Blog - Stephanie Friedman

Tau Ceti Mural and Downtown Rooftop views – Family Session

by admin | Nov 21, 2023 | family, photography

Tallest mural in Austin, skyline views and blue walls

The last time this family was in front of my camera was in the Seaholm District for a holiday photo session.

This year, the mom picked a different downtown location, the tallest mural in Austin, Tau Ceti, and the next door garage’s rooftop.

The Austin Convention Center parking garage rooftop has great downtown skyline views as well as some colorful blue corners.

Tips for Photo Sessions at the Tau Ceti Mural and Rooftop next door

Lots of folks will be taking photos in front of the Tau Ceti mural – be ready to wait your turn (and then go quickly if other people are waiting)
For the mural – shoot wide and get back to ensure more colors are viewable in your image
Then go to the Convention Center garage next door and take the elevator up to the roof
There may be other photo sessions up there – but it’s a large space with a variety of backgrounds (the buildings look best at sunset)
Encourage your clients to go eat nearby at the Fareground Food Hall after their 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 photo session.

1. What prompted you to have this photo session? We do family sessions every year. For the last 4 years we have hired Stephanie, and she makes it so easy – scheduling, picking a location, sending me parking directions, it’s all so seamless . She even makes my (sometimes high strung) family feel relaxed.

2. How did you choose your location for your session? Always look to Stephanie for advice on locations. Some years we want nature settings, some years we want something more urban, but this year I could not pass up the Tau Ceti Mural. The vibrant colors are what hooked me.

3. What advice would you give to others planning a similar photo session? I like to pick a location, and then my outfit, and then the rest of the families. I aim to be coordinated, but not too matchy.

4. Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography? If you don’t already, follow her instagram! Not only does she post fun things to do around Austin, you can get a behind the scenes peek at what it takes to make photo sessions work, from location hunting, constantly monitoring the crazy Texas weather, and all the editing that makes the pictures look perfect.

Interested in a photo session?

Contact Me

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Domain Northside – Family Photo Session

by admin | Nov 20, 2023 | family, photography

Colorful murals, rainbow tiles and ice cream rewards

The last time I saw this family was at Pease Park for a winter photo session.

This year, the mom picked a more urban location, the storefronts on Rock Rose Avenue in the Domain Northside Mall. We found some quiet corners among all the shoppers and happy hour crowds.

And conveniently we ended up opposite an ice cream store to wrap up the family photo session.

Tips for Photo Sessions at the Domain Northside

Permission is required to have a photo session there – so reach out to the Marketing contact at least a few weeks before your planned session date
It can get crowded with shoppers at peak times (weekends) – so pick off times if possible
Park at the Blue Garage
New art pops up throughout the year – so scout ahead of time in case there’s a new sculpture or mural on the street
End your session at the candy store or ice cream shop!

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

1. What prompted you to have this photo session? I wanted to capture our family at this moment in time. I love looking back and seeing how much we have all changed in the past year.

2. How did you choose your location for your session? Last year we did family photos in a park so wanted to do a more urban setting this year

3. What advice would you give to others planning a similar photo session? Give your kids a hearty snack before the photo session and pick outfits that you feel natural in.

4. Anything else you’d like to add? Stephanie does a great job of keeping the kids involved and letting them feel like they are in charge. She incorporated their ideas along with more traditional poses. It was perfect to keep them engaged and having fun.

Interested in a photo session?

Contact Me

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Commons Ford Ranch – Family Photo Session

by admin | Nov 14, 2023 | family, photography

Rustic barn, grassy fields and walking trails in Southwest Austin

The last time I saw this family was among the bluebonnets at Northwest Park this past Spring.

This year, we picked a place that was new to them but closer to their house, Commons Ford Ranch. We started at the old barn on the property and then made our way around the nearby fences and fields.

There were lots of other photo shoots happening around us – from Senior Photo Sessions to a 2 year old’s birthday to other family photo sessions. Having to dodge other photo shoots led me to spots in the park I’d never shot in before – like this great tree for climbing.

Tips for Shooting at Commons Ford Ranch

It can get crowded with other photo sessions at peak times (weekend evenings) – so pick off times if possible
It’s about a 10 minute walk from the parking lot to the Lakefront area – make sure your clients are aware of that before you start walking uphill
The Lakefront area can be a popular party area – keep an eye out for stray beer cans in your frame
Lots of wildlife call this park their home. Keep an eye out for snakes in the tall grass or just stick to the walking trails
If you are going to be in the tall grass, have your clients wear boots
Springtime wildflowers can be spectacular – peak blooms are usually in April and May
Enjoy the beautiful and peaceful scenery just 25 minutes away from downtown Austin

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

1. What prompted you to have this photo session? We have been taking fall and spring family photos with Stephanie for several years to capture our children growing and changing. We love and treasure these family photos and are always impressed with Stephanie’s talent.

2. How did you choose your location for your session? Commons Ford Ranch was suggested by Stephanie and was a beautiful spot with lots of natural scenery and soft early evening lighting. Our only regret was not bringing our dog Daisy to join the photo session since this was a very dog-friendly location.

3. What advice would you give to others planning a similar photo session? Do not forget the chapstick for the kids, so you don’t have dry lips in the photos.

4. Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography? My kids typically arrive a bit grumpy because I’ve forced them to wear dress-up clothes. Someone is itchy or not happy with their hair. But somehow Stephanie turns my complaining kids into art directors.

She lets them suggest sites and poses, so they feel like a part of the process. They also leave happy and excited to see the pictures. This year they climbed a tree and posed with their best smiles. I know Stephanie captured amazing shots of them. Plus, she always gets them to hold hands or put their arms around each other. It really is a bonding experience.

Interested in a photo session?

Contact Me

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Butler Park – Family Photo Session

by admin | Nov 13, 2023 | family, photography

Austin Skylines and enjoying nature at Butler Park

In the past, this family has chosen South Congress for Fall holiday photos and Northwest Park for Spring wildflower photos.

This year, they wanted to go back to the spot where they had maternity photos taken (before we did sessions together). We looked for the beautiful weeping willow that had been there 10 years before to recreate that shot, but sadly, one of the winter storms meant it was no longer there.

Instead we found lots of other greenery to pose in. I loved this massive patch of ivy growing all around part of Butler Park.

Also happening at the Park that day:

Food & Wine Festival at the Long Center
Garage & Estate Sale at the Palmer Events Center
People playing sand volleyball
Cheerleaders practicing their lifts
Kids on the playground
Picnic-ers on the lawn
As well as at least three other family photo shoots and one quincenera photo session

Despite the crowds, we still found lots of great spots for images. And if I did have to photoshop out a person or two in the background, that was fine.

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

1. What prompted you to have this photo session? We like to have family photos taken every couple years to see how we’re all changing and to have someone nice photos of those times in our lives.

2. How did you choose your location for your session? We looked at past locations and tried to think about what kind of feel we wanted for this session.

3. What advice would you give to others planning a similar photo session? Plan complimentary outfits that everyone feels comfortable in. Have some ideas of photos you’d like to have but be open to different ideas from the photographer or what may present itself during the session. Be comfortable and relaxed.

4. Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography? Stephanie is always great to work with.

Interested in a photo session?

Contact Me

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At home – Family Photo Session

by admin | Nov 8, 2023 | family, photography

“The sun at home warms better than the sun elsewhere.” – Albanian Proverb

This Austin family recently built a new house (which helps when one of the parents is an Architect) and wanted to use it as the location for their holiday photo session.

There were no shortages of great backdrops in the front, back and side of this stunning home. (We just had to quickly take down all the Halloween decorations first – side effect of getting your family photos taken the day after a night of trick or treating).