Blog of Orange County photographer, Tara Whitney. Features client sneak peeks and sessions, the "check it" section (where Tara shares her favorite things found online), and personal stories from her life as a woman and mother of four.
This is one of the families that I photographed while in NYC.
While figuring out what I wanted to post today, I realized I was drawn to the images that included their whole family, which is actually rare for me. But I realized it was because they weren’t all trying to look or smile at the camera for me. They were just THERE. And that is what I was drawn to.
FYI : I don’t think that everyone has to be looking at the camera to make a family photo meaningful.
In fact, I hope they won’t be.
- I agree! It's hard enough to get them to all look at you and I think the photos are more precious and meaningful when you just photograph them just being THEM.
- totally agree.. love these, the last one especially.
- YES! I agree with you wholeheartedly!
- And perhaps that is why I like my blurry ones that the camera takes by itself... they are beautiful life moments. intimate. not even planned by my eye :o)
- So true! I'm always drawn to the images that capture real life, real relationships, real emotion. If everyone is looking and posed, that "real" is missing. :)
- Agreed... My favorite photos are where people are looking away, or you don't see their faces at all... It captures raw emotion of everyday life... More people need to stop and see how beautiful they are when they don't realize it..
- Awesome! And I totally agree with the "not looking" thing. Great idea to bring it up on your website.
- i like this so much. i like you so much. i like your thought process SO much.
- I couldn't agree with you more. And these images really drive home your point...they are fantastic and perfect!
- I totally agree with you ! Not everyone has to look at the camera ! I love the shots you have here, the colors and these are beautiful people.
- Your pictures are absolutely beautiful! I love them. Next time I have to book a sesion with you when you come back to NYC!!!
- please, if you come back to NY let me know! would love to book you...
- I love the cafe picture. I feel that way about looking at the camera too. And smiling. I say "Please don't smile" all the time - when it's fake any way.
- These are always my favorite too. It's when no one is looking that they are truly themselves, and the family interactions are just so priceless. Lovely images Tara.
- Great photographs. I would be thrilled to have photographs like these ones of my own family. Especially the ones in which everyone is being .. well... themselves by looking at something totally different without paying attention to the camera. Love it!
- so true! I completely agree with you...lifestyle photography is my absolute favorite and they are my favorites of my own family. Beautiful work Tara...absolutely beautiful!
- love these images, and the natural family scenes too :)
- girl. i love you. these words are IT.
- hell to the yes.
- I could not agree with you more. When I looked at these photos I thought how cool it was to capture this family in their normal but so special moments in a day...in front of their school bus! Love it. Some of the strongest family photos I've seen are when at least one person is looking away from the camera. I don't know what it is, more intimate somehow. Like you peeked in on them.
- to be a beautiful mirror for a family, to show them intact, attune to each other, moving to their own rhythms...that's an honest portrait and a special gift. these are the moments whose feelings we remember, but almost never have a photographic memory to accompany. you really see the in between moments where the heartbeat of a family resides. just lovely.
- So glad that you wrote that last comment....I have been trying to get my husband to understand that this season!!
- definitely not. I love it when they aren't looking at the camera. Last shot's my favorite from this set. Thanks for sharing :) glad you had fun in NY
- Gosh, I wish we could convince the "average" client that...at least MY average client! I think what makes your photos so beautiful is you show that interaction with each other. That is what good photos are about. More importantly, that's what a good life is about :-)
- Your documentary style portraiture really touches my heart. The emotions and realness are beautiful.
- I am ALWAYS more drawn to the family photos where they are more into what's happening with THEM rather than looking at the camera. It's certainly not the traditional family portrait ideal, but who cares about that? not me. not you. and not the people who are good fit clients! :o) these are gorgeous, tara.
- Love these Tara!! Do did a great job with Jenn+4!
- I'm with you. Not everyone has the same opinion about what makes a good family portrait, but I certainly find more emotion in an image of a family being a family. I really like the cupcake shot. Such a real depiction.
- That's it...you and Shannon Leith are my two favorite photographer's ever...EVER!! I am in love with this...that family is so beautiful...you captured the city like no other. Happy Holiday's to you!!! Thank-you for sharing your beautiful posts and your stories. :)
- AMEN!!!
- I'm so with ya on that! I'm especially drawn to #3 in this series - the lines in that are just amazing!!!!
- I couldn't agree more. Interaction between family members makes for the best photos. These are lovely.
- I am SO with you here. The ones where not everyone is looking are my favorites too. Too bad that more grandmas don't want those on their fridges because I feel they're the best!
- thank you for saying this! I love your pictures. All of them! Merry Christmas!
- Indeed, one of the great picture a photographer could ever capture is a family pic,and your shot is a very good example. Excellent
- {gas} These images are amazing. I haven't looked at your work in a while and forgot how you get these awesome images... what an eye you have. These are just too cool. Anyway hope you're feeling well, and getting the renewal (is that the right word) that you need! Sending you positive energy from Texas!
- Oh uh, I meant to start that with GASP and not gas .... but immature me, I found humor in that mistake ... never mind!
by Tara Whitney
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