December 2009

baby hair

Family Pictures

by Eric Hegwer on 26 December, 2009

Mainly wedding photography is my business. But every so often I get the opportunity to create some family photos for my previous couples. Most people don’t know that I do lifestyle photography. It’s not something that I talk about that much.

How does it work? Quite simply, I don’t do the usual family pictures. I’m talking about everybody putting on matching jeans and button down shirts, and posing on a log, in some symmetrical pose.

Instead, I prefer something more realistic, something more intimate, something more authentic. Sessions usually last 1-2 hours, and are generally at your home, but can also be at a park, a vacation home, or other meaningful location to you. The absolute last thing I want is for everybody to smile and look at the camera. I want you to act like you usually do – which can be very hard for some people when a camera is around. Most people are trained to look at a camera and smile,which is OK, but you don’t need me for that.

I ask that you engage in a family activity, making pancakes, or a lazy game of touch football, maybe even some Wii Bowling. Something you all can do together.

In this session, for a previous wedding client, I came by early in the morning, right when baby Aaron was waking up, and observed the morning ritual – feeding, changing, and even reading a story – nothing fancy. Just great family pictures.

Aaron is only 2 weeks old

Aaron is only 2 weeks old

I can just imagine him giving this look to someone when he is 84 years old.

I can just imagine him giving this look to someone when he is 84 years old.

I prefer for parents to hold their baby in photographs, instead of having them posed on a blanket, or sheet

I prefer for parents to hold their baby in photographs, instead of having them posed on a blanket, or sheet

How can you not love those tiny baby fists?

How can you not love those tiny baby fists?

You can choose weather you want digital images or real film (which costs a bit more, but has an authentic look that I love). When it’s all over, I’ll provide you with a DVD of all the pictures from the session, as well as a release so you can do whatever you want with them. Of course prints of all sizes are also available. Just contact me, your Austin lifestyle photographer when you are ready.

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Pope Benedict conducting Christmas Eve Services at the Vatican waves hello to me.

Christmas in Rome

by Eric Hegwer on 24 December, 2009

Since restarting this blog, there are a few posts I never got transferred over from my old one.  These pics are from a couple of years ago, when Jenn and I did a bit of planning ahead, and were able to have a great experience – we attended Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve at St. Peter’s in Vatican City.

You see, I have to book my vacations 1-2 years in advance.  The planning cycle of an uberBride is about 10-14 months.  That’s how long I am usually booked in the future.  It means my weekends are pretty full, and that I need to plan way ahead if we want to take any significant trips.  Since I knew I wanted to visit Rome in the Winter (because it is Off season, rates are cheaper, and there are less tourists), I began to look at the different activities one could do during that time of year.  That’s when I discovered that it may be possible to visit St. Peters during Christmas.

The planning all started sometime in May, when we decided to go.  We did a bit of research about how to attend Midnight mass at the Vatican, and began the process by contacting the Catholic Diocese in Austin.  After many months, faxes, and phone calls, we had a letter in hand when we boarded the plane.

Overall the trip was fantastic – here are some photos highlighting the best parts.

Tickets to Chrismas mass at St Peters 2007.

Tickets to Chrismas mass at St Peters 2007.

Santa Claus lives in Rome, we saw him on our way to the Vatican

Santa Claus lives in Rome, we saw him on our way to the Vatican

La Befana is the Christmas Witch, an Italian tradition.

La Befana is the Christmas Witch, an Italian tradition.

St. Peter's Cathedral reflecting in the Tiber River.

St. Peter's Cathedral reflecting in the Tiber River.

Night Pictures of St. Peters

Night Pictures of St. Peters


The Pope giving the Urbi et Orbi blessing on Christmas Day.

The Pope giving the Urbi et Orbi blessing on Christmas Day.

As I was ust writing this, there is a story about a woman jumping the barricade and knocking the pope to the ground. While we were there there was a crazy guy who tried to do the same thing, but the plainclothes security guys took the nut down. I wasn’t didn’t have a clear view of that incident, but was able to get this shot of the crowd just before it happened in 2007:

People waiting for the pope to walk by

People waiting for the pope to walk by

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The Thing Issue 9

Parallel Cards

by Eric Hegwer on 22 December, 2009

Every 3 months or so I get a surprise package in the mail from The Thing Quarterly.  I’ve written about these presents before specifically the Chaldron Optical System, and if you are interested in signing up, here’s the website for the Thing Quarterly.  This issue, Number 9, crated by Ryan Gander, was a box a bit smaller than I’m used to, but still contained something quite special.  Yes, the actual box was printed backwards. Here’s what it is (in photos of course):

When I opened the Box, I was presented with what looked like a box of playing cards

When I opened the Box, I was presented with what looked like a box of playing cards


And when I opened the pack, I was indeed greeted with a deck of cards, and a little leaflet

And when I opened the pack, I was indeed greeted with a deck of cards, and a little leaflet


Indeed they appear to be playing cards

Indeed they appear to be playing cards


But when you examine the cards closely, you get something unusual indeed Two sided playing cards, with unequal denominations.

But when you examine the cards closely, you get something unusual indeed Two sided playing cards, with unequal denominations.

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