Brandi's Blog

Out of the Office

2012-01-19T11:04:00.001-06:00

I will be out of the office today, Thursday, January 19-22, 2012. I will be returning to work on Monday, January 23, 2012. Please leave me a message or email if you need to contact me and I will be in touch soon.

Big Boudoir Event

2012-01-04T22:03:00.002-06:00

I have been thinking about setting up a boudoir event after the new year so gals can have some sexy photos taken for their man (or woman) for a great Valentine's Day present. Every year I'm so tired after the holidays it just hasn't worked out UNTIL NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! We are making this happen this year and it's going to be so fun! I've rented a room at the Hyatt Townlake and I've got Angie Armstrong to do hair and makeup so all you have to do is show up with some hot lingerie and we'll work our magic on you! Give me a jingle soon though b/c there are only a limited number of slots available.

Happy New Year!!!

2012-01-04T21:54:00.003-06:00

Hello world! I fell off the face of the earth through the Christmas season for being super busy so thank you, thank you, thank you to all who continue to support my business and help it grow. Usually when the new year rolls around, I like to take some time off since things slow down and make some new goals for the year HOWEVER this year I've started off the year running full speed ahead! In addition to some exciting things on the work front, I have some fun things with friends already scheduled on the calendar too so I'm feeling pumped having some dangling carrots!
I hope everyone has an especially great 2012!

New! 2011 "Hip 2 B Square" Collection

2011-10-30T00:18:00.003-05:00

These new cards are also to die for! I'm just not sure yet which one I'm going to use for my personal card. I love so many of them. Again, these cards are 5x7, 2-sided cards printed on glossy, linen or pearl cardstock. Envelopes are included...what a deal!!! :) Yes, it is super late again and I'm slapstick blogging again. Is there a rehab for that?

Minimum order 25 cards 1.85/ea
26-60 cards 1.80/ea
61-125 cards 1.75/ea
125+ 1.65/ea

#1FRONT
#1BACK
#2FRONT
#2BACK
#3FRONT
#3BACK
#5FRONT
#5BACK
#6FRONT
#6BACK
#7FRONT
#7BACK
#8FRONT
#8BACK
#10FRONT
#10BACK>

NEW! 2011 "Jazzy Christmas" Collection!!!

2011-10-30T00:07:00.003-05:00

Oh, my goodness...check out how adorable these new designs are! I love them! They are full of whimsy and just scream happy. I'm sure you will find something you will love to send to all your friends and family here. :) The cards are 5x7 2-sided printed on glossy, linen or pearl cardstock...yum!

Minimum order 25 cards 1.85/ea
26-60 cards 1.80/ea
61-125 cards 1.75/ea
125+ 1.65/ea

#1FRONT
#1BACK
#2FRONT
#2BACK
#3FRONT
#3BACK
#4FRONT 5x5 SIZE
#4BACK 5x5 SIZE
#5FRONT
#5BACK
#6FRONT
#6BACK

NEW! 2011 "Cocoa Christmas" Collection

2011-10-29T23:51:00.003-05:00

Here's some NEW Christmas card designs. These are also the 5x7 flat two-sided cards like the others. Everyone loves having the multiple photo openings for their card b/c it's always hard to pick just one photo to show off how cute your kids are! The pricing is the same and envelopes are included. Yeeha!

Minimum order 25 cards 1.85/ea
26-60 cards 1.80/ea
61-125 cards 1.75/ea
125+ 1.65/ea

#1FRONT
#1BACK
#2FRONT
#2BACK
#3FRONT
#3BACK
#4FRONT
#4BACK
#5FRONT
#5BACK
#6FRONT
#6BACK
#8FRONT
#8BACK

New! All Is Calm Trifold

2011-10-29T23:44:00.003-05:00

Here's a new 5x5 design called "All is Calm."

More 5x5 Trifolds

2011-10-29T23:44:00.001-05:00

Ok, I have to admit these are pretty darn cool. They are square 5x5 trifold cards printed on cardstock. They allow you to use a few different photos making it a great way to showcase your cute kids. The relatives will just love these! Yeah! The top section shows the front, back and inside flap of the card and the bottom section shows the inside spread.
These are sold in increments of 25 cards, includes envelopes and retail $80/25.

More 5x5 Trifolds

2011-10-29T23:43:00.001-05:00

5x5 Trifolds

2011-10-29T23:42:00.001-05:00

Here's 3 new 5x5 trifold samples: The first card is titled "Words", the second card is titled "Celebrate" and the third card is "snowflake". These are adorable and are fully customizable as well. These are a great way to showcase the family and kids.

Pricing for the 5x5 Trifolds:
Sold in sets of 25 only: $80/set

"Accordian" Collection

2011-10-29T23:40:00.000-05:00

So, if any of you have my standard price list then that is a great sample of an accordian style card. There are 8 panels total front and back and this gives you lots of choices for different photos to be used on the card. I have 2 samples to choose from and the colors and text can be customized. Look how cute!

Pricing for the Accordian Cards:
Sold in sets of 25 only $80/set

PEACE ACCORDIAN INSIDE
PEACE ACCORDIAN OUTSIDE
ORNAMENTS INSIDE
ORNAMENTS OUTSIDE>

"Holiday Cheer" Collection

2011-10-29T23:39:00.001-05:00

Here's a few more of my new Christmas card designs. These are also the 5x7 flat two-sided cards like the others. Everyone loves having the multiple photo openings for their card b/c it's always hard to pick just one photo to show off how cute your kids are! The pricing is the same and envelopes are included. Yeeha!

Minimum order 25 cards 1.85/ea
26-60 cards 1.80/ea
61-125 cards 1.75/ea
125+ 1.65/ea

TIS THE SEASON FRONT
TIS THE SEASON BACK
SHARE THE JOY FRONT
SHARE THE JOY BACK
BE MERRY FRONT
BE MERRY BACK
PEACE LOVE XMAS FRONT
PEACE LOVE XMAS BACK
HOLIDAY CHEER FRONT
HOLIDAY CHEER BACK

"Retro Twist" Collection

2011-10-29T23:38:00.001-05:00

This is a fun and colorful collection for Christmas cards. Six of the designs are the 5x7 flat two-sided cards with envelopes included. The other 2 designs are 5x5 flat two-sided cards. Remember, even though all the samples are in blues and greens we can customize the colors for your card. You just need to pick the design that you like and we'll get you fixed up with a FABULOUS Christmas card that your friends will be so jealous of. Hee.hee. :)

Minimum order 25 cards 1.85/ea
26-60 cards 1.80/ea
61-125 cards 1.75/ea
125+ 1.65/ea

#1FRONT
#1BACK
#2FRONT
#2BACK
#3FRONT
#3BACK
#4FRONT
#4BACK
#5FRONT
#5BACK
#6FRONT
#6BACK
#7FRONT
#7BACK
#8FRONT
#8BACK

"Defined" Collection

2011-10-29T23:36:00.000-05:00

This year I'm offering the "Defined" collection for Christmas cards as well as all my samples from the previous years. I love these cards because they are fully customizable from colors, to choosing which of the 9 "definitions" you'd like on your card and the custom salutation. The 9 different definitions are: "jolly", "merry", "noel", "rejoice", "peace", "joyful", "silent night", "miracle" and "wonder". Keep this in mind when choosing a card. If you think oh, I love that lay out but didn't really want a red card then know that I can make that change for you! These are 5x7 2-sided flat cards printed on cardstock. There is ALSO a 5x7 folded card option for each design as well. These are a bit more pricey but VERY swanky. :) Pricing for the flat cards are really quite economical compared to others especially since these are printed on a beautiful, heavy cardstock.

Minimum order 25 cards 1.85/ea
26-60 cards 1.80/ea
61-125 cards 1.75/ea
125+ 1.65/ea

front
back
front
backfront
back
front
back
front
back
front
back
front
back
front
back

5x7 Hello Holiday Card Collection

2011-10-29T23:35:00.001-05:00

Here are my Hello Holidays 5x7 flat 2-sided Christmas cards. They can be printed on linen, glossy or pearl cardstock. There is a minimum order of 25 cards. Pricing is as follows:
Minimum order of 25 cards $1.85 each,
26-60 cards $1.80 each
61-125 cards $1.75 each
126-225 cards $1.65 each

Large Quantity Reprints for Holiday Cards Pricing is as follows:
Minimum order of 50-4x6 prints of same photo $1.00 each,
51-100 4x6's $.95 each
101+ $.90 each.

Here's a closer view of the Hello Holidays Christmas cards that I'm offering. Check them out! They're really colorful, cheery and bright...just how I feel about Christmas. They can be customized with your family's name on them, as well.
front of card
back of card
front
back
front
back
front
back
front
back

Christmas Cards Designs Coming Soon!

2011-10-25T22:43:00.001-05:00

I will be posting this year's Christmas card designs very soon...so stay tuned.

Mixing It Up Is Merrier Fall Mini Shoots

2011-10-25T22:08:00.005-05:00

My last few weeks I have been uber busy...ha ha I used the word uber! I'm so easily amused. Anyway, can you tell I've been holed up in my office with my nose to the computer working by myself way too long? I have been working hard to get the proof books ready to go so I haven't been posting any pics lately. So, I'm about to change that! I've got some great stuff both weeks. The first week was "a little bit country" which we had a great time shooting in a dry river bed, used some bits of whispy grass and lots of golden sunlight. The second week was "a little bit city" and we used lots of colorful walls, stairwells and doors. Thanks to Austin, TX we have some cool, cool spots to choose from. Take a looksey and I'm sure you'll likesy what you see...all my families are so cute I don't know how you couldn't like my photos. :) Geez...I really need to get some sleep! Here's a few to get you started.

Technical Difficulites Over!!!

2011-10-25T22:07:00.001-05:00

Happy to announce my online ordering system has been updated and is back in full working order. Hallejeah!

Technical Difficulites

2011-10-20T23:18:00.002-05:00

FYI, I'm having some technical difficulties with my online ordering at the moment. I'm hoping to have everything back up and running tomorrow (Friday). Thanks.

Future UT "Chillileader"!

2011-10-05T12:40:00.002-05:00

I photographed one of my favorite families this past weekend and they are UT Longhorn fans bred through and through. They wanted to be photographed down on the campus and we found some really great spots to use. Their little girl, "C", is two now and this year for Halloween she is going to be a UT cheerleader per dad's request. So, they brought her costume and we got some shots at the end of her cheering. What is even cuter is when Baby "C" says cheerleader she says, "Chillileader". :) Oh, the cowgirl hat was a hoot, too! We had a lot of fun with the hat (in case you couldn't tell from the pics.)

Down Syndrome Calendar Gala 2011

2011-09-26T08:42:00.005-05:00

Once again, I volunteered for this great event this year and had so much fun. Every year the local Down Syndrome Association here (DSACT) puts together a yearly calendar to raise revenue for their cause. They always combine a local Down Syndrome child with a celebrity for each month on the calendar and then they have a huge kick off party which is this gala. The children that star in the calendar for the year get the ultimate treatment at the gala. They arrive in limos, the crowd is screaming for them, the paparazzi is there (that's me!)photographing them as well as KVUE News and then they have a loooooong, red carpet for them to walk into the party. It is just the cutest thing you have ever seen! Some of the kids are very receptive to the whooping and hollering while others are quite shy by all the attention. This year they even had Elvis there performing some of his dance moves. It really is a great cause and if anyone would be interested in purchasing a calendar please click on over to DSACT and get yourself one!

Beautiful Baby Boy

2011-09-22T15:45:00.003-05:00

I had a great shoot with another handsome little guy that just turned one this past week. My oh my! He was one happy baby. He made my job so easy. He'd walk a little bit, stop and look at me, smile, pick up a rock, move a little bit, laugh, look at me. He was like putty in my hands the way he worked with me. There were so many super cute shots so I've had to pick a handful that I really like. I do have to say towards the end of the shoot, Mom changed his clothes and put him in a caribbean blue onesy with itty, bitty surfboards on it and as he trucked around the field and I photographed him I could hear Mom and Grandma discussing his outfit. Finally, Mom told me she needed to change him into another outfit and I was thinking OK but he's only been in this one for 2 minutes. Then she said, "This one looks like he's wearing a hospitable gown!" I could not stop laughing when she said this. I don't think it does but I have to put one of those pics in just so you can see. :) Enjoy!

A Baby & A Balloon

2011-09-19T11:03:00.005-05:00

One year ago, I photographed this little honey when he was just out of the womb. Now, here we are a year later and he's a mover and shaker and his little personlity has started to develop. I just love to see the growth progress of my little kiddos that I photograph. They really do grow up so fast. We had a very difficult time getting "C" to slow down enough so I could actually photograph him. He kept dashing over to the neighbors house wanting to see if his little buddy could play. Finally, mom got him a snack and we managed to get him to sit for a few shots with his birthday balloon. Of course, my favorite shots are at the end when he lost his balance and toppled over but the best part is he never skipped a beat eating those cheerios. I love the shot where he's half way over and there's his hand still popping a cheerio into his mouth! Ha! So, so cute!

Mixing It Up Is Merrier Fall Mini Shoots

2011-09-13T09:05:00.002-05:00

It's that time again! Are you ready to get on the calendar for a fall mini shoot? I have filled up half the slots so don't wait...contact me soon to get your family scheduled. I have some really cute Christmas card designs this year as well as some fun and exciting NEW products that will be coming just in time for Christmas. They will make great present ideas for the family...stay tuned!

Super Fun Shoot This Morn!

2011-08-28T18:39:00.002-05:00

This week was back to the grind with getting the kids back to school which means getting up super early Monday through Friday. When my weekends roll around, I like to try and sleep in a little but NOT this weekend. Yesterday, my son had a football scrimmage in the morning that we had to get up early for and then this morning my bootie was dragging rear up and at em' at 5:45am. I had to be out in Dripping Springs (half hour from my house) at 6:45am! Whew! That's alot to ask from little ol' me but I did it and we had a blast! Here's a few shots from this awesome tee shirt company I'm working for to help them establish their brand using my colorful, fun photography with their fun,beautiful models and unique tees. If you haven't heard of ATXMafia, then you're out of the loop my friend. Check them out...they have THE cutest tees you've ever set your eyes on! I love the one that says, "Genuine, fun lovin', sweet tea drinkin', boot scootin' Southern Girl". As for the 1957 Chevy, it belongs to their uncle...so cool.

College Bound!

2011-08-25T17:21:00.003-05:00

I've gotten to know this family over the past couple of years and they are sending their baby girl off to college now. We had one last family photo shoot before their baby girl moved off to spread her wings and be on her own. They had picked a really cute wall at an Austin hot spot and wanted to get some shots there with the "i love you so much" saying on the wall. This actually makes the photos extra special b/c I know that this is what the 3 of them are all saying to each other in this new phase of life that they are embarking on. I just loved it. I played around with the color and funked it up a bit and overall I was pleased. I really love the last shot though where she is jumping for joy and mom and dad are in the background and well, they just don't seem quite as happy. :)

Waterways Magazine Covers

2011-08-25T17:02:00.002-05:00

So, I have photographed two covers now for Waterways Magazine and I can't believe I haven't posted it on my blog. Poor blogs lose out to Facebook now. Even though I've already posted it on FB, I don't want to neglect my poor little blog. It needs some love, too! I feel so honored that the owner of the magazine chose me. She said that she mulled over Austin photographer websites for a few days trying to figure out who would fit what she was looking for...and she picked me! We've had a great time meeting, working together and building these covers for her magazine. I'm just thrilled.

Out of the Office

2011-08-17T11:46:00.001-05:00

I'll be out of the office today (Wed.) through Sunday. I'll be returning to work on Monday, August 22, 2011 and I'll return all emails and calls then. Thanks! Have a great weekend. I'm off to Chicago for a sister's getaway...can't wait! :)

Haley & Matt's Wedding

2011-08-14T12:54:00.005-05:00

Finally! I finished the video and I just love it! I actually got teary-eyed watching the video and reliving it. It was 2 solid days of non-stop shooting but it was so fun to capture some different events than the normal wedding. The first night there, I attended the military graduation dinner that was for family only and got some great shots of the actual proposal! The next morning I tagged along with the bride and groom to the county clerk's office to get the marriage license and got some cute shots there. Then, we can't forget the emergency bathroom trip on our way to the wedding ceremony.

Haley (the bride): "Dad, I really have to pee. I can't believe no one reminded me to pee before putting my wedding dress on! Dad, we've got to stop so I can pee! And, I really need something drink. I've got cotton mouth."

Her Dad: "Well Haley, where would you like me to stop? I can't just stop at some random gas station and take you to some dirty bathroom. Would you like me to find a bank or something?

Me: "There's a Chick-fil-A up ahead! They have clean bathrooms and then we can get her a drink, too!"

OMGosh, the Chick-fil-A roared with clapping when she came out of the bathroom and whooped and hollered for her. Even the ice tea was on the house! It was hysterical. All of that to say, it was a one of kind wedding and I enjoyed every sweet moment!
I wish them many happy years together...love you guys!

If You Like It, Then You Shoulda Put a Ring On It!

2011-08-08T17:10:00.003-05:00

And that's exactly what he did! A few weeks ago, I headed off to KY for a military wedding. This is the bride's version of what she calls her "Ring Dance". She was very excited to be wearing her engagement ring b/c she hadn't been officially proposed to until the night before the wedding. More great pics to come soon to show off what a cute couple. Until then, please enjoy Haley's "Ring Dance." And, I ask you...do you or did you have a ring dance, too?

Dressin' Up With Mommy

2011-07-20T16:26:00.000-05:00

I had the cutest shoot the other day. Mama wanted to do a "dress up" shoot with her daughter inside the house since it's been so hot outside. They took turns putting make-up on each other in her super cute bathroom, played patty cake in the tub (yes, they were fully dressed people!), put on all sorts of glamorous jewelry and then put on some of mama's high heels. The whole shoot was very girly and very fun. Plus, they are so dang cute together...aren't they?

Calling All Seniors...Do You Think You Can Model?

2011-07-20T16:00:00.000-05:00

I'm looking for some fun, outgoing and professional seniors who are willing to sell Brandi Nellis Photography to all their friends AND their moms! If you think you'd like to be a senior model for my business then please contact me. I would like 2 seniors from Bowie, Westlake, Austin High and Lake Travis.

Out of the Office

2011-07-12T22:07:00.000-05:00

I'll be out of the office Wednesday, July 13 through Friday July 15th. I'm shooting a wedding in Kentucky. I'll be returning all calls and emails on Monday. Talk to you soon.

Daddy & Daughter

2011-07-11T13:58:00.002-05:00

I had the great pleasure of doing a Daddy and daughter photo shoot. These don't happen very often but when they do I have to say that it's absolutely adorable. It's always so fun to see how the dads interact with their little girls. These two were so cute. She was hammin' it up during the shoot and Dad just got so tickled watching her. Since she just turned 2 years old, she was moving and shaking during the whole shoot. Sometimes I would need to get her attention so I used my ever faithful "duck quacker" to get her attention and she set me straight. From the first time I quacked the quacker she turned around and looked at me, then she walked over to me and yanked the quacker out of my mouth and said, "NO!" I did continue to use it through out the shoot only when I needed to get her attention but every time she gave me a big, "NO!" :)

There's A Party Going On Round Here...

2011-07-07T20:47:00.002-05:00

This was such a fun shoot! One mom bought my "Popsicle Party" at a silent auction and then asked if we could include all the kids on their culdesac. Every Sunday in the summer, they all get together at the neighbors pool and cook out and let the kids swim. So, this was such a great way for them to document their summer gettogethers with some fun photos. I love how it looks like such a party and their all having fun. I wish I could post all the photos but I can't so here's a few to view.

Colorful Summers in Texas

2011-07-05T16:30:00.002-05:00

We decided to keep this shoot simple and close to home so they wouldn't have to rush out the door super early on a Saturday. They have a huge backyard with lots of trees so we decided to just keep it relaxed in the back yard. I took my colorful tires over so the kids could play around on them and it could add some color to the pics. The kids were so cute and hopefully they had a little bit of fun b/c I sure did!

Miami Heat Meets Texas Summer Fun Video!

2011-06-27T13:36:00.001-05:00

Miami Heat Meets Texas Summer Fun!

2011-06-23T11:27:00.003-05:00

Before I left for the beach, I had a "Popsicle Party" session at the Flahertys. We had so much fun planning this out. Mary worked really hard on getting her fantastic backyard whipped into shape with all the great plants and colorful accessories. The kids looked so cute in their suits and cover ups and they just had a ball swimming, playing and eating popsicles. This shoot is definitely awarded the "Kid's Choice" Award! See for yourself how much fun they had!

My Parents Bought A Beach Cottage!!!

2011-06-23T10:56:00.004-05:00

For all you who know me, know how much I love going down to the beach. My first choice is the Caribbean but gosh darn it the Redneck Riviera has grown on me. I truly love going down to Port Aransas and kickin' it on the beach. Well, my parents have been casually looking for a property when they'd come down and visit. This time my Mom came ready to buy with her wallet in hand. We found them this adorable, brand new beach cottage down in Port A. Yes, for those of you who like my beach sessions..well, I have great news...there will be plenty more of those now!

Beach Bound!!!

2011-06-05T15:11:00.003-05:00

I will be down in Port Aransas, TX doing beach shoots this week. There are still some openings so email me if you're going to be down there and want some fun family beach pics! I'll be returning to work on Monday, June 20th, 2011. And, no this is not a beach shot from Port A. ...out islands of the Bahamas!

Meet The Patersons!

2011-05-30T15:32:00.004-05:00

The Patersons found me online (thanks to my website!) and traveled to Austin from different parts of Texas to visit their daughters and celebrate their dad's birthday. The photo session was a birthday present so we had to make sure dad had a great time and what better way than...by catching a little buzz at 7:30 in the morning! They are big wine connoisseurs...they like to drink it, sniff it, swirl it, talk about it, go on wine trips around the world and would love to own their own winery one day. I decided what better place to take their family portraits than at a local winery. I did my own research and found the most awesome winery around...Solaro Estate. Talked to the owners and they welcomed us out VERY early one morning to share their beautiful property with us. The owners were so accomodating, friendly and proud. Their winery has just won an international competition for their tempranillo wine. Be sure to check this winery out when you're doing your TX hill country wine tour. They're awesome!
Back to the Patersons...I just had the best time photographing them in the vineyard. They were up for anything and just rolled with the punches. But then again, when you're drinking wine at 7:30am who wouldn't be up for anything?!! Check out their super cute pics now.

Port Aransas Beach Photos

2011-05-17T13:58:00.002-05:00

I am heading to the beach as soon as school lets out and will be doing photos on the beach again. It was a huge success before and I am super excited to being doing this again. This year I have added an 11x14 to the package which makes this year a super SWEET deal! Give me a call and get your family scheduled b/c this may not happen again for another year.

The Bruners Are Back In Texas!

2011-05-13T15:31:00.003-05:00

This is one of my best friends, Lori, who I moved to TX with nearly 15 years ago. We met in college my junior year when I moved into the Kappa Delta house. Lori was a spunky, little freshman who loved to hang out with our "older" group. In January 1996 (holy crap that sounds so long ago), there were 3 of us from Mizzou that packed our bags and started our new life here in Austin, TX. Yeeha! Two of us are still here but Lori moved to KY (poor thing) to run a successful family business. Her and her family came back this spring to visit and we just love when they're here. She has 3 crazy little boys and a super cute hubbie and they are trying to make their way back here in a few years. We can't wait! While they were here, we had to squeeze a family photo shoot in and the pics just turned out adorable. The shots of them wrestling, tickling and giggling are how they are ALL the time...lots and lots of energy! I want some of that, please!

Happy Mother's Day to All You Mommies Out There!

2011-05-09T08:40:00.002-05:00

If you haven't seen this video, you really need to watch it. It's so perfect for Mother's Day.

JJJJJJJJJJJJiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

2011-05-04T17:27:00.002-05:00

Jill contacted me about shooting some new headshots for her b/c she is ready to get back into acting and modeling. She took a break to raise her kiddos and she's ready to get a piece of the movie action again...I don't blame her. We met downtown and just used the nice, neutral brick walls for her background and the lighting was great. She looks amazing and I'm sure she will be booking gigs right and left before long! I love her whispy little hair do and by the way she does hair at Salon Lush if anyone wants her cute cut! :)

Pink Speakers

2011-05-02T17:50:00.003-05:00

Here's a video I made to show off my child photography to the Detroit Professional Photograhers Association at my speaking engagement a few weeks ago. It's snappy and makes me want to dance so turn it up and enjoy!

Sweet Angels

2011-05-02T15:03:00.003-05:00

I photographed these two little honeys a few weeks ago. They arrived in their Easter white dresses and just looked so heavenly and sweet (which they were!). They were so cute to photograph and did a great job cooperating with Ms. Brandi. It sure helped that they had an ice cream bribe waiting on the wings after the shoot. After the shoot was over, "E" (the older of the two) wanted to take a photograph of me with her family so we may even have a future photographer on our hands, too. Look how cute...I just want to SQUEEZE them! I just love that next to the last shot. It looks like she's saying, "Shhhh, be berry, berry quiet...we're hunting wabbits!"

The Coolest Patriotic Family in Austin!

2011-04-30T16:29:00.002-05:00

I photographed this family a few weeks ago and their daughter is actually in class with my son so our connection is from school...love that! Anyway, the dad is getting ready to leave for deployment for war and they wanted to take some family photos since they hadn't taken any for several years. We hit Zilker Park and did some really nice nature shots with the old, oak tree, in the whispy grass and down by the water for some canoe fun. They were so much fun to photograph and there is definitely a lot of love here. They brought an American flag with them to work in the shoot and I have to say the shots with the flag are some of my absolute favorite. There is so much meaning that gets tied into these photos I get teary eyed when I think about all of our military families fighting for us and what they go through. I titled the one with "M" peeking out from the flag, "Daddy goes to war". We salute you!

Lea Senior 2011

2011-04-27T15:10:00.003-05:00

I photographed Lea for her senior photos a few weeks ago and she wanted to bring her sister and mom along for the fun. Her and her sister are best friends and have a very close relationship. It was so refreshing to see two sisters having fun and being silly together. We ventured all around Wimberley and had a great time exploring the river and the old missions. Lea was a real sport and wanted some fun, different shots and not just the old, humdrum stuff. By the end of the shoot, we had her IN the water fountain splashing around...too, too cute!

Detroit...Here I Come!

2011-04-17T16:45:00.003-05:00

I can't believe it's finally time for my trip to Detroit! It's only been on the books now for a year so I better be ready. I'm going to Detroit to speak at the April Professional Photographer's Assoc. Meeting. I'm talking about "Finding Your Fit Photographing Kids". This year has flown by and I'm in awe that May is creeping up on us and summer is almost here. However, I just looked up the weather to see what I need to pack and low and behold it says 38 degrees! That's a little hard to swallow when we're basking in 90 degree weather here.

All this to say that I'll be out of the office Monday, April 18th through Saturday, April 23rd RETURNING TO WORK on Monday, April 24th. I will try and check my email through out the week so feel free to email me. Gotta go and pack my long johns now...

Hot Tamale

2011-04-05T11:03:00.002-05:00

I recently photographed another hot tamale from El Campo, Texas! I tell you what the high school senior gals over there are so stinkin' adorable that's it's hard to take a bad shot of them. We had a great time working our way around Austin and as always it was entertaining. Our first stop was great b/c we had a guy who was really excited to be watching us do this shoot. I mentioned to Alexis was that all we needed was some music and voila! This guy whips out his eukelele and starts strummin' us some Hawaiian music while we worked. He was great! Alexis and her mom had heard about "Hey Cupcake" so we had to stop by there and let them try the yummy cupcakes...they said the Michael Jackson was to die for. :) We ended downtown with her in her Texas boots and they look so cool! Overall, another super fun shoot!

"Miss A"

2011-04-05T10:54:00.002-05:00

I managed to rally a photo shoot out of my niece a while ago in preparation for my Detroit trip and boy oh boy did she give me a run for my money! I'm putting together my presentation for Detroit and I'll be talking about how I photograph kids. I decided it would be great to take some video footage and put together a little video to share with the other photographers to show how I work with kids. Miss A gave me such a run for my money (yes, my niece) I'm wondering now if it should be labeled "How NOT to work with kids." It's hysterical. Once we have the finished product I may just have to post for a few chuckles. We ended up getting some super cute shots but I worked my tail off to get these...enjoy! In case you couldn't tell, there was a plethera of emotions that day!

Spring is Here!

2011-03-31T13:18:00.002-05:00

I always know when spring is here b/c my calendar starts to fill up. I have an exciting month ahead of me...old friends coming to visit, my birthday, my first magazine cover shoot, lots of other shoots, a trip to Detroit to speak, a trip to Vegas to relax...or go crazy and then Easter! So, this past weekend was another great shoot with a very fun family in the hood...The Folliards. Their girls were so cute and very cooperative. I just had a lovely time photographing them and we got some really great shots of their family. They actually purchased this photo shoot as a silent auction item that I donated for JD Hartman fundraiser. I will be donating a little something different this year again at the fundraiser this year so if you're going to it this month you may want to bid. Plus, it's for a great cause to help raise money for JD. Check out the Folliards!

Hey Blogger Buddies!

2011-03-22T16:28:00.003-05:00

I've been MIA lately on this little blog...I'm going to try and do a bit better. I've got some fun stuff in the works so stay posted. I did just find this business card in my car as I was cleaning things up and wanted to pass this along. My friend, Keili, had bought these shirts from Flyduds on Etsy and used them in her kids shoot and I just loved the way they turned out. Again, I like passing along fun ideas b/c everyone is always asking, "What should we wear for our shoot?" This is a great idea, very fun and colorful for those who love something different.

Talk to you all soon!

Watch Out Kim Kardashian...There's A New Girl In Town!

2011-03-03T15:52:00.003-06:00

Desiree and her mom drove in from El Campo, TX to shoot Desiree's senior photos. We loaded up in my car and just started driving. I knew she had some colorful outfits and a super sassy purple dress so we were on a mission to find some really great locations. Downtown happened to be much busier on a Sat. than normal...which made trying to park a little tougher...there was some festival going on which is another reason why I love this town. We managed to find some alley ways with good texture and an awesome wall mural that went PERFECT with her flower shirt she had on. Our second destination I guess was pretty close to the homeless shelter and it was getting close to dinner time so there were quite a few people walking down the alley we were in. They all asked for money and when I told them I didn't have any cash on me (which was the truth) they all wanted their picture taken instead...the one guy wanted his with Desiree. She was a good sport and I think had quite an experience for this being her first visit to Austin! Her photos came out adorable and in my book she can give Kim Kardashian a run for her money. :)

Up & Coming Stars!

2011-02-23T21:55:00.004-06:00

I've been a little MIA this year on the ol' blog and FB. Forgive me while I make some changes in my business, get more organized and brainstorm new marketing ideas. While I maybe haven't been chatting it up on here, behind the scenes I am working diligently to better myself and business for 2011!
Last Friday, I met with R & G to photograph their headshots. They have been talking about doing some acting with their mom for awhile now but after she took them to the Justin Bieber movie they came out of there asking how they could get a piece of the action, too. It was gray and drizzly on Friday but I had the coolest spot to take these two cool kids. It was a short shoot but we managed to pull out some killer photos....dude! I had to add that last word once I wrote out the word "killer". :)

Nab the Deal Special

2011-02-15T07:58:00.002-06:00

I'm running a high school senior shoot special on Nab The Deal. Check it out and spread the word! You won't see this price again!

Hey Peeps! Vote for me for Austin's Best Photographer!

2011-01-29T23:03:00.000-06:00

brandi nellis photography, LLC

Currently Ranked

Austin
Photographers

Vote For Us

:00

VOTING ENDS:

See all 0 Votes

John & Carey Wedding

2011-01-25T19:02:00.004-06:00

Here's a wedding I shot last fall that I'm just getting around to posting. It was a beautiful, quaint ceremony with only their family and closest friends. The wedding was at Beusher State Park out in Bastrop. They have the prettiest amphitheater there which makes a great setting for a wedding. The flowers were done by The Flower Studio and they were absolutely gorgeous. I loved the colors Carey chose...that deep orange. I'm sorry I don't know the name of the guitarest but he was phenominal so if anyone wants to know I can find out from the bride and groom. The cute blond minister doing the ceremony is my sister...she makes me so proud! She's the good egg in the family and well, I'm the uh...cracked egg? :)
I made this cute wedding video which gives a good variety of shots through out the day.

Big Print Sale

2011-01-22T11:59:00.002-06:00

Beautiful Nail...Just one!

2011-01-21T18:50:00.003-06:00

Just dropped my little honey off at a birthday party sleepover and I headed straight to Roxy Nails for a mani/pedi. Nothing like a good little spa time to get the weekend started. Here's another great video my stylist has shared with me that I think is just a hoot...this gal's funny and does a perfect impression!

Winter Love

2011-01-19T14:27:00.006-06:00

Literally a week before Christmas, LeRoy and I decided after our rough 2010 we needed to end it on a getaway. I had been wanting Sloan to see snow so I started doing some research online and we ended up heading to Durango, Colorado. It was a super duper choice b/c it is the cutest old west town ever. It was absolutely perfect the day we pulled into town b/c the snow was falling and it looked just like in the movies. It ended up dumping about 32 inches in 3 days (no joke) so Sloan definitely got to see some snow. It was the MOST snow LeRoy and I had ever seen and you know I've seen some snow being from Missouri! I have to say though it is true that it just didn't seem as cold b/c of the dry air. I think it was high of 22 degrees the day we went skiing and I didn't even wear my ski goggles...maybe b/c I was sweating my bootie off and they kept fogging up. Lord, help me get back to the gym this year! :) Anyway, it was just what the Nellis family needed to end the year and ring in the new. We went snowmobiling (too fun!), skiing and went on a beautiful sleigh ride (my choice). Hope everyone is having a Happy 2011 so far.

Roadtrip!
3 hours from our final destination the snow started to fall

...and fall

...and fall

By this point, I'm getting a little nervous driving
Random snow skiiers out in the middle of NO where!
Now these vehicles I trust in the snow...we snowmobiled through the forest and it was so beautiful. I did great until 200 ft. from the end and tipped the snowmobile over with Sloan on the back
This is my all time favorite scenic shot from this trip. It looks like a Hallmark commercial/card to me...cozy!
Brrrr!
Let's just say Sloan was NOT used to the cold
Thank goodness we don't have to do this in Texas!
Time to ski
Ski lessons for me!

but it wasn't. I took about 6 pictures of this guy and then once he got right in front of me I was like oops! That's not my hubby.
The Lodge...warmth!
Check out that snowflake! I mean we couldn't have planned that...hysterical and I don't I have the best smile?
Snowbunnies!
Just another icicle in Colorado...and we think everything is bigger in TX!
Snowball fight
Sloan is my little future photographer, huh?
I love these trees!

Our horses name's were Earl & Pearl and they were out of shape...we loved them!
It was 0 degrees on this ride. We were FFFRrreeeezzzzzing!

We had to stop and give Earl & Pearl a break before they tried to make it up this hill. Bless their hearts

Whoa!
It's so cold he's got ice boogies
Mmmm!Hot cocoa and live music back in the lodge. Warmth!

She's Got The Whole World In Her Hands!

2011-01-04T17:26:00.002-06:00

We photographed Emily about a month ago and I am FINALLY getting around to posting her stuff. Whew! I was really spinning my wheels this holiday season and I want to thank everyone for their continued support and business! Emily is actually from a small town around Houston and she is ready to take on the world! Hence, her and the globe shot. She did travel to Paris this past year and fell in love with Europe. I love photographing seniors b/c they really are excited to start their new lives whether it be college, a job, travels, etc. Their enthusiasm gets me enthusiastic, too! Cheers to Emily and her new life at college!

Out of the Office

2010-12-27T21:28:00.003-06:00

Hey everyone,
I will be out of the office Tuesday, December 28th, 2010 until Monday, January 3rd, 2011. I will be returning all calls and emails then. Thanks and Happy New Year!!!

My Last 3 New 5x5 Trifold Christmas Cards

2010-11-16T15:56:00.001-06:00

New 2010 5x5 Trifolds

2010-11-12T16:47:00.004-06:00

Brand New This Year...Accordian Style Christmas Cards

2010-11-12T15:13:00.004-06:00

New 2010 "Holiday Cheer" Collection

2010-11-12T09:17:00.003-06:00

New 2010 "Divine Holiday" Collection

2010-11-10T19:52:00.004-06:00

Here is another set of 9 different cards to keep in mind when choosing your favorite card. Again, the colors can be changed for a more "Christmasy" feel and the text can be customized. There are 8 different 5x7 flat 2-sided cards which can be printed on glossy or linen paper along with one design that is a 5x5 flat 2 sided card as well.

Minimum order 25 cards 1.85/ea
26-60 cards 1.80/ea
61-125 cards 1.75/ea
125+ 1.65/ea

#1FRONT
#1BACK
#2FRONT
#2BACK
#3FRONT
#3BACK
#4FRONT
#4BACK
#5FRONT
#5BACK
#6FRONT
#6BACK
#7FRONT
#7BACK
#8FRONT
#8BACK
#9FRONT
#9BACK

2010 New "Retro Twist" Christmas Cards Are Here!!!!!!

2010-11-10T15:52:00.003-06:00

"Defined" Collection of Christmas Cards

2010-11-10T15:45:00.001-06:00

5x7 FOLDED White (and black) Christmas Cards

2010-11-10T15:44:00.001-06:00

Along with my fun and colorful Christmas cards, I thought I'd offer some "pretty" Christmas cards for a variety. These are 5x7 folded cards printed on linen or glossy cardstock. These designs are pretty swanky but you can have alot of fun with all the differnt layouts that are being offered. The 5x7 folded cards are sold only in sets of 25 cards and are priced at $80/25 cards.
Style 1 front of card
Style 1 inside of card
Style 1 back of card
Style2 front of card
Style 2 inside of card
Style 2 back of card
Style 3 front of card
Style 3 inside of card
Style 3 back of card
Style 4 front of card
Style 4 inside of card
Style 4 back of card
Style 5 Front of card
Style 5 Inside of card
Style 5 Back of card

5x7 Hello Holiday Card Collection

2010-11-10T15:42:00.001-06:00

5x5 Christmas Trifold Cards...more new designs to post soon!

2010-11-10T15:41:00.001-06:00

Oldies But Goodies Christmas Cards

2010-11-10T15:40:00.001-06:00

Here are more of my colorful Christmas cards...these are flat 5x7 one sided cards printed on photographic paper. There is a minimum order of 25 cards. Pricing is as follows:
Minimum order of 25 cards $1.50 each,
26-60 cards $1.45 each
61-125 cards $1.40 each
126-225 cards $1.35 each

Tea for Two?

2010-11-09T22:26:00.003-06:00

I photographed this family a few weeks ago and we decided a tea party in the whispy, whimsical grass would be super cute. Thank goodness we did it when we did b/c as I'm out in the field photographing this family a big tractor is buzzing by mowing my whispy grass down. HMPH! The good news is I have lots of great mini sessions to share in the golden grass but for now I couldn't pass up sharing this shoot. Tea for two anyone?

Look How Cute...

2010-11-04T12:04:00.002-05:00

Some of you know that I grew up in a small town in Missouri but for those of you who don't take a look at this cute email my step mom just sent me...NOW THIS IS COUNTRY! I never posted my pics from this past summer at "the cabin" so let me pull a few pics here for you to enjoy! I've learned to appreciate my roots and upbringing and now I just sit back and laugh at my old man. :) My sister's still working on it! Ha!

Email from step mom:
Just wanted to let you know that your Dad & I are heading down to the cabin Sunday or Monday November 7/8 and will not be home until the weekend after Thanksgiving. Deer season starts on the 13th and lasts till 23rd.... Your Dad is going to collect deer hides from the guys down there for the Elks National Veterans Service Commission. The Elks pay to have them tanned and sent through-out the VA Health Care System for recreational & occupational therapy. I made up flyers to put around Cedar Creek. It's going to be interesting to see how many is donated. We are going to set up some kind of drop off box at the entrance on "OO" so the guys can just roll up & put the hides in plastic bags. Your Dad is going to check it daily & put the hides in the freezer out back of the cabin.... At least that's our plan for now.... All of our Love xxxooo Dad & Julie

FRYING UP THE FISH IN THE OL' FRY DADDY!!! YUMMY!!!

You haven't experienced life until you've been "juggin'" to catch fish. My Dad loves to go out about sunset and throw 17 jugs (not 16 or 18 but 17) in different coves and then we get up at the crack of dawn the next morning and "run the jugs". That means we have to go and find them b/c some will have a big fish on them and swim half way across the lake. As you can see in the pics we caught a huge gar which had done just that. My Dad doesn't like those gars b/c they eat their weight in fish daily so when he catches one then he has to cut their beak off...it's quite the ordeal. We ended up catching a big catfish though and had ourselves a yummy fish fry that night. In case you're wondering, yes my Dad's nickname is Boar. He's as crazy as a wild boar hence the name. :)

Need A Laugh?

2010-10-27T12:07:00.002-05:00

My hairdresser's over at my house and he always turns me on to funny stuff on the internet...some I can pass along and some I can't. Check out this funny little video...I totally cracked up watching this! Shake it like it's hot! Ha! :)

The Busy Season Is Here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-10-21T10:11:00.002-05:00

I photographed Bali and Dylan last Friday night in Cedar Park. We just hopped in the car and drove around until we found some interesting stuff. You'd never believe that the silver grain tower is in a small business park but it worked so cute with their outfits. Then, we picked another spot for when they wore their birthday shirts...a colorful spot. I had brought a couple of my tires along so we were on a mission for a nice bright building...and we found an awesome blue tire shop! It was such a cute shoot and I love the birthday shirts. Their mom found them on ETSY for a very reasonable price. Check it peeps!

The Sizzlin' Sandahls

2010-10-20T07:56:00.002-05:00

I met the Sandahl family down at Landa Park in New Braunfels a few weeks ago. I can't believe I've lived in Austin for almost 15 years and had never been to this park. It's loaded with beautiful, huge trees, a pool, a lake, paddleboats, a train and lots of places to picnic, too. It made for a great setting to shoot and a great place to take your family for a day get away. They had their daughter all decked out in her too cute Christmas tutu...loved it! Check out how cute their photos are. You'll see why I named this "The Sizzlin' Sandahls." :)

Chillin' At The Park

2010-10-11T21:05:00.002-05:00

I met this family a few weeks ago at a little pocket park in their neighborhood. It was surrounded by lots of green, foresty paths and I think poison ivy. I ended up with itchy, itchy legs after this shoot. What was I thinking sporting my shorts and flip flops to a shoot and then kneeling down with my bare legs in a forest filled with ferocious foliage? After all these years...you'd think I'd learn.
I had a great time with this family and I love all the happy shots we got of them playing and laughing together. There was some fun with the cheerios where they were acting like pirates and the cheerio was their eye patch...can I get an Aaaaargh?!!! It was about to be little bit's birthday in a few days so we took a 1st birthday shot of her with the hat on. :)

Maria's & Margaritas!

2010-10-05T13:31:00.002-05:00

I met the Villareals last week at one of my favorite spots to shoot...Maria's Taco Express and was happy to find that Kelli (the mom) was already inside getting herself a margarita for the shoot. I'm all for the parents relaxin' a bit before the shoot starts plus it was happy hour...the price was right! :) We had a good time working our way around the restaurant and checking out all the latest and greatest additions to the place. Families are always asking what they should wear to their shoot and to me this family is a great example of coordinating outfits but not too "matchy matchy". Take note people!

A Saturday with the Stutzmans

2010-09-27T14:55:00.002-05:00

I photographed the Stutzman family a few weeks ago and they've just welcomed a new baby boy into their family. We had a nice, calm photo shoot (for the most part) at their house. Dad and their older son did have a grape throwing game for a bit but nothing too crazy. :) The new baby is just as cute as ever and was safe with mama during the grape battle! I loved photographing his little wrinkle rolls...so cute! They have a lot of black and white photos through out their house so I'm posting all bw photos for this post.

My Next Senior Super Model

2010-09-23T08:52:00.002-05:00

Meet Kara. She's on her way to the University of Miami with a DIVING scholarship! Wow! I'm impressed. It's always so fun to find out how people get into hobbies or sports especially when it's something different. For Kara, she said she just started out with some gymnastics classes and then found a diving program with a great coach one summer and she just loved it. We had to incorporate water into her senior photos since that is huge part of her life. We also added a bit of color, fun, smoothies and the awesome weeping willow tree. Good luck to a great senior year Kara and thanks for being a senior supermodel for Brandi Nellis Photography!

Down Syndrome of Central Texas "Share the Passion" Gala

2010-09-21T14:47:00.006-05:00

I want to be...

2010-09-21T08:08:00.002-05:00

This year has really thrown me a lot of curve balls and it seems that they haven't stopped yet. It would be so easy to crawl under a rock and hide from the world but I just can't do it. I keep on pluggin' along and looking for joy and hope in all the small things from a ray of sunshine coming through the clouds to watching my son jam on his guitar (or "sweet axe" as he calls it). I received an email from my best friend today with this link and I wanted to share it with you all. It was exactly what I needed to hear and see. And, life will go on.

My First Senior Model Shoot-CHELSEA

2010-09-15T14:31:00.004-05:00

So, I have recruited a few high school 2011 Seniors to be models for Brandi Nellis Photography but I would like a few more. If you know any really cute AND outgoing senior guys or girls please send them my way. Chelsea knew she wanted a "country" shoot so she found Old Settlers Park up in Round Rock and it was just a fabulous location to do her shoot. We worked our way around the old red barn, tractors and little cabins dodging wasps the entire way. Yikes. She was an awesome model and we had a great time during her shoot. Check out some of my favs of her and how about those eyes...

The Nutritionist

2010-09-13T13:22:00.003-05:00

I photographed Dawn a few weeks ago. She is a local nutritionist who hired me to photograph her and some of her closest friends (Fruit and Veggie) for her website she's working on. We had a great time at Boggy Creek Farms even though there wasn't much to choose from we managed to put together a beautiful basket for her shoot. The only reason why there wasn't much is b/c of the time of the year. The poor plants are all withered from the blistering TX sun. They've got more crops blooming soon with the cooler weather. So, if anyone out there (like me) needs a nutritionist let me know and I'll pass Dawn's information along to you. She has a wonderful spirit about her and is a true kid at heart. :)

Riley's 13th Birthday Party

2010-09-08T14:45:00.002-05:00

Every once in awhile I get to do a shoot that's completely different and out of my normal family and kids realm. My client's daughter turned 13 and she rented a "Rockin' Ride" which is a karaoke bus. The bus tools all over the city while you and your friends get to karaoke in the retro looking bus. The bus sort of looks like Austin Powers to me so all the crazy colors made it super groovy to photograph in. It was sort of a cowgirl themed party b/c the birthday girl loves country music so we met up at one of Austin's cute, rustic bars and I photographed a bunch of 13 year old girls outside of it! It was too cute. I shot most of the pics around the bar and then we had to do a few with and in the bus.

Headin' To The Beach!!!

2010-09-03T07:59:00.004-05:00

Hey all, just a last minute thought that I had...my family is heading down to Port Aransas/North Padre Beach this weekend so if anyone is down there and would like family photos let me know. I'll have my camera gear with me! We've decided to do it "old school" and camp out (ohhhhh boy!). When LeRoy and I first met and we we're dirt poor we'd go down to the beach and camp out or just sleep in his parent's OLD van and it was hysterically fun. Since, our little family is needing some good laughs we decided to go "old school" again. This is either going to go really, really well or really, really bad...stay tuned! :)

Lots O' Love

2010-09-02T08:51:00.002-05:00

I met the "B" family last week down at Zilker Park and we just had a great time wandering around Zilker and taking all sorts of great photos. Their little girl is friend's with my niece and I just love their little personalities at this age. They're so excited to be in the photos...well, their daughter was excited to be in the photos. My niece is never excited when I whip my camera out to start shooting. :) Little "Baby I" did so good in the heat and weathering his first shoot at 5 months. I couldn't be prouder of the shots that we got. Check them out!

A Day At The Duck Pond

2010-08-26T17:13:00.002-05:00

I went out last week in this blazing hot heat and photographed my best friend's children. I have to say I AM a saint for doing this...no really, my BFF Jana is the saint for trying to wrangle her children into being photographed together! I thought she might put a bullet in her head by the time we were finished but she didn't. Yeah! My BFF is still alive and kickin'. We attempted to take some photos right in their front yard trying to keep the shoot close to home and convenient. After about 10 minutes of Lexi running to the garage to sit and play with her flashcards and Jakers running away from me I suggested that we go do something fun that they like to do. With resistance, Jana finally dug out some old tortillas and we were off to the duck pond. They were really enjoying themselves feeding the ducks and I thought ok this is going good until...Lexi (our little runner) ran off down the way and ended up wading into the duck pond and getting mud all over her legs and feet. Thank goodness, we didn't have that gun nearby that I mentioned earlier b/c Jana was about to lose it. :) Mama got her cleaned up and in the end we managed to get some cute shots of the kids and I'm thankful Jana is still alive so we'll get to endure another photo shoot in 6 more months. Ha!

Surprises Are The Ultimate Surprise!

2010-08-24T20:54:00.002-05:00

Have you ever had a really good surprise pulled on you? Or pulled off a really good surprise? My life has been filled with lots and lots of surprises this year and some have been really good (like my 40th surprise party that my husband threw me) and some haven't been so good (like my grandmother passing unexpectedly). Up until this year, I really haven't had all that many surprises in my life. I had never had a surprise party in my 40 years and frankly can only think of a handful that I've been to. I have to say though that good surprises make life really, really sweet. LeRoy and I didn't find out the sex of our baby until he was born. I was shocked! My mother's instinct told me that I was definitely having a girl. Ha! That got blown right out of the water at birth but my baby boy was the best surprise of my life.
All of this is leading up to my recent weekend away to Atlanta. My best friend, Kelly who just turned 40 thought she was going to Atlanta to visit her sister for a nice "sisters" weekend to celebrate her birthday. However, her sister Holly and I and another friend Tammy from Missouri have been in cahoots planning the ultimate surprise for Kelly's birthday. I flew in first and was picked up at the airport by Holly's hubby who is a US marshall. We had to kill some time before meeting them for lunch so he gave me a complete tour of the US Marshall building...it was quite interesting especially since there was a huge bust the night before so all the marshalls were a buzz in the office. Anyway, back to the goods. We arrived at the restaurant first (Flip Burgers...super yummy if you're ever in Atlanta...go there) and I spoke to the hostess and told her that we had a big surprise going down right there in their little restaurant. I went to the back and hid by the bathrooms. Holly and Kelly arrived and got seated at the booth and the hostess came back to tell me where they were seated. I approached the table and Kelly was looking down at her menu so I decided to act like the waitress and I said, "Hi, can I get you something to drink?" This is where it gets good b/c Kelly looks right up at me and says, "No" and then proceeds to look back down at her menu. What the ?*&! just happened? I look at Holly and Erik like what now? Holly says, "Kelllllllly, are you sure you don't want something to drink?" Kelly looks back up at me and she's staring and staring and then BAM! It finally registered! She screamed bloody murder and jumped up and hugged me and was crying. We're jumping around the restaurant like a couple of idiots. The entire restaurant STOPPED and I even think one old gal choked on her burger. It was by far the best stunt I've ever pulled off. Soooo, if you haven't had a good surprise lately...then it's time to plan one. Life is so much more glorious with them!

It's A Popsicle Party!

2010-08-17T11:53:00.002-05:00

These shoots are always so fun and a great way to remember the summer. I love the idea of decorating your kid's playroom with a collage of these playful shots. This is one of my son's best friends from school and his little sister. They are so cute and were definitely entertaining with all their great ideas they shared with me. They told their mom that they didn't want to wear swim wear but instead their "school clothes". So, with out further ado here's M & S...

Sunshine Press Album

2010-08-14T12:31:00.003-05:00

My, my, my! Check out this sweet little number that I've just added to my product list. It's a beautiful 8x8 press printed album on watercolor paper and adhered to a sturdy board to make the album pages thick and sturdy. The metallic cover is just an added yumminess to this little piece of eye candy. This is a 30 page album with 47 openings for the photos. The whimsical pages make for a great family or child album! It's priced at $350.

Love Is In The Air

2010-08-11T19:45:00.002-05:00

I had a couple photo shoots over the weekend and this family just started my day off on the right foot. The shoot started with them on a cute butterfly bench and before I could even take the first photo Sadia and Lucas were kissing. I loved it! I usually have to beg my clients to kiss and even then they usually do such a fast peck that my 8 frames per second camera couldn't even capture it so I have to ask them to kiss again! There was no asking a second time with these two...in fact at one point the kissing session kept on going so I coaxed them into a dip and they never stopped locking lips the whole time. :)
Lucas is in the Army and is home on leave until November and then he's off to Afganistan so there were a few times where I could just see the love pouring out of them. At one point, I could see Sadia just taking in the moment and trying to savor every bit of it. Then, their two twin girls were just cute as bug's ears! The whole family was so fun and playful and full of laughter that it made my job so easy. The photos speak for themselves.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND...

2010-07-29T20:55:00.001-05:00

2011 SENIOR MODEL SEARCH

2010-07-28T22:45:00.007-05:00

Hey Austin Texas Seniors! Brandi Nellis Photography is looking for some positive and outgoing 2011 Seniors guys and girls who would like to be a senior model. This is your opportunity to have your senior portraits taken for free and earn photo credit, too. We are located in South Austin and will be taking 2 high school seniors per high school including Bowie, Austin, Westlake, Dripping Springs, Buda and more. Because we are only accepting 2 models from each school, spaces are limited and not everyone who responds will be accepted as a rep. So, don’t wait!If you would like to find out more information, please contact me at b_nellis@hotmail.com.

What is a Senior Model?

They are spokes models that help promote Brandi Nellis Photography with their own gorgeous portraits. You’re going to tell your friends about how amazing your experience was anyway, so why not earn some credits towards photos while you’re at it? An ideal senior rep model has lots of friends and is a very outgoing and energetic person. We need reps who are going to create a buzz about us and who are going to have lots of friends to tell about it! Please only submit emails if you are serious about this.

What do Senior Models Do?

We are not asking you to be a sales person… your photos are going to sell themselves. We are asking you to simply tell all of your friends about us and show off your pictures! Create a buzz about Brandi Nellis photography. It’s simple really. The more friends you get to come get their senior portraits with us, the more free stuff you’ll get.

What do I receive for being a Senior Model?

- Complimentary photo shoot ($300.00 value). Multiple locations photo session that will last 2-3 hours. Includes 3 outfit changes. 50 spiral bound 4x6 prints that are yours to keep and an online gallery for 14 days.

-3 web resolution images to use on your Facebook pages.

-50 senior rep model cards with your images on them. (These are what you’ll hand out to all of your friends to get them to come get their senior portraits done with Brandi Nellis Photography)

-$50.00 print credit for every senior you refer who books a session with Brandi Nellis Photography. There is no limit on how much you can earn!

CONTACT ME AT b_nellis@hotmail TO APPLY!

Look What's Just Around the Corner...

2010-07-28T17:03:00.001-05:00

Summertime Part 1 of Our Trip To Missouri

2010-07-27T15:05:00.004-05:00

My trip home to Missouri this summer was sweet and sour. Sour b/c my grandmother passed away and then sweet b/c Sloan and I spent 2 1/2 weeks there with my Mom and stepdad "D". I was able to spend alot of time grieving, reading, relaxing and just taking some time for myself and to spend with my family. Everything slows down in that little town that I grew up in but I always welcome going back home and drinking in the laziness. I was able to check my email twice in 2 1/2 weeks and that was only b/c we went down to the coffee shop (Perk on the Plaza) on the square where they had free wifi. My mom has a computer but won't get internet...it's very frustrating but I tried to embrace it this trip. :) Since my parents are thinking about moving to the islands (and you all wonder where I get my beach fever from?) I knew that this could possibly be one of my last trips back to Missouri so I wanted to drink in all my favorite summertime stops and share them with my son. We hit the Black River a few times...one of my MOST favorite places in the world. I have a ton of great growing up memories from this place. It's a beautiful, crystal clear river that runs through the hills of Missouri. One day we decided to do one of our infamous 6 mile float trips on intertubes and 8 hours later fried crisp we arrived at our pick up. It was pure delight! We went to Clearwater Lake, Johnson Shut Ins, we did a horseback riding excursion, we fished, we went and checked the cows with Farmer Frank, we picked fresh veggies out of the garden, we made friends with Bob (a recurring turtle visitor to my mom's front porch), we jeeped, we saw old friends, we took nature walks, we chased bunnies and I read my ass off. Hee.hee. It was just what I needed. Here's a few pics from the first part of our trip...don't they just smell country?