the first thing that happened when we landed in new york: we got in a cab.
we left the airport, got on the on-ramp, entered the freeway, and what is he doing? why is he pulling over? why is he stopping? who is that man getting out of a black car and WALKING UP TO OUR CAB?! OH MY GOD WE ARE DEAD WE ARE GOING TO DIE THEY ARE GOING TO STEAL OUR MONEY AND KILL US AND DUMP US IN THE RIVER! why is he smiling at me? is he hiding the knife in that plastic bag? oh that is your brother? and you forgot your lunch at home? oh how nice of him to wait for you here. your mother would be proud. no, no its fine-no i figured it was something like that.
and that! is new york city. not at all what you think its going to be.
jeff and i walked so much the first day there…i thought i was going to die. i am so glad he came with me, to get me set up and used to the city, learn together how to use the subways and learn the lay of the land. i was so proud of myself when he left – reading the map and heading out on my own.
these were all taken at the top of the empire state building.
and these while walking around.
grand central station on the left and the chrysler building behind it…
while riding the subway:
attempting to take a ferry to see lady liberty (we got there too late)
once jeff left to come back home, i got down to business and had six sessions before coming home myself. three in northern new jersey and the rest in the city. i met incredible people (as usual) and really enjoyed having an entirely different kind of backdrop to use with my clients. thats what i love about doing this most of all – getting out of the orange county beaches and finding something that inspires me all over again.
thank you thank you thank you to each and every one of my clients who braved the heat and humidity and my wacky ideas and gave me the awesome opportunity to come to the east coast.
and now, i must get back to work. august/seattle clients-your sessions are coming up next. i am so behind right now and im so sorry. im just a one woman show-doing my best to do a great job for all of you!! i appreciate your patience and friendships so much.
xo
I love how in love you are with your hubby. What else is there to say?
you are precious!
those pics are so good! i get so excited when i drop by your page for the hundredth time and find that you’ve posted something new….again…
such little things make me so happy!
Oh you know I’m so stalking you – have to tell you, when Eric and I went to NYC 3 years ago, we asked our doorman how to get to Yankee Stadium (we were there for our anniversary, but somehow we went to 2 Mariner/Yankee games) and I had my tourist books, and thought I was so prepared…so we hit our subway station (Columbus Circle, no less) and right away we were in the wrong place and along came this guy, flashed open his coat and sold us tokens…which we couldn’t figure out…and then we were spinning in circles, so lost, and along came this angel – picture this older, beautiful woman spotting us lost and saying, “Where you goin’?” “Yankee Stadium” “You in the wrooong place! You go across there, be sure you facing the right way, you wanna catch the (whatever, I don’t know how we made it)…” And bless her heart, she followed us, and made sure we got on the right train. But after that we were old hands, and made it the second time just fine! So fun to see New York through your eyes. And yes, I thought I might die in a New York cab. And the shuttle bus, come to think of it. That, or we’d kill some poor pedestrian…
cracking on the “wanted” sign and your picture right underneath as i scrolled down. LOL i LOVE your pictures. i so wish i could go to NYC with YOU! you look super skinny lady! like i need extra reason, but these make me miss NYC so much. so the cab conversation was thoughts in your head or conversation with jeff? it just looks like too much fun.
great photos. and i, too, had to chuckle at the slutty bartender sign and then that sweet pic of you right under it. ha.
really, who can resist a slutty bartender sign?
OMGosh, so awesome, have been bursting to see what you shot during your visit. Love that you make NYC so inviting. The slutty bartender sign was great.
i AM the slutty bartender! love the pics. so glad you’re back safe. next SB weekend NYC with NO scrapbooking. :)
OMG! So glad you had a great time! Your pictures brought back so many memories.
I moved to NYC in 1997 and worked at Rockefeller Plaza before leaving almost 2 years later. I have been back several times, but it’s just not the same.
I remember thinking it was no big deal to walk from Rockefeller to Penn Station which was a good 25-30 city blocks. LOL
Lots of walking, crowded subways, dive restaurants, and some of the friendliest people I’ve met. Good times.
Any way you could give a few tips on how you got the picture of the Chrysler Building at night? Did you use a tripod?
It is so fun to see NYC through your eyes. Can’t wait to see all the shots from your sessions.
Fed ex really is everywhere hey! Did they pay you for that?
Really great photos, can’t wait to see the sessions.
Fed ex really is everywhere hey!
Really great photos, can’t wait to see the sessions.
just *heart* these photos and I know Tim will esp chuckle at the help wanted sign!!
just have to tell ya the weather now is GORGEOUS here…no humidity at all…we’ll have to lure you back…but bet you’re lovin’ being back home.
new york city????! (said in best pace salsa commercial voice. sorry, i just couldn’t resist!)
awesome photos. i’m a jersey girl originally. this makes me feel all nostalgic. so cool to see the city through your lens.
Hi Tara!!
Guess what? The humidity is gone!!! LOL
Seriously, David and I had the BEST time with you. We enjoyed EVERY moment. We cannot wait to see our pics.
The pics above, captured the city, perfectly!!!
PS: Every time I have to put my glasses “under my shirt”, I’ll be thinking of you. :)
Hugs to you!!
Jen
All of the pictures are great, but the best one? “Wanted Shameless Slut Bartender No Experience Required”. That is totally New York. :)
Hi Tara, I work at FedEx and I see a reflection of a FedEx truck in one of your NY pics……thanks!
yes!!! get to work photoshopping all of the sweat from our pictures! of course, the weather this week is perfect… no humidity at all.. but even with the humidity and sweat and dying kids, we had the very best time.
can’t wait to see them!
What great pictures… colorful, fun and gritty and the same time. Your work is really wonderful!
ummm… i think i have a bartending job to go apply for LOL hehehehe
Tara, these pictures are AWESOME! The shot of you and Jeff speaks volumes — I love it. And the shot of him eating street vendor food rocks the world. Looks like an awesome trip!
Ohh — the ice cream vendor (trailer) shot is great, too! They all are. Thanks for the on-going inspiration.
sarah
Tara:
love, love, love all the shots around NYC. I have been to the city 5 times and I’m telling ya, you just gave me a whole new prespective. Thank you for that.
such great pictures…oh it makes me want to go again…right now.:)..i can’t wait to see the shots from your shoots this trip…& from seattle, too…i am a northwest girl after all:)
When you started out with the cab, I thought you were going to say it was the Cash Cab! But seriously, I would have been just as freaked out like you. I’ve been to a bunch of places in Europe with no problems, but the thought of NYC scares me (and they even speak English, mostly)! What a brave girl you are, and maybe I’ll be as brave as you someday.
such awesome shots, as usual!!
And I lovelove the big belly deli shot of your friend. That totally rocks!
I love your work. Your photos and approach are extremely inspiring. And while I would love to borrow your eyes and brain (and spirit!), instead may I ask what camera and lens you used to take these pictures? And how do you carry your camera around? Do you use a special bag to carry around your camera? Thanks!
Hello!
Wow I was going to comment since there were not too many comments, but I loaded the page and you are simply famous woman!!
So I must be like all the rest and give you great praise, not because the pictures were awesome, but because I really loved them personally.
They were seriously the best New York pictures I have ever seen. So thank you so much for taking them and posting them…
YOU ROCK
Cheerio
-Melissa E Earle
Love the pictures, and it makes me want to visit there even more! But I have to say NYC would be one of those places I’d never want to live, just visit!
Finally, a job I might be OVER qualified for! Love that bartender want ad–SO funny.
great pics. love them all. makes me miss the city something awful! man. if you go back we may have to meet up and finally book you up. :)
Great pics! They are all so great!
Oh my Gosh! These make me want to go to New York!! and the bartender thing is too stinkin funny!
Toni
these photos make me all warm and fuzzy for home…I love NY! you just don’t get signs asking for slut bartenders here in the OC. My favorite shot of the bunch is the viewer– a great details shot. so glad you shared these. -e
I love these photos! NYC is the coolest place I have ever visited. So many photo ops it’s crazy! I am glad you got to go this time of year it is just beautiful! My girlfriends and I went in September (loved it) and December (too cold but loved the Rockets Xmas shows and all the window displays!) Thanks for posting these! I want to go back now! Shelley
I’m so glad, I love greek food! :p
Love the NY pictures! I especially cracked up at the “bartender” sign, how funny is that! I think it’s awesome that you bravely travelled around on your own, what a great experience. I’m glad you had a great trip.
damn. too bad they wanted a shameless slut bartender with no experience. ‘cuz if they’d wanted an EXPERIENCED one, I would have been all over that.
great pics!
You are such a neat person!!
Tara, did i ever tell you what dan said the first time he walked into Grand Central Station (like, when he was 20 or something?) He said:
“This looks NOTHING like my mother’s kitchen.”
: )
Never been to NYC…LOVE all the photos!! You always find the most amazing ‘details’ to photograph, that’s why you are so unique. Not sure I would have made it to the top of the empire state building, was feeling woozie looking down on the big city. Totally amazing though. So happy you made the trip, had fun, were safe and can’t wait to see your magic!
These shots are great.. I agree with the first comment You and your hubby are so in love it totally shows in every pic.. also Tara I love how at ease and comfortable you are with yourself.. I know that may sound dumb and maybe you really arent.. like most of us arent.. but you have this ease about you this comfortableness about you this kind warm heart that pours from you..it shows in every picture of you.. and so does your love of life..
LOL yeah it’s tough for us OC kids to go to “walking” cities…we called it the “London diet” when we were there for 2 months! :) Glad to see you had so much fun.
you have an awesome eye for the city girl. come to philly please…
Fabulous photos, I’ve really enjoyed looking at them and reminiscing about a trip I took to NY some years ago. You should put all your photographs together for a coffee table book, they’re just so unique and special and fun.
First of all I love NY, and go as often as I can!! It is never the same experience twice!!
I love the bartender add. Where oh where was that taken?!!
Oh my heck. Love. Love the filmy look of Jeff kissing you…LOVE. So great!
I think it’s hilarious that someone who lives near LA had such a panic attack in NYC! You’re like a war hero already; they were probably afraid of YOU.
hi.. I love new york! and your photos are GREAT!
YOU were in Northern NJ!!!?!
I’m here.
I would have borrowed, begged, or stole to have a session with you! Although i dont think you were soliciting were you?
If you are ever looking to come back let ME know!!!
Kim, a stranger but LOVERof your photos and blog!