Austin Photographer Texas Baby, Child and Family Photographer

:: A brief quiz - A speaking engagement - A new blog ::

Cheryl Muhr has:

a. Dropped off the face of the earth
b. Quit photography
c. Quit blogging
d. None of the above

If you guessed d, DING DING DING DING!!!

Since moving to Austin, my life has been in a whirlwind....a whirlwind of shooting and playing and raising my babies and shooting and getting bit by a crazy, rabid Texan spider and going to Marfa and meeting wonderful people and shooting the most amazing clients ever with the cutest bellies and babies and families and...and...and at times I think that my heart may just burst from how much joy it all brings me.  And while my heart is full, my days are even fuller, perhaps too full to do everything that I wish to do in a day.  Most nights I am rolling into bed falling asleep while on the phone with one of my girlfriends....although as of late I've been accidentally falling asleep before I can even call them back because the day has simply worn me out.  I'm like a pair of my favorite socks whose heels are *thisclose* to being holey. 

My new blog is coming...and with it, all of the posts that I would have been posting here if I knew this blog was going to be staying here....and let's be honest, it would help also if there was a way to magic an extra 4 or 5 hours in every day to blog.  But, I just can't shake the feeling of missing sharing with you all...I love reading your comments and getting emails about my posts, so my blog will be back soon.  I really cannot wait to share what all I've done since being here in Austin with you.

I am so, so, SO excited for the rest of my summer.  I'm also SUPER honored to have been asked back to speak at a WONDERFUL photography conference in July for non-photographers and beginner photographers and scrapbookers alike, The Creative Photography Retreat.  This wonderful weekend, full of amazing speakers and information and fun, not to mention they always have the most amazing door prizes.  You'll find all of the information here:  Creative Photography Retreat   I'll be selling my personal photoshop proofing actions in the bookstore at the event as well, so if you've always wondered how I edit, you'll be able to purchase the actions that I use myself!  I hope to see you all there!!

And of course, I cannot post without some images....this time, a beautiful senior.  Seriously, who looks like a supermodel when they graduate from high school?

 

 

 

:::proof:::

...that I wasn't lying when I twittered that I was "discovering that The Marshmallow's ideal pant size is NOT in fact a 2T, but a 5T capri." 

And here you all thought I was exaggerating.

(HARD DRIVE UPDATE: Should be here this week...and I'll finally be able to resize client images for the blog. Hold onto your seats. We've got Jennifer...we've got babies..we've got weddings...)

...oh how I love her...

Much love to you all.  :::cheryl:::  Austin TX baby photographer | Austin TX child photographer

Where have I been?

I am FAR, FAR overdue for a blog post.  I know this.  I do.  And I really, really, REALLY want to create one.  Unfortunately, I cannot resize any of my client images.  You see, I had a small mishap with my computer....and by small mishap I mean that I accidentally dropped it off the counter onto the loft's concrete floor.  On it's corner.  After slamming it into the counter on the way down as I attempted to catch it.  I saw the whole thing happening in sloooooow mooooootiooooon and it was actually kind of funny....well it was funny until I realized that my whole entire hard drive is no longer functioning.  I was feeling awful about it until my husband let me know that he knows me so well that he actually bought me the 100% on-site service warranty and guess what?  I SHOULD HAVE MY NEW HARD DRIVE TOMORROW.  Regular posting will resume.  If you are a client waiting on a gallery or an order, your images are totally safe and sound!

Now, in the meantime, shall I answer a few of your recent questions?  Yes, I shall.

Where did you get the dresses in the blog post of the celery stick and the marshmallow?  Those were seven dollar purchases at Old Navy.  When I am cheating on Mini Boden and Gap, I like to shop there, especially since the clothes are PRACTICALLY FREE. 

What lenses are you using these days?  I always shoot with the same two lenses.  I put the 24-70 f/2.8 on my D3 and the 85mm 1.4 on my S5.  Those shots were taken with the 85 and the S5.

Where do you buy your gear?  AT THIS PLACE.  LOVE IT.

Why don't you twitter?  I should.  I want to.  I am going to.  I created an account a million years ago, but much like facebook, had trouble adding it into my life.  I am going to download the iPhone application today and make this happen.  It will give me something to do while I wait for my hard drive to arrive.

How did you light the studio maternity shot?  That was lit with an AB-800, a Larson 6x8 modifier that was positioned behind the subject and off to the side, facing me, just out of the frame.  There was a piece of black velvet on a backdrop stand behind her. 

Have you been enjoying Austin so far?  YES!!!  The people, the restaurants, the feel of the city....I love everything about it.

Are you doing any more photography workshops this year?  I'm seriously considering adding one more workshop for the year.  If I do, it will be the last one for 2009.  It was a lot easier fitting workshops into my schedule when I was on maternity leave!!

What are you grateful for today?  Her.  For what?  For standing out in the rain with us.  For being patient with us.  For helping me pick out the right clothes like only my momma would have.  And mostly....for this.

 

 

More can be found on Tara's blog. 

I wrote Tara an email through my tears after receiving my gallery...and I wanted to share something that I told her because it reminds me of the importance of family photography....

I always knew what it FELT like to love my family....

...now I know what it LOOKS like...

So grateful for the gift of Tara in my life.

Much love to you all. :::cheryl::: austin TX baby photographer austin TX photographer 

Day and night.

It never ceases to amaze me how two children raised in the same home can be so radically different.  My children are like day and night.  Ebony and ivory.  Apples and oranges.  Right and left.  Big and small.  Ummmm....a celery stick and a marshmallow??

And then, much more than they are different, they are

...so much the same.... 

They laugh all the time.  They are playful.  They are independent.  They love to dance.  They are quick to forgive.  And, most importantly, they think I am suuuuuuuuper funny. 

 

A little bit of sunshine.

To start off the day this morning.  This sweet one-year-old was beyond a joy to photograph.  Her smile was just infectious.  I love this stage....not all baby....but not yet big kid.  Crawling...walking...crawling...walking.  As a mother, I am thrilled to have been able to freeze this time for my client. 

I remember all too well when we were at this stage.  I was thinking I still had a baby...but then looking across the table one night at supper, I realized I was wrong.  We were eating in a restaurant and my kids were each sitting coloring QUIETLY and everything seemed peaceful and happy.  (I should have known at that point that this was to be a magical night.)  After our food came, I glanced over to see how the baby was doing.  And there was my baby, Kennedy, eating steak and spreading butter on bread while sipping on a glass of Merlot.  Ok, it wasn't Merlot, but the rest of it is true.  And at that moment, not only did I realize that she was no longer a baby, but I realized that time flies more quickly every year that goes by.  I got my camera out the next day and took some pictures, because it smacked me in the face how I was going to BLINK and she was going to be in college.

These moments are fleeting. 

   

And maybe can I get a collective "awwww....." over the way her finger is curled around her nose??

Can you just imagine her squeals of joy as her momma tosses her into the air?  Just remembering that sound that day brings a smile to my face.

   

Coming soon:  the long awaited session I'm dying to share with you from one of my favorite clients/friends....Dr. Jennifer from New Hampshire!!! 

Much love to you all.

Dear James,

 

I barely remember the events of yesterday....must have been some kind of a fog...you know, the kind of fog that ends with ME GOING INSANE AND DISREGARDING EVERYTHING I SAID ABOUT HAVING A PET AND BUYING YOU.  Please stay this cute forever.  Love, Mommy

...alive...

I meet the most amazing kids in my job....so full of energy and life and love.  This is one of my favorite clients EVER....Madison.  She is so naturally beautiful and has a smile that lights up the whole room.  Oh wait.  We were outside.  Ok....she has a smile that lights up the EARTH.  She is happy.  She is loved.

She is alive.