kim is a fellow designer at 2peas. she was on vacation out my way and we met up for a photo shoot. last summer, she did a shoot for me in her home studio. she got some TERRIFIC shots. (i really need to bust those out and get them printed!) (and share them here.) they are so good. so so good. anyway, we met up last week at the beach for a family shoot.
family shoots are always a little nerve wracking. expectations are high for the photographer and the kids, everyone is trying to look nice and pretty. and i am trying to make everyone relax and act naturally. not always easy. :) to top it off, the momma of this family is a talented photographer! talk about pressure! im lucky kim is a friend so this actually felt really natural. and it was really fun.
i was hoping for dream conditions: empty beach and fog bank. we didnt get either. hot bright sun and big freakin’ crowd! AND high tide, so the pier i was planning on using as shade was hit or miss, depending on the wave.
we moved fast and kept a close eye on the water. we basically stayed in the same ten foot spot of beach for the whole shoot. the only shade we could find. :)
i think i made it work, and i have already heard from kim and she loves them, so i am going to put aside my nitpicks and show them to you.
here they are.
Tara – there are not enough words to describe how beautiful these pictures are. You have an incredible gift!
Your photography ALWAYS takes my breath away! Seriously, if I had half of your talent, I would be a happy woman.
Breath-taking.
~Becky
Gorgeous Shots Tara!! WOWZA!
I just admire your photos so much! I could look and look at albums for days- for days! Tara. Thank you for sharing! Kim has a beautiful family!
wow these photos make me want to scream! they are amazing!! those eyes you captured! love the one of kim and her dh!! beautiful!!!
you “think” they worked? hun, they are stunning!! You’re so gifted!
These are so beautiful — love the shots of the kids looking up — how do you do that? Gorgeous!
what you capture is beautiful. amazingly beautiful.
OMG, Tara! Those are some super-duper gorgeous pics! Being that it was 115 here today – I’m sure they were glad to be at the beach with you, even if it wasn’t the perfect conditions! :)
WOW!!!!! Those photos are just amazing and awesome Tara! You really captured some beautiful family memories for Kim. How could she not love them? Her daughter is just gorgeous and those eyes! I say again….WOW!
You go, girl!
YOU’RE HIRED!!!!
Wow. Simply, wow. No wonder she loved them. Who wouldn’t?? They’re gorgeous. Reach around and give yourself a pat on the back, Tara…you deserve it.
I don’t know if you remember this but I bumped into you at the Gap in the Mission Viejo mall about a year ago (?) and rudely interrupted your private time. I couldn’t help telling you how much I admired your work. You were gracious and we exchanged a funny email about it the next week. Since then, I have continued to admire your work but recently, through this blog, come to admire your photography even more. I am one of those lurkers. Love to see what everyone is doing, saying, seeing yet not real comfortable putting myself out there. I have to tell you, though, how incredbly real and down to earth you seem. Although I knew how kind you were by the gracious way you accepted me interfering in an “alone” trip to the mall, it is only through this blog have I learned what an amazing woman you are. Thank you for putting yourself out there when it hasn’t been real easy to do so lately. You are an inspiration and someone I wish I knew better. Then, maybe we could have a margarita, contemplate the joys and struggles of life and perhaps you would take some amazing pictures of me and my family – just like you did here!
Oh yeah … she should be ecstatic. BEAUTIFUL photos, Tara! Love the son’s freckles! And their daughter is just a cutie pie! How fun for everyone!!! TFS!!!
Your photos are breathtaking. I love how you captured relationships between family members, as well as individuals.
Could you share what kind of camera you use, and your thought process when doing a photo shoot? I’d love to know how you decide which shots to take and how to frame them.
Whoa!! These are timeless, classic, beautiful, natural, artistic, gorgeous photos! You have an incredible eye. What kind of camera do you use? One of these days I’m going to have to pick your brain. [Teach me Miss T!] I want to take photos like these. :p
Loni
gosh darnit. I WAS in Cal. I wish i knew you lived there and I would of hired you in a second to take pictures of me and my dh! big ugh.
These pictures are super FANTABULOSO!!!! that’s fantastic and fabulous all wrapped up in one! :-0
please also share what lens and how you get the black and white crispness to these! I keep trying to take more and more pictures to get better.
thanks, Anna
gorgeous as always! gotta love that pier you shoot at! amazing! I was re checking your 2peas stuff this evening and I just wanted to say how much I love that little domino w/ 4 dots and heart….its a PERFECT little addition to that page! I love it. (sorry to hijack this post)
AMAZING pics. Really gorgeous. I’d freak, taking pics for someone so good. I stick with my friends who think a photo from Sears is great. :p They’re easily impressed…
Tara….I want to come to CA and have you take my pics….every pic looks beautiful….you are a very talented lady!
Gorgeous and so real….which is why I love them! SOOOOO awesome Tara!
These pictures are absolutely beautiful. If only I lived in CA and had a family I would do anything to get you to take my picture. Do you have any tips that might improve my photo taking skills?
Well, I can see why Kim love’s them! And yes, she is a super fantastic photographer! But, Tara, SO ARE YOU! Some of these shots took my breath away. The way you captured the expressions the scenery the love of family! They are simply YUMMY!
Ok. I can’t even find the words….they are spectacular!
Really amazing!
Freakin’ AMAZING photos! Thanks for sharing!
Tara you do such a great job and KIM has the most beautiful family! Wow…..I think they came out perfect!
The pictures are top notch, truly beautiful shots. Thanks for sharing!
OMG! I’d pay top dollar to be a student at the Whitney School of Professional Photography!! Girlfriend, you’re amazing!! I can’t get over the talent you have for cropping your photos so perfectly . . . for catching your subjects so naturally . . . and for your rockin’ conversions! I bow down. Kim and her family are lucky to have such awesome photos!! I’d love to have a collection like that!!
As usual these rock. You have such an eye, talent and good clicking fingers woman! Can I send you an airline ticket to FL to come capture my family? U rock
Wonderful photos. You did an excellent job and I’m sure that Kim and her family love them! Thanks for sharing them with us.
Absolutely perfect family album!! You inspire me to try
shooting pictures a whole different way. We are heading
to the beach (different coast, different ocean from you!) with our four grandchildren today and you have given me some wonderful ideas…thanks ever so much!!!
Tara, you just rock! BEAUTIMUS!!!
Where do I sign up for a phoho session!! I love looking at your photos. These are the best!
Celina
Honestly – these are the most beautiful photos I think I’ve ever seen! I have chills! How on earth do you think of all these amazing shots? You are one uber-talented person. Just awesome! And what an adorable family Kim has, too!! I hope she does some pages with these pics at 2peas – I’d love to see what she’d do with them. Thanks so much for sharing your awesome work!!
These are great, Tara! Kim, what a beautiful family! I especially love the close-ups. Love the ones of her and her husband.
Just beautiful. You use leading lines and the tilt in such amazing ways. Wish I could take a photography class with you!
Tara- I’m cracking up… do all your friends wear cool little glasses? (Your photos are great, by the way…)
You should create a “how to” section of your blog. Those pictures are AMAZING!!! I especially love the very last pic, it captures everything! You are awesome, like you didn’t already know that!!
Holy AMAZING!! Love, love, love those shots! I know I’m a complete stranger, but if I come to Cali I so want you to take my pics! Awesome work!
Tara-
These photos are divine. Do you shoot in B&W or shoot in color and than convert them? Just curious. Whatever you’re doing is fabulous!!
Angie
Oh, dear Lord woman…you are just too good! :) Every photo is so great…I can totally understand how Kim loved them.
every single photo is my favorite…imagine if they were pictures of my own family, lol. You caught some amazing shots, thanks for sharing!
Geez girl – incredible! WOW! I’m just always blown away by your photos! I want my black and whites to look that good! Will you please share again what camera/lens you use – I’m buying a new one this upcoming week and want to get the best! Plus, do you shoot in bl/white or color than change? Any tips?
Hugs!
I love it! I think the reflections are awesome. And the people milling about give it a sort of “this moment in time” feel and make it feel REAL. JMHO! Great job Tara!
Oh my goodness Tara! I’m not sure why you had to put the nitpickiness aside. They’re gorgeous. Absolutely breathtaking. You had great subjects to work with, and you did a lot with them. I can only hope that one day, I get to know my camera well enough and get enough practice in that I can take pictures anywhere near as good as the ones you share with us!
What I wouldn’t do for a Tara Whitney session!
love em! they’re absolutely gorgeous!
WOW Tara this are awesome! You never cease to amaze me with the photography that you can do.
You got some killer shots!!!!!!
Kim, your kids are gorgeous! Looks like hubby was cooperative. :) Love them, especially the Mom and son, Daddy and daughter shots!