Summertime at home – Family Photo Session

Summertime at home – Family Photo Session

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.

family of six plus dog for backyard photo session in central austin

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?

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Front yard & Neighborhood Trails – Family Photo Session

Front yard & Neighborhood Trails – Family Photo Session

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.

at home front yard family photo session in spring

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:

brother and sister in blue clothes on a red blanket for their family photo session in south austin

This year:

brother and sister at family photo session in austin, texas

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?

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Northwest Park – High School Senior Photos

Northwest Park – High School Senior Photos

High School Senior Photo Session | Austin Senior Photographer

This high school valedictorian requested a “laid-back, super simple, no frills” session. So we met up at a nearby park for a Senior + Family photo session.

family photo session northwest park in austin by stephanie friedman photography

I’m also glad he brought so many props – we had:

  1. Cap and gown
  2. Class of 2025 accessories
  3. Framed photo from kindergarten
  4. Yo-yo (to show off his skills)
  5. Magic the Gathering cards and dice
  6. Washington U pennant and shirt, etc.

magic the gathering cards at senior photo session for graduation high schooler

If you’re also interested in having your High School Senior Photo Session at Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park, check out my tips below.

Tips for High School Senior Photo Sessions at Northwest Park:

  • I like to meet on the Shoal Creek side of the park near the bridge
  • In Spring, the field is usually filled with wildflowers
  • We can explore around the creek and by the pond for different nature backgrounds
  • The park has restrooms, but it may be closest to change outfits in your car
  • Bring props, as well as your cap & gown to capture this milestone time

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

Client Feedback and Advice

 

  1. What prompted you to have this photo session? Senior photos for invitations and to give the boy the memories of his final high school year.
  2. What do you plan to do with your digital photos? We used the photos for banners, fans, Big heads, buttons, on Grad party invites, and to look at when he is away at college.
  3. How did you choose your location for your session? I spent some time talking with Stephanie about places that would give the nature look he wanted for his photos. Which was the only request he made before doing the shoot. 
  4. What advice would you give to others planning a similar Senior photo session?
    1. Try your clothes on a couple times leading up to the day of the shoot to make sure they have the right fit, length, don’t gap in places they shouldn’t.
    2.Take the props, the prop photos are always the ones that get the most compliments.
  5. Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography?Stephanie was fantastic to work with, I reached out on a Sunday and had a response with times and dates by Monday. She is incredibly responsive and prepared, she had all the emergency items needed for a disastrous mom moment. She captured memoments in her photos that shine through showing authentic personality. I love the photos of my Senior.

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High School Graduation Party Ideas

High School Graduation Party Ideas

Graduation Party Themes and Games | Austin Senior Photography

You had your Senior Photo Session and used the photos to personalize your graduation invites. 

Now it’s time to plan the rest of your High School or College Gradauation Party. 

See below for some fun themes and guest activities to make the most of your milestone celebration.


Graduation Party Themes

photo collage through the years

Some fun themes to use at your graduation party include:

1) Through the Years – Decorate with photos from kindergarten through your Senior Year

2) School Colors – Use your current or future school colors for decor, food and drinks

3) Oh, The Places You’ll Go – Travel- inspired decor, globes and passport-style invites for a Dr. Seuss Theme. Have lots of maps and destination signs.

4) Your Future’s So Bright – Glow sticks, black lights and neon decor. Can also use items that symbolize the grad’s future plans (ex. medical school, law school, etc.)

5) Hollywood Red Carpet – Fancy dress code, red carpet outside and polaroid “paparazzi” photos as favors


      Graduation Party Games & Activities

      advice jar for seniors

      Here are some creative ideas for party games and guest activities for your Graduation Party:

      1) Advice Jar – Guests write tips on pieces of paper to put in a jar for the graduate to read later. You could also fill up a journal or blank book with guests to write in with advice.

      2) “Open When” letters – Ask family and friends to write short messages to the Senior to open at different times in the following year. Examples: “Open when” you feel homesick, “Open when” you need a laugh, or “Open when” you need a pep talk.

      You could also provide blank postcards for your guests to write on and that you will send throughout the student’s next year. 

      3) Caps Off Time capsule – Ask your guests to bring something specific to the grad’s year to open 10-15 years later.

      4) Graduation Bingo – Make a custom bingo card with squares like “guests gives a toast,” “grad takes a selfie,” “someone asks what their major will be”

      5) Who Knows the Grad Best? – Create a trivia game with questions about the Senior’s favorite foods, habits and history. Winner gets a fun prize.

       

       

      Have fun and party on!

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        Upper & Lower Falls at McKinney Falls State Park – Senior Photos

        Upper & Lower Falls at McKinney Falls State Park – Senior Photos

        Exploring McKinney Falls State Park | Austin Senior Photographer

        This High School Senior (and future Texas State student) chose McKinney Falls State Park for his photo session location.

        mckinney falls lower falls park senior photography session

        The park wasn’t too crowded for a week night in late Spring. (Though I did photoshop out a few swimmers in the background)

        If you live in Austin and are also interested in having your High School Senior Photo Session at McKinney Falls, check out my tips below.

        Tips for Photo Sessions at McKinney Falls State Park:

        • Park reservations are required, so make sure you get a day pass in advance of your chosen session date.
        • Entrance Fees are $6/adult.
        • The Park has over nine miles of trails, but I like the Upper Falls and Lower Falls along Onion Creek the best.
        • There are several restrooms off the trails to use for outfit changes. 
        • Springtime can bring wildflowers to the Park (keep an eye on their social media to see how the blooms are looking – and any other useful Park alerts).
        • Pack water shoes and a towel since we might get our feet wet for part of your photo session if the water is high.

        _______________________________________________________________________________________

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

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        University of Texas – PhD Graduation Photo Session

        University of Texas – PhD Graduation Photo Session

        PhD Graduation Photo Session | Austin Senior Photographer

        For this Graduation Photo session on the University of Texas campus, we made sure to hit all the popular spots (The Tower, The Fountain, etc.) And since we met up one early morning after graduation, we had the place mostly to ourselves.

        But some of my favorite moments came when we went to her lab building.

        EER building on the UT campus for graduation photo session

        The Engineering Education and Research Center (EER) is a gorgeous, window-filled building. And it’s not every photo session that gets to end with liquid nitrogen.

        liquid nitrogen photo session on UT campus

        If you’re also graduating from the University of Texas and are interested in having your Senior Photo Session on Campus, check out my tips below.

        Tips for College Senior Photo Sessions at the University of Texas:

        • Right before Graduation, Campus gets pretty full of photo shoots, so try and plan early or choose off-times for your photos (or be okay with waiting for your turn in front of popular spots)
        • Iron your regalia and bring it on a hanger
        • You can pose in your full cap and gown, part of your regalia, regular dressy clothes or any combination of the above
        • 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
        • I’ll send you a list of popular spots before your date so you can give me your top 4 to 5 choices to visit in your hour-long session
        • If your family will be in town, we can add-on a mini-family photo session
        • 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
        • If you’re interested in a group session with some friends, contact me for group pricing

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

        Client Feedback and Advice

         

        1. What prompted you to have this photo session? I wanted to get professional pictures to remember this accomplishment.
        2. What do you plan to do with your digital photos? I will print some of them for my family and probably post a few on instagram.
        3. How did you choose your location for your session? I chose the iconic locations at UT for classic UT grad pictures, but I also wanted to capture my personal experience on campus in my research lab. As a graduate student, I spend most of my time in the research lab and don’t walk around campus much, so I wanted to capture that in my graduate pictures as well. 
        4. What advice would you give to others planning a similar Senior photo session?
          I especially love the pictures from my lab. I would advise other PhDs to make it personal and have some ideas/props ready to display your project. It helps to have example pictures. 
        5. Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography?It was great working with you Stephanie! You are very easy to talk to and make the photoshoot fun!
        6. Can you share some details about what’s happening in the lab photos? My dissertation thesis focused on developing an electrospun wrap to improve bone healing. All of the items I was playing with were parts of how I fabricated the wraps. The big orange box is an electrospinning box where we apply electric charge to our materials to spin it into a mat that is made of micro-scale fibers, kind of like fabric. The syringe with multiple needles is a custom made electrospinning syringe to spin multiple jets at the same time. The gross tissue I was holding was small intestine. We use small intestine as a material in our wrap to help guide the body to make more blood vessels that will help bone regeneration and healing. The big hood that I was working in with a pipette is a biosafety cabinet (BSC). We use it to work with cells and bacteria in a sterile environment (to protect us and the cells). The big tank that sprayed up a bunch of white smoke was a liquid nitrogen tank. We use this to freeze samples very quickly to preserve their structure. The liquid nitrogen is -196C, so when it hits room temperature air, it vaporizes instantaneously. Once the container gets cold enough, a liquid will start to collect that we can submerge our samples in to freeze them. 

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