Maternity Session in Leander TX| Andrea and Mitchell

What a dream of a maternity session! With a gorgeously glowing mama-to-be, her handsome partner, and the most perfect baby bump, it was the perfect recipe for the most beautiful photoshoot!

Maternity Session Tips

  • Schedule your session for when you’re about 30 weeks pregnant. This is usually the best time. Your baby bump should be pronounced and beautiful to photograph, but you’re not feeling too heavy and uncomfortable.
  • Don’t wear anything too tight before your session. You don’t want elastic, bra, or any strange mark imprints on your body.
  • When choosing an outfit, stick with neutral colors. I normally recommend pastels because they photograph beautiful and soft. Flowy dresses are always a great choice! Don’t have one? No problem! You can rent on from Rent the Runway or Mama Bump Rentals. Avoid crazy patterns. Also, coordinate colors with your significant other. I never recommend doing the matchy-matchy thing (same exact colors) but complimentary colors look perfect in photos!
  • Additionally, on the day-of, pamper yourself. You deserve it! Get a manicure, have your hair and makeup done, and even treat yourself to a good massage. Feeling beautiful and relaxed are key!
  • Bring props! The most popular ones are sonograms, baby clothes and shoes, banners or chalkboards with the due date, letter blocks that spell out the baby’s name, and, of course, the family’s furbaby(ies). Need ideas? Check out Pinterest!
  • Finally and most importantly, invest in an experienced photographer! Figure out the photography style that speaks most to you and find a quality photographer that’s right for you! iPhones are great (for traveling or casual photos) but with the quality, you can’t blow up an iPhone photo. A professional photographer will not only be able to capture amazing photos of you, but will help pose you, the props, your pets, and/or significant other. Trust me, don’t go through the planning and money (to rent a dress, buy props, pamper yourself) and not invest in a real photographer.

Parents-To-Be

I met Andrea about two years ago at the gym. We were introduced by a mutual friend and hit it off right away. Now, this beautiful yoga-loving lady is now expecting her first child and I couldn’t be more thrilled for her! I cannot wait to meet her baby girl. In the meantime, let me just obsess over her maternity photos!!

Garey House Engagement Session: Devon and Matthew | Georgetown TX

Devon and Matthew’s Garey House engagement session was accompanied by mist and fall foliage, creating such a mood for the cutest photoshoot! Not to mention that they brought along their sweetest pup, Harley! We all know that adding a fur baby to a session is always a good idea!

The Venue

This lovely couple fell in love with the Garey House while looking for their wedding venue. I mean, who wouldn’t? Its hill country meets Tuscan style. With its lush greenery, calm pond, and beautiful architecture, it’s a dream venue. And although it was what they were envisioning for their wedding, it couldn’t hold the number of guests they’re anticipating. So they went in another direction.

However, they couldn’t get the venue out of their head. When I asked them where they wanted to do their engagement photos, there seemed to be a clear answer!

Garey House Engagement Session

On a chilly day in November, I finally got to meet up with Devon and Matthew for the first time in person. And they are exactly as they described themselves: “goofy, loving, and teasing.” These two were just so much fun to work with and photograph.

Of course, Harley thought the entire session was about her. She wanted to take part in every photo.

As for the venue, it was the perfect spot and time! With all of its backdrops and time of year, it was giving me all the Fall vibes. I love the pops of red and orange against the green, and just how serene it was. And Devon and Matthew’s outfits complement their surroundings. Can you tell that I’m a bit obsessed?!

I absolutely cannot wait for their April wedding in Dripping Springs. It’s going to be absolutely perfect!! Congrats, Devon and Matthew, on your engagement and I look forward to celebrating you both in two months!!!

Springdale Station Wedding: Tasija and Keith

This Springdale Station wedding was EVERYTHING! From the vibes, colors, and food to the couple, people, and music, it couldn’t have been more perfect!

Tasija and Keith

The happy couple met nine years ago at the University of Texas. They were on the same swim team. Tasija was hooked the moment she heard Keith quote a line from “Zoolander,” but Keith had no idea.

After a while, he must have gotten the hint because he asked Tasija out for a pizza date. And that’s all it took!

With coffee in hand, Keith proposed during a walk on their favorite trail in Vermont. Tasija was “wearing flannel and spandex. It was PERFECT!”

Springdale Station Wedding

After meeting the couple at their friends’ wedding and shooting their engagement session, I knew the two would have the most fun and laid-back wedding. And it was just that and so much more!

East Austin is where their relationship was born and bloomed. It was where they shared their first kiss, first drink, first “I love you’s,” first hike, and first breakfast taco. Because of this history, they chose to do a Springdale Station wedding. They wanted to relive those memories and love the east Austin vibes the venue gives. It was also an opportunity to share this with their family and friends.

Their entire day perfectly reflected who they are as a couple. From their custom stationery and wedding colors to their favorite food and dessert, it screamed Tasija and Keith! Not to mention, their EPIC party!

Wedding Vendor Dream Team

Wedding Venue: Springdale Station ♥ Wedding Stationery: Penn to Paper Co. ♥ Wedding Planner: Jade & Onyx ♥ Wedding Dress Designer: Jenny Yoo ♥ Hair and Makeup: Anastasia Miller ♥ Photographer: Sweet Memories Photography ♥ Florals: Forsythia Florals ♥ Catering: Peached Tortilla ♥ Wedding Dessert: Bananarchy ♥ Band: High Fidelity

Pet Portraits | Lifestyle Session

Pet portraits/lifestyle sessions are the absolute cutest! Being an animal-lover myself, I am obsessed with getting to photograph families and their fur-babies.

Dani

A couple of years ago, we met Dani and her boyfriend at the gym. She and I quickly discovered that we had a lot in common. Most specifically, we’re both Disney fanatics and obsessed with anything furry and feathery. So needless to say, there have been a ton of hangouts at her place and mine (saves us money from going out since we’re both content hanging out with the furbabies).

At the time, Dani only had her three cats. Since then, she’s rescued one kitten and now…

She’s the proud mama to a baby girl (puppy)! She’s been waiting literally YEARS for this moment and that moment has arrived!

Documenting this was so crucial for so many reasons:

• Dani has never had a puppy and has waiting 20+ years to have one she could call her own.

• Puppies, like babies, grow up SO fast!!

So once the puppy got settled in, we scheduled the pet portraits and lifestyle session ASAP.

Pet Portraits

I always recommend doing pet portraits in the comfort of your home. This is the case especially with cats. Have you ever tried to take cat portraits inside a studio or anywhere other than a home? Because I have (granted it was my own cat and it was just outside of the house) and it was NOT successful!

The best tips for a lifestyle session is to:

De-clutter the home, and keep any room we may use clean and organized.

Open up all the windows for available light and turn off all the artificial lights.

Pull out any props and outfits needed so we can quickly grab them as we need them.

Keep treats handy, ALWAYS!

But the BEST tip? HAVE FUN! I know it can be stressful knowing there’s a camera following you around, but the more you stress, the more things seem to get even more stressful! Let things unfold the way they will.

And that’s exactly what Dani did. She let her furbabies run the house and do what they were going to do, and we just went with it.

Lifestyle Photoshoot

Pet portraits | Austin lifestyle photographer

Queso, Dani’s puppy, is a SPAZ! All she wants to do is run, chase cats, and chew!!

Thank goodness mom is prepared with a BASKET of TOYS!!

Pet portraits | Austin lifestyle photographer
Pet portraits | Austin lifestyle photographer

We decided to let Queso do her thing while we let the cats have their moment.

First up: Mayday. Mayday was the most recent rescue and she was so young when Dani found her, that she had to be bottle-fed. Now, she’s quite the cat with a huge personality and the need to torture her fellow siblings!

Pet portraits | Austin lifestyle photographer

But it looks like Mayday has found her match in Queso. Queso loves torturing Mayday!

Next cat: Belle. She is as pretty as she is sweet. Although often shy, if you speak “cat,” she will happily come out from under the bed and converse with you.

Then there’s Ganja. No, Dani didn’t name her. She came with the name and I personally don’t think she lives up to it. But we love her as she is.

Pet portraits | Austin lifestyle photographer

As does Ranger, who can be found kissing his sister in the next photo:

We took a break from the cats to let Queso out for a potty break. This, in itself, is a process since she came back with dirty paws!

Last of the cats is Ranger. He is Dani’s first ‘child’ and the man of the house. The most social of all the cats, his favorite pastime is laying on your chest and legs.

Pet portraits | Austin lifestyle photographer

By this time, Queso had worn herself out! And we were able to capture some ‘newborn’ photos of her!

Pet portraits | Austin lifestyle photographer
Pet portraits | Austin lifestyle photographer

It’s the itty-bitty paws for me!

Pet portraits | Austin lifestyle photographer

Passed out! I guess the photoshoot really did wear her out!

Pet portraits | Austin lifestyle photographer

Engagement Session in Killeen, Texas

This engagement session in Killeen was very special. Because this location is no ordinary location. Tim proposed to Carley in the exact location in which the first six photos took place below. So it was a no-brainer when I asked them where they wanted their engagement photos taken …

The Couple

“After meeting on the dating app, ‘OK Cupid‘ on February thirteenth, we started texting. Not even five minutes into texting, we started video calling for two days straight. We finally met up in person on February fifteenth, and that’s when I asked Carley to be my belated Valentine.”

Since then, this couple is always looking to try new things. They particularly love to try different foods, visit new places, and try any and all activities (at least once).

Because they had started dating around the time the world shut down (aka COVID), they were forced to live together. This forced them to see every color and side of each other. Which, in turn, inevitably made them grow closer to one another. They felt that if they could tackle COVID, then they could tackle anything.

Stars aligned when Carley’s family was in town for an early Christmas and Tim’s grandma was visiting. Tim took the opportunity to propose at their favorite park. Carley, of course, said, “YES!”

Engagement session in Killeen

Tim, Carley, and I met at an open house, in which we completely clicked. Between our love of animals and motorcycles, and our easy-going personalities, we all knew it was a good fit. Shortly after, we started planning their engagement session.

Engagement Session in Killeen TX | Austin Couples Photographer
Engagement Session in Killeen TX | Austin Couples Photographer
Engagement Session in Killeen TX | Austin Couples Photographer
Engagement Session in Killeen TX | Austin Couples Photographer
Engagement Session in Killeen TX | Austin Couples Photographer
Engagement Session in Killeen TX | Austin Couples Photographer

We had a short interlude while the two had an outfit change. I took the opportunity to take photos of Carley’s engagement ring:

Engagement Session in Killeen TX | Austin Couples Photographer
Engagement Session in Killeen TX | Austin Couples Photographer

When Tim asked Carley to be his belated Valentine, he did so with “Sour Patch Kids and a stuffed piggy with a heart!” Knowing this, I surprised the couple with a prop of my own: a bag of Sour Patch Kids. And then I let them have at it:

Engagement Session in Killeen TX | Austin Couples Photographer
Engagement Session in Killeen TX | Austin Couples Photographer

What a fun engagement session! Congratulations, Tim and Carley! I look forward to celebrating with you both!