Queensberry and Zookbinders albums

I work with a lot of out of town/destination brides and it's always a little bit of a challenge to explain different albums over the phone or with e-mail. So, I thought I would post some details of albums we have made with them. Queensberry and Zookbinders are two album companies we carry.

This is a Queensberry pagemount album with an Ivory and chocolate brown double mat with a sage bengaline cover. Names were blind embossed on the cover.




Double mats have a wonderful framing effect to each page.



Cover vellum page with names and wedding date.

Proper spacers in between pages are very important to the longevity of your album. These ensure that your prints will not rub against each other too much.


Zookbinders flush album with digitally designed pages.
Maroon leather cover. We added "AT" to this cover since, but typically couple's names are engraved.



Zookbinders has one of the smallest gutters (space in between pages). This means your album can lay perfectly flat on your coffee table.


Something different....
I love this cover. It's a matted album. The cover is a combination of linen and velvet.

Here is a recent slide show from Jaclyn and Alan's wedding. They had a spectacular ceremony at St. Mary's cathedral and reception at Barr Mansion.
Jaclyn and Alan

My new place on 22nd street.




It's official...I'm a landlord! I am so excited about this new part in my life. I've been wanting to invest (purchase) property in Austin (besides owning our home) for quite some time. I've always loved the idea of flipping (yes, I watch the shows on HGTV), but I simply don't have the time to stop my photography to do such a project. This August, when the wedding world had quieted down a little, I began my extensive search for my first investment property. There are two types of property investors, those who are most concerned about cash flow and don't really care too much about their properties and those who love their property and are more in a buy and hold situation. I am definitely the latter. I absolutely loooove this place I bought. It's on 22nd street (at the corner of Pearl). It has an old Austin look, but the inside has been completely gutted (down to the studs) and remodeled. It's 2 bedrooms, has a new kitchen, new bathroom (with great subway tile), new hardwoods, granite counter tops, vaulted ceilings. If I were single or if I did not have a little one, I would totally move into this place.

What an awesome road trip.

We are back from such an amazing time driving to New Mexico. This trip was full of firsts in the family, including that it was the fist time we have taken a big camping trip with Elliot. He is now old enough (4 years) that we can spend long days driving and he can handle it, which is so liberating for Chris and I. Road trips are something we love to do so much and really have not been able to do since having Elliot.

We spent the first night at some cute rustic cabins in Balmorhea State park, which has a huge natural spring. It was Elliot's first time off a diving board or as he referred to it as the "the big jumping thing". It was hard to believe that Texas could have such clear and blue water (see below). The second night we camped at Guadalupe National Park, which was incredible. The landscape was so unique (there were maple trees in the middle of the desert) and breathtaking. I definitely felt all of my thirty-something years sleeping on the hard ground, but it was worth it. Then we drove up to Ruidoso. We rented a tiny wood cabin. We did the whole tourist thing and visited some museums, Funtrackers and enjoyed great local cuisuine. And of course, we did some nice hiking in the mountains.

I have all the credit to my incredible (really) husband for planning everything, which took a couple days alone. I also want to say to all of you out there who love road trips and do not have a GPS system yet, go get one! Chris gave me one for my birthday and I don't know how I ever survived before without it.




The cabins at Balmorhea State Park.



Do you think Elliot likes to play it up for the camera? Don't mind the campers hair.

Camping in Gaudalupe National Park.

Town of Lincoln.



Advice to parents taking their first really long road trip with little ones...take plenty of chocolate milk and cookie breaks.



My amazing little hiker, prepared with pole and bear whistle.

Blog Break-

I am pretty busy with all the post production of our Spring and Summer weddings. I photographed 18 (!) weddings in 4 months, which means I have a lot of computer time to put in.

The quickest part of my job is the wedding itself. The real "work" comes when we do all the post-production on the images themselves. That being said, I am spending too much time in front of the computers these days and have decided to take a break from my blog for the rest of the summer. My husband is a school teacher and has the summers off. But, we have not seen each other enough since I am working a lot in the office. So, a road trip awaits the Tarbet family. As soon as I finish my last July wedding it's off to New Mexico. I can't wait.

I've got a really exciting fall coming up with some amazing weddings that I am looking forward to and will post favorites from.

I just had to post a photo of these totally cute and special shoes that one of my brides (Michelle) wore. I love 'em! It's all in the details...

Featured in The Knot!
Congrats to Jennifer and Trent. I am so happy that their wedding I photographed last fall was chosen to be featured in the upcoming Fall/Winter issue of The Knot magazine.

Michelle and Joshua
May 19 at The Texas Women's Federation

I love this location. It is so old world classy. This room is one of the most beautiful reception halls in Austin. Michelle and Josh were so easy going and fun to work with.
...images coming soon!

Kylie and Royce
May 12 at Barr Mansion

Katherine and Ron
May 6 at The Vista at Seward Hill

Raygan and Michael
May 5 at Barr Mansion

I had never met Raygan before they reserved this date with me (they live out of town). Sometimes it makes me nervous when I arrive at a wedding having never met the couple, but these guys quickly demonstrated how much fun they were going to be. With Austin becoming more of a destination spot for weddings, this happens more and more. I literally have brides from California to New York this year. They had a beautiful wedding and really had quite a party at their reception.