“Mother” Added to My Resume

I’ve been a mother to fur babies for 17 years and now I’ve recently added “mother to human baby” to my resume. Koda Joy Levine is brand new to our pack! She is strong, beautiful and full of fire. I loved her the moment I knew she existed and was so happy to meet her when she entered the outside world.

I am one lucky mama.

To say that having a newborn baby has been an adjustment is a huge understatement. I’ve always respected mamas and now that I am experiencing this journey firsthand I have even more admiration for them. I am slowly adjusting to this new “normal” and will continue to do so with each passing day. I am learning and growing almost as much as my little one.

Motherhood is expanding my heart and building up my life’s resume. It will no doubt contribute to my creativity in a positive way (once I get just a littttttllleee more sleep!). I am looking forward to very soon getting back into some creative time with my photography and painting.

I feel it’s important to be honest about both sides of this gig. Motherhood for me is beautiful and incredibly difficult! (Full disclosure: I felt the same way about pregnancy!) There is so much contrast in my life right now. Within 5 minutes- or really even within 5 seconds- I can experience a large handful of very different emotions– tears of exhaustion or stress in one moment can turn to tears of joy in another.

It’s like everything is out on the table, for both this baby and myself.

I am more vulnerable now than I have ever been in my life. The experience is both beautiful and terrifying. Having a newborn has already reminded me of the preciousness of life and how quickly time passes. It has reminded me of how important it is to pay attention to who and what matters and to what fills your heart. This experience has further validated how important my job has been as a photographer. Capturing the love and connection that exists in family (fur or otherwise) has always been an honor for me, but now, I think it will be even more so as I know first hand this level of vulnerability and connection. The time really does go by quickly in many ways… I even get nostalgic over photographs I took yesterday of this little one. I am looking forward to getting back into being there for my clients and their beloved families soon with this new perspective. I do my best to be in the present moment as much as possible. Having said that, I’ve already taken a thousand photographs of this baby girl and I am sure to take a hundred million more.

We had professional portraits created by Pinkle Toes Photography when she was just 12 days old and I am so grateful to have them to cherish. I will continue to have portraits created of us as a family– primarily because I want to be part of them!
We have so many memories to create and capture and I am incredibly honored to have added this new role of mother to my life’s resume.

Thank you to my dear friend Michele at Pinkle Toes Photography for this gorgeous portrait of Koda and me.

IVF as Art

As someone who experienced many challenges with regard to fertility, I was inspired to find a way to honor my experience and journey using my fine art and I’d like to share that with you in this post.

While I realize it’s a unique experience for each person who goes through using medically supported means of conceiving a child, IVF and everything leading up to it was both physically and mentally challenging for our family, required a significant financial investment and took a tremendous amount of time and energy.  

For those of us who are fortunate enough to have success with the process, it is truly awesome to witness the results unfold in front of our eyes.

Creating and displaying this art piece felt like a way to honor our journey and to focus on what was beautiful about it, rather than let the challenges take center stage.  

I created a piece of my own daughter’s beginning stages as mere cells before we transferred her as an embryo. I included colors that I wanted to incorporate into my nursery and symbolism that felt meaningful. I look forward to being able to show my daughter the very beginning stages of her life interpreted in this way.

The piece shown is 30x40 bees wax, resin, pigments, photography on birch panel.

I am extremely passionate about creating this commissioned art for parents who went through IVF to conceive a child. 

The IVF art I am creating for clients is inspired by the journey and the magic of being able to see imagery of your child as just a few cells. This is just incredible to me.

In addition to the reward of a baby, this art piece felt cathartic to make and also to display on my daughter’s nursery wall. 

I’d love to talk to you about creating an IVF art piece for you, so email me or call with questions about the process and investment. 

Warmly, 

Norah

TEN of My Most Favorite Family Portraits

I was asked recently about the family photographs I’ve created over the years and whether I had any favorites… so I wanted to share some of them with you! I’ve created images of families comprised of couples, families with children, pets...all of it!

My family is made up of the people I am related to, friends, and fur babies. They’re all holding a big piece of my heart and help me experience the most out of life.  What stands out to me about family is that it’s a unit of love and connection– no matter whether you’re related by blood or not… or species for that matter!  It’s that love and connection I enjoy capturing with my camera and microphone. 

This family was very focused on a construction project on their house when I created this family portrait for them. Mom wanted to create something special that included their construction filled life at the time and this was a fun solution. We really enjoyed ourselves and the kids had a blast as they were given special "jobs" for the portrait. I highly valued having this creative opportunity that was also personal to the family.

The focus in this image is the dog, no doubt. There is so much love focused right at Moose. This was the family's last photo session with Moose before he passed away from a heart condition. I love this peaceful moment and the sweet look on Moose's face.

In addition to swooning over the aesthetics of this couple's space, I love this moment. For me, it's a joyful slice of their family's dynamic. They obviously have fun together and their pets are their beloved family members. This photo makes me happy.

I love creating images of children with pets. Often with young children these pets are the first they've known– their fur siblings. I love having the ability to capture their relationships so they have the ability to look back on them fondly when the children are grown.

This family wanted to do something special to honor their mother who had been diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer’s disease. We created this portrait of the family having a dance party of love around her, and it is one of my most favorite family portraits ever. In addition to creating a beautiful image, I wanted to leave the family with the memory of surrounding their mother with love, joy, and smiles.

Besides the beautiful colors and people in this image, all I see is connection, wonder, and love. I can feel the adoration that these parents have for their baby in this image and I can truly get a sense of the baby's wonder as he gazes into his dad's eyes. Definitely one of my favorites.

This was one of those moments where I said "sure let's see what happens!" with regard to photographing cats, dogs, and children together. For me it's just plain fun and I especially enjoyed the little girl's hand pose, chosen by her. Maybe she is wishing for a kind hearted baby brother who will share all of his toys with her?

This photo isn't "perfect" but it feels like the moment is. It's a good representation of what I call "joyful chaos." Young children, especially toddler age, like to do their OWN THING and this little girl was no exception. I love the energy in this image and the sweet smiles on everyone's faces.

Some of us have family members that shed a lot! I love this sweet couple's space and having the chance to capture their environment with their beloved fur babies in it. Photographing in my client's home environment is one of my favorite things to do.

I created this family portrait as part of a project (The Better with You project) for an incredible animal welfare organization called Emancipet. I love the colors in this image and most of all the perfect expression on Carolyn's face. Learn more about Emancipet here: https://emancipet.org/

Which one is your favorite?  Let me know!

Clutch's Audio Portrait Session

I’m a sucker for an underbite. So naturally I fell in love when I met Clutch, a sweet, scruffy little pup. Clutch’s human parents, Nicole and Andrew, didn’t sport an underbite, but were also quite sweet and fun. When they reached out to me for a portrait session I was ecstatic. They live at The Domain, a very cool retail and residential area in Austin, and chose to focus their session on their relationship and their puppy. I had a lot of fun during this session and this young couple and their energetic pup, Clutch were perfect subjects for one of my new Audio Portraits.

This Audio Portrait is a bit different than some of the others I have done for my Petributes package, which is designed specifically for elderly pets or those diagnosed with illnesses. Instead, this Audio Portrait focused on a young dog and his new and budding relationship with his human parents. It is very rewarding to honor the impact these pets have on our lives when things are going great and everyone is happy and healthy. While being able to bring artistry to end of life situations can have a tremendous impact, honoring the beginning stages can be just as meaningful for myself and my clients.

Clutch had a lot of energy but seemed to eat up the camera– really the only challenge we faced that day for the session!

Combining Sights and Sounds To Curate Unique Memories

On this recent session I had the opportunity to capture the sights and sounds of life with baby Penley and her loving moms.

Creating an Audio Portrait for this family was a very special experience for them (and for me).

Since I know that life changes so quickly, especially with little ones, I thought it would be valuable to provide Chelsea and Kerry with a final Audio Portrait that represents and reflects their life right now. I wanted them to be able to watch their slideshow years from now and feel exactly how they felt while their little girl was making all of her fun noises, crawling around  house as her dog brothers took advantage of her leftover scraps of food. I knew it would be valuable to Penley to have later in life as well. We can all take snippets of videos, photos, etc., but I wanted this to be a curated piece that represented them in an artful, thoughtful way. I can’t get over Penley’s little growl and I am in love with those big beautiful brown eyes. 

I’m so inspired by creating these audio portraits for my clients. This format really allows me to dive deeper into connection on every level, and honestly that’s a huge part of why I do what I do.

Here’s what Chelsea had to say about her Audio Portrait experience:

"Norah’s creativity shines in the Audio Portrait she did for us, which so beautifully captures our baby girl’s personality and character at 8 months old. It’s amazing how she was able to deliver such a personal and touching piece— from the audio arrangement to the photo arrangement, each second of the video holds the potential for a smile or shed a tear of joy. Photographs are wonderful but having a piece like this, with a story and voices built into it, and that is so shareable and is just the right length to watch over and over again, is truly special. Norah crafted something that we intend to play at every one of our daughter’s birthday celebrations, every graduation, when she gets engaged, and married, and has babies herself!"

Family Friendly Luxury Resorts In Texas

Having kids doesn't mean that you need to curtail your traveling habits. Vacationing with the whole family is a great way to create lasting memories and instill in your children the love of adventure.

You won’t need to travel far, as there are many resorts in Texas that accommodate families.

I’ve compiled a list of family friendly luxury resorts throughout Texas that have great children’s activities available.  Even the most discerning child will have fun at these resorts, and all have amazing spa amenities available for parents. Check them out below!

AUSTIN

• Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa
  This luxury resort includes amenities for the entire family. Surrounded by stunning natural scenery, it feels like a wilderness retreat. Children can play at the lazy river, waterslide, splash pad, or sandy beach area. There is even a Hyatt camp for kids available. The nightly smores are always a big hit and they offer unique activities such as stargazing, archery and trap shooting, and bird watching. If you are a family that likes outdoor adventure, but you’d prefer not skimp on luxury, this is the place for you!              
   
• Four Seasons Hotel Austin
  Known as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” Austin has so much to offer if you are a music lover. The Four Seasons Austin has partnered with Taylor Guitars to create a concierge program, in which guests can play in the comfort of their own room or on the hotel’s back lawn.  A baby Taylor is available, so children can join in on the musical activities. If you’d prefer to focus on something else, there are hammocks nestled throughout and fun lawn games, such as ping pong, giant Jenga, and bean bag toss.

DALLAS

• Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center
  Every member of the family is sure to have fun at this one-of-a-kind resort. It boasts over four acres of lush indoor gardens and riverwalk, a seasonal water park, and both indoor and outdoor pools. While the waterpark alone can entertain children for days, many other activities such as gold mining classes, a small arcade, and giant checkers are available.  
   
• Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas
  This sleek hotel caters to the entire family. Upon checking in, children receive fresh cookies, a child-size bathrobe, and a welcome gift. The Kids For All Seasons program includes various games and activities in an indoor play area.  

SAN ANTONIO

• La Cantera Resort & Spa
  This resort has lots of amenities for children, including a kids club that has many outdoor activities. A range of supervised programs for children and teens include Zoomagination, Little Chefs, a nature trail adventure and Vibe, an event venue just for teens. Nightly movies with popcorn, smores, and magic shows are sure to impress children of many ages. The resort is also close to Six Flags FIesta Texas and has complimentary shuttles services to the theme park.
   
• JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa
  Picturesque scenery surrounds this upscale resort that includes its own nine acre water park. Children can experience the ultimate outdoor fun on both the rapid river ride and the lazy river. The Range Rider's Kids Club is transformed nightly into a themed party and dinner for kids, leaving the parents time to explore the plethora of luxury amenities available.

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What are your favorite family friendly luxury resorts?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Maddie started her career in advertising sales and client management. Now she is using that experience to help small businesses grow through their social media presence and online content. When she isn’t thinking about how to revolutionize each client’s brand strategy, you can find her playing with her two kids, cuddling with her dogs, or taking long walks down the aisles of Target.

Celebrating Unique Holiday Moments This Season

One of my favorite parts of the holidays is taking time to spend with loved ones. Sure I love the food, drinks, and gift giving, but for me the core of it is really about connecting with others and being as present as possible. We shouldn’t need an excuse to get together with those we love, but the holidays sure are a great call to action.

The most impactful way for me to celebrate is to be in the present moment as much as possible. With technology constantly at our fingertips, this can become more and more difficult, but here are some ways to slow down and celebrate this holiday season.

• SEE more. Pay attention to the details around you and really appreciate them. One thing that has become second nature to me as a visual artist is to really look at details -- the light, shapes, colors, textures -- and to notice beauty in front of me. While we’ll all be in different surroundings this holiday season, there is something beautiful to notice everywhere. The art of seeing helps slow us down and stay present.
• LISTEN more. Listen to music that brings you joy. Listen to stories of others with an open mind and compassion. Listen to your children’s excitement and share in joy with them.
• Love On Your Pets. If you’re home for the holidays, give your pets some extra playtime or attention. They’re there for you all year and always deserve love. I find that spending extra time with my fur babies helps me really feel cozy and get into the holiday spirit.
• Be Grateful for Your Loved Ones. Being thankful for the people and animals in our lives is a great way to be present during the holidays. Even if our loved ones can get on our nerves sometimes, it’s always good to celebrate the relationships you have and not take them for granted.

• Take Photos, but Not Always. Sometimes we need to put the phone/camera down. As a visual artist, I constantly see in still frames. Many of us want to grab our phone and snap a photo during every highlight, and I completely understand that desire. While I think this is an incredible tool, there’s something really special about being present and limiting our documentation and posting time. Consider making an effort to celebrate by being putting the camera down for some time so you can enjoy the special moments in your holiday.
• Take time to reflect and set goals. At the end of every year, I like to take time to “debrief” from the year before as I look to the New Year. I write down notes about what worked well in my life, relationships, career, creativity, etc. and what could use improvement or shifting in the coming year. I set goals for myself for my relationships, for my personal growth, and for myself as an artist and professional. This process provides clarity and is such a positive way to celebrate the unique moments in my life.
• “Note to Self” When it’s time to pack up my holiday decorations, I’ve started the tradition of writing myself a note for the following year. I include comments on how I am feeling/doing now and what I hope will be my state when I read the note a year later when I unpack it from the holiday boxes. It’s a special way to celebrate the end of the year and a fun “surprise” for myself in the next.

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No matter what or how you celebrate, I hope you can soak in all the love and appreciation you can as you stay connected and present to your own unique moments this holiday season.

What helps you celebrate your unique holiday moments?

When a Portrait is More Than A Bunch of Photographs – My Commitment

My commitment is to make all of my portrait sessions about more than just the tangible photographs. Yes, my intention is to ultimately provide each of my clients with a variety of unique images from their session. However, I also want the images I provide to artistically convey multiple aspects of each family -- whether that family is a couple with a dog, an individual with a cat, or a family comprised of humans and fur children.

My portraits are more than simply a bunch of photographs.

The experience of creating the images is almost as important to me as an artist than the final artwork. I see tremendous value for my clients in the memories created during the session. When they enjoy the artwork years from now, I want them to remember how they felt that day as they held their loved ones close to them in front of my lens. Photography is powerful in that way. I’ve always loved the magic of photography and its ability to emotionally transport us to moments we cherish. Because experience is such an important part for me as an artist, I don’t rush my clients. I take my time and make sure they are comfortable and enjoying themselves during the process.

During this time of hyper technology, we take hundreds of photographs with our phones a week. It’s such an incredible tool. I’ll admit that I'm a little biased, but I am confident in the fact that the experience of being photographed by a professional and being included in the photographs is an entirely different experience than taking selfies or never being in your own family portraits.

Part of my commitment as I continue to grow as an artist is to further tap into the portrait experience for my clients. In the coming months, you’ll see some shifts in how I approach my work. My audio portraits are becoming a vital part of my portrait experiences for my clients, too, further adding to their experience. I am looking forward to sharing more of these with you very soon. I am so grateful for the clients who continue to value the experience of my portrait sessions and final artwork they receive as a result.

Why You Should Choose A Lifestyle Shoot

This family!

I had the chance to photograph this family a couple years ago when they only had one little boy. Now they are a family of four and are cuter than ever.

This foursome had moved out of town but were back in Austin for a long weekend and asked if I could capture their expanded family with a lifestyle approach. Normally I photograph in and around my clients’ homes, but this adorable rental home made for a sweet background and comfortable environment. I loved photographing them in this space during a holiday weekend where they were enjoying themselves and taking advantage of all that Austin offers. This weekend getaway was a fun part of their lives, and I loved capturing these moments for them. The little girl was so energetic that morning. Sometimes this can be a big challenge during portrait sessions, but I’ll tell you what – I’d much rather have a child full of excited energy than unhappy and fussy. The energy, the movement, the moments – they're all part of lifestyle photography. I much prefer a little “joyful chaos” to static, tense, perfect posing.

Lifestyle is different for everyone, and that’s one thing I love about it. I love capturing people in their spaces, in their moments. It is more natural than posed photos at the park and lends itself to a more authentic connection. Even though this wasn’t my client’s home, it was a space and time wherein they were comfortable and relaxed, which is the first step to a successful portrait session.

Why might you choose a lifestyle session? Consider that we are all unique. Each of our families are different from one another, and that is something that I think should be celebrated.  I believe photographs of our family are all about honoring relationships and our lives as they are right here, right now. It’s not about perfect or about making our lives look like anyone else’s. That’s why I use the phrase, “capturing the colors in your life.” It’s about you, your lifestyle, your family and your relationships.

Tips for Flying with Kids This Holiday Season

Thanksgiving and the holiday season is a time for us to gather with family and friends, eat delicious food, and celebrate all that we’re thankful for. Though the traditions and meaning behind holidays are important, there is no doubt that they can still be considered a stressful time of year. Traveling with kids requires a lot of headspace and patience, especially when you have younger kids who require tons of equipment like strollers and diapers. As a mom of three who has traveled across the country for family gatherings many times with kids in tow, here are some of my best tips for flying with kids:

Choose your plane times strategically. Do your kids still nap? Are they happiest in the morning? It might be worth the extra splurge, if applicable, to decrease your stress level and choose flights that work best for your family’s schedule. That way everyone is stress-free and well-rested during travel time.

Dress appropriately. Have you ever seen how tiny those plane bathrooms are? Now is not the time for elaborate buttons or zippers. Dress your kids in comfortable clothing that can be easily removed or swapped. Choose shoes that are easy to slip on and off, and make sure that you have some socks for chilly feet -- not to mention that planes aren't the cleanest of spaces.

Babywear over dragging the stroller. Save yourself the hassle of going through security and having yet another item to drag to the gate. Check your stroller or even better, borrow one from a friend or family member while you’re visiting your destination. Wear your baby instead! You’ll be hands-free, and with less items to keep track of.

Bring the sanitizer. Airplanes are notoriously filled with germs. Make sure you travel with hand sanitizer so you can wipe down little hands during the flight.

Pack a Busy Bag with new toys. My daughter and I used to fly at least four times a year from coast to coast. I always ran to Target the week of a flight and bought her a bunch of new, low cost toys and other items to keep her busy. Our lineup for each flight included: a new coloring book, play-doh or clay, magnetic dolls, sticker books, a few new books that fit in her backpack, and one new movie. This was back in the era of portable DVD players! Now that we have iPads, you can just download a new movie or show series for the plane ride. You do not have to spend a lot of money to keep your kids entertained. Scope out the Dollar Spot at Target, rent movies on Amazon or iTunes to keep costs lower, and borrow books from the library!

If you can, get the baby a seat. I know that kids under two are free, and it’s amazing to save the money – but if you can swing it, having that extra seat is priceless. Having a space to keep my kids in their carseats helped make the flight much smoother, not to mention that it’s much safer. However, I have had to travel without an extra seat plenty of times, too, and we survived!

Prepare for any discomfort. Do you have a child who is prone to nausea? Consider chatting with your pediatrician about remedies you can turn to before and during the flight. Do your child’s ears pop? Make sure you’re stocked up on chewing gum, and request bottled water during take off and landing to swallow. Prepare for the discomforts of flight, because you never know which ones your child will be susceptible to.

Pack extra diapers, and don’t forget the trash bag. You just never know how many diapers you’ll truly need, and having a few plastic grocery bags and ziplock bags – just in case – might end up being the best decision you’ve ever made.

Stock up on snacks. Everyone has different philosophies on this. I used to treat any plane ride like a vacation, which meant letting my kids choose some fun junk food that I wouldn’t normally allow them to have. I found that this kept them quieter and well behaved, but some people find the opposite to be true. Do what works best for your family, but do anticipate that your kids are going to need a lot of snacks! It’s better to overpack and be safe on this one.

Remember that this too shall pass. Sometimes we do everything that we possibly can, and flights still go terribly. Maybe it’s a screaming baby or an overtired, whiny kid, but inevitably, some flights just won’t go your way. Give yourself grace and know that not only will you likely never see any of these people again, but you and your kids are human! Now go pour yourself a glass of wine and hand them off to the in-laws.

What do you think, Austin parents? Are you traveling with your kids this holiday season?

About the Author:

Jessica is an East Coast girl originally from Boston, MA but recently transplated to Austin, TX. She is a Content Manager and Brand Strategist, helping businesses with their social media presence, SEO, and brand strategy. When she’s not busy blogging or strategizing, you can catch her chasing around her three busy kids and rescue fur baby. You can also follow her antics on her personal blog or Instagram.