Day one was lots of chatting and headshots...

Pretty group, huh?

Day two was PACKED full of events including our in-home family newborn photo session demonstration for the amazing photographer, Scott, and his sweet baby girl:

Behind the scenes....

Followed by an in-home family photo session demonstration for a dear client/friend:

Behind the scenes...

(Why yes, this would be where I made my "unlawful entry" as referenced today on Facebook ;-) Forgot to mention that I also thought I had locked my keys in the car and we all spent about 15 minutes looking for them only to find them in my camera bag where I had deliberately placed them. Must have been getting a bit loopy by then.)

Day two is not over yet...now it was time for the ladies to practice some of their new techniques...

 (Families and models: I'm going to start sending out your pics soon...hang in there ;-)

See? I told you Day 2 was a monster, but dinner that evening was simply wonderful and we all got rested up for our last day of proofing and wrapping up. 

The workshops are equally exhausting and rewarding for all of us, I think. I love that we become such a close-knit group and stay in touch long after the workshop is over. I love the surprise of seeing the images the attendees create in my e-mail inbox--their work was absolutely amazing, by the way...so impressed with what they're able to do under a bit of a pressure situation. I love that we've actually organized a reunion/charity project for the Pinkle Toes "Class of 2011" and I can't wait to tell you all about that after the event! (Ladies of 2012...keep that in mind.)

Members of Pinkle Toes 4 Photographers: there are only TWO openings left for workshops in 2012. That's it. I'm currently not planning to offer any more workshops this year or next. Please visit this page for details.

I know photographers pray to have sleepy newborns at photo sessions, but this was a bit much. We tried everything we could to get this little snuggle bug to wake up for at least a few images for his photographic debut, but he would not oblige. He was just too content...

I have to say, I feel pretty special that I'm often one of the first people to know when my clients are expecting. Quite literally the day of the first session I had with her beautiful family, she whispered to me that she might be needing me again this past November. And sure enough, we did and he was a delight!

I first spoke of my friend Michelle (my sister in Virgo-hood) several years ago on my blog. I have longed for the opportunity to do something for her and I was thrilled when I finally got the chance to photograph her stunning family. She and the rest of the Heartsong family have given me and my kiddos and many, many other families in the Austin area the precious gift of music...together (did you see her on the news???).  It is a gift which has extended beyond the classroom at Heartsong for me and has even allowed my mother and I the opportunity to sing together in the Women of Heartsong Choir. I am eternally grateful for that.

Michelle was gifted with not only a beautiful voice and the talent to play the guitar (did you ever hear her song, "Welcome Baby" featured on this birth slideshow?), but she is magical when it comes to working with children...and their parents. Not surprisingly...she is also magical when it comes to her own family. It was a beautiful evening and I hope you love these images as much as I do, Michelle.

...is still just as sweet.

Let me just tell you that I'm glad I decided to go to bed at 11 last night instead of staying up to proof pics because that 2 a.m. call this morning wasn't quite in my plans, LOL. This little man surprised us all just a bit as we were planning to meet him on Monday. It was absolutely incredible to get to be there with this family again (I was there the day their first son was born) and wow, were we all impressed with how big brother *immediately* took to his new sidekick. It was beautiful! 

Speaking of beautiful...

....I know. I know. I should just make this the fashion!

It was an exhausting (I haven't pulled a double header in a long time ;-) but ULTRA JOYOUS day! Gosh, I had to pinch myself periodically--is this really my life...my job??? I absolutely adore this family and it was such an honor to get to document his birth. Congratulations again, you guys (guess I'll find out his name at his newborn session, LOL?). You make beautiful babies!

But of course, then look at his parents! We were delayed a bit for one reason after another, but we finally got to celebrate his one year birthday at tad late.  We definitely did it in style:

I always get emotional at newborn sessions, but recently, I've started getting choked up at the 1 year sessions. I guess it's just the shock of greeting a family and all of a sudden, their little baby is walking (or in his case, running) all around. He's not a baby...he's a toddler...and then next thing you know, he's going to be a teenager. Okay...a big leap, I know, but it just seems so in-my-face lately how kids (read: my kids) are going to keep growing up and I'm kind of stuck in this time vacuum. Does that make any sense? Probably not. But it sure does fill me with a strange mix of joy and longing. I mean...I photographed that beautiful couple when they hadn't yet become parents...and then I saw them again during one of the most joyful and yet vulnerable times of their lives as parents of a newborn. And now I see them again and how gracefully they've embraced parenthood and how this little guy is thriving and it just overwhelms me. 

I'm a mess. I'm a big ol' mess tonight. But that's good. It means that I don't take this responsibility lightly. I'm honored. Truly.

For everything. She is all that is joyful and exuberant and girly and bright. She is my sunshine and she never fails to wake us up every morning with her glowing personality. I find myself making goo goo eyes over her even during the simplest of tasks. I don't know what we did to deserve her, but I'm forever grateful she chose our family.

Congrats to this cutie pie and her family for a long and well-fought contest and let's be in touch to schedule your winning session!

And we have two runners up, who will be receiving an additional $100 session credit:

and

Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote (there were more than 2,300 votes in the final round) and congrats one more time to the 12 finalists and the winners. It just gets better and better every year!!!!

See them all large HERE. In no particular order. Vote below (if poll is not showing properly, you can vote HERE):

Narrowed down from 40 entries, the finalists were selected as follows:

Round 1 - Jan 16 through midnight central on January 22nd, 2012

Use THIS poll below (for Round 1, you can select more than 1 image!):

Review the entire gallery HERE (you can also click on each image to make it bigger). Poll not displaying properly? Click THIS LINK to vote instead. Again, you can vote for more than one image, but you can only vote one time.

Round 2 - January 23rd-31st, 2011

- 4 finalists will be chosen based on this poll.

- 4 additional finalists will be selected by a panel of professional photographers.

- 4 more finalists will be added by me.

- Another poll will be put up so you can make your final decision from among those 12.

The set is coming together for this weekend's .emme. boudoir sweetheart mini sessions. Just a few openings Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Let's chat if you want to learn more...

 ....from line item 2 in this post, a sneak from the fantasy makeup concept shoot this afternoon for .emme. boudoir in prep for next week's mini sessions. More here if you're so inclined. Line item 1 will be coming later tonight ;-).

For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you probably already saw that my attempt to take the kids to experience the Architects of Air luminarium at the Long Center yesterday was a bust (we ended up having fun on Soco, instead). But I really didn't want to give up, so back we went today. For you workshop girls, you know that this is no short jaunt for us and I was really nervous the line would be too long again. 

Well, it was too long, but we waited anyway. At least this time, I had my husband with me so we could hold our place in line and let the kids go run and play while we waited. But considering it was only a 1.5 hr wait, I think that's pretty good in comparison to the the folks in line behind us because it got baaaaaaaaaaaad. Oi. At least the cash bar they set up (including goldfish snacks for the kids) made it a bit more bearable.

It was fun, though. I don't think I would have wanted to wait any more than we did, however. Wish we could have done a weekday instead. (If you're in Austin and want to see this, the 20th is your last day, I believe). If you're taking pics, bring the widest lens you've got (I had to use my fisheye to get anything really) and be prepared for funky low light and lots of strange people in your shots, LOL. It was nice to spend this time with the fam.   

Got some fun things coming up on here in the next few days, by the way:

1. Later tonight, I'll be posting the gallery of our client selections for the 3rd Annual Pinkle's Pic of the Year contest! I'm really glad to have relinquished control over the nominations to my clients...they have made some amazing selections and I am so excited to see who is going to come away as the 2011 Pinkle's Pic of the Year.

2. Got some lovely ladies coming over in a bit to test out a fantasy make up idea for the .emme. boudoir sweetheart mini sessions coming up this weekend (I can still squeeze a couple of people in on Sunday if you can make it). Can't wait to post a sneak of Katie's creation.

3. And finally...a little peek at a project I'm working on for the workshop folks and for my clients. Interesting experiment looking at the print quality side-by-side from several different professional and general public printers. Wow! You can't see/feel it here in a picture, but wait until you get up close.

Back in a bit...

Just a few openings next weekend for the .emme. boudoir sweetheart mini sessions in Austin! These mini sessions don't come along often, so don't miss out.

We've been having some amazing sunsets at the Pinkle Toes studio this winter. Add that to the amazing green grass my hubby planted + two beautiful expectant parents and it makes my heart flutter with joy. All of my newborn clients have the option to add a mini maternity session to their newborn session to document this precious time without having to invest in a full session...definitely take advantage of that opportunity if you can!

Speaking of opportunities, if you have a baby or are expecting to have a baby any time between 1/10/12 and 1/31/12 and live in Austin, we want to hear from you!!! It could definitely be worth your while ;-).

[Aaaaaaaanddd...just a thought, but all of you expectant mommies (or even if you're thinking of having a baby in the near future) in Austin...our .emme. boudoir sweetheart mini sessions coming up next weekend might just be the perfect Valentine's Day gift ;-).]

- had a baby or are due to have a baby anytime between TODAY 1/10/12 and 1/31/12 AND

- you live in Austin, TX AND

- you might be willing to let 10 photographers invade your home and practice photographing you and your significant other and your new baby

then PLEASE, fill this out. You MUST meet all of the requirements above, so please do not fill this out if you don't.

If you look like an ideal candidate, I may contact you to schedule an in-home interview. Your home does not need to be professionally decorated...it just has to be large enough so that we can all walk around in there or squeeze into a room during the session ;-).

Thank you!!!