Welcome to Austin!

What an adventure! This family has moved to Austin from Oregon for one year. Can you imagine? With their family! When I hear stories like this, I think those people are really taking life by the horns and going for it! They are living in the moment and seeing what new adventures come their way. I kind of did that a few times when I was young...one year I moved to Key Largo in the Florida Keys and lifeguarded at a private resort, another summer I moved to Annapolis, Maryland and waitressed at a crab house and one year I took off from school and worked on a small cruise ship BUT I was always thinking about just myself to move around. Would you have the guts to up and move your FAMILY for one year to a new city? I would like to think that I would but the truth is I don't know if I could. I'm sure now that my son is a teenager that would be even harder. I'd have to listen to him belly ache all the time about missing his friends back at home. I find this very interesting to think about and give the Kizziars kudos for taking life by the horns and doing it! Here's to the adventurists who are living life. This very first photo sums up living in Austin. This guy comes walking out of who knows where into the alley and where is he going? To the pool? You gotta love it! Haha!

Moira The Midwestern Model

Not so long ago (that's how I feel anyway) there was a young girl named Brandi who went to college at MIZZOU (University of Missouri) for those not familiar with the term. She joined a sorority (not that she wanted to...her mom and sister mailed her rush form in for her) but soon found out how wise her mother and sister were. Being a part of that Kappa Delta sorority was such a fun part of my life (except the Monday night meetings that lasted 4EVA!) and where I met some really great friends who I'm still really great friends with. I had the coolest sorority mom, Jenn, so cool that she was even President and I got to live in the Presidential 2-man suite with her! That was luxury since there were several 6-man rooms! We graduated college and Jenn moved back to Chicago and I moved all over the place and ended up in Austin and here we are years later and Jenn tells me that she's bringing her daughter Moira to Austin for a visit and while they're here she would love for me to photograph Moira for her senior photos! It was so great to be reunited again and see how special her daughter is (who is like Jenn's twin) and be able to share in that special moment with them. I had so much fun taking these photos except for the fact that I got into some "stinging nettle" and for all you Texans you know what I'm talking about. It's worse than getting bit by 30 fire ants! Without further ado, here's MMMMMMMMMMMMMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Dreaming About the Out Islands Again!

Rachel Is Rockin' It!

Another awesome high school senior shoot that was filled with fun, laughter and creativity. She wanted "outdoorsy chic" and I think we did it. We found some new locations that I had never shot at before and it was so great letting the creative juices flow. We started shooting before 8am and I have to say the light was GORGEOUS! I usually have to shoot in the late afternoon and I just loved the way the light radiated off of her hair and eyes. What a doll! Honestly, I had a hard time choosing which ones to blog b/c they were all so good! Without further ado...here's RRRRRRAAAAAACCCCChhhhheeeeellllll!

Kim is a Win!

Kimberly came to me to get some updated photos of herself to use for social networking and a future blog she's been working on. She's working on fulfilling her dream to write...ugh, I wish she would write for me on this blog. I know my writing is not that exciting but thank God my photos are! While Kim is still young and has plenty of time to achieve her goal of writing, I still find it inspiring when people chase their dreams at all ages. I think it's really important to keep dreaming at all ages of your life b/c if you don't have any dreams then what keeps you going? I, too have dreams left to fulfill. Some I think I will achieve (shooting for Islands magazine or Coastal Living), some I'm not sure if I'll ever attain (being on the Ellen show) and some I pray will happen before I die (opening a small hotel in the out islands of the Bahamas. They all make me smile when I think and dream about them. Here's to Kim fulfilling her dream and I hope these photos help that process happen!

My Birthday Card

My 6 year old neice sent me this birthday card that she made through JibJab and I thought it was so funny!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

A Texas Farewell

My friends/clients are moving back to Kansas so I wanted to make them a farewell video of the photo shoots that I've done over the years. Grab some tissue b/c it's kind of a tear jerker!