Michelle is my buddy.
She says that she is the Canadian Tara. And that I am the American Michelle. Now, I am not TOTALLY convinced because of her love for Third Eye Blind and hockey, but the coca cola IV and cute clothes she requires are certainly making me okay with the comparison. Also her incredibly sexy flaming hot red hair.
I met Michelle a little over a year ago, when she was pregnant for the first time with her son Rowan. She flew down here for a photo shoot. And lied to her husband that the doctor said it was okay and that she had gotten insurance! Naughty Michelle. Thankfully everything was fine and she didn’t go into labor. I had such a great time with them, we hit it off immensely and went out for dinner together after. That is when I basically fell in love with Michelle!
Our relationship was able to go to another level when she came along on the “find yourself” retreat. We spent lots of time every day together, and it was great to be able to really get to know her. She is spunky, funny, and has such a dear dear heart. I love that she dishes it back to me just as fast as I give it to her. She is also just fabulous for my self worth. Hiring me three times in the span of one year!
This time the shoot was about her. About her friends. About feeling good about yourself after having a baby. About celebrating being a girl! The three friends met in Chicago once upon a time and now live in three separate places. Rosie still lives in Chicago and owns and operates an AMAZING boutique, Roslyn. In fact, most of the clothing from the session is from her store. Amy now lives here in southern CA, and works as a psychologist at a men’s maximum security prison. (Clarice Starling!) And Michelle, well, she is a mother, wife, and IT geek working for IBM who lives in Toronto.
When making plans she asked me if there was anywhere I had always wanted to shoot but hadn’t had a client interested. I said without having to think, “A trailer park.” I have driven by this place so many times on my way to a beach session, and have imagined the possibilities. I was glad to have three willing participants. We spent a lot of time together, so this was just one of our stops.
Just so you know who you are looking at (from left to right: Amy, Michelle, Rosie)
Amy is from Kansas-or Kentucky. One of the K states. Showing her roots.
We also made a quick stop to a field of flowers. (All of my amazing yellow flowers are dried up now!) (SOB) The girls were so serene, sexy, and confident. PERFECT mood to go with the location.
We also stopped a few times on our way to the beach.
Letters from my favorite antique store Timeless Treasures in San Francisco. (Thanks Joan! You are amazing!)
And then we wrapped at the beach, because the Chicago girl badly wanted some California sunshine to take home with her.
michelle wrote about our session here and here.
she also shared how she became friends with rosie, and shows images from her amazing boutique in chicago here.
x0
Tara
OH dear me…how do I love this photo shoot…..
Oh my gosh – soooo fun and soooo flippin’ gorgeous! LOVE it! Wowza!
So. Effing. Cool. And I want that VW van I saw in the back ground of a couple of the shots. Sweet.
okay… so even though i adore your photography i don’t usually comment (unless there is a prize involved) but couldn’t not post about this shoot… BRILLIANT!! You never cease to amaze. What beautiful women and i love that they were so natural and not overly “done up”. What a treasure for them to have!
These are fabulous. SOme of my favorites of yours. What I love is how especially in the flower field you can picture them as little girls. We should take pictures with our friends more often.
awe wow those are sooo amazing!
These girls are the new Charlie’s Angels! Wowzers! Beautiful!
I love these! I especially love how you can see your reflection so well in Rosie’s eyes. Fabulous!
SICK-SICK-SICK!!!!! LOOOOVE these all!
The image of Rosie in the field of flowers with her dress twirling is so excruciatingly awesome that words fail me. Beautiful, beautiful work.
such strength throughout all these photos, in the women, and with the photographer! Terrific!!
The Canadian Tara…hmmmm…I think you are already plenty Canadian ;) with a teeny bit of California…
Love the beach image with the gulls. This Canadian girl wishes she had one of herself like that. Even though she never spends time on a beach…lovely.
HOLY FRICKIN’ MOLY!!! These belong in a fashion mag. These are perfect. The trailer park ones! OMG!!! I am not a gusher by nature, but these deserve gushing! Every single image is UN-fricking-beliveable. Intensity in ten-cities. And the yellow bus ones, aaaaaaarrrrrrrrgh. So rad.
holy cow, i want to call my friends for a session like NOW!!!
As usual you’ve killed this session, Tara. What amazes me most about your photos is how clearly COMFORTABLE your subjects are. I can see the ease and serenity in each of these gorgeous women’s eyes. It’s incredible how you are able to bring out the absolute best in your subjects. Clearly these women are externally gorgeous, but what you’ve managed to capture is their inner beauty too. You have such a gift and I’m sure these ladies will treasure your photos forever. The one of Rosie’s face full frame is so stunning I literally gasped at my computer when I scrolled past it. The singles of Amy and Michelle in the field are phenomenal too. Wow wow wow. If you ever come to Vancouver I will be your SLAVE and CHAUFFEUR if I could just watch you shoot a session. Seriously, I’ll feed you grapes, paint your toenails, massage your shoulders, whatever you want.. In lieu of that, I’ll work on channelling my inner Tara to bring out the beauty within my subjects too. Thanks for the inspiring work. One of your best!!
love these Tara! That yellow VW van, and the yellow flowers…so fab.
OH WOOOW!!!!!! just love it love it love it!!
you’re officially one of my fave photogs. I LOVE the creativity and energy of this shoot. amazing job. as always!
Oh man, I am LOVING everything about this photo shoot! (but wait…you DON’T like Third Eye Blind?! what?!!)
…um, yes…these are AMAZING.
: )
oh mm gee (as you would say)
you are something else miss t
Tara, this shoot is Perfection! What fabulous ladies and amazing clothes! Amazing job!
dang, i love this one! a lot.
so amazing!!!!
i have loved your work from day one – but i think this is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE session ever! when i look at these photos, i see love, friendship, confidence, sexiness….i see how i want to be seen and how i want each of my girlfriends to feel about themselves. you are brilliant, tara. simply brilliant. and the gift you give your clients (and the world) is truly priceless.
This is truly amazing….. what an awesome tribute to friendship.
Oh. My. God.
These women are GORGEOUS and sexy and amazing.
LOVE this shoot Tara. Like, it’s my new fave of yours.
Yowza.
Are you planning another retreat? If so, I would be interested in going. That is if you have any openings.
Your picutres are fabulous – like always, thanks for sharing!
What a fun shoot. Love the diversity. that big BW is gorgeous
wow..wow..wow..these are so ROCKIN…my goooodddnesss..i so super LOVE these!!! :)
Amazing!
As always!
You rock Tara!
These images are just timeless, beautiful (as are the women in them) and just amazing!
I don’t know these women, but after viewing your amazing artwork, I have tears in my eyes and goosebumps running down my arms. Thank you for sharing these beautiful women with us . . . and for sharing your amazing talent. If only . . .
Tara, hands down one of your BEST!! I really really love it. Maybe its just because it’s refreshing to see three beautiful women my own age. What I wouldn’t give to have some rockin photos of me and my best girlfriend gettin our sexy on!!!
ummm….BEST SHOOT EVER!!!!!! Every photo had me gasping. These are totally fan-freaking-tastic, Tara!!!
in LOVE with this session. they remind me of charlie’s angels in some of these shots!!!
I love the variety, color and fun of this session!
It looks like you all had a blast! Wonderful, wonderful photography, Tara!
These are wonderful! What a great location and bunch of pretty ladies (and clothes too)!
Well, I will just repeat what everyone else said…AMAZING. One of my favorite sessions of yours!
so good.
so so good.
you are fucking amazing.
these are all so awesome.. looks like so much fun.. beautiful work Tara
Good God! I love this photo shoot. Every time I see another one and think this is the BEST. But I think this tops them all in that it celebrates friends, women, and the ties that bind. That and amazing scenery and clothes. Just adore these!
tammy t
knocked this one OUT! amazing… amazing shoot.
~S
first of all–what a TOTALLY COOL idea. i want to get my best girlfriends together JUST FOR A PHOTO SHOOT. i love that. i wish everyone would do photo shoots with people they love just because.
this set just oozes girl power–i love it. good, good stuff.
Admiring you from Little Rock. Your work is breath-taking. I would love to meet you some time. Until then . . . I’ll stalk your blog.
you are effen awesome.
oh i’m in love with these pics. girl friends are the best and it’s awesome that you caught it. and they are smokin’ hot!!! ssssiiiizzzzzzzlllleee!!!
So Amy knows she MUST spill where she got those cowboy boots!!! {please?!}
I don’t even have words to express how lovely this whole post is! I love it! :D
wow – these are beautiful (as usual!) i love love love the blue shirt dress…and those cowboy boots – ahhh, i need to go shopping!!