Please Note: I am now hosting my own blog, so this WordPress blog will not be updated as frequently. To see the new blog, please visit: http://www.eternalformsphotography.com/blog.
Hi! My name is Joseph and I’m a portrait and lifestyle photographer for the greater Austin area.
I believe that life is filled with moments that define us and that those moments deserve to be cherished
Continue reading
Not every session goes smoothly. Working with newborns requires a lot of patience, and some new babies are just so curious that it’s a bit difficult to get them sleeping soundly enough to pull off the shots you imagine. Nonetheless, maintaining patience is critical because babies have a sixth sense about them. Your nervous energy has a way of rubbing off on them.
With all of that said, I feel like we were well-prepared for this session and were calm and patient the entire time. Little Weston just wanted to keep an eye on us at all times! I did start to get a little nervous after an hour of the session had passed and we had yet to take the images I wanted. I went through my mental checklist. Okay, the house is eighty degrees, check. The blankets and props are warmed by the heating pad, check. There are no drafts, check. Baby is fed, check. Baby is not dirty, check. Baby has been burped, check. The white noise machine is on, check. Mom’s left the room so her smell isn’t enticing baby, check. There aren’t any loud noises or other distractions, check … We shushed, we rocked, bounced, hummed … still, he just wasn’t comfortable enough to fall asleep soundly.
It took a couple of hours to get him sleeping hard, then we had to work pretty quickly to get the shots we wanted. I think we still finished with a good session of wonderful images. Despite the challenges, newborn photography is still our passion because it is so rewarding to capture photographs parents will cherish for a lifetime! The last picture in the below set illustrates how Weston kept his eye on us! 
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When you want to capture a special milestone in your life, remember Eternal Forms Photography! We want to help you preserve your memories for a lifetime!
Eternal Forms Photography serves the Round Rock and greater Austin area as well as Southeast Texas (with scheduling well in advance). We offer competitive rates on professional quality portrait photography of all types, and we specialize in newborn and children portraiture!
We are happy to introduce our brand new “Newborn Photography Registry” – a complimentary service offered to newborn portrait clients who want to allow family and friends to contribute towards their session and/or purchase photography products of their little bundle. Check out the registry!
Please visit our website at http://eternalformsphotography.com to view our portfolio and for contact and investment information.
We have a very special treat for local children this next month! We will be offering mini portrait sessions with Santa Claus at the BabyEarth retail store located in Round Rock, Texas. Come join us on Sunday, November 11th from noon to 3 P.M. to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what you’d like for Christmas.
Naughty or nice, we’re offering you the opportunity to receive a beautiful portrait of your child with Santa. Unlike portraits taken at the mall, your images will be digitally retouched and you’ll receive one 8×10″ professional quality print and three digital image files from your session.
These sessions are limited and we encourage you to book as soon as possible as we expect the time slots to fill up quickly. The cost for the session, print and images is only $50†*. Sessions booked and paid for in advance will be discounted to $40*. Each additional child in the portrait is $10, for a maximum of four children per session. We also offer the option to purchase custom-designed and professionally printed holiday card sets featuring your child’s photo starting at $50 for 25 cards and envelopes.
All prints, images and cards will be available for pick-up at BabyEarth on Sunday, November 25th, giving you plenty of time to get your cards in the mail.
Check our blog soon for more details and samples of the cards we will be offering, along with customizable options.
To book your session, call us at (512) 433-6823, drop us an email at eternalforms@live.com, or use our contact form.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When you want to capture a special milestone in your life, remember Eternal Forms Photography! We want to help you preserve your memories for a lifetime!
Eternal Forms Photography serves the Round Rock and greater Austin area as well as Southeast Texas (with scheduling well in advance). We offer competitive rates on professional quality portrait photography of all types, and we specialize in newborn and children portraiture!
We are happy to introduce our brand new “Newborn Photography Registry” – a complimentary service offered to newborn portrait clients who want to allow family and friends to contribute towards their session and/or purchase photography products of their little bundle. Check out the registry!
Please visit our website at http://eternalformsphotography.com to view our portfolio and for contact and investment information.
There has been quite a buzz lately around breastfeeding, with a number of articles, ads, comics and celebrities focused on popular perception and raising important questions. How long should a woman breastfeed? Should women be allowed to breastfeed in public? Should service women breastfeed in uniform? Why is it acceptable or unacceptable? Should employers give nursing employees a place to pump and/or feed? What about the teacher who was told she couldn’t pump at school who sued them in court? These questions are being asked and, more and more, people are listening.
It seems that lately there’s been a growing number of breastfeeding advocates and activists speaking out, followed by a group of people who would rather a mother “put the boob away” when in public. “We don’t want to see THAT!” they say – as if breastfeeding is offensive. To me, it’s sad that such a natural and beautiful act has such a stigma around it. It seems as simple as turning away if you don’t want to see it being done in public. Beyond that, there’s the question of why it is so taboo in the first place. I mean, all mammals suckle their young. It’s how we’re still here as a species. Are there more private places where it can be done? Sure. Should women be more modest and only breastfeed in private? I’m not so sure.
Regardless, breastfeeding is an extension of the miracle of motherhood. We should all be grown up enough to accept that it is a necessary and wonderful part of life and tolerant enough to allow it to occur without condemnation. As parents of a small child, my wife and I firmly believe that breastfeeding is very important. From a health perspective, it is undoubtedly better for the child than scientifically-created formulas with synthetic vitamins, sugars and otherwise unnatural foods for baby. It contains everything an infant needs to thrive and the benefits of transferred immunities continues during the entire course of breastfeeding. From a psychological standpoint, it is a wonderful way for mothers and children to bond. Should we be so quick to judge and slap limits on something so beautiful?
To show our support for all of you breastfeeding mothers, advocates and activists out there, my wife, son and I visited a local park and took some intimate breastfeeding photos. He’s over fifteen months now and still feeds two to three times per day on top of his other meals. And he’s a healthy hunk of a boy who has yet to fall ill. Hopefully you’ll agree that images like this aren’t meant to be offensive. However, if you’re offended by such displays, then turn back now.
My wife snapped some wonderful images of our lil’ guy playing in the sprinkler the other day. He really had a blast!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When you want to capture a special milestone in your life, remember Eternal Forms Photography! We want to help you preserve your memories for a lifetime!
Eternal Forms Photography serves the Round Rock and greater Austin area as well as Southeast Texas (with scheduling well in advance). We offer competitive rates on professional quality portrait photography of all types, and we specialize in newborn and children portraiture!
We are happy to introduce our brand new “Newborn Photography Registry” – a complimentary service offered to newborn portrait clients who want to allow family and friends to contribute towards their session and/or purchase photography products of their little bundle. Check out the registry!
Please visit our website at http://eternalformsphotography.com to view our portfolio and for contact and investment information.
I’ve heard many people say, “I’d get my baby’s portraits done, if it wasn’t so expensive.” On one hand, I understand that professional newborn photos are expensive, but on the other, I believe that it is a worthwhile investment. In fact, I believe that every new parent should be able to have their newborn’s portraits taken. Those first few days of baby’s life are so short-lived. Even though the happy, new parents stare for hours at their new precious bundle – taking every small detail in – let’s face it: memory fails and the further we get from that memory, the less clear it becomes. That new bundle of joy, complete with his or her wrinkles and flaky skin, changes so very quickly. Soon, it’s hard to imagine that your baby was ever that tiny. In my opinion, newborn portraits are so essential because they capture a very important moment in our lives, one that we can’t get back (short of having more children!). There’s no doubt that it can be expensive, but the investment is one that only increases in value as the years and decades go by. When I’m an old man and looking at my son’s newborn photos, I know that I will only cherish them more THEN! It’s really hard to put a value on such an investment.
While it is expensive, I have to remind my clients how frivolously many of us spend our money on equally expensive items. Take for example my 50″ plasma television. New, it cost me over $1,200. I know that it’s lifespan is about 5 to 7 years. By that time, technology will change and my television will become obsolete, making way for the newest, baddest-ass chunk of viewing pleasure! I can’t even call that an investment, because the value of that purchase decreases the moment I take it off of the sales floor. I get home, set it up, turn it on and a commercial comes on trying to sell me on the new 3D televisions! Dangit! Compare that to newborn photographs. My clients make a similar investment in their portraits, but if they’re taken care of right (actually printed instead of sitting on a hard drive) those photographs will be around in their cedar chest for decades down the road. When they look at them years from now (and every year in between), I know they will not say, “These photos are obsolete.” I know that they may shed a tear over how those photos make them feel because of the flood of emotions that photo will call back into memory. They may even share them with their grown child and be able to laugh about little things they remember from that time. Such a purchase continues to increase as the child has children and Dad becomes Grandad.
Still, I’m sensitive to the financial needs of my clients. Having babies is an expensive endeavor. Luckily, most of us have family and friends who LOVE babies and go out of their way to help us make many of the purchases, which – ALONE – would be a costly burden. This is precisely why I launched our “Newborn Photography Registry“.
The registry is a complimentary service we provide to couples and expectant parents who have booked their newborn session with us. It allows them to invite their family and friends to purchase gift certificates that can be used towards fulfilling their portrait session costs and/or purchasing additional photographic products through us. In so doing, family and friends make an investment rather than a purchase. They get the satisfaction of knowing they contributed to the preservation of lasting memories that will increase in value as the years go by. Long after the new baby outgrows her onesies, long after she’s out of diapers, stops playing with her baby toys and the crib is dismantled to make way for a full-size bed, portraits still touch my clients’ lives.
Our very first registry client had practically their entire session paid for in just two days. They were so excited to receive all of their gift certificates and touched that their family and friends help make something so wonderful – financially available.
How it Works:
Here are some example images from the registry:
The contributions “gauge” allows for one-glance info on where my clients stand
Gift Certificate Example (front) – printed as 5×5″ ornate card
Gift Certificate Example (back)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When you want to capture a special milestone in your life, remember Eternal Forms Photography! We want to help you preserve your memories for a lifetime!
Eternal Forms Photography serves the Round Rock and greater Austin area as well as Southeast Texas (with scheduling well in advance). We offer competitive rates on professional quality portrait photography of all types, and we specialize in newborn and children portraiture!
Please visit our website at http://eternalformsphotography.com to view our portfolio and for contact and investment information.
I’ve been meaning to blog this session for the past couple of weeks, but have had very little time to do so. This session was our first in the new place and we couldn’t be more pleased with how the portraits of little Nolan turned out! His parents and grandparents were pleased, too!
The pilot helmet/mask and jacket belong to his grandfather, who was surprised that his wife managed to sneak it out of his closet for this session without him knowing! I think the airplane schematics on the background and the patriotic old wood flooring made a great addition to this image.
Nolan was a happy baby throughout and we were pleased to find that we caught several smiles! Among my favorites was the little guy being held on either end by his mommy and daddy. He was SO tiny! He was just an ounce or two above five lbs. when we had the session!
Thanks for viewing!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When you want to capture a special milestone in your life, remember Eternal Forms Photography! We want to help you preserve your memories for a lifetime!
Eternal Forms Photography serves the Round Rock and greater Austin area as well as Southeast Texas (with scheduling well in advance). We offer competitive rates on professional quality portrait photography of all types, and we specialize in newborn and children portraiture!
Please visit our website at http://eternalformsphotography.com to view our portfolio and for contact and investment information.
While July 4th has become synonymous with fireworks, grilling out and apple pie, let’s not forget why we’re here.
We were born free men and women by virtue of being created in the likeness of God.
To secure this fundamental freedom, governments are instituted to be a servant to the people. To remain free, we must be eternally vigilant against all encroachments on our liberties, foreign and domestic. Undoubtedly, the landscape of America has changed greatly from the Declaration of our Independence. Many of us have forgotten the value of freedom, wishing to trade it for so-called security. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither.” Our liberty cannot be separated from our security, for they are one and the same.
Today, I urge you to give thanks to your Creator, and to the countless men and women in uniform who have given the ultimate price to protect our most fundamental rights.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When you want to capture a special milestone in your life, remember Eternal Forms Photography! We want to help you preserve your memories for a lifetime!
Eternal Forms Photography serves the Round Rock and greater Austin area as well as Southeast Texas (with scheduling well in advance). We offer competitive rates on professional quality portrait photography of all types, and we specialize in newborn and children portraiture! Please visit our website at http://eternalformsphotography.com to view our portfolio and for contact and investment information.
Little two-year old Sophia (self-nicknamed “Pia”) was more of a serious actress during her session, but I think she looked adorable in her photos nonetheless! She was actually quite agreeable with a number of outfit changes and props. We even set up a tea party for her and her cabbage patch doll to enjoy some tea (apple juice) and fruit.
Moving to my last Beaumont session, I should have Jude’s first birthday cake smash photos complete in the next week … that’s the plan anyway – we’ll be moving starting this weekend and I would like to finish them before then!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When you want to capture a special milestone in your life, remember Eternal Forms Photography! We want to help you preserve your memories for a lifetime!
Eternal Forms Photography serves the Round Rock and greater Austin area as well as Southeast Texas (with scheduling well in advance). We offer competitive rates on professional quality portrait photography of all types, and we specialize in newborn and children portraiture! Please visit our website at http://eternalformsphotography.com to view our portfolio and for contact and investment information.
This precious little girl had a great time smashing up her first birthday cake! Her mother made an awesome rainbow-colored cake that really pops in these photos. Olivia didn’t mind popping some of it into her mouth, either! I never grow tired of these sessions. This is the first time most kids have had cake, and it is a curiously cautious, then gleeful and then very messy affair! I think every kid should have a cake to smash for their first birthday, but why stop there? Two year old? Three? 
)
After the smashing was over, Olivia got whisked away to the bath to clean the frosting out from between her toes and her hair! I think her mother will agree, though – even if it’s a little on the messy side, the session made some fun and truly memorable images that she and her family will look back on and laugh at for ages!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When you want to capture a special milestone in your life, remember Eternal Forms Photography! We want to help you preserve your memories for a lifetime!
Eternal Forms Photography serves the Round Rock and greater Austin area as well as Southeast Texas (with scheduling well in advance). We offer competitive rates on professional quality portrait photography of all types, and we specialize in newborn and children portraiture! Please visit our website at http://eternalformsphotography.com to view our portfolio and for contact and investment information.
This is the last of the sneak peeks from last weekend’s sessions in East Texas. Sarah looks beautiful and is anxiously awaiting the arrival of little Tristan. I should finish editing her images in a couple of weeks, so be sure to check back!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When you want to capture a special milestone in your life, remember Eternal Forms Photography! We want to help you preserve your memories for a lifetime!
Eternal Forms Photography serves the Round Rock and greater Austin area in Central Texas, specializing in portraiture (senior, graduate, newborn, family, children) as well as event and wedding photography. Please visit our website at http://eternalformsphotography.com to view our portfolio and for contact and investment information.
