Kristen Duke Photography bio picture
  • Welcome to my website…my blog…my blogsite!

    Thanks for stopping by to view my work. I am an on location, natural light photographer in Austin, Texas. For years I have maintained a website and a blog, and I've now merged the two so you can get all the information you need with up-to-date images all in one place. Find all my back entries from over there...now here.

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    Kristen Duke~512.809.1740

Service and Candyland

I was at a really fun photo shoot tonight that I came home all excited about, yet I have no images to show for it.  I didn’t even take my camera!  Crazy, right?  When I left, I told my kids I was doing a little service (not that I’m bragging to them, but my kids need to know that not everything I do has a return).  I like to use that word,  they need to have it a part of their regular vocabulary and being.  Anyway…I did a little mentoring for a friend who had a photo shoot.  She’s newer to the game and she felt she needed assistance.  She would have been fine on her own, but it was fun to play a back seat role and analyze things from a different perspective….whispering suggestions in her ear.  The location was heavenly!  Think acreage, barn, rustic vintage things, beautiful evening light, horses, all things Texas, and a fun family of 15 (mom+dad+6 adult kids+spouses+3 grandkids).  The family was adorable and dressed all coordinated (but not matchy) and fun accessories–a photographers dream.   Does that paint a good enough picture for you? I will link her images up once she posts them:)  I know they are awesome, I peeked at them on the drive home.

Ok, that was enough babble…here are some pics I took for a friend at her daughter’s candyland birthday party last weekend (which coincidentally happened to be a service as well). The cake was fantastic (inside and out)!  And who doesn’t like a table full of candy?!

P.S. Just merged my old blog with my new blogsite (yay)…take a look at the “archives” dropdown.  Heehee, need to adjust those tags, but it will take a while.  Going to bed now (1:04 a.m.)

by Kristen Duke

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la*tee*da*kids~Custom Boutique Childrens Clothing

I was contacted by a local vendor about featuring and photographing pieces from her line of  kids clothing.  I love the idea of helping out another local.  The great thing about the internet is you don’t have to sell just to locals, but others out of the area can also purchase.  She sent me a dress and skirt with the same pattern to show the versatility.  I love the idea of mixing it up with various pieces, especially for a family portrait with multiple girls.  I took a bunch of my daughter in the dress and a few with she and her friend wearing the skirt.  Check out her BLOG or  facebook page here.   Excellent quality workmanship, too! 

by Kristen Duke

7 comments

MeganJuly 28, 2010 - 4:53 am

makes me want a little girl to dress up!! SO cute!!!

Shari HansonJuly 28, 2010 - 6:26 am

so fun! I love the one where she’s running away from you…and i love those boots!

Amanda JoyJuly 28, 2010 - 2:25 pm

These are so fun! I love the ones of her on the fence:)

AmyJuly 29, 2010 - 3:49 am

Oh my goodness! I love that dress! There are so many pattern and color combinations you could make with that and with three girls…

Love it! Great pics as usual!

ellen pattonJuly 29, 2010 - 2:10 pm

You’re on the grid!

DebbieJuly 29, 2010 - 2:30 pm

love these shots Kristen. many many thanks!

GinaJuly 29, 2010 - 6:24 pm

I love how candid and commercial these are. GREAT work!

Alayna~Maternity Portraits

You got  a little glimpse of my sis in law a few posts back, here are a few more.  She is just 10 days younger than me, and married my older brother when I was still single.  I was grumpy when they married because she was taking one of my best friends away from me.  I didn’t have a chance to get to know her too well before, but after they were married (and the lovey dovey newness wore off) we became great friends.  She is expecting her 3rd boy, and I look up to her so much with her mothering.  She just spent the entire last week hanging out at my house (they live in Pennsylvania) and it was so much fun!

She still has 2 months to go!

by Kristen Duke

4 comments

Heather VoJuly 27, 2010 - 12:12 am

LOVE the umbrella shot!!! The colors are gorgeous!

Shari HansonJuly 27, 2010 - 2:43 pm

LOVE the one up against the fence… love her expression and her pose…and the composition! great job!

TamaraJuly 27, 2010 - 4:53 pm

I love these poses for materinty pictures! She is beautiful!

Liz HJuly 29, 2010 - 2:42 am

LOVE the silhouette! gorgeous work, as always, kristen! *almost* makes me want to get pregnant again :)

Just Jenny’s Crochet

Crocheted items have taken the photograhy world by storm.  They add texture and depth to a casual outfit, which adds a similar depth to the portrait itself.  Last March when I was headed to Utah, I knew I wanted family pics in the snow with bright colors.  Adding a few crocheted pieces gave our ensemble the extra touch that pulled it all together.  I found Jenny through my sis in law (that cute prego one below) and she was so good to listen to what I wanted and found the colors and everything.   The hats, the scarf, the baby booties, the gloves. 

 I also asked her to make this scarf with flowers on it–love it!

 Then just last month, I realized I needed some diaper covers for newborns and why not have a matching hat?  She got a pattern and whipped up a pink set and a blue set.  LOVE.

 Go to her blog and see some of her stuff.  She is doing a giveaway for the “all seasons” scarf on her blog here.  Comment before July 31st for the chance to win a scarf like I posted above (with flowers).

If you don’t see something you like,  just ask, she can make anything!

CLICK HERE to go to her blog.

by Kristen Duke

2 comments

Bridgette AdamsJuly 26, 2010 - 5:22 pm

Pick me, pick me, pick me! Those are SO cute and Kristen, as usual your photographs are beautiful! You did SUCH a great job showing off the scarf and still making the subject the focus… you notice both her and the scarf right off… I love it!

Jennifer TerreroJuly 28, 2010 - 2:54 pm

I just stumble across your blog and it’s so great! Your work is fantastic. I’m going to become a follower on FB of your work. :) OH… how PERFECT is that scarf!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE it. I think its fantastic!!! I keeping everything crossed that I win!

That pregnant glow

You know, maternity sessions are tricky.  They are tough to pose, and most moms don’t love how they look, even if others think they look awesome!  So I aim to help them be comfortable and capture those moments that they will never see of themselves.   This is my lovely sister in law.  She is visiting me for the week.  I will offer just one teaser until I can get to the rest.  Doesn’t she just glow?  And I love her long locks (and I must mention I gifted her the bracelet and earrings for her birthday last week). 

by Kristen Duke

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