As a Senior Photographer in Austin, I always get excited when my client wants to use Sekrit Theater for their location.
Between the iconic glass greenhouse, the old schoolbus, the vintage truck and the rainbow wall of flowers, it’s well worth the location fee.
Besides using all of those backdrops, we also got to recreate some of the shots we took 5 years ago in the same locations.
Photos at the back of the greenhouse 5 years apart.
Photos at the school bus 5 years apart.
If you live in Austin and are also interested in having your Senior Photo Session at the one-of-a-kind Sekrit Theater in East Austin, check out my tips below.
Tips for Senior Photo Sessions at Pease Park:
Check their calendar to make sure your preferred session date and time is available
Sessions are often booked back to back so make sure you start and end on time
The restroom and changing room is in the Tiny House (directly across from the Greenhouse Patio)
When you are finished with your session, remember to turn off any lights, and shut the doors
In the summer, pack bug spray and water
Feel free to bring your own props – this mom came with a bubble machine and flowers for us to use
Head’s up: Sekrit does not give refunds, only reschedules
Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own Senior session in Austin, Texas. Explore more Senior sessions on my blog.
High School Senior Photo Session at Park off of Lady Bird Lake| Austin Senior Photography I first met this family for their holiday photos last Fall at Bull Creek Park. Since they have a graduating senior, we met up again this Spring for a mini Senior photo session at...
Summer morning photo session in East Austin artspace
When one of your best friends comes to town with her kids, even if the temperatures are humidly hot, you make time for a photo session.
So while this family was visiting Austin from Boston, we squeezed in a kids-only photo session between their schedule of eating tacos, seeing extended family and going swimming.
We met at the fantastic artspace in East Austin, the Sekrit Theater. I had sent them some sample photos taken at that spot before we met up, so they knew which backdrops were their favorite – and we could prioritize where to shoot first.
Tips for Summer Photo Sessions at Sekrit Theater:
Start early. Bookings are available 24 hours/day. We picked a 7am start time to get that pretty sunrise light and slightly cooler temperatures.
Wear something light and breezy. These girls picked flowy sundresses.
Bring a hair tie in case you want to put your hair up halfway through your photos.
I’ll bring fans and water to help you cool off during the session.
Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own Family session in Austin, Texas. Explore more family sessions on my blog.
What prompted you to have this photo session?I am a huge admirer of Stephanie’s family photos. She has mastered her craft and captures joy and beauty in all her subjects. We live across the country but were in Texas for a few weeks when Stephanie generously offered to photograph my girls. Despite being past the ideal weather for a photo shoot, we managed to meet at dawn for the session.
What do you plan to do with your digital photos? I plan to share the digital photos with my family and have a few prints made to give as gifts to loved ones. I will also frequently revisit the photos to remind my girls of the special bond they share and the moments when they enjoy each other’s company.
How did you choose your location for your session? Stephanie provided me with a wide range of location options, both free and with fees. I was looking for a location with diverse backgrounds that would appeal to my preteen and teen, as well as a private setting to avoid any embarrassment. The Sekrit Theater was the ideal location for my girls, as they felt comfortable and could choose their preferred backgrounds.
What advice would you give to others planning a similar photo session? While late June or early July may not be the best time for a photo shoot due to heat and humidity, if you must schedule during this time, it’s best to do so early in the day. Stephanie was highly efficient in quickly moving the girls through the shoot, and she provided them with fans and water to keep them comfortable.
Anything else you’d like to add about working with Stephanie Friedman Photography? I highly recommend Stephanie Friedman Photography. Stephanie is not only professional and creative, but she is also exceptional at working with preteens and teens. Her thoughtfulness as a photographer is evident in her excellent shots and her ability to manage a family through a photo shoot. Five out of five stars!
High School Senior Photo Session at Park off of Lady Bird Lake| Austin Senior Photography I first met this family for their holiday photos last Fall at Bull Creek Park. Since they have a graduating senior, we met up again this Spring for a mini Senior photo session at...
Glass greenhouse, fake flower wall and an old pickup truck in East Austin art space
This High School Senior knew she wanted the Sekrit Theater as her location after I sent her various nature spots around town.
With its gorgeous ivy-covered glass and brick greenhouse, the colorful fake flower rainbow wall, orange school bus and old rusted truck on the property – this spot has all the great backdrops you can imagine.
If you’re also interested in having your Senior Photo Session at Sekrit Theater, check out my essential tips below.
Tips for Senior Photo Sessions at Sekrit Theater:
This popular spot books up fast during peak months and times – so request it early to make sure you’re guaranteed a spot
Sekrit Theater also charges a location fee (2024 price: $130 for a one hour individual session)
There’s a dressing room and restroom on site for outfit changes
During rainy season, the ground can get pretty muddy
Props may be added throughout the year, so make sure to explore the full property at the beginning of your session to choose your favorite backdrops
Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own Senior session in Austin, Texas. Explore more Senior photo sessions like Elizabeth’s on my blog.
High School Senior Photo Session at Park off of Lady Bird Lake| Austin Senior Photography I first met this family for their holiday photos last Fall at Bull Creek Park. Since they have a graduating senior, we met up again this Spring for a mini Senior photo session at...
Are you familiar with the Sekrit Theater? It’s a space on the Eastside of Austin, available to rent for photo sessions, filled with magical spots – from their greenhouse to a vintage Ford truck to various modes of transportation to explore (school bus, airstream trailer, bikes and more).
The kids were excited to run from spot to spot around the property – and we still didn’t get to everything.
And you have to tell someone a secret at Sekrit Theater, right?
And then you can pretend to ride motorcycles…
And share a bike with your brother…
Then climb through some windows…
To be back where you started at the Greenhouse.
I hope you’ve enjoyed these sneak peeks from their family photo session at Sekrit Theater. To see all the (password protected) images, visit their gallery HERE.
1. How do you know Stephanie Friedman Photography?
We know Stephanie because our kids’ are the same age at our elementary school, and we’re friends! We learned about Stephanie Friedman Photography because so many families at our school use her and her photos are beautiful!
2. What was your favorite part of your photo session?
We love how easy it is to work with Stephanie and how she gets our kids smiling!
3. What advice would you give to other families planning a photo session?
Take a look at Stephanie’s gallery! She has scooped out some amazing locations!
4. Anything else you’d like to add?
Stephanie is amazing with kids and families, and she’s ready to catch them when they are looking their best!
If you’d like to book your own family photo session, please contact me below:
Do you think a photo shoot is more fun with your best friend?
I do!
For this shared portrait session at the Sekrit Theater, Arden and Blakeley each got time for their own photos as well as some together. These 6th graders are schoolmates and gave me a great mix of sweet, serious and silly. I wish more middle schoolers got their own portrait sessions. (It seems there’s a dry spell between cute squishy toddlers and graduating seniors that will hopefully change in the future).
Location
It was my first time photographing at the Sekrit Theater – though I’ve admired other local (and not-so-local) photographer’s images from there since they opened on the East Side of Austin a few years ago.
If you’re interested in this spot for a session, and why wouldn’t you be – that greenhouse! the school bus! the random couches! the bathtub! – it does have a location fee.
I’m so glad I spent $7 on those giant green leaves at Central Market the day before our session.
See what I mean: sweet, serious and silly.
A big Thank you to Arden’s mom, Cynthia, for helping me move that flowered couch to a better spot on the lawn and holding up my portable fan to make “wind” for the girls’ hair.
And we couldn’t visit the Sekrit Theater without documenting some secret-sharing as well…
I loved Blakeley’s idea to move the magnets to get their initials together.
Thanks, girls – you both were a treat to photograph!
1. How do you know Stephanie Friedman Photography?
Stephanie is a friend and neighbor and has done our family photos in the past. They turned out amazing so we knew we wanted her to do the photoshoot of my daughter and her best friend.
2. What was your favorite part of your photo session?
My favorite part of the photo session was definitely the location. Stephanie recommended the Sekrit Theater, and it was awesome. So very “Austin”. We plan on having our family photo session this fall at that location too. So many cool backdrops for photos. I also love how knowledgeable Stephanie is. She has so many ideas for posing, props and styling. The pictures of my daughter and her friend are amazing.
3. What advice would you give to other families planning a photo session?
I would suggest that families talk to her about styling. She has so many ideas of what types of clothing might work well with the location. I would also recommend that you take a couple outfits for the kids. When we did our family photo shoot, we got lots of family pictures and also pictures of the kids in a different outfit than we used for the family pictures. During this shoot with my daughter and her friend, Stephanie suggested two outfits. It is nice to have pictures with two different stylings…one dressy and one more casual.
Please enjoy this sneak peek of their shared portrait session images. To see all the photos and purchase prints from the gallery, click HERE.
If you’d like to book your own portrait session in Austin, contact me:
