Fun Things to do in Austin – September 2026

by admin | Sep 1, 2026 | Austin, Newsletter, photography

Cathedral of Junk, Free Day of Yoga and BubblePalooza | September Newsletter links

Happy September!

Looking for ways to enjoy the Back to School season in Austin?

See below for some fun places to visit, events to attend and classes to sign up for.

And if you’d like an anytime Fall Activity List, check out this blog post.

September spotlight

Visit the Cathedral of Junk in South Austin for a perfect Keep Austin Weird experience. Make sure you call first to see when they’re open that week. It’s three floors of the best artistic junk.

September EVENTS

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Bat Fest on Sept. 5th with music and nearly 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats. Don’t forget about the Bat Costume Contest for Adults and Kids ($100 prize each).

Bring your favorite magic-lover to see Houdini’s Library at the Harry Ranson Center (on display until 1/24/27)

Stretch and breathe at multiple locations for the Free Day of Yoga on Sept. 7th.

Spend an evening stargazing at the West Cave monthly star party on Sept. 12th.

Horns up as UT Football season starts with home games on Sept. 5th, 12th and 19th

See Treasure Island reimagined at the State Theater on Sept. 18th and 19th. Did you see Intergalatic Nemesis when it came out in 1996 or onstage in 2010? – this is the same group.

Watch something new at Fantastic Fest for 8 days of screenings in September (17th-24th) with the Alamo Drafthouse.

Take your kids to BubblePalooza Community Day at the Long Center on Sept. 19th. Expect live music, food trucks and lots of bubbles. Tip: dress your kid in a bathing suit and then go to the fountain at Butler Park next door after the event.

See lots of art on the free Austin Museum Day on Sept. 20th. Over 30 local Museums will be participating.

Experience a Latino Moonlight Serenade from the water with the Texas Rowing Center on Sept. 24th.

Rent a canoe and see the immersive show Waterwork on Sept. 26th and 27th on the side of the Seaholm Intake Facility from the water.

The new amusement park COTA Land opens on Sept. 26th at the Circuit of the Americas. They have rides for all ages (and various levels of thrills).

Lace up your running shoes for the Violet Crown Trail Fun Run on Sept. 26th.

Fill your bag with new books at the Independent Book Fair on Sept. 27th at Radio/East.

September CLASSES

Sip & Paint at Meanwhile Brewing and go how with a new piece of art on Sept. 16th.

Take a Letterpress workshop and make your own unique lobby movie poster on Sept. 19th.

Create beautiful pretzels on Sept. 20th at Barton Springs Mill (in Dripping Springs). Or make NY Pizza there for a Date night on Sept. 4th. Or take your kid to make banana bread with you on Sept. 5th.

It’s your move when you join a weekly game night (Chess on the second and fourth Mondays or Backgammon on the first and third Tuesdays) at the Victorian Knights Club upstairs at the Driskill

Try your hand at Ikebana, the Japanese art of floral design (multiple dates available starting Sept. 22nd) at Tonari by Uroko.

Learn to two-step at Sagebrush on Tuesday nights.

September VOLUNTEERING

Bake birthday cakes for the Saint Louise House residents with Austin Allies on Sept. 8th or Sept. 21st.

Sort produce for the HOPE Food Pantry on Sept. 9th with Generation Serve.

Help clean up Lady Bird Lake with Keep Austin Beautiful on Sept. 2nd.

Work in the Community Butterfly Garden at Zilker Botanical Gardens on Sept. 1st. Or you could sign up to monitor and photograph their native bees.

September PHOTO SESSIONS

If you’d like to book a Senior or Family Photo Session this Fall, reach out and let me know, my calendar is ready for booking dates from September to December 2026.

Have fun and stay cool

Sign up to get my newsletter delivered to your inbox.

Stephanie Friedman first picked up a camera in high school, went on to study photojournalism in college (Hook ‘Em), then worked as a photo researcher in educational publishing for over 20 years.

During all that, she’s been photographing Families and Seniors for the last 10 years. You can count on her to be communicative and organized before your session. She’ll help you feel relaxed and confident during your session. And you’ll have a smile on your face after your session once you see your new photos.

Interested in Booking a Photo Session?

Contact Me

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Fun Things to do in Austin – September 2026

Sep 1, 2026

Cathedral of Junk, Free Day of Yoga and BubblePalooza | September Newsletter links Happy September! Looking for ways to enjoy the Back to School season in Austin? See below for some fun places to visit, events to attend and classes to sign up for. And if you'd like an...

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Senior Year Planner – Austin To Do List

by admin | Aug 5, 2026 | seniors

High School Senior Year To Do List | Austin, Texas

Ready to make the most of your last year of High School?

High School Seniors (and your Parents):

See below for a month by month checklist of To Dos and Fun to Go Tos for 2026-2027 School Year.

August

8/1/26 – Common App for College applications opens
8/18/26 – First Day of School at AISD! Take a photo to remember it by
Go swim in Barton Springs to cool off with friends
Plan a Senior Sunrise meet-up with Friends

September

Book your Senior Photos for Fall
Work on your Early Decision College Applications and Essays
Watch the Bats come out from the S. Congress St. Bridge
Go paddleboard around Lady Bird Lake
Get dressed up with friends and go to your Homecoming

October

10/1/26 – FAFSA Student Aid opens for 2027-2028
10/2-10/4 & 10/9-10/11 – Go to the ACL Music Festival
Cheer on your school at a game
Go to the Texas Renaissance Festival
Continue to work on your College Applications and Essays

November

11/14-11/15/26 – Go to the Texas Book Festival
Submit College Applications (some Early Decisions are due Nov. 1st)
Hike the Greenbelt
Volunteer at a food bank or toy drive

December

Walk the Trail of Lights
Submit College Applications (some Regular Admissions are due around Dec. 1st)
Tour Colleges on Winter Break

January

Book Senior Photos for the Spring
Go on a BBQ road trip
Listen to music at an all-ages venue in Austin
Research available scholarships

February

Buy some spray paint and leave your mark on HOPE Outdoor Gallery
See how many iconic Austin murals you can visit in one day (start on S. Congress)
Go camping with friends

March

3/15-3/21 – Go to (or volunteer at) SXSW for music, movies and interactive events
Visit Rodeo Austin for music, prorodeo events and a huge carnival
Go see the bluebonnets and get your photo taken in them
Tour Colleges on Spring Break

April

Celebrate Eeyore’s Birthday Party at Pease Park
Dress up and go to Prom
See the Spring wildflower at the Wildflower Center
Write a Thank you note to your favorite teacher

May

Study for your AP Classes and Final Exams
Schedule a Senior Sunset meet-up with Friends
Do an Elementary School Senior Walk
Write a Letter to your Future Self
Sign as many yearbooks as possible
Plan a Graduation Party
Happy Last Day of High School!

___________________________________________________________________________________

Please contact me if you’d like to book a Senior portrait session in Austin, Texas this school year.

Ready to book your High School Senior photo session?

Contact Me

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Tips for a Senior Photo Session at Auditorium Shores

by admin | Jul 25, 2026 | photography, seniors

Tips for Photo Sessions at Vic Mathias Shores | Austin Senior Photographer

One of the questions on my Senior intake form is: Do you have any location preferences?

This High School Senior told me she definitely wanted to get some photos with the Wonder Woman Mural at the LINE Hotel.

Since I’ve never included this mural in any of my previous photo sessions, I needed to do some location scouting first. So, I went to South Austin to see what else might be scenic around the mural, also keeping in mind:

Where are good parking options?
How far would we need to walk between locations?
Could we get a mix of urban and nature backgrounds?

map of auditorium shores in austin

After this pre-session research, I recommended we park and meet at Vic Mathias Shores (aka Auditorium Shores).

This 57 acre park is located in South Austin right next to Lady Bird Lake. We could walk across the S. 1st Bridge to get mural and downtown skyline photos. Then we could go back to the park for some nature shots on the Hike-and-Bike Trail.

downtown austin skyline views from the s. 1st street bridge senior photo session

Austin Skyline from the S. 1st St. Bridge

We also made sure to get some photos celebrating where she’s going to college.

high school senior in texas tech college gear at her photo session at auditorium shores in austin

Having her “guns up” for Texas Tech

This family was great about brinding a variety of props to the Senior Session. We got to take photos with her cello, her cap and gown and a photo of her from kindergarten.

If you’d also like to have a photo session around Auditorium Shores, here are my tips below:

PARKING: There is limited free parking at the Vic Mathias lot and along W. Riverside drive. (It fills up fast with runners parking for the Trail). There is also paid parking at the Long Center across the street.
OPERATING HOURS: The park is open from 5am-10pm daily.
LOCATIONS: Main features include Downtown Austin skyline views from the bridge and the trail.
RESTROOMS: There are public restrooms next to the parking lot of Vic Mathias Shores you can use to change outfits in. (Or you can also change outfits in your car)
EVENTS: Keep an eye on local event calendars to make sure there aren’t major conflicts at Audiorium Shores or the Long Center.
NEARBY RESTAURANTS: If you’d like to go out for dinner after your photo session at Auditorium Shores, some nearby favorites include: Terry Black’s BBQ, Mexican Restaurant El Alma, and walk up or drive-through Sandy’s Hamburgers.
DOG-FRIENDLY: Yes, this park is definitely dog-friendly. In fact, Auditorium Shores is an off-leash dog zone at the western end. (So keep that in mind if you’re allergic).
WHAT TO BRING: It’s optional, but some prop ideas are listed HERE for Seniors.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own Senior photo session in Austin, Texas. Explore more photo sessions on my blog.

Client Feedback and Advice

What prompted you to have this photo session? My daughter will be a senior for the 26-27 SY and we wanted to make sure to book her Senior Photo session early so we can use the photos all year long.
What do you plan to do with your digital photos? We will use them for her graduation announcement and anything to do with Senior year. I will also use them as I plan out her senior year activities. I also wanted to capture her for this monumental event so I can have the photos for the future.
How did you choose your location for your session?We chose the locations because they hold personal meaning to the Senior. Each spot holds a special memory of her childhood, which we believe makes them the perfect setting for her senior photos.
What advice would you give to other High School Seniors planning a similar photo session?
My senior’s advice to other seniors would be to choose a location that’s meaningful to you. Don’t pick a spot just because it looks pretty, make sure that spot holds a special message or story for you.

My advice is to do research because there are so many resources out there to help guide what you want…to wear, to bring, to prepare, to pose.

5. Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography?

Working with Stephanie Friedman was a great experience. Her prices were fair and the photos on her site were beautiful.

From my Senior: Senior photos can be stressful and awkward, but Stephanie made our photo session run smoothly with an up-beat and positive attitude. She was very helpful when deciding the best poses and was prepared for anything. From my senior…”I’ll always be grateful to have shared my senior pictures experience with her.”

stephanie friedman headshot

Stephanie Friedman first picked up a camera in high school, went on to study photojournalism at the University of Texas (Hook ‘Em), then worked as a photo researcher in educational publishing for over 20 years.

Besides all that, she’s been photographing Families and Seniors for the last 10 years. You can count on her to be communicative and organized before your session. She’ll help you feel relaxed and confident during your session. And you’ll have a smile on your face after your session once you see your new photos.

Interested in Booking a Senior or Family Photo Session?

Contact Me

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Elementary Graduation – 360 Overlook Session

by admin | Jun 4, 2026 | graduation

Tips for Photo Sessions at the 360 Overlook | Austin Senior Photographer

This group of nine 5th graders wanted to celebrate graduating Elementary School together. So we met at the top of the 360 bridge overlook.

I loved that one of the moms made sure everyone had 2026 sunglasses, matching caps and stoles (in pink, of course) to wear for some of the group photos.

The 360 Overlook is located in Southwest Austin next to the 360 Bridge. You’ll park on the side of the 360 highway and take a short 10 minute rocky climb straight up.

view from the 360 bridge overlook in austin

If you’d also like to have a photo session at the top of the 360 Overlook, here are my tips below:

PARKING: There is illegal parking on the unpaved shoulder of Loop 360 (but that’s where everyone parks). You can also park back in the neighborhood, but it’s a longer walk to the trailhead.
OPERATING HOURS: The area is open 24 hours day/7 days a week. Weekends are more crowded.
LOCATIONS: Main features include the view from the top of the overlook. I think the light looks best for sunset sessions. It’s about 0.5 miles out and back.
RESTROOMS: There are no nearby restrooms.
SAFETY: Wear good hiking shoes (or change into cuter shoes at the top). The limestone path up is best with close-toed sturdy shoes. Also, there are no guardrails at the top – so be very careful at the edge. The cliff drops straight down. There are frequent break-ins at the parking spots as well – so don’t leave any valuables in sight.
NEARBY RESTAURANTS: If you’d like to go out for dinner after your photo session at the Overlook, some nearby favorites off of 360 include: County Line on the Lake (BBQ), Jack Allen’s Kitchen (Southern Comfort food) and Maudie’s Milagro (Tex-Mex).
DOG-FRIENDLY: Yes, this area is definitely dog-friendly if your dog is a good climber and on a leash.
WHAT TO BRING: It’s optional, but some prop ideas are listed HERE for families and HERE for Seniors.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own Senior or Family photo session in Austin, Texas. Explore more photo sessions on my blog.

stephanie friedman headshot

Interested in Booking a Senior or Family Photo Session?

Contact Me

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Butler Park – Senior + Family Portrait Session

by admin | May 17, 2026 | photography, seniors

Tips for Photo Sessions at Butler Park | Austin Senior and Family Photographer

This High School Senior was looking for a nature setting in South Austin for her combination Senior + Family photo session this Spring.

One of the spots I recommended was Butler Park.

This park is located in South Austin next to the Long Center. It has great Downtown Austin skyline views and three small docks overlooking a pond. We met on a Monday night so it wasn’t very crowded at the park.

map of butler park in austin

Since the splash pad was running (it’s generally open year round and usually on from 10am-10pm), we ended her photo session among the jets. (I did have to photoshop out a few children splashing around in the background, but that’s to be expected).

We also made sure to get some photos celebrating where she’s going to college in the Fall.

And check out in the Gallery below all the creative ways they made an “N” for their photos.

senior graduation photo session. the high school senior is wearing coordinating nebraska college shirts with parents

If you’d also like to have a photo session at Butler Park, here are my tips below:

PARKING: There is a small paid parking lot off of Barton Springs Road. Use the Park ATX app to pay Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm and on Saturdays from 12pm-5pm. If the parking lot is full, you can also look for street parking along Riverside Dr. or in the pay lot at the Long Center.
OPERATING HOURS: The park is open from 5am-10pm daily.
LOCATIONS: Main features include the Doug Sahm Hill (with those downtown Austin skyline views), an open meadow, walking trails, three docks overlooking the pond and some flower beds.
RESTROOMS: There are public restrooms near the Alliance Children’s Garden you can use to change outfits in. (Or you can also change outfits in your car)
EVENTS: Keep an eye on local event calendars to make sure there aren’t major conflicts nearby at the Palmer Events Center or the Long Center.
NEARBY RESTAURANTS: If you’d like to go out for dinner after your photo session at Butler Park, some nearby favorites include: Terry Black’s BBQ, Mexican Restaurant El Alma, and walk up or drive-through Sandy’s Hamburgers.
DOG-FRIENDLY: Yes, this park is definitely dog-friendly.
WHAT TO BRING: It’s optional, but some prop ideas are listed HERE for families and HERE for Seniors.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own Senior photo session in Austin, Texas. Explore more photo sessions on my blog.

Client Feedback and Advice

What prompted you to have this photo session?I asked for referrals from friends who also had seniors and your name came up. I checked out your site, and you had availability on our timeline.
What do you plan to do with your digital photos? We’ll use them to create announcements for her graduation and grad party. We’ll also share them with family who are out of state.
How did you choose your location for your session?My senior had a preference for nature, and we wanted some with the city skyline. Stephanie recommended the perfect place that worked for both!
What advice would you give to other High School Seniors planning a similar photo session?Be flexible and prepared to have fun and maybe be a little goofy. The goal is to capture your senior in their element and celebrate how we’ve all made it to senior year!
Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography? Working with Stephanie was incredibly easy. From scheduling to meeting up at the location, the emails and texts made it simple and low stress.

stephanie friedman headshot

Interested in Booking a Senior or Family Photo Session?

Contact Me

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Sisters Shared Senior Photos – UT Graduation Session

by admin | May 7, 2026 | photography, seniors

University of Texas at Austin College Photo Session | Austin Senior Photographer

When planning a University of Texas college photo session, I tell my Graduating Seniors to pick their top three-four anchor locations on campus. Then we’ll plan the flow of their session around these spots.

Outlining the route:

For these twin sisters, they picked the:

Gearing Courtyard with views of the Tower (The Tower has scaffolding about halfway up from this angle)
Life Sciences Library inside the Tower (which ended up being locked (!) and inaccessible due to construction)
Calhoun Outdoor Hallways/Six Pack buildings
University of Texas sign on the South mall (which we scrapped and replaced with the Littlefield Fountain for some champagne popping)

as their must-haves. Thanks to these seniors for being flexible as we changed some of our spots on the spot.

university of texas twin sisters shared college graduation photo session

Then it was Horns Up as we walked around campus.

I made sure to get a mix of solo photos of each graduate as well as photos of them together. And to have a towel ready for them after their fountain celebratory dip.

If you’d also like to have a Graduating Senior photo session on the University of Texas at Austin campus, here are my recommendations below:

TIMING: Right before Spring Graduation, Campus gets pretty full of photo shoots. So try and plan earlier in the semester or choose off-times for your photos (or be okay with waiting for your turn in front of popular spots)
PREP: Iron your regalia and bring it on a hanger.
WHAT TO WEAR: You can pose in your full cap and gown, part of your regalia, regular dressy clothes or any combination of the above.
LOCATIONS: If you have a particular spot on campus that means a lot to you (Ex. where you took the majority of your classes), let me know so we can include it in our route.
ROUTE: I’ll send you a list of popular spots before your date so you can give me your top four choices to visit in your hour-long session.
MINI ADD-ON: If your family will be in town, we can add-on a mini-family photo session.
CELEBRATE: If you want to end your session in the Littlefield Fountain – bring some champagne to “pop” as well as a towel for drying off and flip flops to wear for afterwards. You can also bring some biodegradable paper confetti cannons to pop.
WALKING SHOES: Since we’ll likely be doing a lot of walking around campus, wear or bring comfortable shoes to change into between spots (I’ll have my blue rolling cart to help carry everything).
GROUP SESSIONS: If you’re interested in a group session with some friends, contact me for group pricing.
TOWER CONSTRUCTION: Keep an eye on the latest UT Tower construction updates.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own College Senior photo session in Austin, Texas. Explore more photo sessions on my blog.

stephanie friedman headshot

Stephanie Friedman first picked up a camera in high school, went on to study photojournalism in college (Hook ‘Em Horns), then worked as a photo researcher in educational publishing for over 20 years.

Besides that, she’s been photographing Families and Seniors for the last 10 years. You can count on her to be communicative and organized before your session. She’ll help you feel relaxed and confident during your session. And you’ll have a smile on your face after your session once you see your new photos.

Interested in Booking a College Senior Photo Session?

Contact Me

← Previous Post Next Post →

Cathedral of Junk, Free Day of Yoga and BubblePalooza | September Newsletter links

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Interested in Booking a Photo Session?

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High School Senior Year To Do List | Austin, Texas

Ready to make the most of your last year of High School?

High School Seniors (and your Parents):

See below for a month by month checklist of To Dos and Fun to Go Tos for 2026-2027 School Year.

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

Ready to book your High School Senior photo session?

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Tips for Photo Sessions at Vic Mathias Shores | Austin Senior Photographer

If you’d also like to have a photo session around Auditorium Shores, here are my tips below:

Client Feedback and Advice

Interested in Booking a Senior or Family Photo Session?

More From This Category

Tips for Photo Sessions at the 360 Overlook | Austin Senior Photographer

If you’d also like to have a photo session at the top of the 360 Overlook, here are my tips below:

Interested in Booking a Senior or Family Photo Session?

More From This Category

Tips for Photo Sessions at Butler Park | Austin Senior and Family Photographer

If you’d also like to have a photo session at Butler Park, here are my tips below:

Client Feedback and Advice

Interested in Booking a Senior or Family Photo Session?

More From This Category

University of Texas at Austin College Photo Session | Austin Senior Photographer

Outlining the route:

If you’d also like to have a Graduating Senior photo session on the University of Texas at Austin campus, here are my recommendations below:

Interested in Booking a College Senior Photo Session?

More From This Category

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