Jo Ann Nowak

Jo Ann Nowak, a specialized Senior portrait & sports photographer based in Cypress, Texas, found her passion for photography while capturing her children’s sporting events. The power to freeze emotion and memories in images is what she treasures the most about her craft. Initially stepping into photography to aid the Booster Club in raising funds, she discovered an unparalleled joy in being part of numerous sporting events.

Off the camera, Jo Ann is an avid reader and enjoys traveling, including spending time in Marfa, Texas where her parents hail from. Her beloved dogs, Jack and Shiner, contribute to the loving chaos of her home. A die-hard fan of ‘Bridesmaids,’ she finds unwavering humor in the film, even after countless views. The crispy beef tacos at Amaya’s Taco Village are a must have whenever she’s in Austin, Texas, and a favorite memory is a football game featuring her father and her son.

One of her proudest photography moments includes acquiring her MaxPreps credentials. Dreaming big, a winning Mega Millions jackpot lottery ticket would be her top pick for an unusual item to have.

Your Smile, Your Personality, Your Style

As a client of Phlox Photography, you will experience photography as you never have before. You have made the choice to have your memories captured in a custom and unique art form. And we are so excited to help you explore what that can mean to you.

We understand that during this amazing time of your life, having your photos taken could be thrilling, horrifying, or just the last thing on your mind. Fortunately we love working with seniors who are enthusiastic, who are reluctant – and yes, even those who are just agreeing to have photos taken to make mom happy.

No matter your motivation, we strive to make sure you end up not only with fantastic photos that you’ll want to display, but a great memory from the experience. It’s our goal to make sure you love you portrait SESSION as much as you do the final artwork for your home. So let’s get started! We look forward to working with you!

All Sessions include:

Initial Consultations
Wardrobe and Location Planning
Up to two hours shooting at locations of your choice in the greater Houston area
Session premiere online featuring your best, retouched photos
Session fees start at $299

The Premiere | Keepsakes Ordering Session

At your premiere event, you’ll see your best photos revealed in a movie-style format. Afterwards, you’ll be invited to choose from our huge assortment of Keepsakes – either a la carte or leveraging our discounted collections – to showcase your beautiful images in your home and online.

Keepsakes Collections Start at $550 (minimum purchase required). Most families choose to invest between $550 – $2500 on Keepsakes. We’ll review all the different package options during our initial consultation call and will share the complete Keepsakes Guide with you at that time.

Digital-only mini sessions – which take place at / around our Houston Studio, also are available upon request

FAQ’s

Where will my Session take place?

That’s up to you! We will collaborate with you to help select amazing locations that will fit your wardobe and personality. We’re always ready to shoot in a gorgeous local or destination park or field, and love shooting in the hundreds of fascinating options available in the downtown Houston region. In recent years, we’ve done everything from shoot in boutique chocolate shops and fast-food restaurants; to shooting on farms, among the shelves in bookstores or in the neon lights in arcades, and more.. Let your imagination run wild! (And if you’re stuck for ideas, lean on us – we have LOADS of great locations that could be ideal for you).

Is Hair and Makeup included?

Hair and Makeup Services are available a la carte, through our fabulous style partners. If you have a special makeup look you want to consider, please make sure to pin some images you can share with your makeup artist so they can help you create the perfect look for your photos.

How many outfits will I get to wear?

We like to encourage our clients to bring at LEAST three completely unique looks, complete with shoes, scarves, hats, sunglasses and other accessories. Given that we will have at least two hours together, you’ll have enough time for those and more. Once your session is scheduled, we’ll send you our comprehensive “What to Wear” Guide to help you start planning your many great looks.

What’s the difference between Session Fee and Collection?

A Session Fee covers is your photo shoot planning and session time. A Collection includes your chosen print and digital keepsakes.

Each session’s cost is based on the length of time we shoot, and number of locations. A session fee does not include print or digital keepsakes. You can either purchase a Print Collection or you can simply purchase Print Keepsakes through our A La Carte Pricing.

What kind of Keepsakes do you offer?

Phlox Photography’s custom-designed Keepsakes include gallery wrapped canvases, beautifully custom-framed prints, custom memory albums, and mini accordion albums, personalized announcements and cards, personal digital apps, and many more hand-selected items produced with archival quality ,UV and fingerprint resistant fine art finishes.

What happens at a Premiere?

After you shoot, we will choose a date when we will review all of your best photos either in person at our studio, or online in a Zoom meeting. All decision makers (you know, the person paying for all this) must attend this appointment which is typically set for two weeks after your session. Payment in full is required for all print product at this appointment.

What does “Minimum Investment” mean?

This is the minimum amount you must invest in your final keepsakes at your Keepsakes Premiere ordering session. Setting a minimum investment allows us to consistently deliver the highest quality service and personalized experience to every client. Phlox Photography has a minimum purchase level of $550 that will be required to be paid at your Ordering Session. Knowing what your minimum purchase levels allows you to budget accordingly and also be prepared ahead of time, no surprises.

What if I need to reschedule?

We understand that things happen and will reschedule for the following reasons – illness, weather or travel issues, or emergency situations. If this happens, we ask that you email us a minimum of 48 hours prior to the scheduled date in order for us to be able to reschedule. We allow a one-time reschedule if you notify us a minimum of 48 hours prior to your appointment. We also will request session reschedule dates based on weather, to ensure that we can provide you the most stunning images we can create.

When will I receive my order?

Your custom Keepsakes will typically be ready 3-4 weeks after your Keepsakes proofs have been approved online. We will deliver your completed Keepsakes order to you at your convenience. You will also receive any purchased digital images sized perfectly to share on the web once payment has been received.

How long do you keep my photos?

Phlox Photography will archive your images in June of your graduating year. After that time, photos can be reposted online for 30 days, for a $50 fee.