TCM: What do you love most about photographing your children.
TW: I love everything about photographing my children. It is one of the highest forms of love that I have to give. Anything from a close up of a freckle to catching them laughing together to a snapshot while out to dinner, they all mean equally as much to me. I love when I see something that I have taken and it makes me grin or gasp.
TCM: Do you have any advice for those looking to get better, more natural images of those they love?
TW: Shoot so much they no longer pay attention to you. Buy a zoom lens so you can stay far away and snap without them knowing. Find the good light. Go outside 30 minutes before the sun sets.
TCM: What are some creative things you do with the photos of your family? Do you print on a regular basis?
TW: I wish I could answer this affirmatively. But no, the shoemakers children have no shoes. My images are in drawers, baskets, and often framed but leaning against the wall. I am really bad about getting my own things up on the walls. I used to have eight large clipboards hanging in my living room. I would print and clip the photos to them. You can swap out photos easily that way. I should do that again.
TCM: How do you decide between leaving an image in color or black & white?
TW: Color is what really has my heart. I love playing with color and making things just seem a touch more interesting than what they were in reality. So, I naturally lean that way. But I love traditional portraits in black and white, and close-ups in black and white. It is really something I decide on the fly.
TCM: If you weren’t a photographer, what would be your dream job?
TW: Hmmm…my dream would be to not have to have a job! And travel around with my family and several friends, photographing and enjoying life.
TCM: How did you get into photography?
TW: I was always “into” photography from the time I was a child. Ten years ago I was gifted a Canon Rebel (film) and went to some classes to learn how to use my new tools. After that I shot anything and anyone I could get my hands on. I soon upgraded to a digital SLR and started a blog to share with friends and family. Surprisingly, complete strangers began emailing me asking if I was for hire. It started slowly, naturally, in a way I know I am very lucky to have experienced. I have been in business for four years.
TCM: Are you a Canon or Nikon girl?
TW: Canon, but for no other reason than that is what I started out on ten years ago. I stay out of the debates. : )
TCM: What is your favorite lens?
TW: 24-70L
TCM: I love your mantra “Just Be“. How this come to be?
TW: I have always leaned on the side of self consciousness rather than confidence. Just be came about during a time in my life when a lot was changing, and I was struggling to “find myself”. I realized after a lot of struggle that I didn’t have to find myself at all. I was fine just the way I was. All I had to do was BE. I started scribbling “just be” on papers and hung letters up in my home that spelled it out as a reminder. When I was coming up with a brand identity for my business, it hit me one day that my life philosophy would transfer perfectly over to my work philosophy. And so it has.
TCM: Your heart really shows in your images, how did your style evolve?
TW: I had to think about this for a minute. I think really, the biggest motivation for me was to incorporate what *I* wanted for my own family images into client work. I never liked the posed, perfect studio stuff. I always liked crazy crops. Laughing. Kissing. Colors. Fun. Happiness. Uniqueness. That is what drives me still.
Regarding the images Tara has shared with us today she says, “These are a few recent favorites that I have chosen because they fit in with what I said about my style. Most important of all is they make me happy and that is why I love them.”
I wanted to say a quick thanks to all of the incredibly talented women and vendors who helped mold this series into what it was. Each of you is a blessing to the rest of us and I’ve loved getting to know you all! To my readers, old and new alike – thank you for your participation. I hope you were inspired, encouraged, and engaged. We’ll be back to our regularly scheduled programming come Monday!
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