This was such a fun urban family photo session in Austin! We explored the Seaholm district, with its beautiful glass buildings in the background and the iconic Butterfly Bridge (gotta time the shots with traffic because this is still a road!) 

​These kids are all so full of personality and love for one another and their parents and I'm so glad we got to do this shoot! 

Amelia is truly a stunning young woman inside and out! I always love shooting with graduating seniors at home because it's a comfortable and private setting for a (sometimes nervous) grad to feel comfortable in their own skin (and have loads of wardrobe options on hand for outfit changes). Your house doesn't have to be an architectural marvel.. in fact you would be surprised how many lovely spots you have in your yard, just as long as there's good light (which I can always find). 

Got to shoot this fun local CrossFit competition in Austin at CrossFit Renew! It's always fun to document the energy and community vibe of a fitness event. Great job everyone! 

On a magical misty afternoon in October, Robert proposed to Katie on an overlook at Leo Carillo State Beach, above the crashing waves of the Pacific. It's always so much fun to shoot a proposal, because I get to be part of the excited planning moments. Robert and I scouted out the spot and talked through time of day and where I would hide; who would arrive and when. He poured so much thought into the details of his proposal and the words he shared with Katie, and when the moment came... it was even better than he could have planned!

I'm so excited for Robert and Katie to spend the rest of their lives together. Finding your person in this big world is a priceless gift.

Here's what Robert had to say about his experience working with me afterward! 
★★★★★
"Cecily is the absolute best. She photographed my proposal to my then-girlfriend, now fiancee! I wanted to propose at one location, but upon scouting it ahead of time, we discovered that it was completely overrun with other couples doing proposal and engagement shoots. There was no way I could pull off the surprise there! Cecily quickly swooped in with suggestions for several alternative, more discreet locations. She even went the extra mile and coordinated some perfect weather for the day of our shoot! 😄

"It honestly couldn't have gone better. On top of all the legwork Cecily put in before a single photo was taken, she also delivered an entire gallery of absolutely astounding photos, all edited and at full resolution. She sent us a few finished edits for family and social media the very same night of the proposal and had the rest of them sent to us before we knew it. She has an eye for romantic moments in close-ups, and I also appreciated the wide shots incorporating a broader view of the beautiful location we had worked so hard to narrow down! If you get the chance, hire Cecily. It's a no-brainer."
MORE REVIEWS HERE >>

​(Click the Read More link below to view photos from Robert's proposal.) 

How are Europeans always so effortlessly chic? (asking for a friend) 
Check out this epic set up: Frederik and Julia are German and they have been together for 20 years (what?!? were they 5 when they started dating?!?) and they decided 2024 was the year to tie the knot. Only they decided to jet off to Malibu for a just-them-and-the-officiant-and-me beach elopement. Julia brought a chic but surprisingly low-maintenance dress from Lulus.com (in my opinion, the smart girl's elopement dress shop) and Frederik brought an impeccably tailored tuxedo. 
They said their vows in a private pocket beach at El Matador State Beach, then we had the rest of the evening until sunset to document this grand adventure of theirs. What a dream! This is what I love about elopements: light on the planning, heavy on the beauty and serendipity. 

For this brand photography photoshoot with psychologist, Delaney Menell, we opted for an urban setting to reflect Delaney's approachable, casual style. She brought a ton of fun outfits and props to make good use of our time and we planned to capture a solid mix of headshots as well as evergreen content-type images she can use on her website, online ads, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more. The majority of Delaney's sessions are carried out through video calls, so her primary touch points with clients are digital. To that end, she wanted to make sure to develop a line of images she can use in her email newsletter to current and prospective clients as well. 

​Lots of variety in here to choose from that will last Delaney for years and keep her in fresh content all the time! 

WONDERING WHAT A MID-DAY, BRIGHT SUNNY WEDDING LOOKS LIKE? CHECK THIS OUT.
​
Nicci and Johnny's beautiful Malibu wedding is proof that you CAN get married and take beautiful pictures in the middle of the day! Most couples tend to plan their wedding for evening, in order to capture golden sunset light and a evening-to-nighttime party. But Nicci and Johnny aren't most couples! They're active and beachy SoCal kids (not night owls), so they opted to have an early afternoon outdoor wedding with a casual lawn reception with tacos and games. Their timeframe included a family-only ceremony at 1pm, couple photos at 2pm, and their friends arrived for the reception afterward at 3pm. In photographer-speak, this meant shooting couple photos in the middle of the bright afternoon sun (in late July)! Technically this is usually a photography no-no, but I made sure they understood what kind of look their photos would have—sunlight-drenched with strong shadows and bright blue water—and they were all in! Though these photos are non-traditional, we were still able to work with the angles of the sun and what shadows we had to shoot evenly lit family pictures and gorgeous sunny couple photos that Nicci and Johnny are thrilled with. 

Ceremony location: Malibu Gathering 
Family portraits: Malibu Gathering
Couple portraits: Point Dume, Malibu 
Photographer: Cecily Breeding (that's me!) 

Are you planning a wedding? I love capturing weddings of all sizes and styles. I am based in both Austin, TX and Malibu, CA, so if you're planning a wedding anywhere in central Texas or southern California, I have local availability and rates (no travel cost) for you. Please reach out to talk more! >> [email protected] or you can learn more about Wedding Photography Packages and Rates here >> 

Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa offers a variety of wonderful amenities to their guests and neighbors. During our content shoot it was fun to see so many community members walking in the park adjacent to the hotel and attending the morning yoga class on the lawn. This photo shoot was planned and executed with talent provided through Laguna Cliffs' PR partner. The images are intended for use in the hotel's social media and digital marketing strategy (might even wind up on the website as needed). All images were shot on location at Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa, a Marriott property in Dana Point, California. 

Food and beverage photography shot onsite at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa. I worked with the property's PR team in advance of the shoot to plan a shot list and schedule with the food and beverage staff to ensure fresh and beautiful plates and drinks for shooting.

Congratulations to Kelsey Daniels on her forthcoming book! 

Kelsey is an Austin-based author and in preparation for her debut book, she needed a varied mix of headshots and styled stock images that represent her voice and her personality. These photos will be used on her web, socials, LinkedIn, and for promoting upcoming appearances as she markets her books and shares her message with the world. All these images were shot at a local Austin home we found on Peerspace. Here is the listing to the home >> 

Are you an entrepreneur, author, coach, or freelancer looking to build your library of stock images? Give me a shout and let's plan your dream photoshoot! >> [email protected]