i am still on a Self Imposed Hermit Mode Internet Break, but i had to share these. this is my friend kristina, and her family. as we were planning this shoot, we were trying to decide on what we could do. i have wanted to get someone on their couch outside for ages. at least a year. and kristina was up for it. so i went for it.
and they were perfect.
that is my favorite family shot that we got, but i also love this one:
the hint of a child’s leg to the right of the photo, with kristina, in the center of it all. it is so her life. little girls running in the background.
i loved doing this. it was a close call, with rain and late airplanes attempting to thwart our plans of perfect lighting. but we made it. it was so rushed and crazy but oh so fun.
perfect in its imperfection. so glad i captured what i did.
I can’t even tell you how much I love these shots. Such a great idea, really creative poses, but not just that. You use the elements of design so well in your photos that when you capture the expressions it just makes it that much better because the photo feels whole. It’s not just artsy, and not just emotional, but a great combination of both. Thanks so much for sharing these!
Hey Tara! those shots are amazing! The White-Family is so dang BEAUTIFUL, and I love the couch outside, you are so clever. what a GOOD idea!!!! you amaze me, woman. :)
oh tara these are wonderful–such a beautiful pea family !!!
**NOTE TO SELF** hire tara to come to my house!!!
(hey, I’m only an hour away!)
I am so glad you came out of “hermit mode” to share these. What a fabulous idea. Who would have ever thought of a couch outside? Well our Tara of course! Thanks for sharing these!
these rock!!!!
AWESOME job, Tara.
Ansel Adams ain’t got nothin’ on you, Tara Whitney! These are GORGEOUS! Absolutely freakin’ GORGEOUS! I am going to a family event later today, and am now totally inspired to photograph the event… I love the way you look at the world through that viewfinder… you have a gift, girl… thank you so much for sharing that with all of us!
man, your photography just never ceases to amaze me!! I love the idea of the couch on the front lawn!! I may have to try this, if I can convince the hubby!! LOL!
simply AMAZING!! you are my biggest inspiration ever!!! these are beyond fabulous!!!!!!!! wow!
Well Miss T, next time you are in Chicago I will pay you bucketloads of money to take photos of my family. I can’t believe how awesome those are! Seriously…Chicago…Janet…email me. :)
All I can say is WOW! You are so inspiring and talented! Thanks for sharing your gift. Keep it up girl, you’re the cat’s pajamas of photographers in my book.
My god, what a natural talent you have. I’m in awe.
breathtaking! Love them ALL!
absolutely beautiful! they are such a beautiful and loving family. love the couch outdoors!!
LOVE those photos on the couch!!! Terrific!!
very cool! and her husband is SO CUTE!
-amy
Soooo awesome! You never cease to amaze me. :-)
I’ve been visiting for a few months now and am just in love with your work. I’m compelled to say so today, having gone through this latest set. I love how natural you are with your subjects. Something for me to strive for… :)
oh my GOSH are these photos gorgeous! thanks so much for sharing them Tara…they are all absolutely beautiful! love how you put the couch outside! :)
total eye candy for a Sunday morning. beautiful family and gorgeous photography.
TARA!!!!!
Okay those photos are totally amazing! I love the couch idea and those kids are stunning. That little tiny boy “pea” looks like his big daddy man “pea”!!!! hahahahahah so funny. I totally adore that photo spread! Thanks for sharing! That was great fun looking at that!
Lisa
soooo stinkin jealous…that is what I am…I want photos like this of my family. Wow….I know K is loving these. YOu capture people so well…their personality beams from the photo. YOu are amazing…truly amazing. I love it when you share your work!! Keep it up girl!!
:)
holy cats T! these are rad! when are you coming to my house to take pictures!?!! I will drag any sort of large furniture where ever you want girl!
tara, these are phenomenal! you are brilliant at capturing spirit and love in a photograph.
i wish i’d had a rested mind last weekend so i could pick your brain a bit, but i’ll do it here instead. what lens and settings do you use to get shots like this? do you convert to b&w or shoot in b/w mode? do you play with curves to get that glow in the eyes and skin? i’m in awe, but i’m also in minnesota, so i’m gonna have to learn to do this myself because i don’t have a tara next door!! lol
Wow…just wow…you NEVER stop amazing me with your talent…
INCREDIBLE
fantastic!!!!
Oh, Tara. Do you ever take a bad picture? No, don’t tell me. You just rock. I’m keeping a notebook of shoot ideas so that when I have a family I will pull out the list and try to find someone who can pull it off! Thanks for being such a creative inspiration and such a cool person!
tracy
WOW- beautiful shots- just love love love how you capture that feeling of family in your family shoots- great work Tara.
Absolutely amazing photography Tara, every shot looks absolutely fabulous!
Oooohhhhh Tara (sighing)! These are just beautiful! LOVE the couch idea. I can’t wait to see what see does with them! TFS!!!
Amazing… AH-MAY-ZIN!!!!! You do it every stinkin time, Tara. YOu have such a GOD GIVEN GIFT! You are my idol.
K – your family is so beautiful… right out of a magazine. These images are so full of life and love. Its perfect.
You’ve done it again, girl! What a cool idea….the couch outside with their home in the background. Have to keep that one in my idea file in the back of my head! ;-)
You are definitely my photo-guru, Tara! I’m still trying to figure a way to get my own Tara shoot when we come to CA. Didn’t make the summer trip like we wanted but maybe around Christmas time…
Kristina’s family is beautiful and so are her girls. The little boy looks so much like his daddy! I’m sure she will treasure these forever! Thanks for sharing!
WOW! I want pics like that of my family! Gorgeous family, gorgeous pictures! Tara you are awesome!
Tara, you are so talented. I love the photos of the Whites and I’m sure they do too.
OH MY HECK tara! amy told me you’d done this couch-on-the-lawn thing, and i’ve been dying to see….these are AMAZING.
i don’t know how you can capture so much ~story~ in a moment. wow. WOW!!!!
Beautiful…gorgeous photos and so unique!! I wonder what you could do for a family of 9!!
I LOVE THESE PICTURES!! You take the most wonderful pictures, Tara!! I wish I had “the eye” for photography!! I especially love the couch on the lawn in front of the house! Absolutley fabulous!
You have a wonderful gift, Tara! Truly wonderful!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen photos like these before, ever. I couldn’t stop looking through them. What a gorgeous family- and I’m sure they are so grateful to have these photos from you!
t, these are so real. so you. love the couch. k is so gorgeous . so is j. the oldest girl looks soooo much like her mama. the boy looks like daddy and the middle girl is a beautiful combo of both!!! it’s amazing…you are amazing….i would love to email you to ask your prices, but my email won’t go through to you…..could you email me anyway….the next time i come to CA i am bringing my family and hiring YOU! you are my hero trulY! i love your photographs. they speak to me…..thanks for sharing your talent!
tara
As others have said, these are simply AMAZING. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Tara
I have been reading your blog for the past couple of weeks and I must say that you take really great pictures! I am really insprired by the photos you take! Keep it up!!!
Rgds
Dinah
I know it has been said but WOW. what a beautiful family the White family is and what wonderful photos you took….very warm, cozy and real. Tena
Hi Tara! These are great photos! I just thought I would let you know that your talent encourages all of us who are bumbling thru learning to take great photos!
On a very random note…I was watching Small Space, Big Ideas on HGTV the other day and the guy made a functioning couch from an old coffee table. It looked awesome when he was done. My dh said to me, who looks at an old coffee table and thinks to make a couch? And I said, “Tara.” It just came out! So, I wanted you to know that my brain thinks you are creative beyond photograpghy and scrapping! Have a good day!
You are so incredibly talented. These photos are awesome! :-) Glad you took a break to share them with us.
So genuinely great! Everyone in the family looks superb, beautiful, and real…
Absolutely AMAZING photos, Tara. Wow, you are so inspiring. I am a completely AMATEUR non-talented photographer, but hey…I turned my digital camera at an angle the other day when taking a photo. Completely Tara-inspired. It was cool! ;)
Jennifer Stewart
WOW Tara how awesome are these photos. Still trying to get the hang of B&W conversions so anymore tips that you can give on curves would be greatly appreciated. I just can’t seem to get the same look as you do.
incredible…emotional…WOW!