The Hart's Maternity Session at Bull Creek District Park in Austin, Texas.

How have I not shown this beautiful milestone maternity session on my blog?!! Well, today is the day, because I love the Hart’s & everything about their maternity session. I first worked with Caroline & Zach in 2022, when I associate photographed their engagement session in their small town of Georgetown, Texas. At the time I was living in Flatonia, Texas, & was always finding reasons to come to the city & this opportunity came from a fellow photographer in the area, so I jumped at the thought & when the day arrived I enjoyed every second of it. Something that may sound crazy is I love a good long drive to a session, maybe not all the time, but this day I did. Once I arrived to Georgetown & I met these two, we started chatting about their wedding day plans, how they met, what they do for a living & how they spend their days. It was hard to not fall in love with their story & photographing how these two are together is just so effortlessly beautiful. After our session was done I drove home & saw the most beautiful & pink Austin, Texas sunset. This day is truly forever engraved into my memory. Funny enough I never did edit their photos until almost a year after, only because I associate photographed their session; which means I just photographed the session & sent it to the photographer they originally hired. So you typically as an associate photographer don’t get to share the images until after the full gallery was sent by the lead photographer. So I finally edited their photos & then not too long after Caroline reached out to me about having me photograph their maternity session, which made my heart so full & happy to be a part of!

Caroline had the whole vibe picked & I found the best location for them! The day we had be planning for finally came around & was so perfect for these two. We explored Bull Creek District Park in Austin, Texas, which the weather this day was Fall Texas Weather, aka a nice, chill, sunny day & we weren’t dying of sweat, so chef’s kiss! We started the session by laying out their blanket & bringing out the pictures of Baby Hart aka the sonogram. Caroline & Zach were in full effect of Mom & Dad, which the smiles on their faces just say it all! There were some moments during our session where there were questionable people & things we saw, but that’s the beauty in pictures, because that was simply not shown within the photos. Caroline was glowin & Zach was adoring his women! Baby Hart is now living her best life with her awesome parents & I can’t wait to see where life takes these three!! ✨🥹🫶🏼🤭🤍🥲

How to have the BEST Senior Session Ever!

It’s the beginning of a new year, which means it’s a new graduation year for all the high school seniors & collage graduates! I absolutely love being able to photograph seniors, because it always brings me back to my roots of where I began photography, which coincidentally enough it was during my senior year of high school, I asked all my friends if I could take their photos & I did & it’s how I got some of my first experiences as a photographer! Since then, I have been photographing seniors & graduates every season!

step one!

To having the best senior session ever is…

Finding a photographer!

This can truly be the hardest part of the senior photos process, because they are so many different photographers out there to choose from & is the most important!!

Here’s some tips & things to look for, when conducting your search; Make sure they are reputable, reliable, & responsive! It’s important to look at their work & if it’s something you love, then it’s time to do your research! Check out their social media pages & website, find out everything that’s included in their session packages! This can be what sets most photographers a part, so find someone who is within your budget.

STEP TWO

Inquiry & Book with your photographer!

After finalizing your senior session date, then planning begins! Planning includes; outfits, hair & makeup, locations, & props. If you plan on getting your Hair & Makeup professionally done, inquiry & book them next!

TIP: Hair & Makeup can take anywhere from 90 minutes - 2 hours, so plan this accordingly with your photographer! Plan to have some extra time in between to travel to the first location for your session & get a bite to eat!

Having your Hair & Makeup professionally done can 100% bring you more confidence & enhance your natural beauty! But, if you don’t love the idea of wearing all the makeup or just aren’t that girl, then don’t force yourself! BE YOU!

Step Three

Find your outfits, locations, & then props!

do it in this order!!

First thing is first, what is the vibe? Where do you see yourself taking your senior photos? What do you want to showcase in your senior photos? Is there a place that is significant that you want to incorporate?

If you feel lost in it all, then go to Pinterest for some inspiration!

After you find the outfits, which don’t OVERTHINK IT! This can be done so easily, so my suggestion would be having a casual outfit & a more formal outfit! Find pieces of clothing that speak to you or represent who you are.

Ex: If you are a dancer or cheerleader consider bringing your uniform & pom poms, this would look so well on the football field!

Locations!

Finding a location from the client POV can seem very daunting, so re-ask yourself the same questions & start with the city in which you’d like to do your senior photos in.

At this point… consult your photographer & ask for their suggestions/recommendations!

TIP: If your photographer doesn’t help with planning… that’s a red flag! Just sayin…

For my own clients before we start planning out session details I’ll start my planning process off by sending over a session questionnaire, in which will ask all questions pertaining to what you’re wanting within a location & our session!

Depending on the vibe you want I will always recommended locations or if you’re wanting something I haven’t done, then I’ll do my best to find what you’re looking for.

Props!

Props add SO MUCH versatility to your senior photos!

EMP Blog: Props to bring to your senior session if you’re feeling stuck.

Plus, you should be showing off your talents & passions throughout your high school career within your senior photos! Bring the cap & gown, letterman, & even the college acceptance letter!

step four

After all the planning is done you’re probably patiently waiting for your senior session date to arrive!

Once the day is here, prepare a bag with jewelry, shoes, any under garments that might be needed for certain outfits, a hair brush, extra makeup (maybe a lip stick or gloss), & of course the iconic outfits & props!

If you are having second thoughts about leaving something behind, BRING IT! You will want to have more than enough options, I myself am a very indecisive person & I do this all the time, so there is no shame in deciding day of during the session based on how you’re feeling!

I highly suggest bringing snacks, water, possibly moral support like your bestie, mama, sibling, or partner!

Step Five

HAVE FUN during your senior session! YOU are the main character, so don’t forget it!

2023 ends & 2024 begins!

This is definitely not my typical blog posts about weddings, tips, & past sessions, however I wanted to share what I thought of 2023 & what I hope for in 2024 with EMP.

2023…

What a year it was. I started 2023 during the busiest wedding season I have ever had by kicking off the first weekend in 2023 with my first ever triple header wedding weekend! Which means 3 wedding days back to back to back. It was such a joy to be a part of each wedding day & see each couple celebrate exactly how they wanted to! This weekend was truly a highlight in my career, I always heard fellow photographers talk about their triple headed weekends & this was an experience I know can say I did, & honestly I would do it again!

My goal for 2023 was to have a good healthy work life balance year, because 2022 was the year I took a lot of client work, and when I say a lot… if my brain works correctly I did about 165 projects. It was my first year full time & it was difficult for me to say no to work. Which then you can imagine, lead to me feeling very burnt out at the beginning of 2023. So I took a little step back in my photography business, I immersed myself in my small town that I was living in & thought why not get a part time job, so I did. Which ended up allowing me to meet lovely people, get my name out in the small town I was in, & get back to my roots where I felt a lot of nostalgia to when I first started photography.

2023 was the year I felt like my most truest self.

Besides being a photographer I I started taking my side hustle of reselling vintage & secondhand clothing & other goodies, which is now another business of mine, Two Shoe Vintage. My boyfriend, Kolter & I also started Two Shoe Coffee & Co, which will hopefully we’ll be launching this year! It was a year of self discovery & getting through some tough times while being grateful of the phase of life I was in & am still in (in a way).

Up until the very end of 2023 I lived in Flatonia, Texas aka my small town. (FYI… I’m not really from there, but I felt like I lived my gilmore girls small town lifestyle & can say Flatonia was my home.) After the holidays my boyfriend & I packed up our belongings & moved to Magnolia, Texas. You might be wondering why are you moving? Well I’m a young 20 something year old girl trying to navigate & figure out life & well for me moving all around Texas just seems to have a hold on me & well Kolter received an amazing job opportunity. However I’m now I’m in the heart of wedding venue central, so I’m stocked to see where this next chapter takes us.

My 2023 Stats…

During 2023, I photographed 68 wonderful people, 10 of which were weddings & 1 elopement! I photographed high school seniors, college graduates, families, couples beginning to grow their families, best friends, couples in love (including my best friends) & bridal boudoir, a band! In 2022 I did almost double the work, however ya girl was very stressed most of the year, surviving, but so stressed & tired.

In 2024 I hope…

I can continue to capture all the life, love, & new beginnings for everyone around me & that seem to find me along the way. I’m in a new place that I hope to grow the Emily Marie Photography name in & hope that I’m able to pursue my side passions/businesses like vintage & coffee!

I hope I continue to travel all over Texas as I do for beautiful moments, but I hope to use my passport for an adventurous couple that wants me to join them on their elopement somewhere I can only imagine, which I will give ya a discount if you want me to join :)

It’s funny how life works out sometimes & photography is definitely one of those things that I didn’t think would end me up where it has taken me, so cheers to the endless opportunities that life gives you!

Also, thank you to every one of my clients that allowed me to photograph you in the moments we shared. I truly cherish every piece of work I’ve photographed & would not be able to do this job without y’all. Thank you to the photographers in my life that support me & allow me to work alongside them, you know who you are!