Staying at The Wayback Austin: A Lifestyle Photographer’s Dream in Hill Country

Tucked just outside the buzz of downtown, The Wayback Austin is the kind of boutique hotel that feels like a secret — quiet, warm, and intentionally designed. I came for a weekend away, but it ended up feeling like more than just a stay. As a lifestyle photographer, I’m always drawn to places that evoke a certain feeling, where light and texture come together to tell a story. The Wayback did exactly that.

Set in the rolling hills of Austin’s west side, the property feels like a retreat from the world. The collection of cottages, each painted in soft earth tones and surrounded by oak trees, creates a sense of calm the moment you arrive. It’s a place where time slows down and small details begin to stand out — the way sunlight pours through cafe windows in the morning, the sound of wind in the trees during golden hour, the simplicity of a linen-covered bed in a quiet, sunlit room.

Photography-wise, it was a dream. Every corner of The Wayback Austin felt intentionally designed for connection — not just visually, but emotionally. From the interior styling to the way natural light moved through the space, I found myself reaching for my camera constantly. There’s something about the way light hits white brick walls and bounces off reclaimed wood that makes it easy to fall in love with photographing a place. For a lifestyle photographer, this boutique Hill Country stay offers a perfect balance of softness and soul.

Mornings started at the on-site café with a matcha or espresso, usually taken outside among olive trees and worn wooden tables. I captured a few frames of my coffee in that perfect, diffused morning light — the kind you can’t fake, no matter how good your presets are. Afternoons were for the pool, quiet walks, or catching up on journaling, always with my camera nearby. The golden hour here is unreal. I spent one evening wandering the edge of the property, photographing the way the light filtered through tall grasses and danced across stone paths. It was one of those moments that reminded me why I fell in love with lifestyle photography in the first place.

There’s a comfort in staying somewhere that understands aesthetics without feeling overdesigned. The Wayback is cozy, not curated to the point of being untouchable. It invites you to settle in, breathe a little deeper, and maybe see the world a little differently for a few days. It’s perfect for couples, solo travelers, or creatives looking for inspiration. If you’re ever in search of a boutique hotel in Austin with heart, style, and soul, I can’t recommend it enough.

Places like this have a way of lingering long after you leave. I came home with a full camera roll, a slower heart rate, and a renewed sense of clarity — all the things I didn’t know I was looking for when I booked the stay.

Edmonds Traditional | Seattle Interior Photographer

With Seattle real estate being so competitive and limited, home satisfaction is sometimes best achieved by a renovation approach. When it comes to designing for a kitchen renovation, function and form are key. Sometimes, to move forward with joy, we need to look to the past to take hints from traditional design elements, while tuning them to a modern flow. I loved the way that Reanna Channer of Design to Elevate approached this project.

While the kitchen maintains a mostly while palette, it’s anything but sterile. The layered textures come from the floor-to-ceiling tile, combined with the cabinetry, built-in banquette, and elevated hardware finishes. This layered neutral approach continues through the living space, where definition is create by detail and texture. A natural wood theme carries throughout these spaces, too, reminding us of the soaring pine trees surrounding this Edmonds home and the trademark of our beautiful Pacific Northwest region.

I photographed this project in natural light, allowing for the minute textures to shine through. Allowing natural light to dictate the highlights and shadows creates a natural, inviting, immersive experience while viewing. My greatest hope is to convey a feeling through my images, and my best partner in doing so is utilizing light. There are quite a few steps in the editing process to make this approach successful, but it’s so worth it! (Just remind me to sit up straighter as I’m curled over my monitor editing.).

The styling for this project really helped bring the photoshoot to life. Reanna’s team did a great job bringing enough materials to work with. Everything felt native to the kitchen, even if it was produced for the shoot. Between each and every shot, there’s a meticulous rearranging of prop elements. I have my image previews up on an iPad screen, so the styling is truly a team approach. This takes time as well, but creates the most beautiful stories within the photos.

Feeling grateful for a brand new year and all the beautiful spaces I have yet to see!

This project was a winner of the Seattle Design Center NW Design Awards. See more here!

Seattle Architectural Photographer | Colman Park Renovation

Seattle has no shortage of fabulous midcentury architecture. When attempting a full scale renovation, Office of Ordinary does an amazing job of preserving historical details (or emulating them if adding new elements). This home in Seattle’s Colman Park neighborhood sits high up in the trees on one of Seattle’s many steep hills. This gives the opportunity for a real tree-house vibe, which was achieved with great skill in this project.

My favorite part of this home is the new banquette dining area, which was a new addition to this home. With wraparound windows and seating, it feels like you’re really in a treehouse (with far better insulation). ;)

In capturing this home, we kept with a natural light approach, which highlighted the soft green glow from the outdoors. Allowing natural light to guide the way does pose some challenges (I have to do quite a bit of post-production work for these images to be successful), but it always feels like the right choice in telling the truth of the space, capturing light, and creating an inviting mood.

This beautiful project was recently featured on Amazing Architecture, where you can see more details about the renovation process, view the floorpans, and learn more about Office of Ordinary.

Eclectic Kitchen Remodel | Seattle Interior Photography

What a cool project to photograph! This classic Seattle craftsman home got a big injection of modern eclectic design with this total kitchen remodel. I loved the mixture of textures (those polished floors!) and the thoughtful styling of the space to reflect its well-traveled homeowner.

Before I start each photoshoot, I like to spend time perfecting the styling of the space to make lifestyle vignettes that help to tell the story of the space and its inhabitants. I work with my client to strategically place art and prop items that will create visually appealing moments, and this almost always includes adding some fresh greenery. I usually just clip it from outside! My tip is go bigger than you think you need. Dainty little greens just don’t do it the same as big dramatic branches! Interior design photoshoots are a little theatrical in nature: you’re setting the scene for a viewer and it should definitely have a point of view and some fun.