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April 19, 2017

Kingwood Orthodontics | Houston Headshot Photographer

Photo Session

I’ve been a contract photographer for LIVING Magazine since I started my business in 2010. So, I’ve photographed some clients a number of times. Kingwood Orthodontics is one of those clients. I photographed the office years ago and now Dr. Blake Swearingen has taken over the practice. It was great to photograph the office again and to see new faces! She asked some of her patients to meet us for the photo shoot – so fun! There were lots of eager models on hand to pose for our “action” shots as well. Dr. B wants the ortho office to be fun and light-hearted. Thus, the jumping photo of Dr. B and her staff that we took at the very end of the session. We may have to blow that image up and put it on the wall in their office!!

Kingwood Orthodontics

One of the reasons Dr. Swearingen became an orthodontist is because she loves getting to know her patients. As a result, Kingwood Orthodontics is designed to provide individualized patient attention, rather than treating you like just another number at one of those mega-clinics. We believe a personalized approach improves patient experience and clinical outcomes. Read what our past patients have to say about their experiences.

Dr. Elizabeth ‘Blake’ Swearingen, a native Texan, graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Central Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She attended the university as a scholarship athlete and played goal keeper for the school’s soccer team. Even from an early age, Dr. Blake has always had a passion for science and the arts. It is no surprise then that she has found herself in a career that harmoniously marries the two. The science of constructing a functional bite combined with the art of creating a beautiful smile is the perfect fit for Dr. Blake. But what she says makes her career most gratifying is being able to develop lasting relationships and serve the members of the community in which she practices. For Dr. Blake, there is a real joy in seeing the smiles that she and her patients have built together make such a difference to the patients she serves.

Kingwood headshot photographer Orthondontist photographer orthodontics photographer Houston headshot photographer

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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?

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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?

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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 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?

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Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18117379670509149

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?

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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?

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!

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‼️ 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.

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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.