Bri with the Boys

Kevin's (the groom) mom wanted a photo of her grandchildren with her son and his new wife Bri taken after the wedding to use on her holiday card this year. She talked about how she has been dreaming of it all year. I was feeling the pressure and I must admit that formals in a church are NOT my forte. But I was pretty happy with how this one turned out. And I love the expression on Bri's face because it is one I have seen a million times before and is just so her.

Saturday Morning with Harper

Saturday morning I had the privilege of shooting Austin photographer extraordinaire Leah Muse's latest creation, baby Harper. I LOVE this shot of Harper with her dad Taylor. Much more to come.

Happy Halloween

Freedom is Just Another Word

Took this one at CDC today. It pretty much sums up the joyful parts of being a kid to me.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Wow. Things are crazy these days. Busy as bees. There is something I like about being crazy busy. I like the constant motion of it. I don't like the dirty laundry that piles up or all the junk food I consume. I don't like being away from my children. This week I am actually with my children more than usual during the day because I am shooting all the kids at their preschool. They like having me around, but it is also hard on them--as seen in this photo below. I was leaving Sam's classroom to go take photos of the baby room. He wasn't happy at all. Don't think I am heartless for taking this photo. I want to remember all of him--the good times and the sad. I love it all--it is all about the journey and the process. The rest is nostalgia, which I like too.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Ever wonder what life is like at someone else's house? Well here is what it is like at ours after bath time is over and Sammy has turned on the radio so he can dance. I am showing all of our warts--dirty house, overflowing laundry basket, unmade bed, iphone as entertainment for kids, Ben's mosquito bite covered legs. Us in all of our glory.

J Man | Austin Family Photographer

A few weeks ago I spent a Saturday morning with little Joshua and his lovely parents.

The Magnificent Andersons | Austin Family Photographer

I had the privilege of photographing Melanie's family a few weeks ago. We had a great time. Even Kona the dog seemed to have fun.

Okay, Maybe Just One | Austin Wedding Photographer

I have not even uploaded ten percent of all the photos, but I glanced at this one and fell in love. Bri looked so beautiful.

Home Again

I made it back home from Chicago yesterday and I am so tired and so behind on my work and life duties. Oy! But I had a great trip. I loved Chicago, I loved the wedding (which you will hear so very much about soon) and I am so glad to be back home with my boys (although less than thrilled to be back with the laundry and dishes). And even though I have TONS to do, mommy guilt about being away encouraged me to attend Sam's class field trip to the pumpkin patch today (Ben's is tomorrow).

The Windy City

I have never been to Chicago, but I will be remedying that first thing tomorrow moring when I head to the windy city for the first time. I am going to photograph my friend Bri's wedding. So I will be out of the office until Tuesday the 20th. I know it sounds silly, but I can't wait to be cold.

First Shot | Austin Family Photographer

I usually take awhile to warm up in the morning at a family photoshoot, but the other morning I went to photograph this fabulous family and this one was my first exposure and I love it. This little man was quite the charmer and I will have many more of him and his beautiful parents very soon.

My Three Reasons

They are my reasons for everything: why I take pictures, why I get out of bed in the morning, for it all. I love you boys so very, very much.
Now more than ever and tomorrow more than today.

A Morning With The Browns | Austin Family Photographer

I met up with Mike and Gale and their two boys a couple of Saturdays ago at Zilker park to do a family photoshoot. We had a wonderful time and they were total sports. They didn't even blink when I asked them to walk in the water or do some crazy thing. You may recognize little Kai from our shoot a few weeks ago.

Who DOESN'T Like a Krispy Kreme?

Some mornings I take the boys through the Krispy Kreme drive thru just to see the sheer joy on their faces. Yes it is not the healthiest of breakfasts, but I only do it every once in a blue moon and always when I am taking them to daycare, so someone else can deal with them hopped up on sugar. Bad, bad mommy. Yesterday I just had Sam in the car, so he was the lucky devil. And what's more fun than giving them donuts? Yep--you guessed it--giving them donuts and then pointing the iphone camera at them.

The Newest Member

Mei is the newest animal addition to the Simon family and she is super cute. Not to worry--no animals were harmed in the making of these photographs (I realize that photo 2 appears to be evidence to the contrary). I have many more photos of the little doll, but am too sick to sit in front of this computer any longer. More to come.

The Three Musketeers

I know I have been a bit MIA. I have a TERRIBLE cold. This one has really buried me for some reason. So until I get back up and running here is a shot of my three boys with their newest toy, Josh's new iphone. They are obsessed. Boys and their technological devices--oy!

Future Groomer?

Sam came outside with me to clip the dog's nails the other day and then decided to try them out on himself.

Mom and Dad | Austin Portrait Photographer

I am still making my way through all the photos I took last weekend, but this one of Melanie and Mark really stood out.

Last Weekend

I have noticed that the more client work I do, the less I photograph my own family. This is disconcerting to me. I need to make a living of course, but more than anything I have always been drawn to photography as a means of documenting my own life. As an adoptee, what I wanted more than anything in the world was a photograph of my birth parents, as well as some of myself before I was adopted at four months. Maybe my boys have no interest in seeing themselves 20 years from now. Only time will tell. But I do know that when I look back on my life I want to be surrounded by family photo albums.I love the second shot of Sam (wish it was in focus, but oh well). Ben is watching 'Scooby Doo' in the third. He is striking the Liebster television watching pose--glassy eyes and mouth open.