family - Stephanie Friedman

Summertime at home – Family Photo Session

by admin | Jun 12, 2025 | family, photography

Summer night at home in Allandale | Austin Family Photographer

For this Family, we had to split up their Senior + Family Photo Session due to scheduling issues.

Their oldest child had his Senior Photos taken first in April in Downtown Austin.

austin high school senior class of 2025 photo session in seaholm district by stephanie friedman photography

Then we met up again in June to get a mini-session of the entire family relaxing at home. Their sweet family dog made it in a few photos as well.

If you live in Austin and are also interested in having a family photo session at home, check out my tips below.

Tips for Family Photo Sessions at home:

I’ll schedule a “location scouting” tour of your house about a week before your session. I’ll walk around your house and yard for about 15 minutes with you. Then I can plan out the best backgrounds for your photos.
Since I like to focus most on photos taken outside, before I arrive, clean up and tidy around your front door and in your backyard. The idea is to cut down on visual clutter.
Mow the lawn and consider buying some new colorful flowers to put by your door
Move your cars out of the driveway so we can use that space
Pick outfits that match the style and vibe of your house’s personality
We’ll do a mix of posed and candid shots around your yard
Family pets are always welcome 🙂

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

Interested in Booking a Family Photo Session?

Contact Me

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Summertime at home – Family Photo Session

Jun 12, 2025

Summer night at home in Allandale | Austin Family Photographer For this Family, we had to split up their Senior + Family Photo Session due to scheduling issues. Their oldest child had his Senior Photos taken first in April in Downtown Austin. Then we met up again in...

Front yard & Neighborhood Trails – Family Photo Session

by admin | Jun 6, 2025 | family, photography

At-home + Walking some Southwest Park Trails | Austin Family Photographer

I last photographed this family in the Fall. This year, we were supposed to have an Extended Family photo session at the University of Texas based around graduation, but I got sick.

They were so sweet and flexible. So, we pivoted to a family session a few weeks later in the Spring. We talked about location options, but the mom decided she wanted to use the same locations as last year – their front yard and the nearby park trails in Southwest Austin.

Her garden was in bloom and the grass was so green from the recent rains. We also got to recreate some similar front yard poses to see how the kids have grown.

Last year:

This year:

Tips for Family Photo Sessions in the park:

Pack water if it’s a hot day, and bring snacks if you think your kids will get hungry during the family photo session.
Wear comfortable shoes since we’ll be walking along the trails.
Bring a blanket whose colors coordinate with your outfits in case we want to take any seated photos.
You can also bring a prop for an activity you enjoy doing (guitar, kite, ball, etc.)

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

Client Feedback

“A good friend just came to visit us recently and looked around at our walls covered with family pictures that Stephanie has taken over the years and said this feels like such an incredible home because of all of these pictures.

It warmed my heart when she gave me this compliment, and I marveled at how much my children have grown throughout the years.

I love having these pictures to keep track of our family and to remind us of how precious time is together.”

Interested in Booking a Family Photo Session?

Contact Me

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Mueller Greenway – Family Photo Session

by admin | Apr 21, 2025 | family, photography

Spring Wildflowers at Mueller Southwest Greenway Park | Austin Family Photography

I last saw this family a few years ago among the poppies of Georgetown.

This year, we met up closer to home during wildflower season at Mueller Southwest Greenway.

And just because there weren’t as many blooms as usual, I also brought a flower crown and floral backdrop to use for a few images.

If you live in Austin and are also interested in having your Family Photo Session at Mueller Southwest Greenway, check out my tips below.

Tips for Family Photo Sessions at Mueller Southwest Greenway:

The full Wildflower season lasts from March – May in a good year
Late Spring (mid-April) is peak season for wildflowers at this park (though bloom quantity will vary from year to year)
These sessions work best at golden hour (about 1-2 hours before sunset)
Wear closed-toed shoes or boots since the grass gets pretty high at peak wildflower season
Keep an eye out for bugs, reptiles and other creatures among the fields
Plan to meet at the Butterfly Garden’s Rocket Ship (an excellent landmark meeting spot)
There are lots of great restaurants in the Mueller area to eat dinner at after your family photo session

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

What prompted you to have this photo session? Our kids are growing up so quickly, and we wanted to have some intentional, quality photos of the four of us together to capture this chapter of our lives.
What do you plan to do with your digital photos? We plan to share them with grandparents and have some for ourselves to remember how young we are :).
How did you choose your location for your session? We wanted a natural setting, and Stephanie helped us pick the perfect spot that was close to our home and allowed us to get there while the lighting was good. We love Texas flowers in the spring so were glad to have those captured too!
What advice would you give to others planning a similar Family photo session? Plan ahead on outfits so everyone feels comfortable and you’re not last-second shopping at Old Navy. Get everyone excited about doing the pics and have something fun planned for after!
Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography? Stephanie is so easy to work with. She’s laid back but also provides the guidance that you need to get the most out of your session together. She thinks about all of the little details – where your hands are, stray hairs, etc. – and helps everyone feel really great about how they look!

Interested in Booking a Family Photo Session?

Contact Me

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Laguna Gloria – Quinceañera Photo Session

by admin | Apr 14, 2025 | family, photography

Laguna Gloria Villa + Gardens | Austin Quinceañera Photo Session

For this Quinceañera + Extended Family Photo Session, we met at The Contemporary Austin – Laguna Gloria in Central Austin.

We took photos inside the Driscoll Villa and on the grounds. Her family was on hand to be in photos and to help make sure she and her dress were always looking the best.

If you live in Austin and are also interested in having a Photo Session in this location, check out my tips below.

Tips for Photo Sessions at the Contemporary Austin / Laguna Gloria:

A location fee and advance bookings are required for any formal portrait sessions taken there
Check out their photography guidelines and current fees
Know that they may book multiple photographers during the same time period, so have several spots in mind for backdrops in case someone else is where you want to be first
The Museum is only open late on Thursdays, so if you want “golden hour” aim for that day
There are two restrooms available for outfit changes

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

What prompted you to have this photo session? Our daughter had a quinceañera last year but we never got really great photos of her in her dress. We wanted to capture her at this age in that gorgeous dress and also wanted to have some great photos with the family as a keepsake.
What do you plan to do with your digital photos? I’d like to have a few printed out and shared with the family and to display in our home. I’ll also probably put the best prints in an album to keep for our family.
How did you choose your location for your session? Our daughter loves Mayfield Park, and when we found out it was unavailable, Stephanie provided a list of alternate locations. Laguna Gloria is right next to Mayfield and when I looked at the pics online I knew it was just what we were looking for. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous.
What advice would you give to others planning a similar photo session? Consider bringing a pair of walking shoes to get from spot to spot! Also, double-check the weather and be prepared for hot or cold. 🙂 Most importantly, have fun with the session.
Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography? Stephanie was fantastic to work with! She sent over super helpful info ahead of time so everyone knew what to expect, and it made a big difference. She clearly has a great vision and did an awesome job guiding the shoot while keeping everything organized and on track.

Interested in Booking a Photo Session?

Contact Me

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Blanton Museum Courtyard – Photo Session

by admin | Apr 7, 2025 | family

Museum Courtyard Photos on the University of Texas Campus | Austin Photo Session

I last photographed this High School student at Pease Park with his family.

This year we met up at the Blanton Museum Courtyard for some colorful portraits.

If you live in Austin and are also interested in having a Photo Session in the Blanton Museum Courtyard, check out my tips below.

Tips for Photo Sessions at the Blanton Museum Courtyard:

PARKING: I always recommend paying for parking at the Brazos Garage on MLK and then walking over.
LOCATIONS: There are so many intersesting and colorful backgrounds in this one small area. I love that you can see the Texas Capitol peeking from behind when you are seated under the Petals sculptures. Don’t forget about the alphabet mural on the backside of the Museum as well. ***If you want to take any photos inside the Museum itself, The Blanton is not available for professional photoshoots inside the museum at this time
WARDROBE: You’ll be surrounded by some bright, vivid colors, so keep that in mind when planning your outfits.
SCHEDULE: Double check the Blanton’s Events page and the University of Texas Football schedule to make sure you won’t have conflicts. Also the Museum is closed on Mondays if you want the Courtyard when it’s least crowded. (in our case – there was still a covered tent set-up from the Blanton’s Gala the night before)

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

Interested in Booking a Photo Session?

Contact Me

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Mayfield Park – Holiday Family Photos

by admin | Dec 31, 2024 | family, photography

Sunrise Session in the Park | Austin Family Photo Session

Last year I met this family at Lakewood Park near their home in Leander, Texas for their holiday photo session.

This year, the plan was an early morning session at Mayfield Park in Central Austin. After stalking the Mayfield Park booking calendar 30 days in advance to make sure we had a time slot and then paying the location fee, we were all set.

Tips for a Family Photo Session at Mayfield Park:

PERMITS: A commercial permit (including a location fee) is required to take photos at the Mayfield Cottage and Gardens. And bookings are only available 30 days in advance.
PEACOCKS: Be mindful of Mayfield Park’s free-roaming peacocks. Keep a respectful distance, but if they’re near you – feel free to capture them in your backgrounds. Or you can bring in your own peacock feathers to blend in.
PARK FEATURES: Besides the cottage on the grounds, there are also seasonal flowerbeds, lily ponds, a small water feature, stone arches and a stone tower. You can also explore the nearby Mayfield Trails.
PARKING: The small lot often gets filled up quickly, so you may need to park on the street.

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

After I took their Christmas Card photos, there was a costume change for Halloween. She was a “Greek Goddess” among the flowers, towers and roaming birds. See some favorites below.