by admin | Jun 4, 2023 | summer
School is out! Summer is here!
What are your plans to have fun?
Check out some of my ideas down below and get ready to cool off outside or inside to beat the Austin summer heat…
Want to cool off outside this summer in Austin?
Places you can go if:
- You want to be in a pool that is extra: Volente Beach, Rock’N River, Typhoon Texas, Schlitterbahn, Veterans Memorial Pool or Kalahari Water Park
- You want to be on the water: Rent a canoe, SUP or kayak; Go on an Austin Bat Tour, Austin Duck Tour; Rent a Retro Boat or a Donut Boat
- You don’t mind driving a bit out of town: Blue Hole (Wimberley), Blue Hole (Georgetown), Krause Springs (Spicewood), Jacob’s Well (Wimberley), Pedernales Falls (Johnson City), or Inks Lake (Burnet), Hamilton Pool (Dripping Springs) – make sure to check on tickets (if needed) first
- You want to challenge yourself: Try a water obstacle course like Quest ATX Waterpark or Waterloo Adventures
- You want to relax on the water: Find a “dive-in” movie event on the water like at Hotel Viata
Want to cool off inside this summer in Austin?
Places you can go if:
- You want to visit an experiential museum and to take lots of photos: Museum of Illusions, Museum of Ice Cream, Wonderspaces
- You want to climb some rocks inside: Crux Climbing, Austin Bouldering Project, or Mesa Rim
- You feel sporty: Go Bowling, Ice Skating, Roller Skating, or play indoor mini golf
- You want popcorn: Check out the Alamo Movie – Kids Camp or Paramount Summer Movie classics listings
- You love a puzzle: Find an Escape Room
- You want to see some art and history: Blanton Art Museum, Bob Bullock History Museum or the Mexic-Arte Museum
- You want an Indoor Play Place: Visit Epic Fun, Urban Air, Pinballz, Mt. Playmore, Pinstack, High Five, Austin Ninjas or Ninja Nation
- You don’t mind driving a bit out of town: Go to the Science Mill (Johnson City), Dr. Pepper Musem (Waco), Color Factory (Houston), or the Perot Museum (Dallas)
- You want something sweet and cold to eat: Buy dessert at OMGSquee!, DipDipDip Ice Cream, Amy’s Ice Cream, Lick Ice Cream, Sister’s SnoShack or Yogurt Planet
Have other summer fun ideas to share? Please contact me with your suggestions!
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 =====
by admin | Jul 31, 2017 | newborn, photography, summer
Welcome to the World, Baby Stella! Mom & baby got some sweet snuggling in while I took a few pictures. Their sunroom made a perfect lightbox, and we even braved the heat for a few pics outside as well.
Please enjoy this sneak peek of her Mini Newborn Portrait session. To see all the photos and purchase prints from her session click HERE.
===== stephanie friedman. austin family photography. your life. close-up =====
by admin | Jun 22, 2017 | family, photography, summer, workshop
I got to attend the Capturing Joy Workshop out at Star Hill Ranch led by Missy Mayo and Liz LaBianca and hosted by Color, Inc. this past week. The Workshop consisted of:
5:15 – 6:00 : Photography Talk – Practical Methods for Forming Genuine Connections with Families with Liz and Missy
6:00 – 7:30 : Shoot out
7:30-8:00 : Snacks + Mingle
8:30 – 9:15 : Post Session Timesavers and Lightroom Tips with Missy and Liz
9:15 : Product Giveaways, Q + A (where I won a free booking at Star Hill Ranch!)
Some of my favorite pics from the four families (including this seven person family of musicians) I got to photograph are here, full set of images (color as well as b&w): HERE.
#colorincatx
===== stephanie friedman. austin family photography. your life. close-up =====
by admin | Jun 21, 2017 | children, photography, siblings, summer
This family of five was a pleasure to work with for their summer portrait session. I brought ice packs, and they had a cooler of drinks to beat the 95+ heat. We met at the Circle C trails in South Austin and stuck to the shade. Whether balancing on high heels, giving lots of hugs or avoiding the sticky burrs/ant piles – the kids were so easy going and fun to photograph.
Please enjoy this sneak peek of their Summer Family Portrait session. To see all the photos and purchase prints from their session click HERE.
===== stephanie friedman. austin family photography. your life. close-up =====
by admin | Jun 16, 2016 | children, family, photography, summer
When rain and sickness pushed our Spring Portrait Session into a Summer Portrait Session, the Hoke Family were great sports. They explored trails, climbed trees, didn’t want to come down from trees and happily we never lost the balloon.
Please enjoy this sneak peek of their Family Portrait session. To see all the photos and purchase prints from their session click HERE.
===== stephanie friedman. austin family photography. your life. close-up =====
