You can see that Little Man had fun that morning!!

Pretty Mama!

Love me some sun flare! 

As I mentioned, I did reschedule my holiday mini-sessions for this coming weekend, the 20th & 21st so if you thought you missed out on getting your holiday photos taken, you’re in luck!  My weekend is filling quickly but I do have a few 30 minute sessions left so please comment here or give me a call (210-363-1991) if you’d like to book a session for you or your family!

I’ve always loved hanging out in downtown New Braunfels.  I think it’s primarily because it takes me back to my childhood of growing up in a small town in Oklahoma where we could walk downtown and hang out on Main Street to grab a soda or our latest favorite record album.  That was such a great time of my life and I look back realizing how lucky my parents were that they could let us kids roam our small town without fear, we’d walk blocks to the town pool or to the football games.  We walked everywhere and it’s a bit sad that my boys haven’t been able to experience much like that although we DO have a Pizza Hut and Walgreen within walking distance of our house which is great, at least it’s SOMETHING.  But I digress……back to New Braunfels.  When I found out that space became available for rent in the historic Schmidt Building I jumped on it since I’d been contemplating renting a space where I could shoot indoors and knew if I never did have studio space I always would’ve wondered “what if???”  It was just icing on the cake that the space was in a cool, old, historic building that has so much history & character, I can’t walk in the place without wondering what it must’ve been like back in the day (click on the “Schmidt Building” link <—- for some cool history on the bldg) and I love it that the owners desire to restore the Schmidt back to it’s earlier days and retain the Old West feel & vibe….MUCH better than renting space in some strip mall or something like that!  Here’s a pictorial tour to my studio…….here we go…….

Here is the building as it looked when first  built in the early 1900s…..

And here’s the Schmidt Building as it looks today…….

Another view of the front of the building…….

I love the look to the building now!

The entrance to the upstairs area where my studio and other offices are on the 2nd & 3rd floors…….

I’ve never had my “name” on a door before…….exciting stuff for me!!

When you walk up the stairs to the 2nd floor this is the waiting area outside the entrance to my space…..

Welcome!

The room is a big rectangle with the front 1/3 walled off so I use it was a waiting/dressing area…..my Pier One chairs, LOVE them!

The wood floors were there but the walls were all white so I painted them beige with the apple green accents around the top of the room to play off my business logo colors.  I purchased several of my favorite images as canvases to hang on the wall.  Hard to decorate a space on a small budget but I had fun doing it!  I found this mirrored dresser at TJ Maxx and knew I had to have it.

Another view of some of my canvases…….found the cute little bird table at Pier One too. 

Another view of the other side of the front room.  There are two open doorways into the back room where I shoot which is basically a big open room w/the wood floors & white walls and 2 big west-facing windows which as you can see provide PLENTY of beautiful natural light. 

Thank you for visiting my studio today, I’m happy you stopped by!  I hope you’ll be able to visit the real thing someday to either stop by to say hello or perhaps shoot a session there!  I love being able to have a private, comfy place to shoot boudoir, maternity, newborn, heck…….all sorts of sessions!

You just have to love a good ol’ Texas event where even pistols are blinged out in glass glitter!!!

Sweet Jennifer with her class sample for the Patriotic Banner class I took, I loved it!

July was full of visits from friends, concerts, weddings, family, senior & 50th Anniversary sessions & another trip to Dallas later in the month.  If July 1 was any indication as to how the rest of the month was going to go then YOWZA.  I spent the day in rainy San Antonio with my friend Jodi and we got to hang with her very favorite band, the All-American Rejects.  Don’t believe me?  I have proof and yea, it looks like I put the guy next to me asleep……..ah well……..

I usually don’t get all crazy fan-girly but even I must say that was on amazing crazy experience!  I mean really, it’s not everyday a regular Joe mom like me gets to hang with a rock band.  Heck, they even took us on a tour of their amazing tour bus.  Don’t be hatin’.  I was able to hang with Jodi again later in July at her beautiful wedding reception in Austin at the Umlauf Sculpture Gardens which were so beautiful & amazing despite it being an ultra hot & sticky July Texas day.  I loved seeing her so happy and it was wonderful seeing old friends again……

Gotta get a pretty ring shot!!

I did a military family shoot on a balmy summer evening at the lovely Japanese Tea Gardens which is always a fun but interesting experience.  Going there is a total crap shoot because you never know how many people will be there or how many other photo sessions will be going on at the same time.  I’ve gone there when the place was vacant & have also been there when it’s packed and at least 5 other photo sessions are being held, you just never know!  This particular evening was quite crowded but we managed to find secluded spots to shoot.

Next came a shoot I was excited about since it was a bit different than most others I do.  I’d been asked to shoot a 50th Anniversary party for a sweet local couple.  Friends & family came in from near & far to celebrate their special day with them and their daughters hired me to preserve the day in print for them.  I was quite honored to be a small part of their day.  The mother was especially touched since all of the family hadn’t been together in quite some time, she was brought to tears which of COURSE made me cry too.  I can’t help it.

The wedding topper off their wedding cake, 50 years ago to the day.  Beautiful.

July ended with another trip north up I-35 to downtown Dallas and the next Gilded Life event at the beautiful home of Shea Fragoso but I’m going to stop here because that event deserves a blog post all it’s own!  I was honored to be asked to photograph the event for Debbie & Shea and thankfully I’ll be able to share some of the images here with all of you!  Check back soon & I’ll share some of their lovely eye candy with YOU!! 

**I still have a couple of time slots left for the Boudior mini-shoots I’m doing at my studio in downtown New Braunfels this saturday.  I have a 2:00 & 3:00pm time slot left so please reply here or contact me via the contact form above if you have questions or would like to book your own session.  You can find more information here.  They’re going to be SO much fun so don’t miss out!!**

I had been coveting one of these beauties ever since Maile made the announcement of her exciting new business venture so it was very thrilling to be holding her vision in my hands!  Of the choices she offers, I selected Belle since I normally go for the practical color!  This time I thought I’d choose something different and fun plus I loved the outside pockets, I’ve already gotten so many compliments on her.  Here are some of the other styles & colors available…….

Belle has more than enough room for my 5D with the battery grip and large lens attached, my flash, 2 extra lenses and other accessories I lug around and even with all of that, there is a bit of extra room inside, enough that I could easily fit my wallet & cell phone in there and just use it as a purse. 

Somehow I just feel more fancy toting this back & forth to shoots & the studio rather than my industrial rather manly Canon backpack I previously used!  I will keep my backpack too because it’s nice to fill that up and throw it on my back and keep my hands free when traveling with the boys in tow however for day to day use I love my Belle!  It was obvious that a artsy girl designed these bags due to the little “extras” such as the blingy camera charm that hangs on the front, the bright green protective bag Belle arrived in and the cute little inspirational cards tucked into the pockets just waiting to be found……

 I think that Belle and I are going to get along very very well. 

On a business note, 2011 senior sessions have already begun!  I shot my first senior session yesterday and really love pro-active parents who want to book their kid’s sessions and get them out of the way before the busy senior school year begins and activities resume.  For those of you who BOOK your senior session before Sept. 30 (it doesn’t have to be shot before then) I will include 50 free photo “411″ cards which are cute little business cards with the senior’s photo on one side and information on the other which can include phone #, email address, myspace or facebook profile link, etc. that they can hand out to friends.  This is a $40+ value so call today to book your senior’s session and don’t miss out on this offer!

Thanks for stopping by!  I have more to post so I hope you’ll stop in often & say hello!!  Stay tuned for information on a day of Boudoir sessions I’ll be doing sometime in early August at my studio.  I’ll provide a makeup artist, a private fun location & fruity drinks so all you’ll have to do is show up & have FUN!

What a beautiful family!

Loved this one, though it would be fun to look back on the photo years from now to see the height difference at 1 yr. old.

Still waiting on the Bluebonnets to begin blooming but will hopefully begin seeing the little beauties within a week or two.  I’m booking family & high school senior sessions for the remainder of March, April & May so now is the time to book & lock in the day & time of your choice.  You can contact me through the comments below, the contact link above or by calling me at (210)363-1991.  Hope to hear from you soon!

Nothing like ending the session with a big hearty giggle!!  Happy 1st birthday Sweet Noelle.

I’m also THRILLED to announce that I’m hoping to sign a lease on studio space this week so I will also be able to provide indoor studio natural light photography along with my usual on-location photography.  The space is big & bright with 2 large windows and I can’t wait to move in and make it my own!  I promise to post pics soon as soon as I’m able to so you can see it for yourself to keep checking back!