Drove up to their home during a neighborhood garage sale on a cool sunny morning at 9am. We talked for a few minutes at the beginning, and then off they went on their normal Saturday morning. I was just lucky to be there, and lucky to have them as clients, lucky that they wanted what I am yearning to give.
It takes a lot of energy to connect to complete strangers in the limited amount of time we are together, but I am also filled up with what they give back to me. Most probably have no idea what they have given me, how when our time is over I feel alternately depleted and like I could take on the world.
I love so many forms of photography, so many types of sessions … really I love getting to know people while I photograph them. I can give anyone and any type of family a beautiful portrait of themselves – I have met enough and photographed enough to have the confidence in that. But … here is where my drive to create lies.
In the simple moments and routines of life, watching as it unfolds and being truly in the moment with the client, connecting with them by s e e i n g them, so that I know what to bring my camera up to my face for. So that I know what means something to them.
This is my “thing”. This is what I need to keep doing. This is what I will keep trying to convince other people that they need.
This is Crystal and her family.
-Tara
PS : As I was writing this I got an email from her telling me that she had blogged the session. Here is her post if you’d like to read.
I am so happy to see you posting again, and so happy that you are doing what you love! You are amazing and I love the way you capture people in their everyday lives.
Oh man…I had to watch the slideshow on Crystal’s blog of this session. One of my favorites of yours, for sure, Tara. What a gift you have.
Brilliant Tara, just brilliant. I too am glad to see you back, you were missed and your photography is awe inspiring. If you ever get over to little old NZ let me know
I love everything about this. Simply beautiful and true.
I love this session and I love what you wrote. And I love you.
Brilliance. Love that you are attempting [and succeeding at it!] to connect with what makes you hum …
Love, love, love. My favorite shoot of yours. Ever. Wishing that could be me and mine…
And Crystal, you have an awesome home and a beautiful family :)
I love. I want to be there with all four of us to have you capture us so badly. This is beautiful honey. xo
♥♥♥
oh my word. seriously. i want so badly for you to come to south alabama to my home in the country and do this with me and my family. one day.
Beautiful! Every last drop of them! and I must know what that song is! It is just lovely!! Who sings the song from the slideshow?
Gorgeous pictures, as always. I love being able to capture “real life” – none of those JCPenney canned portraits. The house is gorgeous – any chance of finding out where the bedspread in the little girl’s room comes from?
I love ALL of them. Sheer perfection…both the photographer and the family. xoxo to you and Crystal!!!
fan-freakin-tastic!
i love how their home is filled with color. and i love the everyday images, real life recorded.
what is the song in her slideshow? i tried to shazam it but it wouldn’t work.
Just beautiful! Every second of their emotion, I felt myself! Lovely.
If I had a house that vibrant and cute, id want my morning documented by you too. They sure are morning people!
I missed you Tara. I love your reality. Thank you.
So beautiful and real. I would be so thrilled if you were ever in the Seattle area to do sessions. It is a dream of mine to have family portraits like this. You have an amazing gift!
If I were ever lucky enough to have someone as talented as you photography my family, this is exactly what I would choose to have captured. So beautiful I can feel tears ready to come and i’ve never met these people! Thank you for sharing
This. This is what photography is all about.
This is amazing! Beautiful family, home, and WOW Tara! This is why every photographer I know, credits Tara Whitney for their source of inspiration. Everyone looks so comfortable, no forced smiles, no forced poses, just real life. Tara, you are a beautiful woman inside and out! Thank you for sharing your gift with us :)
Beautiful! I love this!!! They didn’t seem to be “aware” of you at all. Great photos!
tara, long time follower but very rare commenter. I had to on this one –might be my favorite session of yours ever ever ever (and I’ve had a lot of previous favorites ;) Cried during their slideshow. Beyond beautiful ♥♥♥
Amazing, amazing shots, Tara!!
Everything about this is PERFECT.
You are on my dream list to photography my family! One day it will happen. I’ve had it on my Mondo list since I first did Mondo Beyondo with Andrea Scher so I totally believe!
A few things -first, I LOVE everything about this session. The use of color in their home is lovely and the way you captured them in their home is utter perfection. These are the sessions I too wish my clients wanted more of. I like what you said about convincing others this is what they need as well -Amen!!
And lastly, I’m SO sad I couldn’t get one of your TX sessions, ONE DAY it will happen!! :) You’re the best, Tara.
beautiful. perfect. FULL of emotion. my kind of session girl. what an amazing gift for this family who truly “gets” it…beyond the pretty perfectness that isnt real and what truly IS.
Oh man, I love this!
U R A ROCKSTAR! You are my IDOL! Seriously…the way you captured this family. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!
LOVE!
I used to devour photography blogs. Now yours is the only one I read – because it’s painfully, beautifully REAL. After visiting your blog, I leave feeling inspired and hopeful rather than inferior and not enough.
Thank you for your gorgeous photos and wonderful words. And, most of all, thank you for keepin’ it real. :)
I love everything about this. I wish we lived closer and we could hire you to do the same for my family…. SIGH.
Love. Just love. Beautiful session and what you wrote – straight from my heart lol. How do you do that lol??
this is a truly amazing session; great family, great work. man, i wish i lived on the west coast. you do fabulous work and these photos are such a gift to the families you capture. you have every reason to be confident! <3
This is exactly what i want for my family. This is magic. Magic that can only come from a photographer doing her truest work. Keep doing what you do, Tara! It is a gift. To these families you photograph and to the rest of us on the sidelines…cheering you on <3
I don’t how to better explain what I feel when I see your sessions other than to say that I feel my soul. I dissolve into goosebumps and tears because I feel like I now these people and am invested in their happiness. Someday Tara, I will save enough money, have a family of my own and call upon you to do your thing. Because I can think of nothing better or more necessary than being captured by your eye. Thank you.
Isn’t she amazing?! It is so humbling that you all are as excited as I am about these images. There truly aren’t words for the gift she has given me forever.
I usually would never link my blog when commenting on a photographer’s page, however, I know that a few of you had some questions about random things in my house. I just answered as many of the questions as I could on another blog post. Click on my name and it should take you over there.
Tara, so much love to you, friend. Hopefully that’s now appropriate. Your world and influence is so big because love just oozes out of every fiber of your being. So honored to have met you.
Oh Tara…..this literally took my breath away! Ive always knew I wanted to hire you one day but OH MY GOSH! I can’t wait until I have a little family so I can call you to come to my house :) AMAZING!!
So T, as I was looking through the images, scrolling down, i was thinking “THIS was a great session for her!” And then reading your words at the end confirmed my thoughts. YES, this is what its all about, and you are so gifted at getting the authentic, beautiful every day moments. I completely understand how you feel about it…. i feel the same way. xo
Perfection. I love everything about this session, and I have no doubt that it will draw in other clients who are wanting the same thing! Real, genuine, candid. Love!! :)
your best! love.
This made me cry. That you captured the beauty of everyday. Lovely family, and breathtaking photos.
tammy t
Tara, your words about how you feel about s e e i n g people when you connect well with them to see what is important to them, the moments that make up their lives, that is the magic I see when I look at your photos – thanks for vocalizing it better than I could… I love your work, your passion and your honest spirit that comes across in how well you capture these families! My favorite from these is Mom and baby on the carpet, I love the light, the smiles, oh how precious. Keep up the awesomeness!
These images are beyond amazing. I realized I had tears in my eyes as I was looking through them. This post made me realize I need to get out my camera more with my family again and capture every day. The morning hair, the pancakes, the sleepy Saturday mornings – while I might feel tired and stressed with a 1 year old and 2 year old right now, these are the moments that my heart will yearn for in just a few short years. You have an AMAZING GIFT!
I, too, had tears seeing those photos. You have an amazing gift Tara. I love seeing the world through your eye.
Love, love, love this!!! This is exactly what I would want for a sesh with my little crew…a day in our regular life…nothing fancy, just us being us!!! Will you be back in the NYC area any time soon?!?!