by admin | Jun 22, 2018 | location information, photography
So you live in the Central part of Austin*, and you’re wondering, “Where should I go for my family photo session?”
Things I consider when scouting a location:
- How scenic is the landscape? (natural or urban)
- Can we find a variety of backgrounds?
- What’s the comfort level for families? (i.e. bathrooms available, free parking, safe for little kids to explore, easy to get to)
- Is it often crowded?
- In what season does the location looks best? (great for wildflowers or fall color)
- Where’s the best light in the morning vs. the evening?
Here are my Top 5 favorite spots I recommend to my families who live Central:
University of Texas at Austin: Main building: 110 Inner Campus Drive, Austin, TX 78705
Features: Visit the Architecture Library and the Architecture building, the Greenhouse (shown above), the Main Tower, the Fountain and the Stadium, Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin (shown at the top of the post) at the Blanton Museum
Parking: Pay lots (easiest off-season when school is out)
Bathroom: yes
Kid-friendly: yes
Sample photo session: http://www.stephaniefriedman.com/2018/05/10/ut-phd-graduation-portrait-session/
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Bull Creek Park: 6701 Lakewood Dr, Austin, TX 78731
Features: 48-acre city park, trails and stream (Bull Creek)
Parking: Small lot (gets full on weekends)
Bathroom: yes
Kid-friendly: yes
Sample photo session: http://www.stephaniefriedman.com/2017/04/17/creekside-exploring-spring-family-photo-session/
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Central Library/Butterfly Bridge: 701 W. Cesar Chavez St. Austin, TX 78701
Features: Scenic downtown views, interesting architecture
Parking: Pay lot at library and Trader Joe’s next door
Bathroom: yes (at library and nearby stores)
Kid-friendly: yes
Sample photo session: http://www.stephaniefriedman.com/2017/11/30/the-w-family-bridge-library-photo-session/
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Mueller Lake Park: 4550 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723
Features: pond, greenery, colorful walls around store-fronts, Thinkery exterior
Parking: pay garage and pay street parking
Bathroom: yes
Kid-friendly: yes
Sample photo session: http://www.stephaniefriedman.com/2018/05/03/the-h-family-spring-portrait-session/
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Central Market Pond: 4001 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78756
Features: pond, trees
Parking: lot
Bathroom: yes (at store)
Kid-friendly: yes
Sample photo session: http://www.stephaniefriedman.com/2016/11/29/the-l-family-holiday-portrait-session-2/
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And 5 bonus spots to make my Top 10 for Central Austin:
1. Sekrit Theater
2. Austin State Capitol
3. Red Bud Isle (parking lot gets filled up in a hot minute, great for dog owners)
4. Laguna Gloria (location fee $)
5. HOPE Grafitti Park (closing in Winter of 2018 to move to a new spot out by the airport by the early 2019)
Contact me if you’d like to book a family photo session in one of these spots.
*I’m considering “Central Austin” to be anything roughly between 183 to the North and Lady Bird Lake to the South
by admin | Jun 6, 2018 | location information, photography
So you live in the south part of Austin*, and you’re wondering, “Where should I go for my family photo session?”
Things I consider when scouting a location:
- How scenic is the landscape? (natural or urban)
- Can we find a variety of backgrounds?
- What’s the comfort level for families? (i.e. bathrooms available, free parking, safe for little kids to explore, easy to get to)
- Is it often crowded?
- What season does the location looks best? (great for wildflowers? or fall color?)
- Where’s the best light in the morning vs. the evening?
Here are my Top 5 favorite spots I recommend to my families who live down South:
Butler Park: 1000 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
Features: Downtown skyline, pond, fountain, walking paths
Parking: Small lot (gets full on weekends)
Bathroom: yes
Kid-friendly: yes
Sample photo session: http://www.stephaniefriedman.com/2017/12/11/heather-carsyn-holiday-portrait-session-2/
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Long Center: 701 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704
Features: interesting architecture, downtown views
Parking: Pay garage
Bathroom: no
Kid-friendly: yes
Sample photo session: http://www.stephaniefriedman.com/2017/10/02/wonder-woman-carsyn-halloween-portrait-session/
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Common Ford Ranch: 614 N Commons Ford Rd, Austin, TX 78733
Features: Lakefront park, fishing dock, walking trails, old barn
Parking: lot
Bathroom: port-a-potty
Kid-friendly: yes
Sample photo session: http://www.stephaniefriedman.com/2016/12/14/the-t-family-holiday-portrait-session/
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Circle C trails: 6301 W Slaughter Ln, Austin, TX 78739
Features: trails, water, wildflowers in Spring
Parking: lot
Bathroom: yes- but closer to the sports fields, not the trails
Kid-friendly: yes
Sample photo session: http://www.stephaniefriedman.com/2017/06/21/the-b-family-summer-portrait-session/
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Lady Bird Lake: 202 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 (address for Zach Scott Theater which has parking lot nearby)
Features: hiking trail, bridges, water (can canoe, kayak, SUP), wildflowers in Spring
Parking: street parking
Bathroom: yes
Kid-friendly: yes
Sample photo session: http://www.stephaniefriedman.com/2016/04/13/the-catania-family-spring-portrait-session/
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And 5 bonus spots to make my Top 10 for down South:
1. Wild Basin Preserve
2. Austin Nature Center
3. Zilker Botanical Gardens (location fee $$)
4. South Congress shops
5. Pennybacker bridge (Loop 360 bridge)
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Contact me if you’d like to book a family photo session in one of these spots.
*I’m considering “South Austin” to be anything south of Lady Bird Lake
by admin | May 31, 2018 | family, photography
This family braved the summer heat to play around downtown and explore the Central Library. We walked the Butterfly Bridge, blasted off rocketships in the children’s section and used the library’s binoculars to scope out downtown views.
Please enjoy this sneak peek of their Family Portrait session. To see all the photos and purchase prints from their (password protected) session click HERE.
===== stephanie friedman. austin, tx family photography. your life. close-up =====
by admin | May 30, 2018 | brothers, location information, location scouting, photography
The last time we went to Sweet Eats farm in Georgetown, TX was in March to check out the blooming peach trees. This past weekend, we went back to pick some fruit. We brought home about 10 lbs (!) of their June Gold variety.
You can check the Farm’s page for the latest updates on what’s in season. And once you pick, there are dozens of kid-friendly activities to enjoy in the shade or you can even walk down to the San Gabriel river and splash around.
They are open most weekends from 9am – 6pm. Admission to the activities section of the farm is $12/kids, $10/adults, and kids under 2 are free.
So if your kids enjoy wide-open spaces to run around (plus zip lines, hammocks, tire swings, hay maze, etc.) and you want some fresh, local produce – add it to your list of spots to check out this summer.
===== stephanie friedman. austin, tx family photography. your life. close-up =====
by admin | May 28, 2018 | location information, photography
So you live in the north part of Austin*, and you’re wondering, “Where should I go for my family photo session?”
Things I consider when scouting a location:
- How scenic is the landscape? (natural or urban)
- Can we find a variety of backgrounds?
- What’s the comfort level for families? (i.e. bathrooms available, free parking, safe for little kids to explore, easy to get to)
- Is it often crowded?
- In what season does the location looks best? (great for wildflowers or fall color)
- Where’s the best light in the morning vs. the evening?
Here are my Top 5 favorite spots I recommend to my families who live up North:
St. Edwards Park: 7301 Spicewood Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78759
Features: Multiple trails, stream, hill country views
Parking: Small lot (gets full on weekends)
Bathroom: no
Kid-friendly: yes
Sample photo session: http://www.stephaniefriedman.com/2015/11/12/st-edwards-park-location-scouting/
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Mill Pond: 15108 Wells Port Dr, Austin, TX 78728
Features: Trail, pond, small wood bridge, two docks
Parking: street parking
Bathroom: yes
Kid-friendly: yes
Sample photo session: http://www.stephaniefriedman.com/2016/10/12/woods-family-fall-portrait-session/
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Katherine Fleischer Park: 2106 Klattenhoff Dr, Austin, TX 78728
Features: Historic homestead museum, fields, trails, playground
Parking: lot
Bathroom: yes
Kid-friendly: yes
Sample photo session: http://www.stephaniefriedman.com/2017/10/31/the-k-p-family-holiday-portrait-session/
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Balcones District Park: 12017 Amherst Dr, Austin, TX 78759
Features: great wildflowers in the Spring, trails, stream, fields
Parking: lot
Bathroom: yes
Kid-friendly: yes
Sample photo session: http://www.stephaniefriedman.com/2018/04/16/heather-carsyn-wildflower-portrait-session/
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Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park: 7000 Ardath St, Austin, TX 78757
Features: stone steps, metal bridge, lots of wildflowers in Spring, pond, playground, rocky creek
Parking: lot
Bathroom: yes
Kid-friendly: yes
Sample photo session: http://www.stephaniefriedman.com/2018/04/09/northwest-park-location-scouting/
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And 5 bonus spots to make my Top 10 for up North:
1. Tanglewood Park
2. The Domain – Rock Rose Murals
3. Walnut Creek Park
4. Arboretum – duck pond
5. Springwoods Park
Springwoods Park, Anderson Mill
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Contact me if you’d like to book a family photo session in one of these spots.
*I’m considering “North Austin” to be the Allandale, 183, Arboretum, Balcones Woods, Wells Branch, etc. area
by admin | May 24, 2018 | family, photography, siblings, sisters, spring
Reading this family’s answers to my client questionnaire, it said that their youngest was “in a phase of refusing to have her picture taken.” And when I got to their house, she was hiding under a table. But once we got started, and I got to meet all her stuffed animals, we had a blast. Lots of giggles and climbing and booty-shaking.
===== stephanie friedman. austin family photography. your life. close-up =====
