Happy Mothers Day!
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you fabulous moms out there including my own wonderful Mom and Mother-In-Law! I hope you all get lots of loves, snuggles, smooches, and hugs for Mother’s Day!
And I hope your baby doesn’t fart in your face. Yes, he really did fart in my face. Such a boy!
For my Mother’s Day present I am heading to Kauai! Which means there probably won’t be a whole lot of posting going on here. Have a great week!
Interview with a Mom*tog – Tara Whitney
I am beyond excited for today’s interview! Why? Because it’s with my favorite all time family photography Tara Whitney!
Besides being one of the best family photographers in the country, Tara is also a mom to 4 kids! 4! And she happened to name one after me 
So, that makes her even cooler!
I love Tara’s relaxed style of photography. Besides being colorful and beautiful, what I love about her photographs is that they are so real and honest and I walk away feeling like I know her subjects. I think her photographs are so genuine and true, because she’s very genuine and true. And while I don’t know Tara personally (yet) we are Twitter friends. Which pretty much means we’re BFF in real life and we just haven’t met yet She speaks her mind and doesn’t hold back. She’s funny, witty, creative and sarcastic and I love how I can see all of those qualities in her photographs.
I’ve always wanted a session with Tara and I am one lucky lady because when we get back from Hawaii she’s taking our family pictures! I really wanted a shoot in our house and neighborhood before we move. Just us being us. And I couldn’t think of a better photographer to do it.
Not in Southern California, but want a a family session with Tara? Guess what? She travels! Just contact her for more info!
THANK YOU, Tara for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer these questions! You totally rock! Now onto the interview!
How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
I have four kids aged 13, 11, 9, 6
How long have you been in business and how did you get started?
I have been in business for about four or five years now…My job kind of fell into my lap. I was posting images on my blog, and started getting inquiries from strangers asking if I could photograph their family. I went for it and its snowballed into what it is today.
You are busy with 4 kids!!! How do you run such a successful business and be a great mom? Do you have super powers?
Um, I wish. The first superpower i would acquire is the i-dont-need-any-stinking-sleep power. A close second would be can-get-here-to-there-by-twinkling-her-nose power.
What is a typical day like for you?
I wake up and get the kids off to school, then work for a few hours. I might go out to lunch with my husband (he works from home a few days a week), or run errands during this time as well. Once the kids get home, its snack time, homework time, hang out time, dinner time, and my favorite: bed time. My sessions usually take place while they are in school, or in the early evenings during the summer when the sun stays out to play.
What’s in your camera bag?
Canon 5d, 24-70l, 50L 1.2, 85 1.8
If you could pick one lens and one lens only, which would it be?
The 24-70L. Its a workhorse.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I really gain a lot of my inspiration from the families that I shoot. From each person I shoot. I also love to flip through magazines, watch movies, listen to music, and I try to pay attention to the little details of life that I want to record forever.
I love how your images are so real. How do you get your subjects to relax and let that realness come out?
This is nearly impossible for me to answer because I do not know what I do. I think I am just good at making people feel at ease in front of me, and then of course, my camera.
Do your kids get sick of having a camera in their face all of the time? Sometimes. But since I am generally not in their face about it they are pretty easy on me.
What is your favorite image you’ve taken of your kids recently?
A shot of Drew, my 11yo. Made me see how big he was getting.
Do you have any tips or secrets to share for all of the Mom*togs (nonpro photogs)?
Shoot what makes you feel giddy inside, no matter what anyone else says. Don’t try to emulate anyone else, just be YOU.
If you weren’t a photographer what would you be?
Bored.
If you could have any photographer photograph your family who would it be?
On the advice of my lawyer, I plead the 5th. Just kidding-but I can’t say that! I love and know of too many!
If you could photograph one person who would it be?
I can’t think of just one person. There isn’t anyone in the front of my brain. I could say a celebrity, but really do I care about that? I could say my grandma, who has been gone since I was in fourth grade. Yes, her.
Where do you see yourself and your business in 5 years?
In five years I hope my business and I are both happy and healthy, and thriving.
Favorites
Place to shop for kids clothes: Naartje, thrift shops, Surf outlets, Boden
Place to shop for your clothes: Old Navy, thrift shops, surf outlets, alight.com, alloy.com
Blog to stalk: dooce.com
Vacation spot: anywhere
Activity to do with the kids on a random weekday: go to the pool, ride bikes, play video games, head to the beach
Food to cook: Tacos
Thing about your job: Making people feel beautiful
Hot! Hot! Hot!
It’s HOT here! 87 yesterday. Brayden was a good boy and accompanied me to the Hurley warehouse sale and it was even hotter in there. So when we got home I let him play with the hose in the backyard. It was his first time and he loved it! I’m a light snob (if you haven’t figured that out already) and usually won’t even bring out my good camera if the light isn’t just right. But, I really wanted to grab some pictures of Brayden playing in the water. It was just too funny to miss out on. The light wasn’t perfect, but I don’t care. I love these pictures anyways!
Am I the only one who thinks their kid has the cutest shadow? I just love his shadow! The way his little ears stick out
$7 on the 7th
I’m sure a lot of you have read this blog. I came across Matt’s story shortly after his daughter Madeline was born. 27 hours after Madeline came into the world her beautiful mother, Liz, passed away. Their story touched me so much that I read the blog from beginning to end crying the entire time.
I think what touches his readers (or at least what touches me) is his honesty. He doesn’t try to sugarcoat the situation. It’s not fair that Liz is gone and he’s not afraid to say it. His writing is poetic. It’s funny, sad, sarcastic, and moving all at the same time. I feel like I know him. And it makes me wish I knew Liz. Their little girl Madeline looks just like her.
And he’s a Dad*tog documenting every moment of Madeline’s life. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
Matt started Liz Logelin Foundation after he received such an outpouring of love and help from strangers who read his story. The foundation helps young widows and widowers who have dependent children and have lost a spouse or a life partner. The money can be used for whatever they need. To pay bills or to just take a well deserved vacation.
I can’t even begin to fathom what it would be like to loose Chuck, but with the work that Matt is doing it’s helping to make the lives of those people who have a little easier. He asks people to skip their latte on the 7th of each month and donate $7 to the foundation. Times are tough, I know. But you can donate $1 on the 1st or $2 on the 2nd. Imagine if we all donate $7. We can help someone who really needs it! So go over and donate what you can RIGHT NOW!
The Right Light
First off, a huge cyber hug for everyone who answered my call for help yesterday! You’ve all made my anxiety for our long plane ride a little better and I will be hitting up our local dollar store and Target this week. THANK YOU!!!
Today’s question comes from Paige. She asks:
So my question is what is the best time of day to take pictures, I know lighting is key in getting some great pictures, and is it better to take pictures on an overcast day or a sunny type of day? Thanks again for making this rockin& site!!!
Thanks for your question Paige! For indoor pictures the best time will vary. You just have to find the time of day where you get a nice, soft even light. If you are seeing a harsh shadow on your subjects face then it is not the right time. If it is too dark and you’re having to bump up your ISO then that’s not the right time either. I believe my windows face west and I get good light anywhere between 9:30 and 11am and then again in the late afternoon.
For outdoor shoots I always try and shoot as close to sunset as possible. Some photographers will also shoot right before or after sunrise, but that’s just way too early for me! I avoid midday light at all costs. It’s too harsh and it’s just not pretty. If I do have to shoot midday I will find open shade to place my subjects under in order to avoid the harsh light.
When shooting outdoors before sunset I always have my subjects back to the sun. This gives my subjects nice rim lighting. And I love a little sun flare every now and again as well! Here are some examples:
If it’s an overcast day even better! The light isn’t as fun, but you can go wherever you’d like at whatever time and have relatively even light. I will usually face my subjects towards where the sun would be.
Hope that helps!
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