Helene's 75th Sneak Peek

Healing with Horses Camp 2015 - Day 1

Once again, I'm thrilled by the crossover of passions in my life.  This week by volunteering at Healing with Horses Ranch summer camp, I get E.B. (my son) + horses + photography + helping individuals with special needs.  I'm definitely a happy camper!  Here's a peek...

E.B.'s first mount on a full-sized horse.
I chose horse camp for him to increase his confidence...I'd say it's working already.

Golden Stirrup Horse Show

It's Rodeo time in Austin, and that means time for the Golden Stirrup Horse Show!  This is an exciting event for riders with special needs, and includes opportunities in Showmanship, Trail, English and Western Pleasure, and Barrels.  My friends at Healing with Horses Ranch competed this morning.  

Dude says, "check out the action..."

Healing With Horses Ranch

One thing I love about being a photographer is the convergence of my other passions with the art of photography.  Recently I started volunteering at Healing with Horses Ranch, a therapeutic riding facility.  Not only have I fallen in love with the horses, but also with the amazing individuals that come to Healing with Horses to seek inner peace through equine therapy, and with the staff and amazing volunteers.  

Healing with Horses currently has 14 horses... a lot of personalities to get to know!  In order to help the other volunteers (and myself) get to know everyone, I've started a photo project of capturing the individual physical features and personalities of each horse.  Below are a few images from the first photo shoot...

Cool Man

Friday Senior Sneak Peek

I recently had the joy of photographing high school senior, Friday.

Friday's Mona Lisa smile beautifully captures her calm demeanor and striking intelligence. 

We had a blast at the Austin Botanical Garden and in her yard with her cello.

She was a real pleasure to work with, and I wish her the best in college next year!

Jensen Family Sneak Peek

Play for All Abilities Park: An Expansive Enclosed Park in Round Rock

Welcome to my second installment of posts highlighting awesome ENCLOSED play places in the Austin area.

As a mother of twins, and photographer of children with autism and other special needs, I know that a fenced in playground can sometimes be the only way to safely get the kids outside for play or for a photo session.  In light of this, my camera, family, and I are scouting the Austin area for fun and safe enclosed playgrounds. 

This post features Play for All Abilities Park at 151 North A.W. Grimes Blvd. in Round Rock, TX.

This is a newer park, which opened in 2011 to serve children of all abilities.  And, wow...it has some incredible features!  

The park boasts several areas (which they call pods) including:

Lost Creek Park: An Awesome Enclosed Playground in Austin

view of "Littles" playscape

As a mother of twins, and photographer of children with autism and other special needs, I know that a fenced in playground can sometimes be the only way to safely get the kids outside for play or for a photo session.

Though they are few and far between, the Austin area does have some pretty great playgrounds and restaurants that have fenced in play areas.  This will be the first of several posts detailing awesome ENCLOSED play places in the Austin area.

Up first... Lost Creek Park.

This place is a true gem!  My family and I had a blast there, and though it's not close to our place, we plan to visit again soon.

nice grassy area for running

Here is the extensive list of PROS for Lost Creek Park:

• Fenced with secure child-proof latch on the gate
• BATHROOMS! (taking potty-training kids to parks with no potty can be such a kill-joy)
• Wheelchair ramps that go in to the play area
• A functioning, clean, triple water fountain
• Lots of shade... from trees, canopies, and a pavilion
• 2 play areas, for bigs and littles
• An attractive pavilion with fans, lights, a porch swing, tables, and a gas grill -- BBQ party, anyone?
• A cute little log cabin club-house
• A "spider web" climbing structure
• Grassy area (not shaded)
• Swings, including baby swings
• A small scooter/bike track with a little hill for added interest (and speed!)
• A roller slide (fun sensory activity)
• No dogs allowed in the fenced area.  I love dogs, but for those of you who need a dog- (and poop) free area for your kids, this park is a great choice.
• Located conveniently near 360, but not too close
• Community bulletin board 

E.B. loves the spider web!

Adlai also digs the spider web... it's a great feature!

Toddlers enjoy the music feature.

Bring a wheeled toy for fun on the track!

Fun excavator, but a little too tall!

And there are just a few CONS:

• Playscape structures are pretty high... if you've got an over-confident climber (or two) you have to keep an eye on them to prevent falls.
• The sand boxes were out of sand when we went.
• The excavator toy is too high up (might be fixed with more sand).  My tall 5-year olds couldn't reach the ground to spin the excavator.

This park totally rocked, and my kids were sad to leave.  The features here make for a fun, safe place to bring your children.  

Feel free to contact me if you'd like to schedule a photo session at Lost Creek Park.

Be careful if you have a climber!

What do Teachers and Photographers Have in Common?

Yes, I lead a double life.

one of my 5th grade students rocks out on the drums

I'm a teacher AND a photographer.

I'm passionately living my dream of teaching math to students with learning differences and of photographing children, including those with exceptional needs (in Austin, my favorite city, no less).  Not to mention my glorious (but messy, and loud) home-life as a mother of three little boys.  My life is full and fulfilling.

So the question is, what do successful teachers and successful photographers have in common?

Metal Floats

Daddin' it Up

My grandmother's friend, Dion McInnis, wrote a book called Daddin': the Verb of Being a Dad. It's a loving, thoughtful book about the joyful journey of fatherhood, and I just love the idea of daddin' as a verb to balance out mothering. So, I'd like to take a minute to spotlight some guys in the act of Daddin'. Expectant fathers, watchful dads, playful papas...

Hands & Heart

Hands speak volumes... what do you think of when you think of your Mama's hands? Your husbands hands? Your child's hands? Eyes may be the window to the soul, but hands whisper secrets from the heart.

Top 3 Locations for a Family or Newborn Photo Shoot

As an on-location photographer, one of the number one questions I get asked is, "Where should we do the photo shoot?" There isn't one right answer to this because it depends on what you want from the shoot, but here are my top 3 suggestions for a family photo shoot.

{Your Home}

Your home is the prime location for newborn photos for several reasons. 1) You're exhausted and don't have the energy to go anywhere, 2) You don't want to take your tiny bundle of joy out of the house yet, 3) You're exhausted and don't have the energy to go anywhere... yes, I said it twice. It's just true.

The home is a great choice not just for newborns, but also for family sessions. When your children are grown up and look back at their pictures, they'll have more to look at than their own young smiling faces, they'll have the memory of their childhood nest.

Most importantly, your children will be comfortable in their own space. Comfortable kids = cooperative kids = great images that reflect true personality. Whether you live in a modest apartment or a sprawling mansion, using your home is the easiest and most meaningful choice.

{Your Favorite Park or School Playground}

Where do your kids like to play most other than at home? Their favorite park. The same ideas apply here... they'll be comfortable and the location will add a special significance to the photos. "That's the park where you first learned to swing," you might explain to your little one a few years from now as you look back at your photos. You can get creative with this... do your kids like to play in a creek? Play GaGa ball? Hang upside down from the monkey bars? These are things you might like to remember.

{Somewhere Distinctly Signifying your City}

If you're in Austin, and LOVE Austin (and who doesn't?), you could choose somewhere that epitomizes the city: Auditorium shores, Barton Creek, the 360 bridge, the cows at the Arboretum... whatever it is that makes your city special to you and your family. Do be aware that some locations require special permits, but your photographer will be able to help you figure out if your desired location requires a reservation or permit.

Beautifully Bald

February of last year (2012) my childhood friend, Hannah, was diagnosed with Leukemia.  This hit me hard.  Though we didn't maintain a very active relationship as adults, Hannah and I were best friends when we were little..we did everything together... had sleep overs, made up our own secret club, talked endlessly, teased our siblings (once even froze her sister's underwear)... you know, the things best friends do.  As adults, we visited each other when we could - our friendship never skipping a beat regardless of how much time had passed since the previous visit.

Hannah & Sara circa 1990

When I found out about Hannah's diagnosis, I was really shaken.  The big C.  Ugh.

In Memory of Mimi

I love my job.  Everyday I'm thankful that I get to help families capture a few fleeting moments in their lives.  Time flies so fast. This month has brought an even deeper sense of gratitude for my occupation.  Several of my clients have scheduled sessions to include grandparents.  This is in the wake of losing my beloved Mimi.  The circle of life really slapped me in the face last month as I kissed Mimi away while holding baby Flynn in my arms.  I have all the comfort of knowing she lived a full life, comfort from the memories of the year the twins and I lived with her, comfort in knowing that she died peacefully in her home surrounded by loving family members.  I also have the selfishness of a little girl who wants what she wants.  And I WANT MY GRANDMA!  I want Flynn to get to know her as my other children did.  I want to walk into her house and breathe in the smell of Tea Rose perfume and home.  I want to hear her laugh and to kiss her goodnight.  But I can't.  And that's okay.  But I can recall stories, talk to family, and look at pictures.

We were two peas in a pod.

Below are some pictures of Mimi as well as some pictures from some client shoots that include grandmas.  If you get the chance, kiss your grandma today... then take her picture!

Sweet Baby Clara

My goal during maternity leave was to pull together my blog.  Though I have many previous sessions to go back and add in, I am thrilled to start with this one.  I couldn't think of a better way to end my leave than with baby Clara's photo shoot.  This new bundle was only two weeks old, but already full of charm.  And what a loving family she joined!

Hilary's Maternity Shoot

The blooming cherry blossoms made Hilary's maternity shoot feel whimsical!  We had a great time walking around the Kenwood neighborhood.  She just glowed in the fresh spring air with her growing belly.