Thankful for HOME

HOME.  It’s where you go to rest.  To be yourself.  To be safe, secure, and loved.
But what if you don’t have a home.  What if you don’t have a place to call your own.  A place where things are safe and secure.  A place to return when life is a mess.
The families in these photographs are (or were) part of the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) within Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM).  As part of their program, IHN provides meals and shelter for families with children.  Local participating churches become their HOME for a week at a time.  A little bit of stability in an otherwise scary time.  Still, these families move from church to church and visit the Day Center at NAM when they are not at a church.  Life is chaotic.
But there, in the center of the chaos, in the center of the messiness and headache of everyday life, is HOME.
Love abounds.
Joy bursts through.
Family
is
HOME.
I am so thankful for my HOME – my family, my church family, my place in this world.  And I am thankful that I am able to give the families in the IHN program family photographs.  They would otherwise not be able to afford custom photography.  I am honored to know each of the 24 families that I have photographed over the last two years.  I hope to continue working with the IHN families and give them a little something to remember this messy, chaotic, and beautiful time in their lives when the LOVE that bubbles up within them and surrounds them is HOME.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- INSTAGRAM -

@taraflanneryphotography

At the end of the day, it’s not about the title—it’s about what the photos actually do for you.

For most teams, the hardest part isn’t getting the photos taken… it’s coordinating everything around it.

Schedules, availability, keeping the look consistent across everyone—it adds up quickly, and it’s usually why it gets pushed off.

That’s exactly why I created a Corporate Team Headshot Planner—to make the process simple, organized, and easy to execute from start to finish.

📥 If updating your team’s photos has been sitting on your to-do list, this will help you finally get it done—link in bio.
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?

- 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.