Wedding, Event, Portrait, Real Estate Photography and Graphic Design, Pal Photo Art Austin/San Antonio » portraits

Lone Man Family Reunion {Wimberley Portrait Photography}

emmapal — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:23:28 +0000

This family reunion was on gorgeous Lone Man Creek in even more gorgeous Wimberley, Texas. Everyone had enough personality to fill up two photo shoots, playing and laughing together. And a gorgeous group of people they were, too, easy on the camera!

Austin Fashion Week {Austin Event Photography}

emmapal — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:22:29 +0000

Just doing my part to uphold our local motto of “Keep Austin Weird” this weekend as Austin Fashion Week opened with its Kick Off Red Carpet Party at GSD&M Idea City downtown. The clever designers and creative stylists put on a fantastic show, as well as local graphic artists creating the original virtual signature characters to advertise the event, and body artists Michelle Pulsifer and Donald McCaskill recreating them in the flesh to the thrill of the paparazzi! I came in to do head shots of the models and got to hang around pretending like I was blending in to the camera crowd.

Luisa & Johnny {Austin Wedding Photography}

emmapal — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:35:51 +0000

Luisa & Johnny had a step below an elopement when they decided wedding planning is for the pros and decided to just go for it! A simple ceremony at the intimate Chapel Dulcinea in Driftwood, TX with just the two of them, the priest, and me: which always makes me feel so honored to be included, unless you count the little dog ahead of me in priority. They are a gorgeous couple with a beautiful and sweet history. And not long before their wedding day they found out they are expecting their first child, (congratulations!) but it made zipping up the dress a fun adventure for us! May your life together be a sweet as your lovely wedding!

Alexandria & Joaquin {Austin Wedding Photography}

emmapal — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:12:18 +0000

Alex & Joaquin shared a beautifully tender but monstrously hot wedding ceremony at the outdoor (in August=really, really hot!) Chapel Dulcinea south of Austin in Driftwood, Texas. Joaquin is faithfully serving his country and about to embark on his second deployment (military dress uniform=really, really hot!) A huge crowd for the small chapel of family and friends surrounded them, as well as their adorable son. Congratulations on the next step in your adventure together, and here’s to hoping it stays just as hot for years to come!

A Magical Engagement {Austin Wedding Photography}

emmapal — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 01:31:30 +0000

Miriam and Joseph asked for a fantasy location for their engagement session with lots of water and greenery, so when I suggested the fairytale Dunvegan Keep in south Austin it fit their personalities perfectly. I love romantic shoots because of the tenderness the couples always display so openly for the camera. It seems that at those times my soul mate can do no wrong, and that’s important to offset the crash back to reality when he and the kids are screaming while I work in Photoshop ignoring them all wondering what their problem is! But back to my sweet, romantic, simply in love couple. No pretenses, no power struggles, just in love. Thank you for trusting me to capture that!

Little Faces and “Big” Bellies {Austin Portrait Photography}

emmapal — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:54:11 +0000

Michelle Pulsifer of On the Spot Body Art in Austin recently scheduled a painting party to beef up her photo portfolio with a day-long marathon of face and body painting. Lots of kids and pizza and paint, along with two gorgeous pregnant women for maternity painted and henna belly art to literally round out the event!

We have new belly art and boudoir body art joint packages starting at $160 that include painting and a photo session with 8×10 either in the studio, at your home, or outdoors in a private venue, and I’m excited about our new offerings.

Aspiring Actor {Austin Head Shot Photography}

emmapal — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 01:55:33 +0000

While doing the portfolio shoot for On the Spot Body Art, this little model came from a local acting class taught by his father. He was so cute with a great look and attitude that conveyed well on the camera so that after he cleaned off his make up I had to take some head shots for him as he makes his young way in the entertainment industry.

Wedding with a Pop of Color {Austin Wedding Photography}

emmapal — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 03:10:21 +0000

This young couple married at the outdoor Chapel Dulcinea in Driftwood, Texas just outside Austin had a great level of energy and excitement to be together. Their colorful sense of style came through loud and clear with great slightly punk rock hair, eyes, and nails on the bride and a pop of bright color on the groom. A gorgeous pair who genuinely enjoyed the time and attention during their photo shoot to focus on each other. I always enjoy the sense of relief that follows a wedding ceremony, and this wedding in particular seemed to mirror that same feeling I had after my own wedding like we had just jumped off a cliff together and landed safely! Best wishes to Carlos and Iris on their new journey together.

TV Host Headshots {Austin Headshot Photography}

emmapal — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 02:22:40 +0000

Loretta Sommers is new to Austin and a long-time member of the entertainment industry. She has some great new opportunities in Central Texas, but needed new and updated head shots to convey her look, physique, and personality specifically for a host position for our local Liquidation Channel. She said, “I didn’t know I could look like that!’ but well, she’s gorgeous, and it IS what she looks like. Just a reminder that who we see in the mirror is never as wonderful as how other people see us. Good luck, Loretta!

The Best Father’s Day Gift Ever! {Austin Family Photography}

emmapal — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:40:31 +0000

Happy Father’s Day to my sweet husband, and happy 4th birthday to the best little Father’s Day gift ever!

Father’s Day {Austin Family Photography}

emmapal — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 03:45:45 +0000

This adorable trio we shot at Bee Cave Central Park just outside of Austin and Lakeway just may have been the best behaved, most cooperative little group I’ve worked with. When I complimented them on how well they were doing, mom whispered to me that she’d been prepping them for weeks! It certainly paid off with their great smiles, eye contact, and close poses. She wanted tight head shots in black and white canvas gallery wraps to update some she’d had done six years ago for a previous father’s day gift. It’s a surprise, so shhh! don’t tell!

Do You Have an Interiority Complex? {Austin Head Shot Photography}

emmapal — Thu, 06 May 2010 01:04:33 +0000

Ashley Whittenberger, owner of the interior design and real estate staging firm Interiority Complex specializes in design therapy for the decoratively perplexed, committed to the mission statement that whether you’re decorating to sell or designing to dwell, her Certifed Design Therapists TM have the cure!

Ashley needed some new head shots to better convey her professional sense of style on her web site, business cards, and for speaking engagements. To show that she is a designer and stager, I asked her to stage a vignette that expresses her, not just another boring head shot! Her creative staging mimics her logo and definitely says a thousand words about her personality and her company.

Emily & Alan {Austin Wedding Photography}

emmapal — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 16:36:55 +0000

Emily and Alan were married earlier in April at a ceremony in Taiwan with Emily’s extended family, but as true Texans and die-hard UT alums, an Austin reception was required. This is the most fun I’ve ever had at a reception! From a photographer working the event, that’s quite a statement. With great senses of humor from the couple and the guests, hot pink Converse and UT burnt orange bow tie (that I tied and staged a photo to make it look like he knew what he was doing), party games, crazy photo booth, guests “crashing” the portrait session, and an amazing location on Lake Travis just off Mansfield Dam in Lakeway, everyone seemed like they were having a good time. The Texas barbecue and red velvet cupcakes were just the butter cream frosting on top.

I personally also really enjoyed looking at the gorgeous art board wedding album their fantastic photographer in Taiwan put together. They said everyone does a 12-hour bridal session there and that perhaps I should consider adding a day-long wedding photo extravaganza called the “Asian Package!”

Family Bluebonnets {Austin Family Photography}

emmapal — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 03:14:26 +0000

The cobbler’s son has no shoes, and the photographers family never lives up to the client work. Part of the interference is of course directing the scene while running into it before the self timer fires. Perhaps it’s because there are just so many people to direct! But I fear the real issue is the sad truth that my own children are not nearly as anxious to please the nice lady as others’ children. Maybe it also has something to do with the fact that I’m only a nice lady with other people’s children.

I guess the main point here is that I’m sure you want to capture your own family having as much fun as we are! I saw some seed pods on some of the flowers tonight, so hurry before it looks more like a pea patch than wildflowers.

Real Estate Agent Head Shot {Austin Business Photography}

emmapal — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 03:41:03 +0000

One of the nice things about real estate photography (there are a lot of those) is meeting all the great agents around the Austin area. Jill Foye is a beautiful new Keller Williams Realtor® , though as an ASP certified stager certainly no newcomer to the industry. We networked while she was staging, and I had the chance to take her head shots today for her new business cards. KW isn’t as fun with their cards as they have premade designs to choose from and therefore less creativity on my part there, but I loved this design…I think because it looks like my web site header!

More Bluebonnets {Austin Family Photography}

emmapal — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 05:30:50 +0000

Austin bluebonnet season is in full swing. The flowers are bright and juicy, and not a single one has yet gone to seed. Another week of springtime before the pods take over and the Indian Blankets move in.

These gorgeous girls were so fun and easy to work with. They posed, they modeled, they listened, even the baby stayed put, and in between asking for mama created some beautiful smiles. Their dresses lend an almost vintage feel. And as an extra bonus, I found a huge bluebonnet patch just a few minutes from my house the morning of the shoot! Lovely subjects, great location, overcast skies with soft sunset light that needed no flash all added up to a wonderful photo shoot.

Bluebonnets are Here Again! {Austin Family Photography}

emmapal — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 03:40:56 +0000

The Texas state flower has good reason to be so. Every spring they pop up all over the hill country, especially along the highways making even rush hour seem almost pleasant. With small kids we found an enormous yet out of the way patch just north of Marble Falls for this session in the flowers. Two families back to back with the sun fading by the minute, we moved fast: almost as fast as the toddlers!

I took Baby’s First Year maternity, newborn, 6 months, first birthday, and holiday family photos of the little redhead, and now he’s walking around talking to me! I also did the 6 month session for the toddler in the second family: they do grow up fast!

Johnny & Natalie {Georgetown Wedding Photography}

emmapal — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:58:35 +0000

Congratulations to Johnny & Natalie on their wedding! They were wed at St. Helen’s Catholic Church with a reception following at the Williamson County Courthouse in Georgetown, Texas.

What a spunky and funny couple, it was almost hard to take photos because we were all laughing so hard! I think it was the first reception I’ve attended where cowboy hats and Texas accents were mandatory (yes, we had the DJ call them all out for a group photo!) Yet especially later in the evening, once the happy couple was ignoring us and we went into stealth photo ninja mode, there was such a lovely tender affection and sense of relief that it set my own heart to melting. My own 13th anniversary was the day after the wedding, and I thank you for giving me the perfect reminder of how wonderful it’s been! And thanks to Tyler Schmitt who is such an experienced and expensive wedding photographer for agreeing to come be my second: you were amazingly easy and fun to work with! Betcha didn’t know he was hiding back there!

View their full galleries for the wedding and the reception

http://palphotoart.com/tomasroppolowedding/

http://palphotoart.com/tomasroppoloreception/

Molock Show {Austin Event Photography}

emmapal — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:25:52 +0000

The rock band Molock played a show at the Red-Eyed Fly at 715 Red River St in Austin tonight. Even though I’d heard the drummer play during a portrait shoot recently, I was still pleasantly impressed how good they were and wished I could have stayed longer to enjoy more of the show.

Urban Invitation {Austin Graphic Designer}

emmapal — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:02:21 +0000

Miss K is getting ready to party hard with these designer custom photo invitations from our session last week. Do you think I’ll get invited?

The big 2-5 {Austin Portrait Photography}

emmapal — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 05:12:17 +0000

Miss K is turning 25 and celebrating in style! To downtown east Austin for a “Top Model” photo session, as she kept calling it with a giggle, and custom invitations will start things off right. Congrats on the milestone, and here’s to an awesome party!

Drummer {Austin Portrait Photography}

emmapal — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 04:05:37 +0000

I first met Mike as a kid when we were studying at the same karate studio. He used to tease my baby by bringing her to me after class saying things like, “Tell Mama the new words you learned,” at which she would reply, “Anthrax!” or “Machine gun!” Years went by without seeing each other, but thanks to the modern wonder of the world, Facebook, we meet again when he is as grown up as I am with a life and career all his own, not to mention enough personality to fill a room even with almost no talking. Drum sticks flying, and a third-degree black belt, I’m glad I was the one doing the shooting.

SLC, Gosh! {Lakeway Senior Portraits}

emmapal — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:34:00 +0000

A combo senior portrait and mission farewell photo session, this kid has personality hiding in places most of us wish we could find. A true individual and independent spirit, easy going, nice, and talented, which will carry him far in upcoming transitions to missionary service in Salt Lake City and college life beyond.

Put Your Holiday Face On {Austin Portrait Photography}

emmapal — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:52:39 +0000

Michelle Pulsifer of On the Spot Body Art needed some updated portfolio portraits for holiday faces, and our models were running to and fro like firecrackers, leprechauns, covered in masks and more!

If you are interested in posing as a model for face and body art, specifically full-body or maternity belly art, please contact Michelle.

T Family together for 2010 {Bee Cave Family Photography}

emmapal — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 02:26:00 +0000

Once the kids grow up and start leaving home, suddenly it becomes not a matter of finding time alone and for yourself as a parent, but in taking joy at having them all together and sadness when they are apart. With 6 kids, having everyone home at once is a real feat! While I’m living stage 1 with 5 small children, I see in these kids, as I’ve watched them grow up over the years, that very soon it’ll be me wondering where all my babies went! And what a beautiful family they are!