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the camerons • home movies that rock! with tara and michel sandy • orange county photographer

How Michel and I got connected to this family is a little like six degrees of separation.

Emily (the brown haired daughter) was at her cousin Maren’s house a few months ago. I have photographed Maren and her children. I have gone to Thailand with Maren. Maren happened to show Emily her slideshow. Emily freaked out because she is also friends with Alexis, and has been to Alexis’ home and seen the photos I have taken of her family. When Emily asked who did them, Alexis said something like, “Oh, my friend Tara!” (great job on the referral there Lex!) ;) So it wasn’t until Maren’s house, while looking at my blog that she put two and two together. Alexis’ friend was ME.

And then she emailed me with a plan. And she was so excited and sweet and adorable that I fell in love with her immediately. She wanted to gather her siblings plus their children, use a special song from her childhood, and create a surprise movie for their parents. Her parents used to put this song to their home movies as children!

Michel and I were so in.

At the last minute, her parents found out and crashed the party. I normally don’t like to shoot large family groups like this because it becomes a different type of animal session than the ones I enjoy. But the moment I met up with all of them I knew it was going to be okay. Better than okay. It was going to be amazing.

Watch for yourself. :)

They are just as beautiful on the inside as what you see on the surface. Stunning people, through and through. A family of six that has grown over the years with grandchildren. It is kind of special to see a family similar to my own…just many years down the road. I can only hope our connection will be as close and real as the Camerons.

Music: Secret of Life by James Taylor

(if you are new to my blog and have not seen the other home movies we have filmed, please take a look here and here!)
xo

by Tara Whitney

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Candace Sheets - Absolutely beautiful!

Jen - Everytime I watch one of these I am end up in tears. Every. Single. Time.

vivienne - another incredible video! this work you and michel are doing together is pure magic!

kelly mccaleb - that made me cry. i love you and your talent!

HeatherA - Ahhhhmazing! Tears! Absolutely precious!!!

Carolyn Egerszegi - THAT was insanely good. You and Michel are an unbeatable team. I don't even know these people, but Michel's video and your still images make me love them and WANT to know them. What a beautiful gift for the parents. Terrific work, as usual. So inspiring!

Joan - Just simply amazing! Beautiful. Funny. Adorable. Endearing. Magic, that's right. . . MAGICAL! You two did an amazing, unforgettable treat for that entire family. ANd for all of us who see this post. Tara, you are terrific! ox, Joan

Lanne - TARA WHITNEY!!! You just made me feel bad for having one child, and not just throwing my hands in the air and getting along better with my sister. OH. MY. that.. was GOOD!!!! Loved it. You are THE dynamic duo.. well done!

Heather - sigh... that was the sweetest. You and Michel make an amazing team....sigh.

fiona carson - oh that was so lovely...you guys rock!

Jen - LOVE these videos! So excited for our family session with you at the end of the month!

Alette - Oh I so love these videos, You are working so well together. And you are looking good girl. Love the green top you are wearing :) Alette

Rachael - Oh What a perfect song. I love the lyrics. Amazing video and too bad mom and dad crashed (the surprise would have been awesome) beautiful job as always :) Your worth flying across the US for family pictures

Kelli Johnson - Tara those are awesome! I loved making drip castles when I was a kid :) *sigh*

cathy - Okay, WHAT a lovely family. I can't even tell which one is the mom. JEEZ. Is there a mom in the bunch? Love this, Tara. LOVE. Some day, i'm flying you and Michel here.

Jennifer - What a beautiful video. You two do an amazing job with the photos and video. Simply stunning.

stacymeyers - WOW....WOW....WOW....couldn't be anymore beautiful. you and michel are amazing! those little ones are so sweet AND could the 'sons' be anymore gorgeous MY GOD!! what a perfect song, a perfect home movie and perfect images within! WOW! (i keep saying that, like i don't know any other words...lol!) this one gave me goosebumps!

Rhonda Steed - What a beautiful family. Seems in all ways. Wonderful!!

angie monson - amazing amazing amazing, made me want to go hug my family.

michelle - I {heart} home movies that ROCK! :) Nice! And I love getting glimpses of you in action. So fun.

haley lamb - everytime you post one of these i get so excited! i love them!

karlalala - ya'll are just flipopin AWESOME at what you do!! that was beautiful!! you guys (Tara & Michael) are WONDERFUL colaborators!! always enjoy these video's you do. sniff, sniff... flippin beautiful!!

Rachel - I'm so booking you for a session like this one day. I loved it even before I heard James Taylor (my absolute FAVORITE). Fantastic.

Betsy - WOw! Miles and I love it!!!!! GORGEOUS family!!!!!

Dana F - Oh - My heart is filled with joy for this family. What a treasure you both have created for them. I covet my own session like this with you...

Stacy - I'm sooo jealous! *sigh* stunning!

Katrina Grabowski - I agree with Jen. I am sitting here bawling after this beautiful video and it happens every time. Great Job Tara as usual.

Puanani - So lovely...

Melissa - These videos and your pictures are absolutely amazing! What a gift for each family to have, they are lucky!

sarah - okay. that one made me tear up. beautifully done tara + michel!

jeramy - so cute! fantastic job to you both.

Connie Cameron - Tara - you don't know me, but I am Stan's mother and all those beautiful kids you filmed are my grandkids and great-grandkids! They are indeed beautiful inside and out and I love them all so much. Great job and thanks to you so much for sharing them through your "lens of life".

Kathy Carlisle - What a treasure! I mean, this is one of those videos that you can watch and go on an emotional roller coaster with. First you are just in awe of their love and the fun that they are having. Then you try to imagine it being your own family. And you end with happiness and bliss as an admirer on the outside, looking in. Beautifully done!

~beauty and joy~ - Oh, same...same as what everyone is saying. Beautiful art, Tara. Just so beautiful in your ability to capture the magic we all love in each other. Crying here, too.

Rachel - *swoon* :)

Bree - love. pure love.

Shari Schwarz - Another tear-jerker! That was sooooo sweet. Thanks for posting that beautiful inspiration! Shari

aud - holy hot boys (and girls!) another gorgeous video -- I think is just an amazing concept, and I love how unique and individual every single one is.

shelley e - OMG- so awesome...brought tears to my eyes!

caren - Your videos/photos never fail to amaze me. So awesome...brought tears to my eyes. What a beautiful family...great job!!!

Lydia Jackson - Wow that is an absolutey beautiful montage, really something to be cherished, makes me wish I had one. You are incredibly talented.

Cassaundra - emily and jon are some of my dearest friends and you captured them exactly how they are. never met a family that spends as much time at the beach as they do. beautiful.

Corina Nielsen - HI Tara! Im new to posting on your blog, BUT a long time stalker and follower of your work. Had to break down and give a shout out this time! Everything you touch turns to gold... Each video you two do together has me in tears. Thank you so much for sharing your talent with us. I'd love to discuss having something like this done for me and my family!

Holly - Seriously Wow.

Alison - What a pretty family! And what a fun shoot. The movie is adorable and stills are fabulous

Crystal Chick - love it. beautiful.

emily ruth - so beautiful...

Maren - oh tara! This is AMAZING!!!!

michele - w.o.w!

Jennifer Hart - Beautifully done my friend. I freaken know the Camerons. I want to be them when I grow up.

elizabeth - Tara.. you and Michel make an amazing team.. this is awesome. cant wait to see more of your photos from this session

Kelly - Moving. Fun. Timeless. WOW!

Christie - Awesome job Tara and Michel! I LOVE these movies. Such a beautiful family - wow!

Mike Cameron - Well....that's my big brother and his family...James Taylor has been such a big part of our life as a family and you captured the West Coast Camerons wonderfully! My wife and I live on the other coast, New Hampshire coast..sure do miss those guys....thanks for sharing!

Gina P. - aaahhhh....that was so nice. i am in love with the videos tara. genius! i need to find a partner to create some genius with.....

janet - seriously? dude. sad that i can't think of how to express my emotion right now. other than...genius. pure genius.

Amy - Why am I crying??!!! That was so sweet! I can only pray that one day my family will have the opportunity to make such a priceless video!!

Leslie - Absolutely beautiful! I can't wait to one day have you capture my family as we are. I look forward to that day!

Jenny - ah-aaaahhhhhhh!!!! stunning. love.

Bonnie - Are the parents the man in the glasses and the gal in the pink shirt? No way! I kept trying to find the parents, they look incredible and just like one of their kids. The whole family is gorgeous and what a beautiful video and images, as always.

melissa - totally frieking incredible.

Alexis - Love the video!!! Looking forward to your pix of them. Iconic california family. And by the way...I have advertised you more than, Oh, that's my friend Tara. :)

lisamcg - Ahhhh. That was beautiful. Gorgeous family. Beautiful song. Love it! Way to go Michel and Tara. :)

lisamcg - I forgot to say my favorite part: I love when the little girl is hugging her brother and they have balloons and then she drops the balloon and it goes through her legs. Classic. Loved that. And the little boy with the seagulls. Wonderful job, Michel and T.

Shannon - Absolutely love it! I keep praying that my family and I can do this when I turn 40.... Oh just a couple more years.

laura h. - as always, i'm in love. thank you ~again~ for the inspiration. james taylor tugs at my heart strings, and so do you. beautiful job you two. keep on keepin' on. this is what it's all about!

Kate - Cant wait to see the stills

jaana - This was beautiful. Thanks so much for letting us share. I had never heard that song before and it completely resonates... I'm in tears, of course, but happy ones.

Goddess Leonie @ GoddessGuidebook.com - oh my goodness. exquisite. tears in eyes. i just adore, adore, adore what you and michel do together. magic and love.

Tasha G - Everytime I see one of these videos, it just melts my heart! How beautiful that you can capture a family being themselves. This will be cherished always...

ria - I love this. you and michael are amazing. these always give me chilly bumps. this one was no exception. smiles ria

margie - This is so beautiful, fun, happy, and playful and it makes me cry even though I don't know them! Great art does that, I guess.

liz - this video is just simply happy, just happy!

Sylvia - I cry everytime I come to your site! Every. Time. So beautiful!

Kristi - wow...now that is the classic California family. They are gorgeous! Love the shot of dad and the two sons. great job. Song choice is amazing too. I had the pleasure of meeting James Taylor and photographing him here in Asheville back in October. Really, really great guy http://www.kristihedbergphotography.com/blog/2008/10/20/sweet-baby-james-asheville-event-photographer/

MaryAnn Perry - Oh Tara! This is amazing! You have such a gift for capturing the emotion and love of a family!! I was moved by the video and in tears by the end! I can't wait to have you film and shoot our family again!

D Baker - Tara- You moved me with no words!

courtney - wow! fantastic! You've really given that family something priceless!

Kim - Tara - As I type this thru teary eyes.....Amazing! Absolutely amazing! You & Michel are amazing! I'm am at a loss for words - other than - you rock! :)

jess@studio3z - tears, tears, tears....this was just perfect beyond words.

stacie - Wow, I must have missed this when you posted it - it's obvious you do great work. But what hits me as amazing is that you and Michael connected - what an extroidinary combination. You are constantly "raising" your own bar! :))))

Alinta - Holy Moly... INCREDIBLE!!! What an amazing family, and you have captured them beautifuly. This is AMAZING!!!

sarah - these are brilliant. your movies are brilliant. i have goosebumps.

Jenn - Truly beautiful, you've so captured their love for each other. You and Michael are a wonderful team.

julie h - this video brought a smile :) what a beautiful family!

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