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 :)