I've moved!!

Hello blog world,

It has been a few months since I've been on here but with good reason... I got married back in September and moved with my husband to Montgomery County, MD. Which is now my freelance base! So far I am loving my new area and am getting used to the congestion of typical DC suburbs. Good news is, there are tons of horse farms in my direct area so I've been able to meet some great contacts and grow the equine line of my business.

This past weekend, I was hired to attend Loch Moy Horse Trials for my "Paparazzi for the Day" service. This is one of my favorite services I offer because I really get to know the client and experience something special with them. Gina, my client, and her family hired me to come to the horse show with her and take photos. I was there from about 7:30am until 3:00pm. She rode really well and I was able to capture all the special moments and everything in between. Here is a sample of photos from the day:

THANKS GINA!! Please feel free to contact me about your next event. Whether it's a horse show, recital, or just a special day, let me come with you to capture all the greats! www.tarakphoto.com

A month well spent!

Hi there!


So sorry it has been over a month since I have been on here to blog... my photography business has been immensely busy and fulfilling. I have had family photos, engagement shoots, weddings and a few random other photoshoots as well. It is important as a photographer, that no matter how busy you are, you always make time to check in with past clients as well as make time for current clients and prospects. Remembering little details about each person and their photo desires isn't the world's easiest job, but it's what keeps people coming back to you. I truly enjoy all my clientele that I get to work with because while I am photographing them, they are letting me become a small part of their life for those moments.


Here are a few recent photos I will share :)

Back to Beginnings

Hi My Blog friends :)

I wanted to stop in during my busy spring schedule to say hello. Lately, I have been extremely busy with photoshoots and I wanted to share with you a photoshoot that hit home with me. I first started my interest in photography when I was a young child out at the horse farm. I was fascinated by horses and their beauty. I wanted to capture that, so I went out and bought my first film camera. Although a lot of my pictures were grainy, over-exposed or greatly under-exposed, it taught me basics and gave me a drive to move forward. When I purchased my professional equipment, the horse arena was the first place I started. I love doing equine photos and I find it really special when I can take time from screaming kids, stressed out brides, etc. to photograph a horse and rider. There is just something magical there.

I had the privilege of  shooting Gina and her horse Dante. They are definitely in sync and you can tell from the photos. Enjoy!!

Kiddos for Springtime

Hi Everyone,


Sorry it has been a little while since I have been on last. With my own wedding rapidly approaching, and spring weather here, I have been non-stop but enjoyed every minute of it. :) 


Recently I had the pleasure of photographing for one of my all time favorite families. They have two kids, a boy and a girl, ages 4 and 2. They are a total blast to work with and a lot of fun. For their Easter photos, they also invited their four cousins to come join in on the fun. While this group was really good to work with, sometimes kids can be challenging.  If one doesn't want to cooperate or if the other just wants all the attention on them, it makes it difficult. Photographing kids is definitely a delicate balance. As a photographer you have to be able to not only position the kids so it looks good but keep them entertained long enough to rapid fire the photographs and catch one or two while they're still. Also, I have found that a lot of times if you tell the kids to do something, they don't want to do it. But, if you can find a way to get them to think that the certain pose was their idea...then you've got it! 


I really do love photographing families and kids. They are truly special and keep my photoshoots interesting. Here are some photos I thought I'd share from the shoot.

April Showers

With April here and the forecast of many rain showers in the future I thought it would be good to discuss a bit about taking photos in the rain. Although a lot of people may think that the ideal photo day is one that is clear, sunny and bright, I feel that taking photos in the rain can be a lot of fun and add something unique to your pictures.

I've decided to share an article by Jim Richardson, famous National Geographic photographer, on his views in shooting in the rain. Enjoy!!

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/taking-photos-in-rain-richardson/

Amy & George's Wedding

Congrats to Amy & George!! :) What a beautiful, fun day... makes me love my job more and more!

Engaged Couples...registering experience?

Hi there!

Happy Tuesday. :) So being a wedding photographer, I find it extremely important for me to keep up on all the parts of the wedding process and things that couples may encounter. This way I can not only offer quality photographs but I can offer quality advice to the couples I meet along the way.

Part of the reason I find this so important is because I am an engaged bride myself with my wedding coming up later this year. Recently my fiance and I went to go register at Bed Bath and Beyond. Now, we hadn't registered anywhere else previously and didn't know what to expect...but what we got was definitely not in our wildest imaginations. I want to share my experience with other brides that way you won't be as shocked as I was about the entire process.

We got there on a Sunday...there were 5 other couples registering. This is no problem because BB & B assigns you with your own employee to "guide you through the process." We sat down in the back at a new section completely for weddings. Expensive China, photo frames, etc. covered the walls. We had to go through a process of information giving and learned a little bit about BB & B's registration policy. We then got a "tour" of the store. Okay, I know most stores have expanded and gained more products but... I'm educated, I can read a sign and realize the layout is a big rectangle. Anyways, we proceeded and were thankful for our overly pleasant worker.

After the tour we went back to the counter to get "the gun." That's right, the point and shoot gun. We were finally excited for this and couldn't wait to start.... except...we had to get another "mini tour" to be shown how to use the gun and where to aim it, etc. It's not rocket science people! hahaha. After that, we thought we were finally on our own to talk and pick out items for the registry. Wrong again. Our BB & B worker wouldn't leave. She asked us if we wanted her to go with us to help pick items...we politely said no thank you. So, after a few minutes of awkward (and ( mean AWKWARD silence) she leaves us. Whew. We're free!! Wrong again.

Every ten to fifteen minutes our BB & B worker would come find us. She knew exactly where we were in the store. How is this? She was in the back watching what we were clicking with the price gun. She then would run up and say "oh I see you just registered for the queen-sized mattress pad... I think  you should get the allergen protector cover sheet to go with it..here it is." Really? She was trying to up sell us on something we didn't want. I don't need a $120 "allergen reducer cover" for my mattress...thanks anyways lady! After a few more awkward moments we lost her again. My fiance and I figured she got the point by now...but nope, within another fifteen minutes she was back again. This cycle continued throughout our entire registering process making it very frustrating and unpleasant. I completely appreciate that she was "there for us" and willing to help, but we didn't need the help. And every time she came to us, it threw us off our thinking.

We finally get to our last item and look around. Every other couple that was in there had their BB & B worker with them helping them pick items. Were we the only ones who didn't? Yep. This made me feel slightly bad...but then I just thought to myself...if these other couples can't make decisions together on what to get for their home...should they really be getting married? Hmmmm. You tell me. I'd love to hear anyone else's registering experiences!!!

Have a great day :)

I love SPRING!

Hi there!

How is everyone? I just wanted to shoot out a quick post to express my love for these warmer temperatures and longer days. Every since the time change last weekend, things have just seemed a bit brighter. I can now offer photoshoots for people after work because we have longer daylight hours. Plus the temperature has been in the 50s and up so that's been wonderful!

Today and tomorrow are supposed to be beautiful days, so go out, grab a camera and take advantage of this weather! You'll never know the surprises you may find as spring is peeking through...

WHEW! I made it!

Hi there!

So the weekend is over and I can honestly say I am truly blessed. Amy & George's wedding was beautiful and we got lucky with such a nice sunset that I was able to really use it to capture some beautiful shots :)

Also the bridal show was a GREAT SUCCESS!! I cant thank enough the five girls that came to help me and speak for me. It really means the world to me from the bottom of my heart :) I already have booked 2 weddings from the show (less than 24 hours later!) and have some great leads/potentials. Really I just enjoy being able to see people talk to them and share their special day. I love weddings!!!! I will attach some photos so you can see how great everything was :)

THE BIG WEEKEND IS HERE!

Hi everyone,

Just a quick post today as I am super busy this weekend :) I have been looking forward to this weekend for a long time!

Tomorrow I have the pleasure of photographing Amy & George's wedding. I did their engagement shoot back in the fall and had a blast! These two are a wonderful couple and I cant wait to see their wedding tomorrow and be part of their special day.

Sunday is THE MAIN EVENT!! I am hosting a booth at the Delmarva Bridal Expo to be held at the Sheraton Hotel in Dover, DE. I cant wait! This is my time to show future brides what I'm all about, and a chance for people to directly meet me and talk to me! If you are getting married in the next year or so and have time please come out and see me. I am running some special promotions and have a few surprises up my sleeve :)

That's it for now folks! I'll be back next week to update you on how the weekend went!

5 problems with Wedding Photography Today

1.) The wedding industry isn’t about love anymore. It isn’t about marriage or happiness. It’s about money. $$$.

That’s why when you call somewhere to reserve a space, and they find out it’s for a wedding reception, an extra $500 is tacked on to the price. Or why some reputable photographers begin their packages in the thousands.

Is it just me, or is this crazy?! Since when did more $ mean more value? I am seeking to change this by charging reasonable rates in my own packages; enough to cover my expenses and make a living, but not going to drought your pocketbook. And hopefully, people will share their experiences with others and let them know you don’t have to pay $4,000 to love your wedding photos.

2.) Your wedding has been limited to a number of hours and a number of locations.

I think this is beyond ridiculous. I have seen a lot of photographers say they will attend “two wedding locations” and then after that you are paying extra. What?!? If you want to get ready at your house, take pictures at your parents’ house and then have a separate reception site than ceremony, that’s fine by me! You shouldn’t have to pay extra to have your dreams of how you’ve imagined things. I don’t charge anything for extra sites. I charge a flat travel fee (if you’re more than an hour away) and that’s it!

3.) Are you getting the photographer or the assistant? Not 100% sure? Most brides aren’t!

Recently, a friend of mine got married. She hired a highly reputable photographer who was in a reasonable price range. The photographer had a larger company. She was aware of this, and was promised the photographer the day of the wedding. Well, guess what? The wedding came and so did the photographer’s assistants. The photographer only stayed to photograph the ceremony and then had their assistants cover the rest. 

With me, you get ME. Even if I bring an assistant along, I call the shots and am with you to support you, 100%. No questions asked.

4.) Being an “artistic photographer” gives you a free pass to be anti-social with the wedding party and guests.

NOT! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to a wedding and seen a photographer who is so quiet, impolite, and anti-social because they are “making art” or focusing on “maintaining the best shots.” I’ve also seen young kids and even adults get yelled at by photographers for “interrupting the flow.” Really? I love people. I love meeting people, talking to people and getting to know them. You can believe that I will not only show up and capture the best moments on camera, but I will be smiling and social too! It’s important that the wedding party and guests feel 100% comfortable with the photographer so the best shots can be taken. Awkwardness shows in photos!!

5.) Who cares if it’s a picture of you or your family, you still have to pay to make reproductions or copies of it!!

This is the thing that really makes my blood boil. How can photographers charge extra money for YOU to use wedding pictures of YOU? Or how can they charge money if you want to print an extra 5 x 7 to send to Aunt Sally or Uncle Pete? This is absurd! It’s just another way for photographers to try and nickel and dime you. If I take a picture of you, and you pay me for my time and services it’s yours! I don’t care what you do with the photos after the wedding. Every package I have includes 100% reproduction and copyrights to the client. I also give you a photo CD of ALL YOUR WEDDING PHOTOS!! That’s right… YOUR photos!! Of YOU! Not me, not another photographer, YOU! Okay, you get my point J

Alright. There it is. My opinions on what’s wrong with wedding photography today. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, or if you are interested in actually getting a good value for your money, I’m here.

All information on this sheet copyright Tara Katherine. ©2011

So sorry it's been awhile, spring is approaching!

Hi everyone!

My apologies for not updating sooner. It seems like the last couple of weeks things have really begun to pick up, and I am busier than I can handle...just the way I like it :)

I recently was hired to do a birthday party for my favorite 2 year old, Lexianna. It was a blast! I love being able to capture natural family interaction, the kids playing, as well as the expressions on Lexi's face when she opened her presents. Best part however, was at the end. We propped her up on the cake table next to her little cake round, some confetti, a few balloons and a big green 2. She gladly sat there and posed for me and they came out great! It was too good, looked like a studio background and you never would of guessed it was her family garage.

Party's like Lexi's remind me why I am in this business. I love people. I love being around people. Everyone is different and unique, so it's a blessing to be able to meet so many wonderful individuals through this business.

BIG NEWS coming up!! I am shooting my 1st wedding of 2011 this Saturday for Amy & George. They are a lovely couple and so I can't wait! Also, on Sunday, I am hosting a booth at the Delmarva Bridal Expo at the Sheraton Hotel in Dover, DE. If you get a chance come stop by and meet me! Not only am I running some great promotions for the day, I also have a few surprises up my sleeve.

Here's the link for more info: http://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-events/bridal-show/delmarva-bridal-expo-dover/ea0812ac4d3a25e9.html

Wedding Trends for 2011! Photographers MUST Know

As a wedding photographer, it is important that I stay up to date on all the latest wedding trends. This helps me get to know my clients better and know what is expected. According to JustWeddings.org here are the 2011 Top 10 Wedding Trends:

1. Sophisticated Elegance Returns
2. Outdoor Venues—Where It’s At
3. Grey is the New Black, Crazy for Navy
4. Mad for Metallics & Bold Color Palettes
5. Big Ball Gowns are Back
6. Grooms Take a Walk on the Stylish Side
7. Wedding Invitations Go Green
8. Luxurious Textures—from the Dress to the Tablescape
9. Ethnic Influences, Cultural Wedding Details
10. Revved-Up Wedding Receptions
Wow! With all these wedding trends, I predict that people are going to want more unique, artistic wedding shots rather than the traditional ones like the past several years have seen. To find out more details on each of the top 10 items, go to: http://www.justweddings.org/blog/fun-stuff-and-news/top-wedding-trends-for-2011/

10 Reasons why I LOVE Being a Photographer

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!!! <3 Love is in the air! I thought I would share some love with you and tell you my 10 reasons why I love being a photographer.


1.) Not stuck behind an office desk all day


2.) Every shoot is different


3.) I get to be creative and unique every day


4.) I'm able to travel to different places


5.) You learn to appreciate the small details of life


6.) I work for myself, not for some tyrant boss


7.) I make money doing what I am passionate about


8.) I can help make a difference in someone else's life


9.) Experiencing stories of peoples lives


And finally... number ten....


10.) All the wonderful people I get to meet!!! 

Freelance Photographers and Life's Uncertainty's

Hi Again everyone!


I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend thus far. I wanted to blog quickly on a topic that has recently come to my attention from a client. As you all know, I am a freelance photographer and work alone. I do all my photo-taking, arranging, editing, etc. I haven't had the need for an assistant to date and have enjoyed being a sole proprietor. However, I had a future wedding client ask me what happens if I have an emergency and can't do the photos, who is my backup and what should they do? While this has spurred my interest in finding an assistant and training my fiancé to learn how to use my camera, I thought we would go back to the general issue at hand, for it seems to be a re-occurring one for most freelance photographers. 


I found an interesting forum on photo.net about this very issue on the photographer's end and would like to share:
http://photo.net/wedding-photography-forum/00W2ca


As we all know, life has many uncertainties and it's important to stay prepared as possible. But, for those rare emergencies that leave you completely indisposed, it is important to network with photographers out there who may be able to cover you last minute!

Social Networking: Why I started this darn thing in the first place!

Hey there everyone,


How are the lives of people on Feb 10th, 2011? Today I was fortunate enough to attend a Social Media Seminar held by one of the greats, Mindie Burgoyne. She talked about LinkedIn, Facebook, Blogging, Twitter, etc. and brought up a lot of good points. I would like to share some of these with you all because it doesn't matter whether you are a photographer like myself, or in any industry...social networking is key! It is also taking over a lot of the ways people do business. So here are some tid bits I picked up today at the seminar that I think you may enjoy!!


Here are the three basic steps to start good social networking:
1.) Have a Website
2.) Know what you want to accomplish with that website
3.) Build a network of contacts from that


Mindie says "social media platforms are like social events such as cocktail hours or mixers; everything good you can accomplish comes from good connections." (In this example she talked about how LinkedIn is like attaining someone's business card at a trade show, whereas Facebook is more like a cocktail hour; i.e. one is more professional and the other is more personal/detailed...Can you guess which one is which?)


-Next, make a list of who you want in your social network, then figure our the descending, ascending, and lateral relationships those connections have. Then figure out who to connect with them. Establishing positive feedback and word of mouth is critical to success.


"Every person has an intrinsic value & connection for you. Start from there and build that network."


Okay, so there are some short bits from the seminar today.  You can find more information at Mindie's website: http://www.writingthevision.com/mindieb.htm She is very insightful, I suggest you check it out! :)

Welcome!

Hello everyone!

My name is Tara and I am the owner/photographer of Tara Katherine Photography. I am located out of Delaware but am willing to travel anywhere!! I have a deep passion for photography but more importantly, making people happy through my photography. 

I have started this blog for a few reasons... first off, so I can stay close to you all, my clients! Second, I would like to share knowledge, expertise and any other photography tid bits I may find with you. Lastly, I would like to share with you a little of each photography experience I encounter so you may get to know me better as a person and a photographer.

I shoot all types of events but specialize in weddings, equestrian photography, and private parties/events.

I look forward to blogging with all of you! You can visit my website at: www.tarakphoto.com