weekend mini-getaway

This is the perfect time of year to go camping in Texas! If I could, I would have weeknds like this past one every week. 

 Friday night some friends and I were in need of a little getaway so we headed out to Pace Bend on the lake to land an excellent camping spot on a cliff.  Usually we could go cliff jumping off the 20-30' cliffs but unfortunately the water was extremely low that it made the cliffs more like 50' or 60' (I'm terrible at estimating distances so my numbers may be off ;) ) so it made it difficult to even access the water by hiking down.  The view was still terrific though.

I barely held my camera the whole day so I regret that there are so few photos from the trip.  But what a great trip...filled with great company, a lasso (1st timer here), good cooking (on Brent's behalf...thank you Brent!), exploring, relaxing mountain biking, swimming at Hamilton pool (can't believe I didn't bring my camera there either!)  Three parks in less than 24 hours...Pace Bend for camping, Reimers Ranch for biking, and Hamilton Pool for swimming.

The mountain biking  was hard, hot, and for me, hilarious as usual.  I always find myself laughing out loud at myself when I bike.  I 'm not sure why I laugh, maybe because I'm having so much fun or maybe because I am so ridiculous on a bike sometimes.  Mountain biking, as with most sports, is very much a mind game and it's really easy to psyche yourself out. 

I did have one main crash at the day.  Kind of silly really....my hand just slipped off my handlebar as we were flying down a straight singletrack section.  The track was extremely rocky and my hands were sweaty & tired from holding on so long.  And, I forgot my gloves.  Nothing too serious happened (thank God!) except for some big scrapes right on top of my knee & bruises all over. 

New baby sister

    I'm an only child, so I've never really experienced my folks bringing home a new sister or brother.....but I DO have 3 daughters so I was able  to watch the concept of  'sister' awaken in my kids eyes!   Not long ago, I photographed a family enjoying just this situation....a new baby sister, only 3 weeks old.... -Cindy

sunrise at the Ferreri ranch

  A great way to start your day is to enjoy a perfect sunrise with some folks who see the sun rise almost every morning!  At O-dark-100, Maari & I drove out past Pflugerville to the Ferrari ranch for an early visit with Debbie's horses and her family.  And let me tell you, their corner of Texas country is beautiful!   Despite a night time visit from the neighborhood coyote, the horses were as anxious as ever for their breakfast - - sorta like our morning grainola and apples!  I grew up on a ranch in central Oregon, so this was a special treat...getting to photograph a family who love the country and love their animals.   -Cindy

A Thousand Questions...video.

I love this video we watched in church on Sunday.  I would love to make something like this someday...well, at least do the photography for.

Enjoy, Maari.

from:http://www.willowcreek.com/wca_prodsb.asp?invtid=PR31699 or http://www.willownet.com/lds/

March of Dimes Signature Chefs Benefit on Sunday....

Sunday night was the March of Dimes 2008 Signature Chef Gala which turned out to be a beautiful event!  The hard-working group of workers who puts this event on every year raised and incredible $845,000+!   The theme this year was Out of Africa so everyon was dressed to the nines in safari chic.  Unfortunately, niether one of us brought our cameras to show you guys what an affair the whole night was. 

  

This is our second year to be involved with the March of Dimes.  We were asked to photograph each  Signature Chef in the theme, Out of Africa, so we headed down the street into our neighborhood serengeti.  The chefs are so great to work with.  They are each easy going people to shoot, comfortable infront of a camera.  Along with providing D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S tapas at the event, they also each donate somesort of spectacular dinner party package for 10-50 guests. 

Here's t the line up from this years MoD Signature Chef Eevent:

Executive Chef Elmar Prambs of the TRIO at the Four Seasons

Chef Erick Nixon from Flemings Steakhouse

Executive Chef Tyson Cole from Uchi

Executive Chef Jonathan Gelman & Pastry Chef Tony Sansalone (1886 Cafe & Bakery) from the Driskill Grill

Executive Chefs Jeff Blank & Robert Rhoades from Hudson's on the Bend

Executive Chef Harvey Harris from Siena Ristorante Toscana

Executive Chef Justin "Raif" Raiford from 34th Street Cafe

Executive Chef Jaime Gutierrez from III Forks

Executive Chef Aaron Staudenmaier from Jasper's

Executive Chefs Jacques Richard, Teresa Wilson & the team from Aquarelle

Executive Chef Alma Alcocer-Thomas from Jeffrey's

Executive Chef Ben Nathan from Belmont

Executive Chef Jeffrey Cummins from Finn & Porter

You know it's Monday when...

I rode my bike  to work today.  B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l morning for it!  I'm in awe of this weather!!!   However....

You know it's a Monday when you get to work only to realize you left the house with 2 different shoes on. My old tennies (yellow) & my new(er) tennies (blue).
Awesome, Maari.

Shaun & Jamie Engaged!

I just love it when you find out two AMAZING people you know are getting married!!  It makes me happy for days.  :}  My friend, Shaun, called me up a couple weeks ago and asked me to take some pictures as he proposed to his girlfriend.  uhhh...Of course I will! 

It all took place Saturday night, on campus, in the middle of a football game.  After barely finding a parking space, Stephanie, Stevo (who are another beautiful, recently engaged couple-friend of mine) and I took cover behind a big wall...somewhere on campus (I'm an Aggie so I don't know my way around this campus).  Nearby was the magnolia tree , a spot they visit often, which Shaun & Jamie were going to climb that evening, as usual.  Then, when they both got down, Shaun went to his knee.  And she said YES!  WOOHOO!  So smiles and laughter went on and on and on and they're still probably smiling and laughing.

The whole evening was a RUSH, and I was just a bystander!  What an honored to get to be apart of the whole event.  I love taking pictures of  people that are bubbling over with excitement.  :) 

A random little fact for ya:  Shaun happens to be one of the musicians who wrote a bunch of songs we just put on our new website!

Stephanie & Stevo as we waited for Shaun & Jamie to climb down the tree.

Steph & Steveo spying on the couple

The Proposal!

Austin Marathon Relay: Texas Toast!

This weekend my mom & I competed in the Austin Marathon Relay!  Teams of 5 gathered together to complete a marathon.  The 5 legs of the race were the 10k, 11k, 11, 5k, & another 5k.  We ran with my roommate, Becca, and 2 other good high school friends who I used to play soccer with, Carly & Andrea.  Everyone did such a great job!  I lucked out and rock-paper-scissored my way into running the first leg, the 10k...a good distance, good race-energy, and good weather!  An hour or 2 later the temperature rose 10 degrees and it was pretty miserable running weather.  Carly (who got to run in the hottest part of the day) & the rest of the gang  toughed it out and finished trememdously!

Pre-race, right after we rock-paper-scissored our running order.  We are all a bit sleeply still.

Me (Maari) standing at the start line...feeling a little anxious to get going

Andrea, after she did an amazing 11k!

3rd leg hand-off...Becca passing the "baton" to my mom.  Becca's all smiles all the time.

My mom...ecstatic to be done with her really HOT 4-th leg.

Carly, bringing in the finish line...and so happy about it :)

Here's the team:  Texas Toast!  Maybe we'll be back for more next year....and maybe we'll win the $100,000 first place prize???

Design-a-Cupcake Contest!

Fun at Austin Park & Pizza!

This was my first time to go to Austin Park & Pizza....what a fun place!   Oh but if they only had the Zipper (my most favorite ride in the world).
Mike & Debbie were hilarious to watch & shoot.  I think everyone had fun that day

more fun with the ARC folks from Saturday!

One big happy family! Cooked up some delicious lasagna & German chocolate cake (one of my favorites).  I love family time :)

Tomorrow's a big day for the Crouch's!

Dawn and Greg are having another baby....this time it's a girl!!  And we can't wait for her to come!  I hope she flashes a big beautiful smile just like little Matthew constantly does.  It brightens any room he walks into.    Good luck tomorrow, Dawn & Greg(hopefully it's tomorrow;)  )! I will be praying for you guys & for a safe delivery.   :) Maari

Doesn't Dawn look amazing for being 8.9 months pregnant!

the latest posters...

Good luck this season girls!  Hopefully we'll get to see all you seniors back at the studio this year for your senior portaits!

see more posters on a feature gallery on our website HERE

2007-2008 Varisty Posters

I know I know this post is like a year late....but it's better now then never :) 

I really wanted to post at least a couple of last year's varsity posters with yall because we had so much fun doing them with the teams!  We've already started with this years...which I will post on the next post but here are a handful from last year.

And for the players that are looking for ideas for their team's next poster, there are more samples on a feature gallery on our website.  Go check them out HERE!

ARC round 2 shooting has begun!

This weekend was FULL to the brim with shooting some of the wonderful staff/nurses/doctors at Austin Regional Clinic's Round Rock office.  Everyone is so nice to work with!  I'm nowhere close to selecting the images we'll use on their walls, but I really wanted to post a couple today. 

Dr. Gray's family.  Their kids have the greatest names!  I would try to spell them but I know I would be way off.  (Kassaye (?) is the eldest son....I went to school with a guy named Kassaye Kassaye.  Isn't that a cool name!)

Oh, the Lab Ladies!....I bet these women have a blast working together.  What do you think?