I specialize in Lifestyle Family, Children’s and Birth Photography.

For Family Lifestyle Sessions, I shoot indoors using natural light (meaning, I don’t have any kind of studio equipment). I come to your home and we take pictures all over the place – on Mom and Dad’s bed, in the family room, around the kitchen table, on the porch. I also do outdoor sessions and have several recommendations for great outdoor locations. Birth photography, of course, is held indoors at your home, a birthing center, or hospital. (See Birth Photography FAQs below for any information not related to family and children’s photography)

I am usually booked a month out. My busy times of year are in the Fall and in the Spring, because of Christmas card photos and then of course the nice Spring weather which everyone likes to take advantage of. At those times of year I can be booked up to two months out, so that’s something to take into consideration when contacting me.

Digital files are the mainstay of what I offer, although if you purchase $50 worth of prints , you will receive your first 5 digital files for free. I strongly encourage you to buy prints upfront from me. I will make an appointment to come to your home after our session and will show you your images in person, as well as consult with you as to where to hang your favorites and in what sizes. This is extremely helpful to many clients.

I accept personal checks, PayPal and of course, cash.

The sitting fee ($200) is due at the session. Money for your digital files and/or prints is due at our follow-up appointment, when you few your images.

It is typically 2 to 3 weeks after our session that I will be ready to meet with you and show you your images. Shipping on prints is 2 or 3 days max. And your disc will be ready for pick up on the day following our meeting.

Absolutely! I am always noting color combinations that work well together, so I can provide you with several options if you want.

About an hour, but I’m flexible up to 1½ hours if necessary.

A family session is limited to 7 people, beyond that each additional person is $20, for up to 10 people. I do not shoot groups larger than 10 people.

An imagination session is just what it sounds like – an opportunity for kids to play and use their imaginations while I take their pictures. It involves engaging props and is very relaxed in nature. My goal is to create some joy and magic for the children, and to capture their most genuine expressions of happiness.

For girls, often something “frilly” is fun for this type of session. However I will not typecast every girl as wanting to use just the girly props! Your girls are also very welcome to come in their more practical play clothes and have fun with the more popular boy choices.

Not unless I request it.

I have a park nearby my house that I regularly shoot at. It’s beautiful at sunset and not heavily populated.

At least an hour, up to 1 ½ hours. Sometimes kids take a few minutes to warm up to the idea, I want to allow time for that as well as snack breaks.

No, the session fees are the same.

Up to 3 children can participate in the same “Imagination Session”… so siblings, or best buddies can come, too. However there will be several shots where the kids will be interacting with one another, so if you are hoping for a vast array of individual photos, it might be better to schedule individual sessions for each child. I am happy to work out the details so you aren’t paying 2 or more full priced session fees for children within the same family!

For girls I have incorporated fairy wings, large paper flowers, feathers, tents and tea sets. For boys I have incorporated capes, colorful bouncing balls, paper airplanes and hats, and a galvanized tub-like “boat”.

I am always open to your ideas. To preserve the integrity of my passion and my work, I may wish to tailor your ideas to fit in with my style.

I usually have some suggestions for them but I don’t often step in and tell them “what to do”. That part usually comes natural. I just remind them to face the camera or not run off too far from me.

Birth photography is a way to document the story of your labor, birth and first precious moments with your new baby.

If you want to remember the excitement you felt as you realized “today is the day”, if you want the tender exchanges between you and your partner captured, if you want to look at that precious moment when you meet your baby for the first time over and over again, then you should have a photographer at your birth. Want to know how many times I realized, minutes too late, that in all the excitement and flurry of activity during labor nobody remembered to snap a picture of me or my brand new baby, let alone all the exciting moments following the birth? Having a birth photographer takes care of all that… you can sit back and focus on birthing and not worry about how your partner or doula is going to manage supporting and caring for you AND capturing that first cry, weight, measurements, footprints, snuggle, kiss and so on. It’s a moment that cannot be recreated; a moment that should be celebrated and remembered.

I remember worrying about how my husband would feel bringing another person into the room with us when I hired a doula. What it came down to for him, was knowing that he could focus on comforting me and enjoying the birth of our child, without worrying about getting me this, that and the other thing, and without taking his mind off the incredible moment we were experiencing together. I think the same applies to birth photography; having a photographer relieves your husband of the extra duties and allows him to focus on YOU. I do, however offer a post-birth session package, called a First Glimpse session, which may be the compromise you need.

The First Glimpse can be booked anytime within the first 2 days of baby’s birth. It needs to be scheduled during business hours, i.e., 9-5pm, and includes all the precious interaction between you, your partner, your family and baby… without the expense and pressure of having me there during the actual birth. Special moments such as baby’s birth weight and measurements, and foot prints can often be recaptured during this time as well.

Everyone has a different vision of what they want captured from their birth. For some – it is everything (and I mean everything!), for others it’s very limited. This will be discussed in full detail at our appointment, but please know that you get to decide how much or how little of the birth I will photograph and/or share. Between the support of your significant other during your labor, and those first precious moments after birth, there is plenty for me to capture, so I am happy to tailor things to suit your comfort level.

I am very careful about the angles I shoot from, and am skilled in hiding a lot of the graphic nature of birth, if you prefer. Sometimes I don’t have a choice in the matter, in order to capture that one magical moment and because it’s crowded or too chaotic to maneuver myself to different locations in the room. But I try to allow for cropping and other photoshop techniques should this happen. No matter what, you will get to decide what is shared on the internet and what is not.

With your careful selection, I would like to share at least a portion of our session on my blog. Especially while in the portfolio building stage of my business. But not without your consent first! You will be a part of that decision.

I don’t pose. I think I have a good eye for the small, subtle moments that you will appreciate having a record of. My job is to get natural photos of your birth, so unless I feel like I’ve missed some perfect split moment (like you and your spouse kissing), I will not be directing you in any way.

I tend to stay pretty quiet, but am open to interaction. I love talking birth and I am so happy you’ve asked me to be a part of your sacred experience, but I will be as involved or uninvolved as you want. I am happy to help if my help is wanted, and I am happy to just mind my own business and snap pictures.

I will use a flash in a completely darkened room, with your permission. If you prefer I not use flash I ask that we have some source of light, if only from a lamp. I use a speed flash, and bounce it over my shoulder, so it isn’t as disturbing as it sounds. However, I do have a camera that works very well in low lighting conditions (Nikon D700), that just means grainier pictures with less clarity. Other equipment in my bag: 85mm 1.8 lens, 50 mm 1.4 lens, 70-200mm 2.8 zoom lens, and a 24-70mm 2.8 lens. I usually stick to the 50mm or 85mm lens.

I will stay as long as the birth is in progress. Some births are long, some are short. I don’t charge by the hour, regardless.

Absolutely! I will want to meet you and your significant other to discuss your wants/needs as soon as possible.

Plan on meeting with me and paying your $100 deposit soon after you hit your second trimester. The balance will be due within 3 weeks of your “edd”.

I do offer a stand-by birth option. If I am already booked within 2 weeks of your due date for another birth, I can be on “stand-by” for your birth, which means that there is no guarantee that I will make it, but if I do you wouldn’t pay me until then – no deposit to worry about losing and no concern about me missing your birth. The birth that is booked however, would take precedence should I get that call while I am with you. In that case you are welcome to defer to a First Glimpse session.

Actually, it is you who needs to get approval – from your birth center, midwife, OB, anesthesiologist, or anyone else involved in your birth. This must be done before we sign contracts and you pay your deposit.

I am available to travel within the city of Austin and the following surrounding areas: Cedar Park / Leander, Round Rock, and Georgetown. Please Contact Me for a specific location on where I will travel to.

Right away! I want to know when labor starts and then be updated during the progress of early labor. If you are receiving vaginal checks, I would like to be there when you reach about 5cm, or before transition or active labor begins. If you are not receiving vaginal checks, then you should plan on me being there before you are too uncomfortable. Keep in mind that I may need up to 2 hours to secure care for my children in order to be at your birth. I am available via text throughout your labor, if calling is a hassle. Just keep me informed and there shouldn’t be any problems! I always err on the side of caution and would much rather be there too early rather than too late.

I am on call for you 24/7. Do not hesitate to let me know when labor has begun, even if it is in the middle of the night. I need ample notice so it is imperative that you not be concerned with time of day.

I will stay up to 2 hours after your birth, in order to capture weight, measurement, footprints, breastfeeding, meeting the extended family and those quiet, peaceful moments following birth.

I will do whatever you want me to do. I know this can be a rather chaotic situation and I will do my best to read the emotions in the room and determine whether or not I should stay, but you ultimately have the say in whether or not I do. If you are interested in a NICU session down the line, that’s an option we can discuss too. contact me.

I try to be sensitive to these circumstances and if I sense you need some time alone, I may even ask if you would like for me to step out. But you are certainly welcome to take a breather and get some alone time whenever you need to regroup. Just let me know.

In the event that unexpected medical circumstances prevent me from providing services, your money will be applied towards a future session of your choosing. In the past, a lifestyle “homecoming” (from the hospital) session has been a good option.

If I have been given ample notice (excepting any medical emergencies), this problem should not arise. Should any circumstance arise, however, that is not the fault of the client, that prevents me from making your birth, you have the option of applying your money towards a session of your choosing. Should any circumstance arise that is neither the fault of the client or myself (automobile accidents, extremely fast labor, emergency medical situation for either party), your money will be applied towards a future session of your choosing. If by my fault only, I miss your birth (i.e., you are unable to reach me at all) you are entitled to a full refund, no questions asked.

With permission from your OB and the anesthesiologist, I can most certainly photograph portions of your c-section. But this must be secured in advance. If I show up only to find that I do not have permission to photograph your c-section, you will not receive a refund.

Emergencies certainly happen from time to time. We may get lucky and get last minute permission under such circumstances, we may not. If not, your money will be applied towards a First Glimpse session.

I will be sure to get a few to you right away, because I know how anxious everyone is to see that baby! Expect those within a few days. Then around the 2-3 week mark I will have a private password-protected gallery for you to look through your final images and determine which you are comfortable with me sharing on my blog and/or facebook. You will then receive your disc/slideshow.

Mostly black and white. There are always a few photos that I think translate well in color, but given the less than ideal lighting conditions of most births, black and white just processes better and also lends a more photojournalistic feel.

I also specialize in lifestyle portraiture for families and offer “Imagination Sessions” for children. I love photographing children. They have such vivid imaginations, and personalities. I really strive to capture the joy of parenthood/childhood during these sessions. I want you to take home photos that represent their truest smiles, in the most magical way possible. Moments captured that look as if they’ve been plucked right out of your happy lives. Lifestyle family sessions usually take place in your home, but can also be done outdoors. For “Imagination Sessions” we will meet at an outdoor location and I come armed with props they can really interact with. For girls it might be feathers and flowers. Wings. A tea party set. For boys it might be paper airplanes and capes, balls and bubbles. The sky’s the limit! Imagination sessions are great for siblings. They also work well for yearly/birthday photos.