Class of 2014 - Isabel {Leander, TX Senior Photographer}

What a fun session to photograph! I've taken Isabel's photos before and she's always full of laughs and smiles.  This session was no exception.  I love it when things go this smoothly.. and I especially love a few good outtakes!

Here's a little peek of your senior pics!

I think it's time for an incredible SALE! {Austin/Leander/Cedar Park Photographer}

Hey everyone!

I think it's about time for a great sale.. since that is something I don't do very often.

So, for a very limited time I will offer 50% off any session fee! This only includes my time and all retouching of your photos, but no additional items.  Prints, CDs, slideshows, and all other additional items are available for purchase, as always.

This is a GREAT deal!

On top of that.. I'd really like to update my portfolio and possibly branch out into some new areas. So, not only am I offering 50% off all sessions, I'm also going to offer several sessions for FREE!

Here is how it will work:

I am going to give one lucky couple a chance at FREE Wedding Photography!  In order to enter, all you have to do is book with me at 50% off your wedding session fee, tell me 'your story' and why you deserve this wonderful gift of free photography.  This is an incredible chance to have all of your photos captured at no charge!  The best part is that everyone who enters, still gets 50% off their session!  The winner of the free wedding session will be announced on Feb 1, 2013!

I am going to offer free session fees for the first Quinceañera that is booked and confirmed with me.

I am going to offer free session fees for the first Newborn of 2013 that is booked and confirmed with me. *newborn must be less than 10 days old at the time of the photo shoot

I am going to offer free session fees for the first maternity session of 2013 that is booked and confirmed with me. This session can include your husband and your other children.

I am going to offer free session fees for the first Birth Photography session of 2013 that is booked and confirmed with me.

You have the potential to save hundreds and up to thousands with this sale! So don't delay, contact me and let's discuss how to best capture your special day! Don't forget to tell your friends too, because I offer credits for referrals!

*Destination weddings are not included in this sale.
*Any applicable travel fees for out of town sessions will still be required in full.
* All prints, CDs, and any other items that are included in my 'packages' are not included in this sale. This sale is limited to my time to capture your images, all retouching, and proofing.
* a small non-refundable retainer fee is required to secure your session.
* any retainers paid by the couple who wins the free wedding session, will be either refunded or credited toward prints/items, clients choice.
* other terms and conditions not listed may apply. Contact me for details.

Christmas traditions.. a reflection of Elf on the Shelf {Leander TX Photographer}

Now that it is the day after Christmas, I have a bit of time on my hands so I thought I'd write a little about holiday traditions.

There are certain things I can always remember about Christmas as a child.  I always got a Lifesavers book of candy in my stocking, for example.  I love traditions and have begun many of my own since starting my own family.  My children always get pajamas on Christmas Eve. Always.  They also get a Lifesavers book in their stockings, just like I did. We always read the story of Jesus' birth from the Bible, because it's very important to me that they do not forget the true meaning behind Christmas.

This year, even though my children are teenagers, we decided to add the fun of an Elf on the Shelf.  I'm sure many of you are tired of seeing these elves on the internet, but we just couldn't resist. My kids decided they'd play along and follow all of the 'rules' of the Elf on the Shelf.. and so "Figgy" came to live with us.

Figgy got into much mischief.  He redecorated a few things, TP'd the tree, took a marshmallow bath in my gravy boat and so on.  I had a wonderful time coming up with new things for him to get into, and the kids loved seeing what silly thing 'Figgy' had done every morning when they got up.  I think a true highlight was when Figgy wrote "Go Blue" all over my husband's large Ohio State University wall hanging. You should've heard the gasps!  It truly kept a little Christmas magic around the house. That is something that I've felt slipping away as my children have grown up before my eyes.

So, in closing.. no matter how silly a tradition seems, it isn't. I've found many of my friends on Facebook looked forward to seeing my posts about our elf, and I really enjoyed everything to do with it.  Traditions are part of family, so embrace them and carry them on year after year. Your children will thank you for it and your heart will be full.

So until Figgy returns next year… here's a few memories of him!

7th Grade Basketball Season has Begun! {Leander TX Event Photographer}

Last night was the first game of my son's 7th grade basketball team.  They didn't come away with a win, but I'm very proud of the way my son played the game. He played harder than I have ever seen him play before!  I'm sure they'll only get better..

Miss B's Christmas Mini Session! {Leander Tx Children's Photographer}

A beautiful child with a beautiful smile and Miss B is just that.
I just love photographing children, especially around the holidays and especially when it turns out so well.  I know I say this a lot, but she truly did make my job easy!
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that Santa brings you all the things you ask for. :)

If only I had just one more..

Sometimes I think being in the photography business has made me much more aware of the importance of photos. Not from a business standpoint, but from a personal one. As I look through my personal photo collection from my lifetime, I realize more and more that I do not have enough memories captured of my family.  We put it off. We want to wait to lose another 10 lbs, or we simply can't find the time. Excuses.. that's all it really is.  We can make the time, and 10 lbs doesn't matter.

During a nasty divorce, my ex hid/kept all of the photos of my children. It was a malicious attack on me because he knew how much I cherished those, and he made sure I couldn't get a single one by telling the court that I had already taken them, when I hadn't.  He not only took prints, but he took negatives and even my computer and camera to make sure I didn't have any digital images either. Can you imagine not having any photos of your children from birth through 8-12 years? (the ages of my children at the time of the divorce). Not only am I missing important photos from my children's lives, but I look at my parents who are getting older, and I think of my grandparents who are no longer with us.. and I don't have nearly enough photos of any of them. The ones I do have are blurred, some are from the orange 70's film era, many are out of focus and you know what?  Each and every one is priceless.

Photos are important.  What you look like doesn't really matter once you look at the bigger picture (pardon the pun).  If you knew you were going to lose a loved one tomorrow, or next week.. wouldn't you like to have just one more photo with them? Would it matter what they looked like? If they wore make up, or had their hair a certain way?  No.. not really. Those aren't the things that matter. You'd want to capture them forever so you could hold onto their memory a little easier.

I have decided to start following my own advice.  I'm very uncomfortable in front of the camera and I rarely ever see a photo of me that I like, but it's really not about how I look.  It's about my kids.. and their kids.. the ones who will one day look back like I do, and wish they had just one more photo.

So today,  I set my camera up and handed it to my husband.. and lined my children up with me in front of the partly decorated Christmas tree. My hair is a fuzzy mess, I don't have any makeup on, and I'm wearing my pjs.  And I will shamefully admit that this is the first photo I've taken with them in years and I will not allow this much time to pass again. 

So take photos.. but more importantly, be in the photos.  Hire a photographer, or use your point and shoot camera and the timer to do it yourself.  Just take pictures, either way. No one will care if you aren't looking like a model. Because all in all..it's about family and those priceless memories. 

Meet the "S" Family {Austin | San Antonio Family Photographer}

I so enjoy family photographs! This beautiful location in San Antonio Tx was perfect for this beautiful family.  I couldn't have asked for a better session and a nicer family. Enjoy!!

We are now listed on Thumbtack! {Leander and Austin TX | Portrait Photographer}

Thumbtack is a great way to find and verify any services you might be interested in.  Deborah McCloud Photography is proud to be a new member of Thumbtack.

Feel free to check out my photography services on Thumbtack!

The Fields {Leander TX | Family Portrait Photographer}

A beautiful day for family photos in a beautiful place with some great people!  I've worked with this family before and I'm looking forward to doing it again. They are such fun! I truly have the best clients. Enjoy!

Kaytlynn {Leander TX | Senior Portrait Photographer}

As promised, here is the other half of the duo!  This beautiful young lady is my best friend's daughter and she is one of the sweetest teens I know! I just couldn't pick a few photos, so here are some of my many favorites!

Melissa {Leander TX | Senior Portrait Photographer}

A sneak peek of a super sassy young lady who was full of fun and personality. I enjoyed this session so much as it was done with a friend of hers, a dear friend's daughter. Those two girls had me laughing the entire time!  Here's one half of the duo!