You may recognize some of these spots on Rock Rose Ave. at the Domain from my location scouting blog post.
I also want to show that these backgrounds work just as well for a family photo session. Especially a fun-loving, laid-back family like these three 🙂
We played by the plants…
… and checked out the Wonder Bar’s seasonal window display…
… as well as enjoyed their rainbow tile work.
And even though it was crowded on a Saturday night, we still found spaces to claim as our own.
Plus if you wear a sweater for your family photos when it’s over 90 degrees, there might be one last stop you make before you go home.
Please enjoy this sneak peek from their family photo session. You can see the rest of the images at their (password protected) gallery HERE.
1. How do you know Stephanie Friedman Photography?
We know Stephanie through our son, who attended Montessori school with her boys. My son was three the first year she did a photo session with us, and it was a huge help that she had children the same age and understood the unpredictability of toddlers, and now of 8/9 year olds – it is just a different kind of unpredictability! I am always grateful for Steph’s laid-back approach to her photo sessions and her sense of humor.
2. What was your favorite part of your photo session?Â
Although I’d been to the new Rock Rose section of the Domain quite a few times, it was a great location for a photo shoot, and I was able to appreciate it in a new light! The brightly colored walls and varying backgrounds made it a great choice for our location this year.
3. What advice would you give to other families planning a photo session?
Be natural and laugh when Stephanie is taking your pictures (even if your child is whining about the heat or just generally driving you nuts). Laughter makes for genuine smiles!Â
4. Anything else you’d like to add?
We love Stephanie Friedman Photography!!
If you’re interested in your own family photo session, please contact me below:
For this family, I made sure to scout out Bull Creek before their session since it’s been so dry (until recently). But if you squint, the dead brown leaves and golden hour light kind of resemble fall colors 😉
Communication
From my client questionnaire, I knew this family had recently moved, and the mom wanted a few pics at their new house before we went to the park.
Keep the Kids Happy
Whether it’s asking them silly questions or letting them take the lead on exploring, I always like to collaborate on ideas during a family photo session.
Keep the Parents Relaxed
I find that giving specific posing instructions makes some families feel more comfortable in front of the camera. And my favorite is just letting the kids love on their parents – that usually gets my favorite images from the whole shoot.
And once we get the posed shots….
… I always leave time to play around.
And one extra fun thing from this family’s photo session – from chatting at the park, the Dad and I realized that we used to work together at the Daily Texan back in the mid-90s. And even flew to Boulder, CO together to cover a UT Football game (him writing / me shooting it). Thank you to online archives for this photographic evidence from 1996!
Please enjoy this sneak peek of this family’s photo session. To see all the files, visit their (password protected) online gallery HERE.
1. How do you know Stephanie Friedman Photography?
Stephanie/s kids and our kids have been at the same school and even same grade. Over the years, I have seen Stephanie’s photographs because of her willingness to help out and generously donate her time and talents to the school. I knew it would be easy and stress free to use her for our family photo session since my kids know her already. Plus, I always love her work.
Check out PreK Sam at my first school photo booth “The Bubbles in the bubbles”
2. What was your favorite part of your photo session?
It was a beautiful evening at Bull Creek. I loved being down there in the “golden hour” as Stephanie called it. Plus, Stephanie was super patient and willing to humor my kids with their ideas as they were excited to explore.
3. What advice would you give to other families planning a photo session?
Stay calm. Don’t let it stress you out and try to have fun with it. Picking outfits can seem so difficult (for me) but as long as you stay relatively simple, it wasn’t too hard.
4. Anything else you’d like to add?
Thanks for taking the time and being so pleasant to work with. I know it was so hot, but you made it enjoyable and really took the time to make sure you got what you needed.
If you’d like to book your own family photo session this year, contact me below:
Have you heard of the Flower Vault? It’s a temporary art installation full of fake flowers. They have one location in San Antonio and just opened a second spot in Austin at the Domain this season.
With eight flowery backgrounds for October and plans to swap in more holiday themed settings in November/December, it’s a fun spot to explore and be photographed in.
Kids 10 and under are free with an adult ticket (cost is $20/adult).
Swinging and dancing are encouraged.
If you’d like your own family portrait session in this location, check out my blog post with details or just view the available mini-session dates for October on Calendly.
Cost
It’s a $50 deposit (includes tickets for two adults) to save your date/time
Remainder of fee due at your session: $275.
It’s a very fun place to play! To see the rest of the photos from this session, check out the (password protected) full gallery HERE.
1. How do you know Stephanie Friedman Photography?
Stephanie has been a co-worker of mine for many years. She also took pictures of my oldest when she was 1. That was 7 years ago!
2. What was your favorite part of your photo session?
The venue was really cool and engaging for the girls. But mostly it was how great Stephanie was at putting the girls at ease and also letting them have fun. They immediately felt comfortable with her.
3. What advice would you give to other families planning a photo session?
Don’t be pressured to get that perfectly-posed shot. Often the best pictures are the candid ones when you didn’t even realize you were being photographed. I think kids need to be captured when they are having fun!
4. Anything else you’d like to add?
My kids are much more likely to participate when I bribe them with ice cream after the shoot. 🙂
If you’d like to book a family photo this season (not necessarily at the Flower Vault), you can see my remaining dates in 2019 HERE. You can also contact me below:
Click on the calendar below to book your Fall Family Photo Session this September, October or November 2019 in Austin, TX. A $50 deposit is required to hold your spot. The remainder of the fee (package information here) is due following your session.
Questions? Interested in another type of photo session? Contact me below first:
It’s always an honor getting to work with another photographer’s family. You get to collaborate during the session, and trust Natalie to find all the best golden hour pockets of light. Another bonus, it’s extra special when you’ve known the mom since you were both teenagers yourselves. Back in the day, we both did the high school musicals. And around the 46 minute mark you can see one of our dance numbers together in Pippin (Natalie is on the left, I’m in the middle).
But back to the present, Natalie is just as fun and adorable as always.
Over Memorial Day weekend, we went to St. Edwards Park to check out the wildflowers in bloom.
I loved getting to capture each girl’s personality.
And the family dog’s personality as well 😉 Hi, Satsuma!
The wildflowers were putting on quite a show.
Which meant we had to put on a show back 😉 Or at least the only one wanting to do splits would…
Thank you, S. Family!
And thanks to Natalie for taking some behind the scenes pics as well.
Please enjoy this sneak peek of their Spring session images. To see all the photos and purchase prints from the gallery, click HERE.
1. How do you know Stephanie Friedman Photography?
I have known Stephanie for more than 20 years! We both grew up in New Orleans, and went to high school together where we were both in the drama club and performed in shows together. 🙂
2. What was your favorite part of your photo session?
The location Stephanie suggested was spectacular.
3. What advice would you give to other families planning a photo session?
Let Stephanie direct you! She was great at moving us around, telling us where to look, and how to make ourselves feel as natural as possible while she was shooting.
4. Anything else you’d like to add?
It was so much FUN. Stephanie is such an easy person to be around and completely put our whole family at ease!!
Due to some recent work and family travel, I’ve gotten to photographseveral members of my department. In addition to being a family photographer, I also work with a group of image acquisition specialists for an educational publisher. For these family sessions, I’ve flown to Orlando, driven to Pflugerville and Tayler, Texas, and this last trip took me to the Chicago/Evanston area. After some discussion over where to meet up, we went exploring on the Northwestern University Campus for their family photos.
Lia was a great sport as I stuck her in various trees and plant-life.
And the weather couldn’t have been nicer for this Texas visitor as we walked through the campus buildings and gardens and viewed the Lakefront.
And thanks to another one of my co-workers (Shout Out to Jenny!) for capturing some fun behind the scenes pics as well.
1. How do you know Stephanie Friedman Photography?
I work with Stephanie. I’ve always loved her photography, I follow her on Instagram. I’m impressed by the artistic quality of her family photo sessions; the photos turn out so natural and candid.
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2. What was your favorite part of your photo session?
Getting to see Stephanie in action. She’s very energetic, and she’s great at generating ideas for where to take photos. I really liked it when we found a building on the campus near Northwestern that looked like a Harry Potter backdrop with it architectural features. Also, I enjoyed when she used all plants and flowers that she could find as we were walking along the paths.
“Harry Potter” looking building on campus
3. What advice would you give to other families planning a photo session?
Just do it! Quit stalling and enjoy yourselves while capturing some memories. We hadn’t had a photo session since my daughter was in pre-school. Time passes quickly.
4. Anything else you’d like to add?
Thanks so much, Stephanie!
Please enjoy this sneak peek of their family portrait session images. To see all the photos and purchase prints from the gallery, click HERE.
If you’d like to book your own portrait session in Austin (or want to know if I may be traveling soon to your neck of the woods), contact me:
