six years that we’ve known this amazing kid.

We took him on a trip this weekend–all by himself–to his favorite place.

Where he can be surrounded by butterflies, and explore, and observe, and identify. No interruptions.

He just learned to read Roman numerals and was so proud when he spotted them on our trip.

We learned that worker ants (and bees) are all female.

He didn’t stop grinning the whole time.

We spent an hour in the gift shop looking at crystals and butterflies.

Afterward, we took him out for sushi.

He ate octopus.

He thinks his missing tooth is going to grow back in by tomorrow.

I love him.

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.)

This was the second opportunity I got to spend time with this family. They are close to my heart because I can completely relate to mom’s love for her sons and deep connection with her new daughter.  And I love to see how baby girl’s brothers interact with her. Reminds me so much of my own family. But they are also close to my heart because when they are in front of the camera, they are just themselves. Natural, beautiful, and bonded as a family. Getting to capture intimate moments like these is what makes family photography so precious.

I love this moment caught where mom pleads with her son to relax a little and show us his beautiful grin. He negotiated with us and agreed to participate in the session only *if* I let him take a picture of his mommy. I can’t believe this, but I agreed and handed him my camera [photographers across the world groan in disdain]. And after I saw this shot from him, I quickly wondered if I had just put myself out of business. ;-)

A little "behind the scenes" for you while I’m working behind my computer.

[Several families have already taken advantage of this special offer down here. There's still time for you, too!]

I’m always so honored when I’m asked to photograph a family again. I love to see how everyone has grown and changed.  Plus, there’s none of that "getting to know you" stuff…you can just pick up where you left off.  But most of all, when the kids jump out of the car and run up to me and say, "Michele! Michele!" excitedly…wow. Now that will get ya. 

This is only a small peek for you guys, but the whole session was awesome! 

[And to the blogstalkers: if you haven't arranged a 2010 session yet, don't forget about the special offer this week.]

Thank you for pushing us to do this. It only took us a year to make it happen, ha! I hope this is close to what you were looking for. We had a wonderful evening with you guys!

[embrace the grain. embrace the grain.]

And although you can’t see it just yet in these pics, thanks so much to Modern Muse for the outstanding make-up (would totally recommend her!).  And now, the awesome pics from the other side!

This beautiful mommy-to-be (who is due to give birth any day now) will receive and 11×14 canvas of this image AND a $500 gift card for a 2010 Pinkle Toes Premium Session.  Congratulations, J! 

We also have two runners up, who will each receive $100 gift cards for a 2010 Premium Session:

and

Congratulations once more to winners and all of the nominees who ran a very close race.  Thanks so much to everyone who took time to vote and help make this tough decision. I can’t wait to see what kind of images 2010 turns out for us!

To help get YOU motivated to be the 2010 Pic of the Year winner, I have a VERY limited time special offer:

Book your Premium session by NEXT SATURDAY to be held in April or May 2010 and receive a complimentary leather accordion album featuring 14-4×6 images from the session! (Not valid with any other offer. While supplies last.) Contact me to set up your session now!

This little lady’s mama said she had been stalking the blog forEVER before she finally decided to take the plunge and have her own family photo session done. I’m glad she did. I’m pretty sure she is, too!

It was an honor to spend such a lovely Austin afternoon with this family and I can’t wait to see these puppies printed up in their "awethome" coffee table album soon!

Speaking of puppies, did you know that TODAY is the last day to VOTE FOR PINKLE’S PIC OF THE YEAR?????!!!!! 

Yeah. It’s true.

Winners will be announced tomorrow.

So let’s get your vote on:

Working on their session right now and it is rockin’ my world. I had to share this one real quick.