Great Expectations :: Killeen, TX Maternity Photographer

Motherhood is not an easy job. The hours are long. The days can be tedious. The constant need to fill others' needs is taxing. But when I am able to step back from the forest and take a look at all those beautiful trees, savor the hugs, linger a moment in a child's kiss, I remember the privilege with which I am entrusted. And when I am able to share in the life of an expectant mother, the miracle washes over my anew. The sense of something momentous happening just around the next corner. The apprehension for all the unknowns. The fullness of the wait as the baby picks his perfect time to enter the world. I am blessed to be reminded. I thank this beautiful family for providing a glimpse into their wait!

An Evening Drive

Central Texas is farm land. Fields of hay. Rustic barns. Wildflowers which still paint the scene in their rich tones. Truly, it is the image one would have of Texas. An upcoming client of mine is looking for a rustic, rural, winding path with barn setting for her family portraits. And I have driven and driven and driven these pretty back roads looking for just the spot. But you know, as vast as Texas is, it seems it is all owned by someone. I guess no one considered the wayward photographer when they built their barns behind barbed wire fences.

All my driving was not a loss, though, as I caught some lovely sunset scenes tonight. And because I have had a bit of time to play, I tried out the One Willow Studio Retro Candy Presets by Jessica Paige. You really do need to take a look at what she has created for Lightroom and RAW files...as amazing as her talent quite obviously is, her heart seems to be so much more incredible.

5D Mark II + 85mm = Magic :: Harker Heights, TX Children's Photographer

**This post is dedicated to all my photography friends who are on the fence about either the Canon 5D Mark II or the Canon 85mm/1.8 prime lens.**

As a full time mom and a photographer, I have to work when I can. Which means my wee one gets plopped on the floor at the foot of my computer desk, which just happens to be right next to our nice bright living room window. When I look down to see if she is faring okay, I see her happy little face illuminated with the perfect light and I cannot let the moment pass. So I grab my camera, outfitted with my 85mm lens this particular day. I shoot a couple frames, take a moment to upload them, and see such wonderful crisp clean images. These first two are Straight Out Of Camera (SOOC). The only thing I did was crop to 5x7, resize for web and sharpen for the web:

And just for comparison, here are the edited versions of the above pictures. The colors have a bit more pop to them and her skin is smooth and creamy, but really, when you start with such good SOOC images, there is not much editing to be done:

Did you notice her two little teeth? I finally caught those camera shy fellows peeking out of her gums!

Three Little Ladies (and some other folks) :: Killeen, TX Family Photographer

As families grow, new babies are born and new jobs are taken, the distances between everyone can grow, too. So it is always a rare and wonderful treat to photograph three generations together. This family obviously shares a lot of love and laughter and it was indeed a fine way to start my day in their company. Towards the end, I did have to pull out the Dum-Dum lollipop bribes (I was even willing to share with the adults...) but smiles were quick and easy all morning long. I hope you all enjoy your peek!

Model Call! :: Austin, TX Photographer

The I Heart Faces Nationwide Photo Walk is coming to Austin Texas and we need people on whom to practice our photography! So just what am I asking?

WHO: anyone who enjoys getting his or her picture taken...you do not need to be a professional model, you just need to have a willingness to endure scenes like this:

MY WISH LIST: Okay, I can dream of a perfect world, and in that world I would have the following volunteers:

a young (twenty-somethings) couple in love, not necessarily married, but fond of each other :)

a married couple willing to come out in their wedding attire, or at least a bride in a gown

a hip family with no more than two kids, just for safety and management reasons

a crawling, toddling age child with a parent willing to keep an eye on him/her

teenagers (both male and female, ideally) for senior portrait type shots

WHEN: Saturday, June 5th from 9 am to 11 am

WHERE: starting point is Starbucks on 6th and Congress in Downtown Austin, TX. The models will be scattered around a two block radius from that point and the photographers will roam about, taking your picture

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU: as a thank you for your time, you have access to digital files from the photographers who took pictures of you

CONTACT INFO: If you are interested, please email me at julie(at)julieriveraphoto(dot)com!

Mine :: Harker Heights, TX Children's Photographer

For the past two months, I have had at least one, if not two or three, sessions every week. While I love my work and love being busy, it causes me to push my family pictures to the back burner. This past weekend I finally had some days off. That doesn't mean I put my camera down...it just means I got to point it at the people I love the most. They are mine, at least while they are still small and haven't realized they will leave me one day. They are sisters, and I can already see the bonds forming between them. They are unique and special and quirky and independent and my loves.

iheartfaces week 20, Flowers :: Harker Heights, TX Children's Photographer

Central Texas has been awash in wildflowers over the last two months. The deep bluish purple of the bluebonnets. The russet red of the Indian paintbrush. Gently waving patches of black eyed Susans and Queen Anne's lace. What we lack in length for a spring season, we make up for in sheer volume of flowers. I have quite a few flower pictures from recent client sessions, but I wanted to get out for one last hurrah with my girls. The flowers are mostly sun scorched now and past their prime, but I was not to be deterred. After dinner, we loaded the car and headed up the road about 2 miles. My daughter was not appreciating the vision I had of her sitting amongst the flower remnants, adamant in her belief that the rock I pointed towards for her to sit upon was covered in ants. Tiny ones I couldn't see. Very small. Ants. So she did her own thing. And often, that is the best thing. This look, ah, well, it is her. This whole scene is her. And isn't that why we take pictures? To capture them as they are?

Head over to iheartfaces to share your flower and face picture!

Daddy's Girls :: Harker Heights, TX Children's Photographer

How often do I overlook my own family as a photographer? Sure, I take pictures of the kids and the cat and flowers that grow in the yard. But seldom do I attempt anything that resembles a family session. This is partially because I have tried, and failed, numerous times before. And partially because by the time my husband gets home from work, the children are at the end of their manners and he hardly wants to smile at a camera. Life just takes over and the pictures go undone. Finally, I bit the bullet, braced for lackluster enthusiasm and plaintively asked my husband if he would be willing to pose for some pictures with the girls. His quick answer of yes bolstered my spirits and we hurried to the backyard before anyone's mood changed. The most successful ten minutes of picture taking I have ever had with my girls! It didn't need to be long, it just needed to happen. And I am so glad it did, for these are sweet moments that we will never have again, as with each passing day the girls grow and change.

Texas Wildflowers

Spring's color and gentle breezes are quickly being overtaken by summer's heat. But before I say goodbye to this most delightful, albeit short lived, season, I offer you this final view of the wildflowers of Texas.

Austin, TX Photo Walk :: I Heart Faces

The lovely and gracious Jenn Bowen and I headed down to Austin today to scope out the route for the I Heart Faces Austin, TX Photo Walk on June 5th. If you have not yet signed up, you can only procrastinate until May 29th...the ticket is a mere $5, so you really have no excuse!

If you are still on the fence, I have a few images from the area that might tempt you further. But before we get to the walk, let me talk parking. I tried the parking garage associated with the Chase Bank on Colorado St. It is expensive. There are plenty of outdoor public lots that cost either $5 or $7 all day. I paid $7.50 for an hour and a half.

Since Angie and Amy, the co-founders of I Heart Faces and event planners for the walk, in their infinite wisdom, felt we should be up bright and early, I decided a bit of coffee might be the right start to our morning. So we will meet at this Starbucks, on the corner of 6th Street and Congress:

From there we will head into cool alleys and little nooks and crannies on the backside of 6th Street, where we will see vibrant colors and textures like these:

I failed to show perspective on this mural, as I have no one standing in front of it, but we REALLY need a couple in love to pose here. Like, REALLY, REALLY NEED. (Any volunteers, and I am being serious, email me!)

And why have a hugely painted mural on the side of a building if you can't laugh about their exotic sausages?

Color? Um, yes, I think we have some color in downtown Austin, right along 4th Street:

And a few final scenes that caught my eye...I can't wait to get some people posing in these spots!

After our two hours of walking and shooting (make sure you have every available memory card with you!), those that care to shall dine at the Spaghetti Warehouse on 4th and Colorado:

I know I am so excited about the walk and hope you are, too! I am working on getting models of various ages, so if you are looking to expand your portfolio, this is an AWESOME opportunity to get some interesting, novel shots. And for only $5 bucks. Really. Go sign up. Now. Click HERE. Now.