'South Austin Gothic' Portrait Series / by Shana Berenzweig

My dear friends, Jeri Lynn and Ian Ingram, are both creative, talented, and beautiful --- both inside and out.  And traditional family portraits aren't quite for them.

Sept 2017 | Austin, TX

Sept 2017 | Austin, TX

So, for almost 10 years now, and waaay before I dared to call or even think of myself as a photographer (which, to be honest, still feels strange), we’ve been doing collaborative, stylized family portraits. 

We call the series South Austin Gothic

Sept 2016 | Austin, TX

Sept 2016 | Austin, TX

Aug 2015 | Austin, TX

Aug 2015 | Austin, TX

Besides having so much fun creating them, what I love about this series is how it marks the passage of time and reflects all of us --- the Ingram's growth as a family and mine as a photographer.

Dec 2014 | Sayulita, Mexico

Dec 2014 | Sayulita, Mexico

While this kind of stylized portrait may not be for everyone, what it represents is most definitely for all.  So, whether I take 'em, another photographer, or yourselves, just do it.  Just take those family photos in a whatever way means the most to you.  You won't regret a single shot.

June 2014 | Austin, TX

June 2014 | Austin, TX

Aug 2012 | Austin, TX

Aug 2012 | Austin, TX

Jan 2012 | Austin, TX

Jan 2012 | Austin, TX

Both Jeri Lynn and Ian are very talented artists.  You can shop for Jeri Lynn's gorgeous jewelry here.  Every piece of her beautiful, fair trade jewelry collection is hand-beaded by the Huichol people in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico.

Jeri Lynn's husband, Ian, is a remarkable artist and teacher.  See his incredible work here, and for those of y'all in Austin, Ian has recently started offering drawing class for kids.

I only posted a few of my faves of the series here, but I love the photo below of the Ingram kiddos in front of all the portraits (although I didn't take three of the photos). 

Sept 2017 | Austin, TX

Sept 2017 | Austin, TX