Stephanie Friedman, Author at Stephanie Friedman

Circle C Trails – Family Photo Session

by admin | Feb 15, 2024 | family, photography

Hiking around, climbing trees and stick fights

When it’s time to choose a location for your Family Photo Session, one of the questions I ask is: “What part of town do you live in?”

And because of all their recent long distance travel for kids’ sports and other extracurricular activities filling their weekends, this family wanted a spot close to home.

Knowing they wanted a nature setting and lived in Circle C, it was an easy choice on where to go. We met out at Circle C Metropolitan Park and explored the trails and creek area for their Family pictures.

And since it is a park after all, besides posing, there was tree climbing, kicking of soccer balls and stick battles.

Tips for Family Photo Sessions at Circle C Park

PARKING: I like to park in the first tiny lot you come to when you enter (though if it fills up, you can continue on and park near the sports fields – which is also where the park restrooms are)
TRAILS: From the parking lot, you can go left or right on the trails. Both directions have scenic backdrops. There’s also a small wooded area down by Slaughter Creek that runs through the Park.
BLUEBONNETS: This park is known for having lovely patches of bluebonnets in late March/early April.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR: You might have to dodge some dog poop, cactus and sticky burrs when going off the trail

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Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own Family photo session in Austin, Texas.

What prompted you to have this photo session? With a busy family life, it can be difficult to make the time to take family pictures, but they are so important. We haven’t taken family pics in years.

What do you plan to do with your digital photos? I plan to print off the pictures and hang them on the wall!

How did you choose your location for your session? I chose the location because it’s a park that we visit on a weekly basis. And there is nothing more beautiful than nature.

What advice would you give to others planning a similar Family photo session? Be spontaneous and be prepared for anything! Let your kids be creative and think about what types of pics / poses they want to do!

Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography? Stephanie has immense patience and knows how to go with the flow!

Interested in Booking a Photo Session?

Contact Me

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More From This Category

Pease Park – Family Photo Session

Nov 8, 2024

Live Oak Meadow to Kingsbury Commons in Pease Park | Family Photo Session Last year, I met this family on South Congress for their photo session. For this year's fall photo session, this mom and her daughters chose Pease Park as their location. Knowing Luminarium (the...

Extended Family Photos – A Light Collab Studio

by admin | Feb 14, 2024 | extended family, photography

Celebrating Extended Family, an 80th birthday and a 50th wedding anniversary

If you’re planning an Extended Family session during a Texas Winter, it’s good to consider indoor locations. Then you don’t have to worry about cold, wind, or bad midday lighting.

After learning that most of this family lived in North Austin (and some family members were traveling in from other cities up North), I suggested the A Light Collab studio in Pflugerville as our location.

With various couches and neutral backgrounds to choose from, we were able to get lots of different combinations of family members.

Tips for Extended Family Photo Sessions at A Light Collab studio:

COMFORT: This indoor studio has plenty of seating, so if you’re rotating family members in and out of shots, the people “off-set” have comfortable places to sit and chat together, either downstairs or upstairs.
LIGHTING: You can rent continuous lighting with your studio fee. This gave me soft, even lighting that covered all nine family members.
DISTANCE: If your clients are based in North Austin, this studio is convenient to travel to with plenty of easy parking out front.
POSING: My top tip for posing large groups is to try and create triangles with positions so your eye moves around the frame. Also – to make sure there are points of connection between each family member.

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Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own family photo session in or around Austin, Texas.

What prompted you to have this photo session? We wanted to have family photos now. The occasions that really pushed us to do this is my mother’s 80^th birthday, plus my parents’ 50^th wedding anniversary!
What do you plan to do with your digital photos? I am going to have 8×10’s printed of the whole family, plus some 8×10’s of just my husband, me, and our kids, and I’ll see what other pictures I’d like to print. (probably some of the ones of my kids together) Additionally, I’m going to use some kind of online photo service to make a big collage (like 2’x3′) to print on canvas to hang in our living room. We might also use them for our Christmas card for 2024.
How did you choose your location for your session? We chose inside (Stephanie chose the place for indoors) because the weather is so unpredictable at this time of year.
What advice would you give to others planning a similar Extended Family photo session? Try to choose 5 colors that everyone wears some combination of. I tried to have us all wear brown/tan/khaki/cream/blue.
Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography? We were in a rush to get this done, because my brother and his family were in town only on this weekend. Stephanie was so flexible with the scheduling, and so quick to get back to me. She’s very easy to work with. She was also friendly, warm, and professional.

Interested in Booking a Photo Session?

Contact Me

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Seaholm District – Family Photo Session

by admin | Feb 13, 2024 | family, photography

Power Plant photos, Power Picket posing, and Butterfly Bridge walking

This Family choose the Seaholm District in downtown Austin for their Winter Photo Session. You may recognize the oldest daughter from her recent Senior Photo Session.

I always like to meet outside of Trader Joes so we can start with the Power Plant building and then work our way over to the Power Picket colorful concrete pillars (made (by artists Nader Tehrani and Dan Gallagher of the art/architecture studio NADAAA).

Then we cross over the Butterfly Bridge, swing around to the ivy wall and end up back at Trader Joes for some shopping/parking validation. That’s my favorite photo route to take.

Tips for Family Photo Sessions in the Seaholm District

PARKING: Garage parking is available at the Central Library or Trader Joes nearby (you can also use the restrooms at the library if they’re open)
LOCATIONS: There’s a great variety of urban and nature backgrounds in a few block radius. Make sure you take advantage of all the different backdrops available.
TRAFFIC: This area is very popular, so expect other photo shoots to be happening at the same time and take your turn in front of popular spots. You will also have literal car traffic going across the Butterfly Bridge, so be careful when photographing there.

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Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own Family photo session in Austin, Texas.

What prompted you to have this photo session? We have not done a family photo for YEARS, and wanted to have a current one.

What do you plan to do with your digital photos? We will get some photos printed for our family, and we may use some for a holiday card. We will probably post on social media. It’s just awesome to have so many digital photos to choose from at the end of a session!

How did you choose your location for your session? We love the Seaholm district and the downtown vibe!

What advice would you give to others planning a similar photo session? Don’t stress about family outfit coordination. Follow Stephanie’s advice and have everyone choose what they want to wear so that everyone is happy.

Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography? Stephanie is so amazing! She’s very professional, yet very fun to work with. She makes everyone feel like a model! I love that she’s so quick in getting the gallery ready, yet all the photos are edited and gorgeous.

Interested in Booking a Photo Session?

Contact Me

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Highland District – Senior Photo Session

by admin | Feb 3, 2024 | photography, seniors

Highland Collective sculpture, St. John Encampment Commons at ACC and a sister add-on session

This Class of 2024 McCallum Senior met me at the Highland Collective for the start of her Senior Photo Session.

After getting lots of photos around the Little Picchu sculpture and the garage door murals, we headed to the St. John Encampment Commons on ACC’s Highland campus next.

We made sure to take photos that captured her Senior experience working on the high school newspaper staff. (Big thanks to her mom for creating the newspaper montage we used in the background).

Then her younger sister joined us for an add-on family mini-session. You can select to add-on one or multiple family members to the end of a regular Senior Photo Session when you book.

Tips for Senior Photo Sessions in the Highland District

WORKING HOURS: The Highland Collective is open 10am-5pm weekdays. For easier parking, visit this spot on the weekends. And make sure to pick a sunny day to get the light shining through the sculpture.
SCHOOL HOURS: Same idea for the St. John Encampment, visit the park area when school at ACC Highland is NOT in session to avoid crowds and get easier parking.
DISTANCE: The two spots are about a three minute drive apart – so easy to combine in one photo session.

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Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own Senior photo session in Austin, Texas.

What do you plan to do with your digital photos?

We weren’t super happy with the kids’ school pics this year. The school is using a new photo studio and I found their images a little too contrasty. Plus they do some unsolicited photo retouching — the pics just don’t look like our kids. For their senior pics, the pricing is expensive and the images are the standard canned poses. And for underclass pics, they just have far too many kids in such a small amount of time, that they don’t really have the time to get a natural expression out of Franny. So I was relieved to have this opportunity.

Since we didn’t get school pics this year, we plan to make print outs of the digital images for our family — Gavin’s parents, my sister, my dad’s wife. I also may use one of the images on Alice’s graduation announcement. And Alice is working on a journalism portfolio, so she may use one of her images for that.

What advice would you give to others planning a similar photo session?

Be prepared to walk around and move. Stephanie will likely not just stick to one location, but will instead try a variety to get the best images. You might want to bring things — props, clothing, etc — to help personalize the experience to who you are. Stephanie has a lot of really wonderful creative ideas for locations and poses, but she’s very flexible and collaborative. You should feel comfortable sharing any of your own ideas if you have them — even if it’s just a concept. She will try to work with you to figure something out that looks like you’re imagining.

Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography?

Stephanie is easy to talk to and works well with teens/young adults. She gives specific directions for posing and if needed, models the pose herself to better help them understand. She’s very positive throughout the process. She knows that kids like to see the pics as they are happening and she takes the time to share some of the images to keep them engaged and involved with the process. She’s also totally organized and mindful of time — something that the parent of two busy kids appreciates!

Interested in a Senior Photo Session?

Contact Me

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High Schooler’s Guide to Senior Photo Sessions

by admin | Jan 29, 2024 | advice / tips, photography, seniors

Have questions before booking a Senior Photo Session?

I’m here to guide you through the process and prepare you for your portrait session.

See below for answers to some commonly asked questions about Senior Photo Sessions with Stephanie Friedman Photography.

Timing and Planning:
- When is the best time to schedule a senior photo session? I have a whole BLOG POST about this topic – but it boils down to – do you have a photo deadline to meet? When is your school schedule less busy? Do you have a preference for one season over the other?
- How much time should seniors allocate for the photo shoot? My starting package is for a one hour session, but you can add on additional time in 30 minute increments.
- Are there any specific deadlines they should be aware of? I usually book out a month or two in advance, and I need two to three weeks to edit your image gallery. Keep both of those factors in mind when deciding your session date.
Location and Style:
- Can seniors choose the location for their photo session? Yes – we can work together to find the best location. I have a TOP 15 BLOG POST that lists my favorite locations for Senior Photos in Austin. If you’d like even more options, I also have a TOP 80+ BLOG POST that lists even more settings in Austin for photo shoots.
- What style options are available, and how can they express their personality in the photos? The main style options are nature, urban or a mix of both. You should check PINTEREST for outfit inspiration.
Wardrobe and Styling:
- What should seniors wear to their photo session? You can bring up to three outfit changes. Bring your favorite clothes that you feel confident and happy in. Mix up the clothing from dressy to casual. You can also bring your cap & gown or future College Gear if you book a Spring session.
- How can they ensure their clothing complements the chosen location and style? Pick your location first, then decide what to wear so they complement each other.
Posing and Comfort:
- How can seniors prepare for posing during the session? I’ll give you lots of tips and prompts during your session, so there’s no need to prepare. But if you do want to, you can practice making some different expressions in the mirror and making sure you can move comfortably in the outfits you picked out.
- Are there any tips for feeling comfortable and natural in front of the camera? It’s my job to help you feel comfortable and natural in front of the camera – so I’ll give you feedback and instructions while we work together. I’ll also show you some of the photos I’ve taken during your session.
- Can they request specific poses or express preferences? Yes – I love to collaborate on ideas and poses during as session.
Bringing Props and Personalization:
- Can seniors bring props or items that are meaningful to them? 100% – I encourage Seniors to bring props that are meaningful to their High School experience.
- Are there any creative ideas for adding personality to the session? Yes – we’ll talk before your session to discuss ideas that will highlight your personality during the shoot.
Photographer Collaboration:
- What questions will the Photographer ask the Senior during the planning stage? I’ll ask about their current extracurricular activities and post-school plans. Then we can incorporate those answers into shaping their session.
- What questions should seniors ask the photographer during the planning stage? They can ask any of the questions on this page.
Editing and Final Output:
- What level of editing and retouching can seniors expect? I do light retouching and editing (removing stray hairs, stains on clothes, scrapes on skin and acne).
- How and when will they receive the finalized photos? They’ll receive the final hi-res photos in a password-protected online gallery two to three weeks after their session date.
Cost and Packages:
- What is the typical cost of a senior photo session? You can see my current rate and package info HERE.
- Are there any additional fees or costs to consider? You can pay extra for additional time at your session or to add on a mini-family session at the end of your shoot. You’ll also pay for any print or print products you’d like to order from your online gallery. Some locations also charge a fee to use their property.
Weather and Contingency Plans:
- What happens if the weather is unfavorable on the scheduled day? I’ll have frequent weather check-ins the week of your session if it looks like we might need to reschedule. We can then either pick another day and time or talk about moving the session indoors (which may mean a location fee).
- How can seniors prepare for different weather conditions? Have a backup date in mind in case we need to reschedule for bad weather or sickness.
Booking Process and Contracts:
- What steps are involved in booking a senior photo session? The booking process includes picking a date and time on my calendar, signing a Client Agreement and Paying a retainer fee.
- Should seniors expect to sign a contract, and what does it typically include? No – the Parent or Guardian will sign the contract, but the Senior should read and review it with them. The contract includes the scope of work, deliverables and expectations before, during and after the shoot.