by admin | Oct 9, 2018 | advice / tips, photography
Bat watching boat cruise on Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas.
Looking for things to do in Austin with kids? I’ve lived here since 1994, and while I’ve seen it change a bunch, I wanted to share some of my current favorite things to do with kids throughout the year. Whether you’re an Austin native or visiting from out of town, I recommend the following places to visit. So grab your camera & your kids to explore all year long…
Johnson City Science Mill
JANUARY – Visit Museums!
In January, the weather may be iffy, so it’s a good time to explore some indoor options. Some of our favorite museums in Austin (and nearby) to visit with kids include:
Thinkery – Austin’s children’s museum.
Hill Country Science Mill – located in Johnson City, TX. Great hands-on science experience (and their cafe has A+ mac and cheese)
DoSeum – located in San Antonio, TX. We spent over four hours there recently.
St. Edwards Park
FEBRUARY – Go on a Hike!
In February it’s not too hot to be outside (like over half the year in Austin). So take this opportunity to go on some hikes with your family. Kid friendly hikes can be found at each of the following:
St. Edwards Trails – also fun to visit in the summer to splash in the water, but lovely throughout the year.
Bull Creek– also popular in summer for swimming
Balcones Park – also good later in Spring for wildflowers
Emma Long Park – multiple trails, small stretch of beach on the shores of Lake Austin
Common Ford Park – nice dock for fishing, scenic old barn good for photo backdrops
Sweet Berry Farm strawberry, Marble Falls, Texas
MARCH – Pick Strawberries!
Spring is a great time to go pick your own fruit. Some farms we really like include:
Sweet Eats Farm – in Georgetown. Also fun to visit in the summer to pick peaches, wade in the river and ride the ziplines or to visit in the Fall for Pumpkins.
Sweet Berry Farm – in Marble Falls. Also fun to visit in the Fall for Pumpkins, pick your own flowers and Corn Mazes.
There are also loads of kid-friendly events during SXSW over Spring Break.
Mix of different colored bluebonnets
APRIL – Bluebonnets!
The wildflowers are out – go visit the Wildflower Center and admire all the bluebonnets, indian paintbrush, primrose, poppies and all the other Texas natives in bloom. And it’s tradition to get your photos taken in the flowers.
Rock the Park drawing
MAY – Listen to Music!
See a show at Central Market, North Lamar or KUTX Live at Mueller Park. You can also check the Austin Chronicle for local music listings.
Rock’N River waterpark in Round Rock, Texas
JUNE – Pools are open!
Lots of favorites to visit with kids:
Deep Eddy Pool (make sure to get a Jim-Jim’s water ice while you’re there)
Barton Springs Pool (the fastest way to cool down in a Texas summer)
Rock’n River (multiple slides, lazy river and splash areas at only $10/ticket for kids)
Veterans Memorial Pool (slides, jumping platform, rope bridge, etc.)
El Salido Pool (great diving board)
Quest ATX Waterpark (must be 7 years old)
Krause Springs, Spicewood, TX
JULY – Keep swimming!
It’s still blazing hot – check out these swimming holes just outside of town:
Krause Springs (go early to avoid the crowds – pretty much my life philosophy)
Hamilton Pool (you need a reservation)
Blue Hole Georgetown (go early to avoid the crowds)
Blue Hole Wimberley (you need a reservation)
Bats over Lady Bird Lake
AUGUST – See Bats! On Boats!
It’s still hot but being on the water is always nice. Try a Bat-watching boat tour on Lady Bird Lake. We got tickets to the Lone Star Cruises – and it was a hit with all ages. Cost is $12/adult; $7/kid; $10/seniors. The tour lasts about an hour, runs from March – October, but if you go in August, the bat colony is a real sight to see. You can also rent a kayak or canoe and hang out under the bridges at sunset.
Or you could take a Glass-bottomed boat tour in San Marcos.
Austin Central Library
SEPTEMBER – Learn something new!
In celebration of Back to School – Visit the Downtown Central Library. The kid’s area is amazing. Board games to play, books to read, toys to play with and lots of computers. I also want to try their Cookbook Cafe with rotating cookbook menus.
Pumpkin Patch at Barton Hills Farm
OCTOBER – Pick Pumpkins!
Sure you could go to the grocery store and spend under $20 on a fresh pumpkin – but what’s the fun in that? Get dressed up in your costume, drive a bit out of town and explore nearby farms – and then buy your pumpkin.
Barton Hills Farm (45 minute drive from Central Austin)
Sweet Berry Farm (1 hour 15 minute drive from Central Austin)
Sweet Eats Farm (40 minute drive from Central Austin)
Volunteering with Generation Serve
NOVEMBER – Volunteer!
It’s time to Give Thanks and Give Back. Sign up to volunteer with your kids through Generation Serve.
Zilker Tree
DECEMBER – Celebrate the Holidays!
Spin under the Zilker Holiday Tree
Make gingerbread houses at the Thinkery
Drive around and look at lights
More holiday ideas
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For even more ideas of things to do in Austin with your kids, visit Do512 Family, Free Fun in Austin and Austin City Mom’s blog.
And if you want your family photos taken doing any of these things, please let me know.
by admin | Sep 29, 2018 | advice / tips, photography
What do you do with your family photos after a session?
When we get professional photos taken every year, I like to use them on our holiday card, get framed prints for our house, make a yearly ornament of the boys and incorporate them into the photo books I design as gifts for the grandparents and my husband containing photos from all year long.
Do you just enjoy your images in a digital format? Share them only on social media? Or do you also like to make products out of the images that you can hold and pass around and then eventually pass down?
The Zenfolio galleries where I post full sessions make it easy to order a variety of products. And if you want help designing something special with your images, contact me.
by admin | Sep 25, 2018 | advice / tips, photography
Want to work together for your Family Photos this year? Here are my Top 10 Tips:
- Take a look at my galleries and blog and see if my style is a good match for you.
- Contact me at least a few weeks in advance (though Spring and Fall get booked up- so the earlier the better) and tell me what’s most important to you for a photo session.
- We’ll start to design your session. Decide what kind of shoot you want to have – in-home lifestyle vs. out-on-location? If out-on-location – do you prefer a nature vs. urban setting? What area of town is easiest for you to get to? Does your family have a favorite place? Then I’ll send you options. And we’ll finalize date/time/place.
- Decide what everyone is going to wear (give yourself enough time if you want to shop online (What to wear in Spring, What to wear in Fall) – Dress for the weather (and in Texas – that’s hot and a little less hot). Clothing guidelines: pick 3-4 colors that the family can mix and match. Remember accessories AND at least 1 week before the shoot – have everyone try on their clothes – shoes included – you don’t want any surprise growth spurts catching you unprepared.
- Book haircuts – 2-3 weeks out.
- Book manicure/pedicure for yourself a few days out (if you enjoy that kind of pampering).
- Night before – lay out the clothes, have a bag packed with a hairbrush, and some water/snacks, get a good night’s sleep.
- Day of – give yourself plenty of time to get ready, eat before you come – no one wants to be hangry, if you have littles, pack extra clothes in the car. Be on time (we choose your start time for the best light). Do one last check of faces (I’ll have wipes) and hair before we start.
- Remember – I like to let kids be kids – and I’ll give you lots of direction and games to play during our session. You may be asked to play chase, twirl in a circle, toss your youngest into the air or participate in a hug attack. And if you have ideas of images you want, please let me know.
- Have fun!
by admin | Sep 24, 2018 | newborn, photography
I drove out to Leander, TX recently to meet this sweet 7 week old baby. She was awake and curious during her newborn session and happy to be snuggled in her parents’ arms. And a big thank you to her grandparents for being on hand to help with soft blankets, flower arranging and baby diaper changing.
Please enjoy this sneak peek of her newborn session images. To see all the photos and purchase prints from the gallery, click HERE.
by admin | Sep 19, 2018 | photography, summer
“Summertime is always the best of what might be” – Charles Bowden
How did we spend our Summer months? In June, I posted on Instagram my #summeractionlist. Here’s my accountability:
1) Roller skate under a disco ball – Yes! Thank you Playland Skate Center
2) Get in pictures with my guys at least once a month – Did so-so, luckily we’re getting our family pictures taken next month with Angela (so expect lots of sharing from those)
3) Introduce the boys to the following: Krause Springs, Blue Hole (Georgetown), Blue Hole (Wimberley), Hamilton Pool, Typhoon Texas and lots of swimming pools and water parks ??♂️ – We made it out to a few of these – Krause Springs was a favorite – but lots still on the list to try in 2019.
4) Continue making phone calls once a week (thanks @make5calls) to my Congressman and Senators in protest (and volunteer for @betoorourke) – Yes! Still making calls once a week – and phone banked for Beto multiple times.
5) Continue donating to @donorschoose with every photo session booked – Yes, and will continue to do so the rest of the year. You book a photo session = I donate.
6) Practice a new photography skill and take a photography class – Yes, took a studio lighting class at Precision Camera.
7) Continue volunteering with the boys @generationserve – So-so, we volunteered once in July, need to sign up for more spots this Fall.
8) Self-care by yoga class, pedicures with friends, reading in the backyard hammock – Yes – got a spa day at the lake, tried some new yoga teachers and found lots of new authors I love.
9) Go out dancing with Ted – Big no :(. Maybe this Fall….
10) Get a haircut before I try and cut my bangs again – So-so, got a haircut, still cut my own bangs 🙁
11) Go on a bat ? watching boat tour – Yes! So much fun – totally recommend – we took a Lone Star riverboat.
12) Visit more state parks like @pedernalesfallsstatepark @inkslakesp and #pacebendpark – So-so, only made it out to Pedernales.
13) Book our own family portraits for this Fall – Yes! Now just figuring out what everyone is going to wear.
14) Research some photo workshops to attend in 2019 – Yes – have started researching, but there are SO many good ones to choose from.
15) Plan some trips for after school starts (beach! visit family! visit the other side of the family!) – Not yet – but need to grab a calendar and start planning.
Now time to brainstorm some #FallActionList items…
===== stephanie friedman. austin, tx family photography. your life. close-up =====
