Category Archives: family portraits

Winkler Family | Houston Family Photographer

Every one of them is gorgeous – then put them together and you get one striking family!!  I’ve known this family since our oldest girls were babies and we were in the Moms Club together.  It seems like an eternity ago but probably wasn’t if you count up the years.  I go with you, Winkler...

A Special Place Called HOME | GIVING BACK

Home is where the heart is.  A true statement.  When you don’t have a place to call home (or if you are in between homes), you look at what matters.  Love.  Your family.  Home is where they are.  Home is not a place but a space.  A heart space where you can be you and...

Family’s All That We Got | Houston Family Photographer

That song, See You Again, by Wiz Khalifa keeps playing in my head.  It’s about loss.  We all go through it at some point, in different ways and times.  How can we not talk about family, when family’s all that we got?  Your family may be by blood or by choice but they’re your family....

f a m i l y | Houston Family Photographer

This sweet family wanted some photos and with all of the rain lately, we decided to do an early Saturday morning.  Wow!  I’m so glad we did because these images turned out great!  Baby was just adorable and I’m truly in love with the ones of mom and baby together.  That newness.  First time parents....

Spring Family Photos | Houston Family Photographer

I’m sitting alone in my living room and notice that I’m surrounded by my family.  Our family photos from the last three years are hanging on the walls in various forms – prints, canvas, collages.  And I love it!  I love seeing the collage from three years ago where my daughter barely reaches my chest...

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@taraflanneryphotography

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’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?

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Serving the Greater Houston, Texas Area

tara@taraflannery.com

713-412-5437

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Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers of America PPA.
Tara is a Certified Professional Photographer.
Tara is a member of TPPA Texas Professional Photographer's Association.
Tara has earned her Master of Photography degree.
Tara has earned her Photographic Craftsman certification.
Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers Guild of Houston PPGH.