Best Photo Studios in Austin + San Antonio for Family Photos
I told Santa all I wanted for Christmas last year was more studio sessions—and I seem to have gotten my wish, because I’ve lucked out with the most beautiful in-studio family sessions lately. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by so many fabulous photo studios in New Braunfels, Austin, and San Antonio, so I’ve come to share my favorites with you today.
Nothing beats spending a quiet morning in a gorgeous studio with a family who wants their most precious moments captured; maybe they’re celebrating a milestone such as welcoming in a new little one, or maybe they simply wanted to document this season of their life. Wherever you find yourself in your family or motherhood journey, studio sessions are an incredible way to connect with your most loved people in an intimate, candid way.
If you’re up for it—can I dig a little deeper into why I adore in-studio family, maternity, and newborn sessions so much?
Why Take Your Family Photos in a Studio?
All the cozy, in-home vibes without the stress
I’m a huge fan of in-home sessions, but they’re not everybody’s jam. You’d probably be surprised at how many clients hesitate to have in-home sessions because their space isn’t “good enough.”
Here’s what I like to tell them: your home is the place to tell the story of you and your people. Where you can celebrate the real, lived-in beauty of your life together, not the stiff, don’t-sit-on-the-bed-or-you’ll-mess-it-up-feels.
If that sounds like exactly what you’re envisioning for your family session, but you’d prefer not to have to clean up your space, worry about lighting, or make sure your wall decor is looking perfect (which, btw, it doesn’t need to), then a studio session is going to be the perfect fit for you.
Taking your family, maternity, or newborn photos inside of a studio specifically dedicated to photography gives you a chance to create those home-y vibes without the stress of wiping down your countertops or moving garbage cans out of the way; the cozy, intimate feels you get when you snuggle up on a couch without having to worry about lint rolling your own.
Although your studio session won’t take place in your own home, you’ll still be able to capture a reflection of that gloriously messy, sweet, exhausting, all encompassing, soul stirring, perfectly imperfect life you live together on a day-to-day basis. . . to make the same kinds of memories you would at home on a Friday night, or in your backyard on a Sunday afternoon.
Now if you are into the idea of an in-home family session, be sure to take a peek at my guide to Preparing for Your In-Home Family Photos for all my best tips and tricks. (Spoiler alert: perfection is not a prerequisite, and your home absolutely does not have to be spotless when I arrive!)
A risk-free environment
I’d say one of the most challenging parts of planning a family session is trying to nail down the best date to get the best weather. We want to make sure we have some of that warm, glorious Texas sunshine (but not too much), and that the temperatures are comfortable for being outside, and that it’s not too windy, and that it doesn’t rain. . . all of which are obviously things that we, well, can’t predict. As much as we wish we could!
Opting for a studio session means that we won’t have to run the risk of weather affecting our perfectly-laid-out plans. Whether it’s bright and sunny or gray and stormy on the day of your session, you won’t have to stress about finding a cute rain jacket at the last minute or finding a spot for photos where you won’t get rained on—you’ll be ready to roll into your cozy, comfy studio away from all the elements.
A safe space for kiddos to run free
You know when you’re at a park and your little one suddenly decides to sprint off into the abyss, leaving you high and dry trying to keep up with them and make sure they stay safe? It’s an inevitable part of being a parent to young kiddos—but it can definitely add an extra layer of stress to your family session. The last thing you want to be doing in front of the camera is worrying about everybody staying together, or keeping an eye on the little one that just loves to run at a moment’s notice; this won’t happen if you choose a studio session! You’ll simply be able to let everyone roam free, and feel relief knowing that the space is safe for curious exploration.
Effortless natural light
Natural light is every photographer’s best friend, and photo studios are literally designed to have an abundance of it. Whereas artificial lighting such as lamps and overhead lights can be super harsh on skin + create some funky skin tones, natural light that comes from outside is incredibly flattering on everybody. I have a lot of clients tell me that they love the concept of an in-home sessions, but are worried they don’t have enough natural light in their rooms—so a studio session is a great alternate option! All of the studios I’ll be recommending below offer a glorious amount of gentle, soft natural light that’ll make your skin freakin’ glow in front of the camera.
Done-for-you decor + furnishings
Finally, in-studio sessions mean that you don’t have to spend a single minute rearranging your decor, making sure your furniture is clean, or choosing the room in your home with the best color scheme. Good photo studios are specifically created with cameras in mind, meaning that they’ll always have aesthetic decorations, intentional color palettes, thoughtful furniture, and sometimes even unique lighting fixtures. They basically take all the hard work off your plate so you can simply sit back, relax, and be present in the moment with your fam!
Next, let’s dive into a list of the best studios for family photos in San Antonio, Austin, and New Braunfels.
Best Photo Studios in San Antonio, Texas
Eleven Hundred Collective
Location: 1100 Broadway #311
Hourly rate: $60/hour M-F, $85/hour S-S (2-hour minimum)
Parking: Free street parking in front of building
Eleven Hundred Collective is actually the biggest of three photo studios owned by the same company, offering 1500 square feet of thoughtfully-curated space filled with natural light, artsy shadows, and cozy furniture. With 6 lage, west-facing windows, you’ll have no shortage of stunning lighting all day long—mornings are best if you want more gentle, cool light, and afternoons + evenings are going to be your best bet for more harsh, warm lighting. My favorite part of this studio is the fact that you have SO many backdrop options, from all-black to bright and colorful, plus a ton of exposed brick for that rustic feel!
Eleven Hundred Springs
Location: 1100 Broadway #310
Hourly rate: $50/hour M-F, $75/hour S-S (2-hour minimum)
Parking: Free street parking in front of building
For families wanting a slightly smaller and lower-cost studio option, Eleven Hundred Springs is an amazing spot to snuggle up with your babes and pose for cozy images. You’ll enjoy plenty of natural light from the south and west-facing windows, which light up both the concrete-style wall and the main area featuring three colorful backdrops. The stark contrast of the black floors + the bright white walls looks gorgeous in photos, and you’ll love the collection of chairs, stools, and pillows you can relax in!
Eleven Hundred Freddy
Location: 154 Fredericksburg Road
Hourly rate: $60/hour M-F, $85/hour S-S (2-hour minimum)
Parking: Street parking along N. Comal, and gravel lot across the street
Eleven Hundred Freddy offers the same amount of space as Eleven Hundred Springs at 1,000 square feet, but includes a kitchen and en-suite bathroom where Springs does not. The southwest-facing floor-to-ceiling windows are by far the best part of this studio, allowing in all sorts of luxuriously soft light to cover the concrete floors and brighten up the wood ceilings. The darker surfaces offer a bit more of a rustic feel than the other two studios, as well as the rich brown leather couch, black light furnishings, and neutral-toned rug.
The Lumen Room
Location: 816 Camaron St. No 2.47
Hourly rate: Starting at $85 for 1 hour
Parking: Free
With 1,300 square feet of historic loft space boasting bright southeast-facing light, a collection of modern chairs and couches, and that contemporary white-washed vibe so many of us have come to love, the San Antonio Lumen Room is pretty dang hard to beat. It’s simple, it’s elegant, and it offers that classic minimalist photo studio look with glowing white everywhere you look + neutral colors that create a laid-back, easygoing vibe. Honestly, I love a studio with exposed brick and a more warm, rustic atmosphere, but I will tell you that everybody looks good in a bright, open space like this. Whether you sit with your newborn on the eclectic black chair that creates a stark contrast against the white around you, or you opt to lounge on the warm leather three-seater, you and your fam will look incredible at every angle in this studio.
Best Photo Studios in Austin, Texas
Southern Love Studio
Location: 301 Chicon - Unit B
Hourly rate: Starting at $110 for 1 hour
Parking: Free
Located in East Austin with easy access to downtown, Southern Love Studio is an incredibly spacious and eye-catching option for all types of family, maternity, and newborn photos. The 1,900 square-foot studio offers an open-concept layout that allows for so much creativity + playfulness, especially with their collection of photo-worthy props, backdrops, and south-facing windows. You’ll get access to a white cyclorama wall to make the space look even larger, as well as multiple reversible backdrops, paper backdrops, and extra equipment rentals as needed. It’s truly such a fun and charming space to curate whatever vibe you’re envisioning for your session!
The Lumen Room
Location: 2307 Thornton Road, Suite 213
Hourly rate: Starting at $75 for 1 hour
Parking: Free
This one might sound familiar, because it’s another Lumen Room just like the one I mentioned earlier—this time, located in the South Lamar neighborhood in Austin. The way the southwest-facing windows diffuse light as the day goes on is dreamyyy, and the afternoon direct light means that you won’t need to wake your littles up early for a morning session if that’s not best for you. You’re going to love the massive, olive green suede couch this Lumen Room has; I swear it was made for a family to cuddle up on.
The Spot Studio
Location: 1705 Rowe Ln Bldg A
Hourly rate: Starting at $85/hour
North Austin is home to the Spot Studio, a place where you’ll be able to make your dream Austin family photos come true. It’s got all kinds of dreamy natural light across its multiple rooms (yes, multiple rooms!), with contemporary decor and atmospheres featuring all-white walls, west-facing windows, bedroom setups, and gorgeous backdrop paper. This studio has been designed specifically with photographers and creatives in mind, and you can tell as soon as you step foot inside—every room is the perfect blank canvas for you to curate your perfectly unique and perfectly you session!
Best Photo Studio in New Braunfels, Texas
The Downtown Room
Location: 193 1/2 W San Antonio Street, Suite 216
Hourly rate: Starting at $110 for 1 hour
Parking: Free street parking
Located right in the heart of downtown New Braunfels, this beautifully designed studio offers all the charm of a cozy home without the hassle of tidying up beforehand. With stunning natural light, stylish decor, and plenty of comfy seating, it strikes the perfect balance between historic character and modern elegance.And one of the best perks? The studio has two dedicated dressing rooms, making outfit changes quick and easy for you and the fam.
Studio Family Photography in Austin, New Braunfels, + San Antonio
When it’s time to choose the perfect photographer to capture this beautiful chapter of your life—the excitement of holding your sonogram, the joy of announcing your pregnancy, or those quiet, love-filled moments at home—I’d be honored to be a part of it. Let’s connect and see if we’re the right fit for your in-studio family session in Austin, New Braunfels, or San Antonio! I can’t wait to create images that will help you relive these special days for years to come, because trust me: you’ll be so glad you did.
Here are a few related blogs that I think you’ll love:
8 Ways to Make Your Family Photos Unique & Personal
How to Plan & Prepare for Your Maternity Session: My Top 8 Tips
How to Plan & Prepare For Your Newborn Session: My Top 8 Tips
