Giving Back to Community | Tara Flannery Photography

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) based in The Woodlands and Conroe, TX.  Tara Flannery Photography specializes in family portraits and is grateful for the opportunity for giving back to community.  See more family photos in the gallery.  Contact me to book your family portrait today!

Giving Back to Community

Some days you feel it and some days you don’t but we are given much by our community.  Friends, acquaintances, and strangers provide for us in big and small ways throughout our lives.  Community is the airline pilot who gets us safely to our destination, the janitor who cleans the halls, the shift worker who made your lunch, and on and on.  These are the people in our community who support us.  Community is made of those who protect us as well and help in an emergency.  Police, fire, paramedics, and military are doing a job that is sometimes dangerous and all the time crucial to our survival and safety.  I am personally thankful for these first responders and their families who literally put their lives on the line to help protect our community.

9/11 First Responder Family Photo Shoot

Last year, a group of Woodlands/Spring area photographers decided to give back to community.  On September 11, 2018, we embarked on a journey to say “thank you” to first responders and their families for protecting our community.  This year, on September 11, 2019, we did it again and this year with no rain!  We photographed first responders and their families.  In some cases, this was their first family portrait.  One of my families had their first family portrait with Dad in uniform even though he had been in the army for 9 years!  Together, we honored the first responders and in our very own way were able to say “thank you” for what you do.  And it was a lot of fun.  I received so many words of appreciation and heartfelt thank yous.  I am honored to have been a small part of this endevour.

Giving Back to Community family portraitsGiving Back to Community brother and sister huggingGiving Back to Community family portrait with army DadGiving Back to Community couple with man in army gearGiving Back to Community family portrait with police officerbrother and sister holding handsGiving Back to Community mom police officer and sonGiving Back to Community son with police officer hatfamily portrait with police officerfamily portrait with Fire Captain helmetfamily portrait little girl with Dad's fire captain helmet

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

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@taraflanneryphotography

That beautiful sunlight filtering through the trees? It can actually make your job a little harder. 😂📸

When I'm photographing families or seniors in wooded locations, one of the first things I'm looking for is consistent, even lighting.

Those little patches of sunlight coming through the trees (also called dappled light) might look pretty in person, but they can create distracting bright spots across your subject's face, skin, and clothing.

Here are a few things I keep in mind when shooting in wooded areas:

🌳 Look for solid shade. I want my subjects evenly lit rather than having random patches of harsh sunlight hitting different parts of their bodies.

☀️ Use backlighting to your advantage. When the light is right, I love positioning the sun behind my subjects to create that beautiful, soft glow around their hair and shoulders.

📸 Don't forget your lens hood! Shooting toward the sun can introduce unwanted lens flare and reduce contrast. A lens hood can help control some of that stray light while still allowing you to create beautiful backlit portraits.

And remember, just because a location is beautiful doesn't mean every spot within it has great lighting!

Learning to recognize good light is just as important as knowing your camera settings.

📸 Just getting started in photography? I've put together a collection of FREE resources to help newer photographers build their skills and confidence behind the camera!

From lighting and posing to camera gear and more, there's plenty to help you along the way.

Head to the link in my bio to explore all the free resources available!

And don't forget to save this tip for your next outdoor session! 🌳
If you’re planning family photos around Houston or The Woodlands, I've got 8 beautiful locations to consider 👇🏻 

📍 W.G. Jones State Forest — Woodsy, natural, and perfect for that classic outdoor family portrait look.

📍 Alden Bridge Park — Relaxed, timeless, and a great option for families who want plenty of greenery.

📍 Rob Fleming Park at Creekside — Scenic, family-friendly, and especially beautiful for those warm, natural portraits.

📍 The Woodlands Waterway — A great mix of greenery, architecture, and a slightly more urban feel.

📍 Hughes Landing — Modern and polished with plenty of variety for your gallery.

📍 Mercer Botanic Gardens — Lush, colorful, and perfect if you love a garden-inspired backdrop.

📍 Downtown Conroe — Lots of character and architecture for something a little different from the traditional park setting.

📍 Downtown Tomball — Charming, casual, and full of personality.

🔖 SAVE this list for when it’s time to plan your family photos!

Still need to get your fall family photos on the calendar? I have just a few weekend dates remaining this season:

October 10 & 17
November 8 & 15

If one of those dates works for your family, don’t wait too long to grab it! Head to the link in my bio to reserve your family session. 📸
A little bit of flash can go a LONG way outdoors. 📸

When I’m photographing families or seniors outside, I’m not trying to overpower the natural light or make the photo look like it was taken with flash.

I just want a little extra light to soften those shadows, even out skin tones, and give me a more polished final image.

The key? Keep it subtle.

Your flash should work with the natural light—not fight against it. When you get that balance right, you still get the beautiful look of an outdoor session, just with a little more control over your subject’s lighting.

If you’re a newer photographer, start experimenting with adding a small amount of off-camera flash to your outdoor sessions. You might be surprised by how much of a difference it makes!

📸 And if you’re building your photography skills, I have free resources on lighting, gear, posing, and more available through the link in my bio.
The goal is to coordinate—not match. 👏🏻

Planning outfits for the whole family can easily become the most stressful part of family photos, so here’s my favorite way to simplify it:

Start with one person’s outfit (Mom, I’m looking at you 😉) and build everyone else around it.

Choose a color palette that works well with your location. For an outdoor session, earthy greens, browns, blues, creams, and other natural tones photograph beautifully.

Then add some variety! Mix different shades of denim, layer jackets or sweaters, and incorporate different fabrics and textures. Everyone should look like they belong together without looking like you bought the same outfit in five different sizes. 😂

And most importantly, choose clothes that actually feel like your family. You’ll be much more comfortable in front of the camera—and it’ll show in your photos.

And don't forget, my weekend family session dates are filling up fast! 👇🏻

October 10th & 17th
November 8th & 15th

📸 Need a little more help planning your session? My free Family Session Welcome Guide covers wardrobe, locations, preparing for your session, and more. Grab it through the link in my bio!

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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.