My Baby Photos!

This week we welcome Tara Whitney to the blog. Tara is a child and family photographer based in Orange County, CA. Her motto is “just be you” and she has definitely captured this in her work. Tara also has a blog where she chronicles her recent work. It’s called Just be Blogged

MBP: How and when did you get started in child photography?

TW: I started back in 2000 when my husband gave me the gift of my first SLR. The film Canon Rebel. I took two classes at a local night school to learn the ins and outs of the camera and then just went on my merry way. I photographed my family and friends for several years and then started my blog. At that point, people that read my blog (that I didn’t know) started asking me if I would shoot their children, their families. My business has slowly snowballed since then into what it is now.

MBP: Can you share with us your philosophy and style of photography, influences?

My philosophy is easy. Just be you. I see something in people. I see something in families. It is the same something that I want to capture in my own family, in my own children. I strive to capture it for you too.

Photography is more than my job, it is my goose-bumps-tears-jump up-and-down-on-my-bed-passion. I have an eye for family photography that goes way beyond the traditional white shirts and jeans. I am not out to create the “flawless traditional portrait”. Life isn’t flawless. I am looking to capture your authentic connections. Leave the perfect hair and clothes at home. I would much prefer to see you just as you are—beautiful! Show up in your favorite jeans and tousled hair, your child with a lollipop-stained mouth from the ride in the car. Relax. Have fun. Be real. Be alive. Be in love, and loving each other. Perfectly imperfect.

MBP: Do you prefer studio or “on location” photography?

TW: I prefer going on location to a place that is special or fun for a family. I also love going to their homes. I would feel too stuck inside of a studio.

MBP: Can you relate to us a story about your funniest photography shoot?

TW: I think every one of my sessions is funny because I work hard to make it so. I want everyone happy and laughing and having a great time!

MBP: What about your most difficult photography shoot?

TW: My most difficult session was very recent, and was for a family whose mother and wife had terminal lymphoma. She was given four weeks to live four days before we met.

MBP: How much time do you spend editing photos to make them production ready? What types of photo editing do you do? What software do you use?

TW: It takes me anywhere from 2-4 hours to edit a shoot, depending on how much needs to be done. I don’t do much “photoshopping” of people except for skin blemishes, etc. I adjust color, contrast, and exposure as needed. I edit in Photoshop CS4.

MBP: What type of camera equipment do you use?

TW: I currently own a Canon 5d and several Canon lenses. My favorite is the 24-70L. I use it almost all of the time.

MBP: What advice do you have for parents who are looking for a professional child photographer?

TW: I think the most important thing is to find someone that you can get to know a bit and feel very comfortable with. I want my clients to think of me as a friend, along with them on an outing. And oh look, I just happen to have my camera with me!

Tara Whitney

Much thanks to Tara for sharing some photos and her thoughts on photography. You can see more of her work at her website Tara Whitney.

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