Beautifully decorated, this event was one to remember. A harp played as guests entered the latern-lit hallway leading to the check-in table. Once checked in, guests were met with a beautiful decor of blue and silver. As seen in the first photo, the bouquets by Dream Bouquet were perfectly arranged so that guests could still...
Gray & Associates Events planned a spectacular holiday party for Pason Offshore. Everything was meticulously planned – from the saxophone player in the lobby to the Gatsby-themed decorations (by Ideal Party Decorators) to the Family-Feud-like GAME SHOW (by Best Entertainers) and DJ by (JPL Entertainment). There was no time to get bored at this holiday...
Oh my goodness! Where to start on this gorgeous event! Tiffany at House of Blooms contacted me to photograph their holiday party. As we talked through the details, I realized that I needed to shoot these gorgeous arrangements and decorations while there was still some daylight. I came early and just started shooting. {That’s when...
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” – Oprah Winfrey Indeed. Friends, family, and lots of love were shared at Christy’s Fabulous 50th birthday party. The event was complete with dinner, drinks, and a fantastic live band! The girls even got to sing with the band...
The Halloween Ball, a charity fundraiser for The Breast Cancer Charities of America was held on Friday, October 24. Hubby and I couldn’t stop looking around at all the great costumes! People are so creative! Costumes, dancing, charity…what more could you ask for? And the MC was Dana Tyson from Sunny 99.1. She is amazing!...
- INSTAGRAM -
@taraflanneryphotography
If you’re planning a branding session and not sure where to start, my Branding Guide walks you through everything—from outfits to planning your shoot so your photos actually work for your business. Link in bio.
What you wear to your branding session isn’t just about looking good—it’s about representing your brand clearly.
The goal isn’t one perfect outfit.
It’s variety.
When you bring a mix of looks—something polished, something more relaxed, and something that reflects your personality—you end up with images you can actually use across your website, content, and marketing.
And the small details matter more than you think…
(hair, nails, lint, fit—those are the things that show up in photos)
A little planning ahead makes the entire session easier—and the final result that much stronger.
If you’ve been putting off a branding session because you don’t know where to start, this is your sign to start planning it out. Send me a DM when you’re ready!
If headshot lighting feels confusing, I put together a guide with 3 simple setups that will get you consistent results—link in bio.
If your headshots feel a little “off”… it’s usually not your camera—it’s your lighting.
Here are 5 mistakes I see all the time:
1️⃣ Lighting from below
Creates unflattering shadows. Keep your light slightly above eye level.
2️⃣ Too much (or too harsh) light
Softer, controlled light will always look more professional.
3️⃣ No direction to your light
Flat lighting = flat images. You need some angle to create depth.
4️⃣ Mixing multiple light sources
This is how you end up with weird color and inconsistent tones.
5️⃣ Ignoring catchlights
Small detail, big impact—this is what brings life to your subject’s eyes.
Lighting doesn’t need to be complicated… it just needs to be intentional.
Curious—what’s been the hardest part about lighting for you?
I put together a Guide to Photography Gear for those of you who need some help deciding what is actually worth investing in (and what`s not). The link is in my bio!
Lighting is one of those things that feels complicated when you’re starting out… but it doesn’t have to be.
At the end of the day—light is light.
You don’t need the most expensive setup to get good results. What matters more is having something reliable that you understand how to use.
Especially if you’re shooting outside… the last thing you want is a $2,000 light going down in the wind.
Start simple.
Focus on gear you can trust.
And build from there.
Curious—what lighting setup are you using right now?
My Photographer Gear Guide is linked in my bio if you want the full breakdown of what’s actually worth investing in (and what’s not).
If I was starting photography all over again, I wouldn’t buy everything.
I’d buy intentionally.
It’s easy to feel like you need all the gear to be “legit”… but most of the time, it just leads to spending money on things you don’t fully understand yet.
A solid camera, a really strong lens, and a reliable lighting setup will take you a lot further than a full bag of random equipment.
The goal isn’t to have more—it’s to have what you actually know how to use.
Start simple. Learn your gear. Build from there.
🤔 Curious—what was the first piece of gear you invested in?
My Photographer Gear Guide is linked in my bio if you’re trying to figure out what’s actually worth investing in when you’re first starting out.
Because the truth is—you don’t need everything right away.
When you’re new, it’s easy to feel like you need all the gear… but really, it comes down to a few key pieces.
A solid camera body and a really good lens will take you further than a full bag of equipment you don’t know how to use yet.
If you’re deciding where to spend your money, start there.
A 24–70mm or 70–200mm lens will cover more than you think—and give you the flexibility to shoot a wide range of sessions without overcomplicating things.
Curious—what was the first piece of gear you invested in?
One of my favorite things about this session 👇🏻
Every single person showed up in outfits that coordinated with their brand colors—without overdoing it.
Nothing felt forced. Nothing felt too “on brand.” It just worked.
And that’s the difference.
When you’re in a business like coaching, your brand isn’t separate from you… it IS you.
So the way you show up—your colors, your styling, your overall presence—matters more than you think.
When everything feels aligned, the end result is naturally more polished, more cohesive, and honestly… just better.
Not because it’s perfect—but because it feels intentional.
If you’re planning a branding session, start with clarity first—
🌟 What do you want your brand to feel like?
🌟 How do you want to show up?
That’s exactly why I created my Brand Personality Workbook—to help you define that before you ever step in front of the camera.
📥 Grab it through the link in my bio. And while you’re there, go ahead and schedule a FREE consultation with me for a branding session!
- STAY IN TOUCH -
Serving the Greater Houston, Texas Area
tara@taraflannery.com
713-412-5437
