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How to Plan a Retirement Celebration | Houston Event Photographer

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) based in The Woodlands and Conroe, TX.  Tara Flannery Photography specializes in event photography and knows how to plan a retirement celebration.  See more event photography in the gallery.  Contact me to book your event today!

How to Plan a Retirement Celebration

Retirement.  We all plan and hope for that day!  Once the day finally arrives, it is filled with bittersweet emotion.  Your people and communities and friendships have been formed over many years.  You’ve been through lots of ups and downs together, both professionally and personally.  These are your friends and your work family.  Sometimes you see them more than you see your own family!  Although they will miss you, they are happy for this next chapter in your life.  Celebrate well.  Plan a retirement celebration.

  1. Invite friends.  For an office celebration, invite everyone that you’ve worked with over the years.  Even if you haven’t worked with them for some time, they will still want to wish you well.  Allow them the opportunity.
  2. Have food.  People will stay and munch for a little longer when there is food.  And we like to eat and celebrate with food – it’s a time-worn tradition.
  3. Prepare a few words.  Either as the honoree or a guest, it’s nice to say a few words about your journey in the company and your journey with co-workers.  Gather your memories and stories and tell about it!
  4. Enjoy!  This is a time of celebration.  Enjoy the connections and be grateful for the journey.

A Retirement Celebration for Chris

Chris has been with ExxonMobile for 30 years.  It was time for retirement.  His assistant contacted me to photograph the informal retirement celebration at the office.  I arrived to a beautiful space on the campus.  Flowers and food made for a perfect welcome for guests.  People arrived and gave him hugs and well wishes.  The guest book recorded memories and stories of all they have shared and congratulations for a job well done.  Chris enjoyed laughing and chatting with guests and finally getting something to eat at the very end.  One of my favorite images is of Chris with his arm around a co-worker: so comfortable and comforting in this time of transition.  It is a beautiful testimony to his character.  All my best, Chris, in whatever life holds for your next chapter.

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Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) based in The Woodlands and Conroe, TX.  Tara Flannery Photography specializes in event photography.  See more event photography in the gallery.  Contact me to book your event today!

- INSTAGRAM -

@taraflanneryphotography

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?

25 1
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18124927108663241
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?

41 3
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 17980146186029923
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?

‼️ No clients (or videographers) were harmed in the making of this video 🤣

(For the record—this is very much a joke.)

But if you are a photographer, you know the real challenge isn’t getting someone in front of the camera… it’s knowing how to guide them once they’re there.

Small adjustments = big difference in how confident and natural someone looks.

And having a go-to posing flow makes everything feel easier—for you and your client. (so you don`t resort to violence 😉)

➡️ I put together a Headshot Posing Flow Cheat Sheet to help with exactly that—link in bio.

75 6
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18024278915832548
‼️ No clients (or videographers) were harmed in the making of this video 🤣 (For the record—this is very much a joke.) But if you are a photographer, you know the real challenge isn’t getting someone in front of the camera… it’s knowing how to guide them once they’re there. Small adjustments = big difference in how confident and natural someone looks. And having a go-to posing flow makes everything feel easier—for you and your client. (so you don't resort to violence 😉) ➡️ I put together a Headshot Posing Flow Cheat Sheet to help with exactly that—link in bio.

A quick look at the people and brands I had the chance to photograph this month 👇🏻

Grateful for every person and team that trusted me to capture this season of their business.

Each session is different, but the goal is always the same—to create images that actually represent you well and support where you’re going next.

If you’ve been thinking about updating your headshot or branding photos, now is a great time to get it scheduled before things get busy later in the year.

📩 You can book your session through the link in my bio.

15 0
Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18352866307243731
A quick look at the people and brands I had the chance to photograph this month 👇🏻 Grateful for every person and team that trusted me to capture this season of their business. Each session is different, but the goal is always the same—to create images that actually represent you well and support where you’re going next. If you’ve been thinking about updating your headshot or branding photos, now is a great time to get it scheduled before things get busy later in the year. 📩 You can book your session through the link in my bio.

- STAY IN TOUCH -

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.