Here’s a quick sneak peek at my family session yesterday.
This beautiful family, gorgeous location and unbelievably fun beach session is what work vacation dreams are made of.
What do you think of when you’re looking to book your Austin family photographer? The photographs need to be incredible, of course, but what about working with the photographer herself – you want someone you feel comfortable with capturing your beloved ones on camera, yes? Someone who not only makes you look good – let’s be honest here – but also feel good while you’re doing the shoot?
If it sounds like I’m speaking (typing?) from experience here, it’s true – like the Hair Club for Men, I’m not only your trusty scribe here but also a loyal Ziem Photography client. In fact, my son Jack has the honor of being the child Ziem has worked with the longest throughout her career, having shot him and us for nearly five years now. During that time, my father and stepmother have expressed interest in booking a session with Ziem, which is how another (breathtaking!) Ziem Photography multi-generational shoot came to be.
As always, Ziem made my crew feel more comfortable in front of the camera than we’re naturally inclined to be – with the exception of the family Pug slash camera hog, who managed to wiggle his way into a shot or two as well. From wardrobe consultation to sweating through the Texas heat of the shoot in my backyard one recent afternoon, Ziem is always there for every step of the process, exuding a calm energy that is positively infectious.
I have the distinct pleasure of being friends with Ziem as well, so I know from personal experience what an natural, incredibly engaged parent she is; her ease with kids is something else we really appreciate in working with her professionally. Between that and her long history working with Jack and now my daughter Paige, she knew just the right tricks – candy in one case, sports chat in the other – to keep my wee ones engaged and happy despite the sweltering temperature.
A great family photographer not only shows its subjects in a flattering light – and no one knows natural light better than our Ziem – but also conveys the personality of their subjects in a shot. Can’t you just feel here how these two very loving grandparents like to love on their sweet sports nut grandson and wild extrovert / broken arm devotee granddaughter?
As ever, we can’t thank Ziem enough for these priceless keepsakes she has created for now three generations of our family. I’m biased, admittedly, but there’s no one else I’d rather welcome into our home to help memorialize these moments.
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Make those summer memories last a lifetime – book a summer session today!
Available for Summer Portrait Sessions in Austin, Colorado and 30-A.
Email z@ziemphotography.com for more information.
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Make those summer memories last a lifetime – book a summer session today!
Email z@ziemphotography.com for more information.
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If there’s one thing Austin family photographer-in-chief Ziem loves even more than working with one Belly to Birthday child, it’s working with that child as they welcome a sibling to the world – and to B2B!
Dana & Jay Azurin have been working with Ziem since mama Mama Azurin was in need of maternity portraits while pregnant with big brother Matthew . Ziem couldn’t enjoy working with this laid-back engineering family more, so when the Azurins signed little brother Daniel up for B2B as well, she was thrilled to carry on the family photography tradition. From Dana’s pregnancy with each boy to half-birthdays to cake smashes, Ziem has been there with the Azurins every step of the new family way.
As Ziem knows all too well from having a young family of her home, Stuff Happens (TM) when you try to schedule things like photo shoots for new families. In the Azurins case, illness, injury, and that fickle Texas weather conspired to delay Daniel’s first birthday shoot, but not even those formidable foes could keep the Azurins – and their dimples! – down for long.
Daniel proved to be a fun-loving, precociously chatty whirlwind during the shoot, quite literally giving everyone a run (a sprint!) for their money. Having worked with the Azurins over the years, Ziem knew that one of the photo props / child bribe – balloons, and lots of them – would serve both as prop and a distraction to both big & little brother, so she held off on introducing them as long as she could. The grown-ups even resorted to hiding the balloons under a picnic blanket! Nevertheless, Daniel nearly lost the them, sending both Dad & Ziem alike scrambling to fetch them. One by one the remaining balloons popped throughout the shoot, but not before Ziem captured some classic moments. In the end, Ziem was thrilled to log some quality shots – and miles! – in.
Now that the Azurin family is complete, Ziem is going to miss them dearly – their frequent B2B shoots have been a wonderful excuse to get-together! Come to think of it, Ziem is certain that Daniel whispered to her that he wanted another sibling . . . the more the B2B merrier!
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Available for Summer Portrait Sessions in Austin, Colorado and 30-A.
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Make those summer memories last a lifetime – book a summer session today!
Email z@ziemphotography.com for more information.
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One of photographer-in-chief Ziem’s favorite things about her Belly to Birthday package is getting to experience the various stages of a new family’s first year plus together. With every exciting new first – getting pregnant! the newborn stage! first steps! – there are also the inevitable hiccups. As noted philosopher Winnie the Pooh once noted, though, good things come to those who wait.
In the case of baby Jameson’s first birthday shoot, a perfect storm of – well, storms, actually – and an earache delayed their initially scheduled session. Ziem & this sweet trio were able to reschedule one month later, however, and the resulting shots perfectly capture the family’s laid-back, happy nature.
This shoot was the culmination of over one year’s work with Kim and her growing brood. Kim and Ziem initially met over coffee, when Kim was about to give birth to Jameson but barely showing – her only tell being that luminescent “pregnancy glow”. Kim decided to book the B2B package on the spot, and Ziem has loved working with this laid back, sweet family ever since, through maternity, boudoir, newborn, half-birthday, and now this first birthday shoot.
Jameson is one of those rare firstborns who acts more like a second, just as low-key as his wonderful parents yet a total ham in front of the camera. He’s in the stage, roughly from 11 to 18 months, which can be the toughest for a photography session, because little ones are just discovering their mobility / ability to give their parents (more) grey hair; Ziem adjusted accordingly, keeping the session to a brief half-hour, but Kim trusted her to get results in that short timeframe, and our photographer-in-chief didn’t disappoint.
The best photo shoots involve something personal to the subjects, and so it was here – Kim brought some special birthday props to Jameson’s session, adding that special personal detail to the photos. Jameson also enjoyed Ziem’s vintage high chair, happily banging the table for food as soon as he sat down. The resulting joy on his parents’ faces was evident and something that Ziem lives to document.
Over this special B2B year Ziem has enjoyed working with Jameson and his family so much. Getting to watch sweet Jameson grow, and his parents grow in their love for him, has been a joy and a privilege. And speaking of joy – though this first birthday shoot came a bit later than expected, the wait was well worth it.
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Available for Summer Portrait Sessions in Austin, Colorado and 30-A.
Sweet little doll of a client taking a break to pick flowers for the photographer.
www.ziemphotography.com