Before we were five

A couple weeks before Baby Lucy made her worldly debut, my incredibly talented friend Amy, of the newly launched Pinwheel Portrait, came and shot a "Good Morning" session of our family.

[via Pinwheel Portrait ©]

I am just over the moon for these photos. Amy simply asked us to go about our Saturday morning as usual as she quietly snapped away. I much prefer these documentary-style photo sessions versus highly stylized portrait sessions. So often photographers will ask to set up a session of family hanging out on a sofa in a field in the middle of no where. Ten years later would I wonder what the heck we were doing in a rando field on an antique couch? While that's pretty and all, it just doesn't capture the little things about home life that I want to remember years from now, like Caroline's chubby hands clutching her cat cup or the way Jude's fine baby hairs stick up all over the place in the mornings.

I can't stress enough how important I think it is to invest in good family photos. When my grandma passed away last winter I found myself wishing we had gotten more photos taken. I can't recommend Amy (and Nathan!) enough, and I will always treasure these photos as she did such a great job documenting our family just as we are.

Check out our full session on the Pinwheel Portrait blog here.

Glitzkrieg!

Pageant pictures are crazy:
That said, I was a bit hesitant to get my first round of Mrs. Austin photos done. I had a fear that my first professional pageant photo would have to be decked out with fake eyelashes, impossibly perfect skin, and glass doll eyes:

And three became four

Well, hello there! Apologies for the long and unexpected absence from the blog. I had a baby, y'all! All is well, but if you ask me if I've slept through the night yet, the answer is no and please don't ask me again until 2014.

We've been spending time with out-of-town family who have been a tremendous help while my pelvis heals. I feel 90% better, and I've finally been able to get out an about. One of my priorities was to get some photos done, so last Thursday I got to meet Kim, the incredibly talented photographer behind Coati Photography. She had my family over for session, and I just love how she captured us:

[credit: Coati Photography blog]

outfit details // Me- pants: Old Navy / blouse: Marshall's (similar) / scarf: c/o Raven + Lily / shoes: Minnetonka // Chris- sweater: Calvin Klein / pants: Levi's / shoes: Dr. Scholl's // Jude- sweater: Gap / jeans: Levi's / shoes: c/o Minnetonka // socks: Gap (similar) // Caroline- dress: Gap / pants: Old Navy (similar) / bow: Amazon

We'll probably end up using some of Kim's photos for our Christmas cards unless the kiddos give me a stellar Santa picture akin to Jude's 2011 Santa photo (one can only hope, right?).

If you're an Austin local and you're toying with the idea of having professional photos done either for your holiday cards or to document your life's milestones (new baby, pregnancy, engagement, etc), I cannot recommend Kim enough. Her work speaks for itself, and because she recently adopted a sweet baby boy, she is shifting to doing more lifestyle photography (versus events) so her prices are incredibly reasonable. Take advantage while you can!

For more info visit: Coati Photography website | blog | Twitter | Facebook

Acting out

One of the most frequently asked questions that I get is "How do I get blog sponsors so that I can quit my day job?" My answer: I have no idea. I usually refer them to other bloggers who are doing this. As for me? My ultimate wish is use Adored Austin as a springboard for a job in which I can combine my love for performing with my love for blogging. I'd love to make ridiculous video blogs for an online media company, publication, or an apparel site that I admire or I'd love to have a weekly segment on the local morning news where I do lighthearted pieces about fashion trends or shopping. At this point, I don't think Adored Austin or even acting will ever be my full-time job. Chris has a job that affords us the honor of my being able to stay at home with Jude, we are trying for another baby (or two or three), and to be quite honest, I don't have the same enthusiasm for commercial or print work anymore. I love acting but once I had to start bastardizing my craft for mindless, shallow gigs in order to make a buck, I became jaded with that side of the industry. I do not want that to happen with blogging.

I recently got new acting headshots. Headshots may seem like a strange investment for someone who isn't really acting anymore. A few months ago I left a rote commercial audition and resolved to be done with "acting" for good. I'm using "quotes" around "acting" because it was after leaving that audition that I realized that the print and commercial auditions I'd been going on lately weren't really "acting" per se. It's more like modeling with a few lines of dialog, and I have zero desire to model.

One of the reasons why I kept my hair so long was to match the headshots I had done in 2008. Alas, the recent haircut precipitated the need for new headshots, which is okay because technically, a working actor should get new ones once a year or with any major change to their appearance (since my last headshots I've gained about 15 pounds, had jaw surgery to correct an overbite, and had braces to correct a wayward tooth). The dude who did my 2008 headshots Photoshopped me within an inch of my life, so I like that these new ones actually look like me. Here's a few of the unretouched proofs:

photos by Mark Herron

Here (L-R) we have the bored business woman, the wide-eyed girl next door, and the stay-at-home mom: all necessary archetypes for any actress' headshot repertoire. I'm not throwing in the towel on acting just yet. I'm still seeking paid theatre, independent film, and network television work.

Before I had Jude I was able to work as a company actor at two much loved local theatre companies and also booked some really great industrials, local commercials, print jobs, and independent films. The year before I had Jude I had the biggest auditions and call-backs of my life: Leah Clearwater being one of them. Then I took 2009 off to --you know-- gestate a child, and I've been having the darndest time getting back in. I've been on ten auditions, been called back in for five, and booked zero. Jude, on the other hand, has been called in for three and has booked two. Go, Jude! Maybe being a full-time stage mom is in my future.

He loves hamming it up for the camera and he is pretty cute, wouldn't you say?

My other dream jobs include a magician's assistant, Tina Fey's personal assistant and new best friend, and the tv host of a spinoff I'd like to pitch that's just like the Food Network's show "Man vs. Food" but it's called "Woman vs. Desserts". It's me. Eating massive desserts. You'd watch that, right?

Crave photoshoot

Yesterday was a full day for me. I did a photoshoot for Crave, which is a city guide that comes out every two years and features 100 women in business. I'll be in the next edition of Crave Austin, and since I'm the only blogger they're featuring, it was important to me that my two page spread reflects the fun attitude of Adored Austin (no serious photos of me at a desk, please). Susan Beth Sloan, the photographer, did two set-ups yesterday: the first photos were at my house where we got photos of me trying to blog in the chaos of my house (kids toys everywhere, Jude crying), shots of my animal jewelry collection, and shots of me taking my own style photos with my tripod. After that we headed to Savers for my portrait. I chose to shoot at Savers because so much of my wardrobe is thirfted, and y'all know is one my favorite places to shop in all of Austin. Here are some photos that Intern Rachel was able to grab between the shots Susan grabbed:

"Crazy style bloggers: now available at a Savers near you."

"I will conquer this thrift store!"
(and uh, sorry about that near crotch shot, everyone)

I'm wearing my nasty old cowboy boots (Steve Madden) and the vintage frock I picked up recently from Texas Thrift.

Crave Austin comes out in the fall and in addition to showcasing women owned businesses in Austin it will be full of city tips and coupons. I'll be selling a few copies (priced at $20) and the girls at Peacock Plume (who are also featured) and I are going to try to team up for a launch party. I may include a piece of animal jewelry with each copy I sell, so I'll keep you posted on all that as more info comes to me.

Huge thanks to Savers for letting us shoot inside. I can't wait to see how the rest of the shoot turned out!

Psst...

Jude's photo session with Amber Snow Photography is up on The Wonder Love.

Lazy days!

I swear, this is the year of the baby! Four of my favorite bloggers have given birth this year: Melissa from Dear Baby, James from Blue Bird Vintage (three weeks ago!), Sarah from Small Town Chic (last week!) and now Jen from Jen Loves Kev (two days ago!). I cannot believe that in just one month, I'll be joining this group, too!

Which reminds me... I need to start lining up fun guests content so that I don't have a week of NO POSTS or something terrible like that! What have I been up to this week? Oh, you know... the usual. Napping with this thing:
And getting some fancy photos taken:

Photos courtesy of Leah Muse © 2010

dress: Liz Lange maternity
necklace: courtesy of A Box For My Treasure
Hubs' shirt: Old Navy
jeans: Levi's

Somedays I feel like this dress is the only thing in my closet that still fits me, thus the reason why I have zero motivation to do self-style photos! Someone tell me that I just need to suck it up and get creative!

Big thanks to my new friend/ amazing photographer Leah Muse for insisting that I get maternity photos done with Hubs. They turned out so lovely, despite all my belly aching!

Sneak Peek: Vivian's Muse photoshoot

A while back, my best friend Bee and I did a little maternity shoot with Austin based photographer Vivian's Muse. I was a tiny bit trepidatious at first because Vivian's Muse is known for their saucy, flirty, and gorgeous boudoir photos, and to be quite honest, in these last seven months, I have felt the exact opposite of sexy! I also swore I would never, ever do a bare belly shot, but Julia, the owner/ photographer made me feel so comfortable that I obliged her by doing a couple. This one perfectly describes what I've been up to the last week or so, but in a much more glamorous way:
Yep. All's well. My days lately have consisted of me just relaxing in bed, wearing a tank top and cotton shorts, and not feeling one bit fashionable at all! Yesterday I even wore athletic shorts and flip flops out in public, briefly. You know I'm not feeling too great when I can't even be bothered to put on a cute dress! Haha!

Maybe I should do a post on cute pajamas. I feel like an expert at that lately!

Can you believe I'm having a kid next month?!

Thank you, Vignette Photography

The day before Valentines Day (before I knew I had a bun in my oven), Hubs and I met up with Elizabeth and James Hafner, the power duo behind Vignette Photography, for a quick lifestyle photo session over at The Triangle. I am happy to report that there wasn't a single image of me with a witch's nose. We had such a fun time shooting, and Elizabeth really knows how to make original, creative, dynamic images. She really captured our zany personalities... and managed to make me look like a model!


I think it's so, so important to have good photos of yourself and your loved ones in your house. If there were one thing I wish I had more of, it's good photos of my loved ones. I whole heartily recommend Vignette Photography to help you capture these important images. Thanks so much for the session, Elizabeth and James!

Links-
Elizabeth's fashion blog: Save For Later,
Vignette Photo Blog

[Vignette Photography is an Adored Austin partner]

"And this isn't my nose. It's a false one."

There was this thing going on a while ago where bloggers were posting their wedding photos and showing off how special and magical that day was for them. I chose not to participate because my wedding was a hilarious series of mishaps and my photos were definitely indicative of that. Case in point? The infamous witch's nose photo (click to see it bigger/ funnier):

"I'm not a witch! I'm not a witch!"

After this wedding day fiasco, I've come to realize that photographs are so important. For weddings, for fashion blogs, and for marketing yourself, it truly takes you to a whole new level of awesome when the photos are stellar. For acting, I have paid top dollar for great headshots, so I wanted to have the same level of quality when putting together my new press kits and marketing Adored Austin. My regular daily style photos won't do, so that's why Hubs and I are excited to be to be partnering up with Vignette Photography. Elizabeth and her husband James specialize in wedding photography (something I wish I would have researched and paid more money for!) but they also do lifestyle portraits. They are shooting us on Saturday in downtown Austin, and I am beyond excited to see what they come up with. Now... what should I wear?...

Vignette Photography is now an Adored Austin partner.

Bleet-up pictures

Hey, Austin bloggers! Cory Ryan's photos from the Bleet-up are now online for your viewing pleasure! These are my two favorites, and when I get back, I'm going to order these each in 5x7 for me and Hubs' offices:

I'm pretty sure I need a gold keyboard and mouse in my life now. Thanks, Cory, for amazing pictures (as always!).

Spotlight on: Cory Ryan Photography

Cory Ryan, one of my favorite photographers in the entire world, was the photobooth photographer for last night's Bleet-Up (hosted by Tolly of Austin Eavesdropper). I already placed my order for three of the photos she got of Husband and me, including this little gem:
I just love Cory Ryan. I first saw her business postcard in a swag bag that I got from 2007's Stitch Fashion Show. In fact, it was this very image that made me develop a very deep photography admiration crush on her:
I was able to meet her a year or so later when I found out that she played bass for Hollywood Gossip, a darling pop band of which my friend Justin is also a part.

She recently won the Austin Fashion Week award for best commercial photographer. I think her work is fantastic, and it's so exciting that everyone else agrees! She always uses such bold colors, and she's quick on the trigger, able to capture the best expressions on people's faces.

If you were at the Bleet-up, make sure to check Cory Ryan's Flickr page and then scootch over to her ordering site to get your copies. If you're in need of an incredibly talented professional photographer, I can't recommend Cory enough.

More info:
CoryRyan.com