Damon Leo Photography

My first Alaska client!

I was so excited today to book a Maternity Session for Jayelene from Anchorage, Alaska in early May. I wish that I could say that she was coming all the way from our Largest state to the FORMER largest state just to have a Maternity session with me, but she is coming to Austin to visit friends. One of her friends is coming with her to the session at my studio in Westlake Hills. I will of course, have my assistant, Julia, with me for some artistic draping. She has a natural gift, but being a fashion design major at UT doesn't hurt. Julia also created the black dress for young girls in Relationship Portraits.

One of my best clients lives in Seattle, and has been down here to Austin twice for family sessions. I have clients from South Padre, The Valley in South Texas, Houston, Dallas, Temple and Salado. I have portraits hanging in every continent, except Antarctica...at least as far as I know.

So I'm excited to photograph Jay and help her remember this amazing special time in her life forever. Today, I got to photograph a 2 year old girl from Salado who was in her Mama's belly the last time I saw her. Her older sister is now 4, and she was the famous 2-year old who taught me all I needed to know about patience. The circle of life rolls on and the miracle remains...

The Eye of the Beholder

Like many well-intentioned bloggers, I was excited at the beginning, but then got distracted by other things. The good news is, that I got really busy creating several new exhibits of my portraits around Austin and the Hill Country. I always feel honored when a hospital, clinic or boutique invites me to decorate their space with my Black and White Relationship portraits and children's portraits. I have snapshots of some current exhibits that I will share. For now, you can see some of my Maternity Portraits at Due Maternity in the Davenport Village and children's portraits at Haute Baby located across Loop 360 from Due.

As an aside, have you been hearing the phrase "Crazy Busy" a lot lately? I love it, because it describes how so many of us are these days. Is it an illusion, or are we really Crazier Busier than we used to be?

OK, I have had this newspsper clipping for many years and I want to share it with you. I found it when I had my first studio on Guadalupe across the street from U.T. I think it portrays one of the biggest challenges faced by a portrait photographer: how to create a flattering portrait of a client where they look great and still look like themselves. Clearly this woman did not want to look like herself:

CLICK ON THE THUMBNAIL TO READ THE CLIPPING

Of course, I believe that a portrait is not just a record of a face. I try to capture the personality and spirit of my client as well as making them look their best. I like to say that I want you to look the way you do on your best day. Then we are both happy.