April 11, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

Austin Urban Engagement Photographer Joanna and Jeff the lucky winners of one of our "engagement" session give-aways! They have been married for some time but their amazing story is Joanna's amazing transformation. They dutifully took their engagement pictures in the northeast with their photographer before their wedding. When she saw the photos from her session Joanna was disappointed with her appearance. After their wedding she went on a diet and started exercising. Jeff is an airline pilot, he travels a considerable amount of time. She was able to devote a good amount of time to her new hobby. In less than 2 years she shed more than 80 pounds. It's hard to bounce back emotionally though and Joanna still doesn't see the fit person she has become. Hopefully these images will help with that ;)

For their session we chose the urban setting of downtown Austin. Green doors, back alley loading docks and exposed brick were perfect for this oh so urban loving couple.

Congratulations to you Joanna, for getting your life back! All the best to you both.

Austin Urban Engagement Photographer Downtown Austin Engagement Photography Session

She-N-He Austin Wedding Photography and Design specializes in making your day...YOURS. We capture your wedding just the way you see it. We're a husband and wife team with backgrounds in Graphic Design/Art Direction and Commercial/Editorial Photography respectively. We bring to you a unique perspective that is romantic, modern and timeless and 15 years experience shooting all over the world. Call us and tell us all about your big day. We're listening. 512-351-9314

Barr Mansion Spring Harvest Tasting / Barr Mansion Weddings / Austin Wedding Photographer / April 10, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

I am always delighted to be asked to photograph Barr Mansion during their harvest tastings. I love the location, the food, and their killer staff! Photographing weddings at Barr Mansion is second to none. Thank you for having me. For more information about availability or to tour the Mansion and Barn, contact Barr Mansion 512.926.6907

Marlene -N- Eric / Mercury Hall Wedding / Austin Wedding Photographer / April 3, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

Marlene -N- Eric -- Mercury Hall -- 3.4.12

She is a teacher and he is a co-founder of the internet start-up Forecast. They are ridiculously loved by their friends and family and silly adored by each other. Just look at them. They were pure pleasure to work with. Thank you both for having me.

Mercury Hall was a beautiful backdrop for their brunch nuptials on what was a perfect March morning to tie the knot. Marlene and her bridesmaids spent the morning at Hotel San Jose feeling "easy breezy" and getting their hair and make-up done by Kathryn Lyons and Houston Puryear respectively. A quick but completely terrifying ride from Hotel San Jose to Mercury Hall courtesy of the bride's sister, just in time for a quick first look with her soon-to-be-husband Eric. Friend and Officiant, Jason Callahan delivered a beautiful service to unite the beloved couple. A reading from The Velveteen Rabbit rounded out the service. They chose Kerbey Lane to cater their delicious brunch. Yum. POLLEN provided the beautiful succulent, billy ball, and peony brimming bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages. The rest of the floral decor was subtle and elegant from Austin Flower Company. With a nod to Eric's childhood home in PA, the delicious (and gorgeous) pies and cakes were provided by Quacks and Sao Paolos respectively. Friend and DJ R.J. Johnson played an awesome tailored mix of tunes complete with Italian pop hits for Marlene's "Italian Crew." This entire divine event was pulled together by yet another friend and coordinator, Linda Huynh.

Congratulations you guys. Thanks for having me.

Venue - Mercury Hall / Day-of-Coordinator - Linda Huynh / Catering - Kerbey Lane / DJ - Music for life DJs / Cake - Sao Paolo / Pies - Quacks / Florist - POLLEN / additional flowers - Austin Flower Company / Hair Stylist - Kathryn Lyons - Happy Salon / Makeup Artist - Houston Puryear - Bobbi Brown / Guest Accommodations Hotel San Jose

Jamie -N- Wes / Just Married! / Mansion at Judges Hill / Austin Wedding Photographer / April 2, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

Jamie -N- Wes -- JUST Married!

3.31.12 -- 6:26pm

Mansion at Judges Hill

My Love affair with Instagram / Austin Photographer / March 21, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

Instagram picture of driving in the rain in austin, tx

I got Instagram because we were on vacation and I wanted to post what we were up to. Plus, I got an iPhone for Christmas and I never set it up and New Orleans is a much longer drive than I realized. The first frame I ever posted on Instaram is from the highway in the rain pulling into New Orleans proper. After that, I just went nuts. I love Instagram because I have made a commitment to myself to post everyday. That means that I shoot something every single day, even on days when I am shackled to my computer all day, I still post. The format is square, which you may or may not know is my all time favorite format. It offers the "Lomo-fi" which is in my head the equivalent of Kodak VC pushed 2 stops with a filled out negative holder (in the old days - full frame.) Now of course, I am shooting the format of the 35mm camera (rectangle) but my head is always recording it in a square. I LOVE instagram. If you'd like to follow my daily musings, please do so by clicking Melanie Grizzel / Instagram

Baggett Commercial Trucking / Austin Lifestyle / Advertising Photographer / March 18, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

Early Morning Photoshoot

My favorite Art-buyer recently relocated with his family to Florida. But before he left, he recommended me for this project. Hare Communications is based out of Alabama, but they had subjects trucking their way through Texas and needed to have this couple photographed before they made delivery and went on home for a much needed rest. Baggett (trucking) prides itself on the family aspect of their business. Their employees are well paid, well insured and overall loved, like family. Baggett has the highest number of husband and wife team drivers than any other freight company. The tag is "Driving for Baggett is like working with family. Only it pays better."

Above is Dennis and Abigail, they have been married for ten years and driving for eight. Dennis says it was tough in the beginning to work that closely together, but now he gets nervous when she's more than eight feet away ;) They are as sweet and charming as they look. I was pleased to work with them!

Early Morning Photoshoot Austin Lifestyle Photography Session Austin Couples Photography Session Austin Couples Photographer Austin Commercial Photographer Austin 18 Wheeler Photography

Rolleicord's final shots / Austin Photographer / March 15, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

Film Photography in Austin, tx by She-N-He Photography and Design

Recently you read the news about my beloved Rolleicord. She's gone into retirement in a better place. But before that, I took her out for one last hurrah!

I dug her out in the first place because my friend, Katherine O'Brien, suggested if I was feeling a little less creative lately to pick up my old film cameras and play. So I did.

The thing about film is everytime you pick up the camera you make art. Every exposure requires skill, timing, and patience. Skill:particularly on an older camera without all of the fancy metering on the inside, you either have to carry an external meter or be really good at guessing. I'm pretty sure I carried a meter for these, it has been far too long since last I metered in my head. Timing: with a camera like this you have to cock the shutter (which essentially unlocks it.) Fire the shutter and unlock the wind and wind up the film by hand. It's just not the same as digital. Patience: it takes time to line up a shot and get the camera ready to make an exposure and fire; you have to make sure that everything in your frame is exactly how you want it or you might miss a great shot altogether when your moment starts to change.

I have never been one to crop images. Even to this day, I rarely crop an image. I shoot with purpose, every exposure is exactly what I intended. Well mostly, I crop from time to time, I'm not perfect.

I love the square format. I started shooting 35mm as a young lass as we all did, then I moved on to a Yashica D (twin lens reflex - a loaner from a friend /long term), then this Rolleicord, also twin lens, and then my Mamiya RB - 6x7 negative, a behemoth. But I carried her around from job to job, loud and proud.

I am madly in love with Instagram and I'm sure it's because of it's square format. I think in square again, it makes me so happy to just find art all day. I have filled my phone already, since January. And I post EVERYDAY. If you care to follow my Instagram feed you can do that by clicking Melanie Grizzel / Instagram.

The exposures you see forthcoming are from Rolleicord's final voyage. She has a dragging shutter, so nothing is properly exposed. It doesn't matter, because all of the film was expired by more than 5 years anyway.

Art.

Liz -N- Doug / South Austin Engagement Session / Austin Engagement Photography / March 14, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

Liz was hands down the most afraid subject I have ever worked with. She told me over the phone that she was completely unphotogenic. I explained this was a phenomena that only exists in ones head and that everyone is beautiful in some way and can be photographed as such. But as you can see, I was completely wrong, she's a hot mess ;) Just kidding, what a total knock out!

When we started our session, I drug them to a little less populated area of the neighborhood where they asked to be photographed. I pulled her aside and started working with her letting her know it's not a scary thing, it's like dress up and can be fun. After we worked together for a few minutes with both mine and Doug's encouragement she was a little less nervous. In any engagement session it usually takes couples about 30-45 minutes to relax, drop those christmas party snap poses and prom photo painted on smiles. That's when the magic happens.

There is a wonderful story of a photographer from the 50s or 60s who carried an 8x10 camera on all of his gigs. He was commissioned to photograph a famous actress in her time, so he went to her dressing room and proceeded to talk with her and snap his shutter and swap out backs for an hour or so and when he thought that he got her to a comfortable place he loaded in his only loaded film slide. All the rest were empty, he wanted to make sure he had her right where he wanted her before he fired off a sheet of film. They were very expensive, and he didn't want to waste a sheet. I believe the subject was Joan Crawford and the photographer was George Hurrell I think this might be the portrait or at least the same session. click Joan.

Bottom line, Liz is gorgeous and she and Doug chose 27 of 80 images to grace their walls and home and Liz may not be afraid of the camera anymore.

That makes me very happy and proud.

Rolleicord / a tearful goodbye / Austin Wedding Photographer / March 13, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

Austin Film Photographer

My beloved Rolleicord.

The first Christmas gift from my now husband. She was born somewhere circe 1955. I used her everyday since 2001 until about 2007, when I went digital.

I have been missing film so much in the last few months, the thrill of not seeing what you produced but knowing what you have.

So I picked her up for a couple of recent trips to San Antonio and New Orleans. In fact, she was all I carried in New Orleans.

Taking the time to look through the viewfinder and with the entire world being backward you frame up your subject, focus (manual,) cock the shutter and fire. And you know, you've just made art.

I took her into Precision for a check-up and I was told there's not much they can do, they could do a few tweaks here and there and keep her running for a while but the prognosis was dismal. It's best she retire and sit on a shelf while I thank her for her wonderful service.

Soon I'll share how she spent her final days.

Marlene -N- Eric / Mercury Hall Wedding Sneak Peek / Austin Wedding Photographer / March 7, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

JUST Married!

Marlene and Eric

Mercury Hall - 3.4.2012

"Yes, thank you so much for you support and calmness!!! You were an absolute pleasure to work with and I apologize for my tenseness and nerves before the wedding. :)" --- Marlene Costa

"First of all, thank you so much for being a crucial part of our wedding celebration. You and your photographers were very friendly and professional, and I cannot wait to see what you produce from that magical day! :-)" ---Eric Katerman

Natalie -N- Ryan / A Laguna Gloria Engagement Session / Austin Engagement Photography / March 5, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

Natalie and Ryan have been dating since high school but never felt the need to tie the knot, until now. They are ready to a have a family and didn't want it to be weird for their kids... they say it's already weird for their dogs. So, they'll make it official soon. They settled on Laguna Gloria for their session because they both love architecture and nature, so Laguna was a perfect fit!

Jessica -N- Brian / Barr Mansion Weddings / Austin Wedding Photographer / February 28, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

Positively delightful, clearly. Jessica and Brian have been through a lot in the last year. And here they are, sitting in the back of a limo newly husband and wife. You deserve it. Congratulations!

Their wedding was held at Our Lady's Maronite Church on east 51st street. From there they moved on to Barr Mansion where they feasted, danced (by the tunes of full circle media), and mingled with their guests. There was love and romance in the air that was perfectly accented with sprays of babies breath, mercury glass, and cream candles courtesy of La Fleur Vintage. It was a wonderful evening, a night where beautiful memories were made.

Barr Mansion - Location / Food / Cake

La Fleur Vintage - Flowers / Decor

Full Circle Media - DJ

alexis - a test / Austin Portrait / Lifestyle Photographer / February 23, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

Alexis is a model I photographed for some bumper material for Austin's own Dress Shop a few months ago. We kept in contact and we decided to do another test - in this case, an interpretation of modern day Audrey Hepburn. Alexis is represented by Page Parkes in Houston and Webber Productions in Austin.

She is fairly new to the industry and is interested in building her portfolio. For those who don't know, when a model is getting started she'll go through a number of "tests." Ultimately, these will be the backbone of her commercial / high-fashion portfolio. When a model goes on a go-see, her portfolio has to have a wide variety of looks from different photographers with different interpretations of what she can look like. That way, the model may already look the part that the new client is trying to achieve, thus putting her in a better position for an assignment. Testing is also a catalyst for stylists, designers, set designers and hair and make-up artists - everyone needs a portfolio. Teams work together to deliver their best work for everyone's portfolios. In this case, Jenna Hollerbach (stylist), and Erica Gray (make-up and hair) rocked out this test with Alexis.

My years in New York included LOTS of model testing. I had a good friend from the Dallas Morning News who left to be a booking agent for Page Parkes in Dallas. Just months after I moved to New York, he moved as well, to work with Elite New York. Together, we tested gazillions of girls (and some boys). Testing is usually free for all involved, but in a saturated market like New York when models are looking for a specific look, their agents will send them to a photographer who specializes in that look (in my case, lifestyle and portrait photography). So I would often work with models whose portfolios were swaying to high fashion a little too much, that way they were open for whatever might come their way.

I worked with all of the top agencies in New York for quite a while, but in later years I swayed away from the fashion world. The New York market is very specialized; there is no such thing as fashion models, real people, and food in the same portfolio, it's just not how it's done. You really have to focus your portfolio tightly and so I had some tough decisions on which avenue to pursue. But if I had to choose my favorite, I'd choose real people. I developed a portfolio of natural, non-stylized portraits of real people. Our move to Austin a few years later, opened doors I never even imagined. It's not a specialized marketplace here and my portfolio can feature whatever excites me, so I can do it all again and I love it. Model tests are like playing barbies as a kid: clothes, hair and make-up. I mean, really, is there anything better?

Except maybe this video I shot the other day of my 3 year old son singing "I flip my hair back and forth, I flip my hair back and forth." Things HAVE definitely changed.

Candice DePrang - Oh! Fox Vintage / Austin Lifestyle - Portrait Photographer / February 20, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

Lifesytle photography session in Austin, tx Candice has quite a history. After high school she was given a scholarship to every art school she applied to. She was accepted at UT and per her families strong advice, she stayed in Texas and got a degree in something right brained. She worked for government and wrote grants for quite a while. She's lived in New York and Washington DC. But now, she's back in Austin and is chasing her dream, curating vintage fashion. Check out her blog Oh! Fox Vintage. She's creative, lovely and she is a force! Watch out for her, she'll probably be perusing your local vintage shop.

Green Pastures Portrait Photography Green Pastures Portraits Sunset Portrait Session Sunset Portrait Photographer Austin Adult Portrait Photography Portait Photography Session Sunset Portrait Photography Session Winter Portrait Photography Session Sunset Portait Photography Austin Portrait Photographer Austin Lifestyle Portrait Photographer Portrait Photography Session at Green Pastures Lifestyle Photography Austin

Erica Gray - Make-up artist / Austin Lifestyle - Portrait Photographer / February 17, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

Portrait Photography Session in Austin

Back in December, Erica Gray, Austin make-up artist extraordinaire, asked me to photograph her for a print to give to her mother for Christmas. A) I was delighted she asked me, it's always a super charge when someone in the industry who really knows work chooses you - like! B) I love her! Not only is her work absolutely amazing (one of my favorites!), but she is completely hilarious and wonderful to have on set. Also, we both spent a number of years in New York City working on similar projects so we know a lot of the same people and places. She is beautiful, obviously, and a pleasure to be around. That makes for a perfect afternoon. And seriously, look at that light, does it get any better than that?! No, is the answer.

I am developing a new commercial portfolio to re-enter that market and this was a perfect opportunity to flex those lifestyle photography muscles. Thank you Erica.

Portrait Photography Session in Austin

Adult Portrait Photographer Austin

South Austin Portrait Photography Session Portrait Photography Session Austin

South Austin Portrait Photography Session

Portrait Photography Session Austin

Portrait Photography Session in Austin

South Austin Portrait Photography Session

Portrait Photography Session in Austin

Ramberg Family - Portrait at home - Austin Family Photographer / February 14, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

Way back in November we had the honor and delight to work with the Ramberg family after their first baby girl was born. Grandparents and new parents and one tiny little being. Watch out guys she'll be walking and talking before you know it!

Thanks for having me.

New Albums / Austin Wedding Photographer / February 9, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

I am so excited to introduce our new albums!

Our albums are flush-mounted, seamless, lay-flat albums. Great for displaying all the time.

You can have your names and wedding date printed on the cover, or pressed on the spine or the cover.

Each album comes with 30 individual pages (15 full double-page spreads).

This is a great example of Steve's careful and light-handed design style. Our goal is to display your images in the best, most unobtrusive way.

Each layout is printed as a full page and mounted. It creates a seamless display from one page to the next, which is perfect for those big beautiful double page spreads that are so exciting to look back on and remember.

Here is an example of our 3/4 cafe leather cover in reddish-brown. The seam between the leather and wrap cover is flawless.

Both matte art paper finish, or a bit shinier pearl finish are available. I prefer the matte finish, it just soaks in all of the light and displays color beautifully.

Each album is custom designed in-house from your own selection of photographs. You choose 40-60 images and Steve works his magic, he follows the timeline of your day and designs your album in his own signature style.

It displays on your coffee table just like any other art book; fun to show off to family and friends. Why not curl up with your hubby and relive your day again and again?

Above: side by side, our 10x10 and the 12x12 in full wrap, and 3/4 leather cover. Albums are also available in a full leather cover.

Below: A great collection of items for archiving your most special day. In the rear a 20x30 inch float wrap. To the right, an 11x14 inch metallic black and white archival print, matted and framed in a nude finish display frame. And lastly, out front, is our signature 10x10 wrap cover, lay flat, flush mount album.

For prices and more information click our Wedding Albums button.

Audrey -N- Christian / Allen House Wedding / Austin Wedding Photographer / February 3, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

Audrey and Christian tied the knot the week of Christmas, since their both teachers, what better time?

They met in high school band in south Texas. Both went to University to study music, both went to South Africa to teach music and they both now teach music here in Austin. Christian, high school band, and Audrey, elementary school music. I usually only cry once at every wedding; when the bride is walking down the aisle. I cried several times during their wedding. There was so much music and I simply can't keep dry eyes when there is that much passion in one room. Singing during the service to remember all of the people they have loved and lost, singing for their prayer before dinner, big band playing and Aunt Linda bringing down the house with her rendition of "At Last." I am tearing up again just thinking of the divine evening it was.

Their wedding was held at Allen House with Lindy Floral providing all of the delicate floral details!

Thank you Audrey and Christian for having us. It was one of the best times we have ever had.

New Work / Austin Portrait Photographer / January 23, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

This week I am putting some new work in my commercial portfolio, I shot this of Erica Gray before Christmas and the next was for a test a few months ago and the bottom, I photographed on Friday of Candice DePrang of OH! Fox Vintage, she's a new force in town, pay close attention!

Thanks for looking.

Best of Austin Engagements 2011 / Austin Engagement Photographer / January 15, 2012 by Melanie Grizzel

Best of Austin Engagement Photography 2011!

We LOVE to shoot engagement sessions it really gives us such an awesome opportunity to get to know our couples. You really get to break through it all and explore each person.

Happy Monday!