What truly matters: your loved ones (yes, even gerbils!)

My heart goes out to all those affected by the fires here in Texas–the people and the animals. At the bottom of this post I have included information provided by the local news station for many ways to donate to the victims of the fires. During times like these I think we'd all agree that our focus should be on what's truly important in our lives: our loved ones ....................................

I was recently commissioned by a client to photograph her daughter, Karen and grandson, Eli during a visit to her home in Santa Fe, NM. Karen was quite lovely and definitely a little shy about being photographed. My favorite images were taken when she and her son were side by side; forgetting about the camera and sharing a moment together. The two of them seemed to have an extremely close bond: one a mother and child share that is like no other. I photographed them in an outside area where the light seemed to make their skin glow. In addition to Karen's mom cherishing these images of her daughter and grandson together, I know that Karen and Eli will both be thankful to have these photographs for many reasons.

I also photographed Eli as he played with his grandmother's chocolate lab Nick, underneath this old adobe structure on the property. This boy adores this dog and I just loved this little grouping of images in sequence of the two of them.

As a portrait photographer who specializes in images of children and pets, I have met some amazing and unique children and animals. This was admittedly, my very first experience photographing a pet gerbil. This gerbil (named "Whitey") is probably one of the most well traveled gerbils in the world as he traveled by plane from New Orleans to Santa Fe. He was very sweet and even more special was the way Eli loved him and that he was ecstatic about being photographed with his special friend. I am certainly available to photograph most any pet and I was glad to have the experience of photographing the connection between Eli and his pet gerbil.

 

May you and your loved ones stay safe and enjoy the time you have with one another each day!

Warmest wishes.

Norah Levine is an Austin children portrait photographer and pet photographer. She photographs in homes and on location. She also travels to Santa Fe, New Mexico frequently for sessions. Please view her website for more details www.norahlevinephotography.com

The following information is being shared from kvue.com as it was posted on 9-5-11

http://www.kvue.com/news/Austin-area-wildfire-donations-129263013.html 

AUSTIN -- As wildfires continue to burn in Central Texas, there are several ways to help out the victims and donate.

  • The Thrift Shop at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection is accepting donations for victims. The shop at 2008 Justin Lane will take donations of clothing, house wares and toiletries, which will be taken to distribution centers.
  • To help the families affected by the Steiner Ranch fire, Austin Christian Fellowship is taking donations of bottled water, sports drinks, non-perishable snacks, toiletries, work gloves, heavy duty trash bags, flashlights, batteries and pet food. Donations can be taken to 6401 River Place Boulevard.
  • Collections are also being taken in the Liberty Hill area. You can call Chuck Licata at 512-466-7751 to help.
  • Anyone in Hays County hoping to volunteer or donate water and food for firefighters or evacuees can contact Volunteer Coordinator Lidia Contreras at 512-393-7302.
  • The OASIS on Lake Travis has announced it will be a drop off point for the Austin/Bastrop fire victims. The restaurant is accepting donations as well as water, work gloves, toiletries, non-perishable food items, clothing, trash bags, and flashlights with batteries. Boxes and donation jars will be in the lobby area starting Monday afternoon.
  • The Austin Disaster Relief Network is currently assisting victims of the fires. Organizers say donations of food and clothing can be taken to any local food bank or charity.
  • Cash donations should be made directly to the Red Cross of Central Texas.
  • Catholic Charities of Central Texas will accept donations for wildfire victims on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Donations can be brought to the Diocese of Austin Pastoral Center at 6225 Highway 290 East from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Donations will also be accepted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Catholic Charities of Central Texas in Austin at 1817 East Sixth Street. Organizers are asking for donations of the following items:
  • Medical Supplies
• BP Cuff
• Nebulizer
• Thermometer
• Glucometer
• Pen lights
• Tongue Depressors
• Ibuprofen
• Gauze Wrap
• ACE Bandages
• Neosporin Cream 
• Bandages

Other Supplies:
• Sleeping Bags
• Blankets
• Pillows
• Towels
• Shampoo
• Body wash
• Toothpaste
• Paper Plates, Cups, Napkins, Plastic Utensils
• Deodorant Sprays for men and women
• Disposable Razors
• Shaving Cream
• Baby Wipes
• Size 4 Diapers
• Baby Shampoo
• Sanitizer

Custom Art Products by Austin and Santa Fe Portrait Photographer Norah Levine

Part of my job as a professional photographer is to ensure that my clients can enjoy their photographs in unique and meaningful ways. It is imperative that everything I offer is created with the highest quality materials available. I enjoy the process of choosing creative ways for my clients to display the images from their portrait sessions. I offer a variety of options so I can be sure that my clients will be able to find the perfect print format or product that matches their needs and personal style. Some clients are looking to fill a wall with a traditionally framed gallery of images that suits the decor of their home while others may be looking for smaller heirloom pieces such as my custom albums or books. Today I am sharing one of my smaller options for the clients looking to display their images in a more compact space: Custom Heirloom Blocks. These heirloom blocks are works of art to be treasured and combine just the right amount of contemporary and vintage flair. They sit beautifully on a bureau, desk, shelf, or any place in the home or office. These handcrafted blocks include clients' favorite images and are custom designed and created with non-toxic materials. I am so excited to offer this unique custom artwork to my clients. I have several options for design and color themes and clients can even have a special name on the top of the large blocks.  Please inquire for additional details on this lovely way to cherish your photographs from your portrait session with me in Austin, Texas or Santa Fe, New Mexico. Norah Levine is an Austin children portrait photographer and pet photographer. She photographs in homes and on location. She also travels to Santa Fe, New Mexico frequently for sessions. Please view her website for more details www.norahlevinephotography.com

 

Pet Photography Booth Austin, Texas

I was recently asked to create a photo booth to photograph dogs here in Austin, TX at an event called Pupapalooza. I don't typically photograph events, but I thought this would be a fantastic opportunity to get out into the pet community here in Austin and to support a cause close to my heart. All of the ticket sales from my photo booth went to the Austin Humane Society and the Animal Trustees of Austin.  Although the day was hot, I felt I had a pretty good turnout in my booth! I created the background with a board from Home Depot and some chalkboard paint. I filled the chalkboard with "dog" words–sometimes the dog's name to add a little special "flair" to the background. I wanted the booth to be fun and to express a candid feeling while maintaining a beautiful quality of light and color. Pet owner's and their beloved pets joined in on the fun and in exchange for their tickets they received their very own custom photo booth strip! This was absolutely a perfect way for me to meet some of Austin's dogs and their people and for me to play around with my photo booth idea. Special thanks to all of the participants in my booth for their support and to my helpers for making the day run smoothly!

Family Portraits in Austin and Santa Fe: Change is Here to Stay

Good news! Family photos are different than they used to be. Having a family portrait taken doesn't have to look exactly the same as it did last year and the year before. (Or the same as your neighbors' for that matter). And why should it? You and your family aren't the same as you were years ago.  I believe family portraits should be artful documentations with playful interactions that are truly personal and unique to each family. Every family is different, so when I am asked to create a portrait my approach always varies. I was asked to photograph this couple with their one-year-old baby and their yellow labrador retriever  in a way that really documented their casual and loving spirit as a family. As I do with each of my clients, I spent some time with mom to find out more about what it was she and her husband were looking for with their session. She told me that their son had just recently celebrated his first birthday and they were looking to capture a portrait of him with the rest of the family. They wanted creative images of their son at this special stage in his life. I especially loved the baby's reactiveness to his mom and and dad as they played and the look of admiration his parents' eyes. The baby's curiosity of his dad's guitar sparked some playful images and I was pleased to stick around to capture  "bath time" memories.

I was grateful to be able to photograph this family in a relaxed manner that allowed them to be themselves; to forget what a family portrait was supposed to look like and to embrace a more meaningful and authentic series of images they could hold onto for a lifetime.

Norah Levine is an Austin children portrait photographer and pet photographer. She photographs in homes and on location. She also travels to Santa Fe, New Mexico frequently for sessions. Please view her website for more details www.norahlevinephotography.com

Family Photos with Dog Included!

The opportunity to photograph children and families is always a welcomed one. The chance to photograph children and dogs together is fantastic! I was asked by one of my favorite clients to photograph her daughter, Chandra; two grandsons, Alex and Banks; and their dog, a chocolate poodle named Jack. The family was vacationing in Santa Fe and had asked me to photograph them while I was in town to teach my photo workshop. I was thrilled that our schedules coincided.

I've got to tell you about these two incredible children. Meet Alex, one of the most energetic 8-year-olds I've ever encourntered. This kid's got it all—wit, inventiveness, extreme curiosity, the gift of observance and as many random facts as you could shake a stick at. I could have gladly  listened to him all day and he would have still had thoughts to share at sunset.  The small detail in this scenario was that I need to create portraits of this wonderful child, and this usually requires a bit of "quiet time."  After a great deal of entertaining conversation I reminded Alex that we needed to take some photographs. He politely inquired if I needed for him to "go get some tape for his mouth." I passed on the offer, but thanked him kindly as we both giggled.  I have no doubt that we'll be hearing more from Alex in the future in one way or another.

Next I spent some time with Alex's younger brother, Banks. A gorgeous brown haired 6-year-old with a sweet sparkle in his eyes. Banks and I started out with some negotiations involving the removal of his skeleton imprinted flip flops. The sandals were cute but didn't seem to fit with the simplicity of his outfit. This negotiation sparked some serious giggling and play between the two of us. In the end I won the negations with an arm wrestling match. (I'm willing to try anything.) Banks was a great sport and his laugh was completely contagious both to myself and my assistant who was there to share in the whole experience. Banks starts kindergarten this year and I just know he'll take the classroom by storm.

The group portrait included the family's new dog, Jack. Jack was extremely well-behaved and had such a sweet demeanor. I love his dark, expressive brown eyes and his rich chocolate coat. Incorporating pets into family portraits is always a fun way to capture the whole family and allows everyone to relax a bit. Sometimes people find it hard to be in front of the camera but when pets are involved  it can be easy to let the nerves go. (I think this is true of having pets in our lives in general). I'm thankful that I was able to create portraits of this wonderful family and to capture moments of these two boys both individually and with their family dog.

Norah Levine is an Austin children portrait photographer and pet photographer. She photographs in homes and on location. She also travels to Santa Fe, New Mexico frequently for sessions. Please view her website for more details www.norahlevinephotography.com

 

 

Family and Maternity Photography Austin and Santa Fe

family |ˈfam(ə)lē| can be defined several ways. I think a perfect way to describe family is connection. The concept of connection is a recurring theme in my photography and this maternity and family portrait session is all about the connection I love to capture. This family is powerfully loving and genuine; meeting them has honestly touched my life and inspired me.  Jeannine and Rich are expecting their second child this August and requested a session with me to capture this special time in their lives; a time wherein they are reflecting on the last four years spent with their first child, Kai , and their two beloved dogs; a time wherein they excitedly await the arrival of their new baby and enter into a new path together.

When Jeannine and I talked about her dreams for her session she expressed a desire to have photographs that captured the strong and intimate connection of their family. And so I focused my session with this concept in mind: connection between husband and wife, parent and child, mother and baby-to-be. It was quite clear when I arrived to Santa Fe, NM from Austin, TX for this session that this family was incredible.

I wanted the images to feel as serene and sweet as this family. I looked for ways to convey these feelings both indoors and out–We took a quick drive to a nearby field area, worked under their porch with some nice, soft light and also right in their living room on their cozy couch. (Oh,we took a few snack breaks in between, of course!) I used a combination of natural and studio lighting for the imagery and wanted to make sure they all expressed a soft feeling with emotion being the focus.

Jeannine and Rich were up for anything during the session and really encouraged me to lead the session however I felt was right for them. We spent a few hours together and I honestly could have continued photographing this family for many more... I'm so glad I was invited into their lives to capture this time. Many thanks to this family for allowing me to share these images with you.

Norah Levine is an Austin children portrait photographer and pet photographer. She photographs in homes and on location. She also travels to Santa Fe, New Mexico frequently for sessions. Please view her website for more details www.norahlevinephotography.com

This dog's got wheels! A photo session with George, my spunky dachshund friend in Austin, Texas.

I recently photographed George, a very special dachshund here in Austin Texas. George injured his back, leaving him paralyzed and ultimately requiring the support of a wheelchair.  This incredible dog has been in his wheelchair for four and a half years and it didn't appear to me that these wheels are holding him back in any way. George's owners, Judy and Vernon, inherited George from Vernon's mother who wasn't able to provide the care the injured dog needed. It is obvious to me that George resides in a loving home and is getting the royal treatment he most certainly deserves. I met Judy and Vernon through the Animal Trustees of Austin, a extremely vital animal welfare organization here in Austin.  When I arrived at their home  I was greeted by George and several of Judy and Vernon's cats. (A sight to which I am accustomed!) Vernon was excited to show me at least 20 different outfits that make up George's wardrobe that really add flair to his style. George's favorite outfit is his Texas Longhorns shirt. I think orange is his color.

This dog couldn't have cared less about the silly noises I made to get his attention and the tricks in my bag didn't even raise a whisker. George's vice is bacon! Every animal has SOMETHING that grabs their attention; I just need to figure out what it is! Usually, if make a fool out of myself long enough I can discover the proper technique. It was a remarkable portrait session. I loved getting to know this special dog and incorporating his wheelchair and personality into the images.

 

Creative Pet Portrait Workshop at the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops

I just returned from teaching "The Creative Pet Portrait"; a fantastic week-long pet portrait workshop hosted by the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops. I was so fortunate to teach along side of some amazing photographers and instructors including Joe McNally, Genevieve Russell, Eddie Soloway, Seth Resnick and Bob Sacha who were teaching a variety of courses including lighting on location, photographing people and visual story telling with audio. Participants joined my class from all over the country including New York, Oregon, Oklahoma, Texas, Indiana, and California! The week was fantastic and intense in such a amazing way because we were going and going every day for long hours. The week was packed with activities that focused on pet portraiture and gaining the skills necessary for photographing both pets and their humans. We were generously hosted by Santa Fe Tails, the Santa Fe Humane Society, Rick Iannucci at his western ranch, and even private homes throughout the Santa Fe area to help my class in their journey. We were also delighted to absorb the advice of animal trainer, Mary Leatherberry, were inspired by fine art photographer Gregg Albracht, and picked up a few Photoshop tips and tricks from Rick Allred. This class had amazing energy. They were up for anything and everything and didn't let frustrations get in the way of their learning experience. They signed up for the class to learn all about pet photography and were ready to have fun doing it. We addressed lighting, trouble shooting on location, style, communication with both animals and people, posing, props, composition, and so much more. I enjoyed each and every one of them and I was thrilled to see them expand their confidence throughout the week as they learned from the class and their fellow students. They seemed completely exhausted by week's end which is always a good sign that I did my job–to provide the participants with as many learning opportunities and experiences as possible.

I absolutely loved teaching this class and look forward to an entirely different experience next year!

My Family Photos in Austin Texas

This week I'd like to share images of just a few of my family members here in Austin! I recently purchased a new lens and I decided to play around with it using my favorite subjects- my animals! They are usually willing and always there for me. (Sometimes my calico gives me the "hairy eyeball", but she usually gives in!) While I don't have images of all five of our pets to share today, this will offer a glimpse of a few of our furry family members. I love them dearly, in spite of the hair they leave on my clothes and floors each and every day. In these images you'll see Fuego, our little orange tabby, Ruckus, our special boxer labrador mix, and RC, our calico cat. If she looks slightly snooty, it's because she is. When love her anyway. I'm teaching a pet portrait photography workshop this week in Santa Fe and I am so excited. I can't wait to share as much as I can with my students about creatively photographing pets. I look forward to sharing the experience with you next week!

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