Year in Photos

I was going to caption all of these, but I figured maybe I would just let them speak for themselves.

2011 has been an incredible year for me. I feel like I have grown and learned so much the past 12 months. I’ve gotten to travel, make new friend and keep the old (one is silver and the other gold!) and fall even more in love with the most handsome fella ever! These are my personal photos, I am going to do another post with my photo work too! I feel so blessed and excited for all I’ve done this past year and can’t wait to see what 2012 brings : ]

I will have all of my December photos up soon, there are just sooooo many it’s ridiculous!

New Years Eve of Years Past

It looks like we will probably be just staying in again this year for New Years. As fun as it is to go out, it’s just too crazy as far as cops everywhere and all sorts of too drunk for their own good people. It’s “amateur hour” and so it’s just not worth it. It’s going to be a good time just being at home and having a few close friends over. I am so excited for the new year and I have lots planned for both myself and my photo business. I can’t wait to start the year off and get so much done and accomplished!

A look at New Years Eves from the past…

2011

I was sick and so me and Mike had  nice night in with some yummy veggie sushi, then we watched Avatar and counted down to midnight on a good ol’ battery wall clock.

2010

We celebrated the new year at Casey Moores. This was the first year I ever had a fella to kiss at midnite!

2009

Ended up at a party with Candy, it was her brother’s girlfriend’s friends house. It was an alright night, but not too epic.

2008

Went to an amazing house party in Tucson with Candy and our friend Lexy when we all worked at Zia together.

2007

Vegas trip, we use to go every year and this was the last year we went.

2006

Another year in Vegas with the ladies!

2005

I think this was the second year we went, I couldn’t find an earlier one, so this might have been the first year.

Valentines Day Shoot

Book quick! Email TARAOPHOTOS@YAHOO.COM

xmas 2008

I need to start making slideshow videos like these again, they are so fun to look back on. This is my xmas 2008.

xmas decor

Andrew Jackson Jihad- Knife Man= most amazing album ever!!!

The new(ish) album from Andrew Jackson Jihad- Knife Man is literally one of the best albums I have heard in my lifetime. Period. Granted, I am no musical genius. I am no experienced musician or do I know all about the history of music, but I know my history and I know the influence my music has had on ME and this one, is downright magical.

I have been wanting the new album since I first heard about it, but after two trips to Zia they didn’t seem to be getting it any time soon. So when I looked up and saw that they were playing I was very excited not only to see them but be able to buy the record from them. It usually cheaper, but not only that you know the band is getting more of the money you pay for it, and of course that is always a great thing to do.

AJJ is a band who really has helped me get through some shit. With such honest and raw lyrics, it’s easy to get lost in the catchiness of a song and scream your lungs out along. I am so happy to have this new album. It’s just such an amazing collection of songs that really touches me and helps say the thinks I think in a way where I can belt it out and get it all out of my mind.

“You don’t have it any better and you don’t have it any worse.
You’re an irreplaceable human soul with your own understanding of what it means to suffer.
And that’s a huge fucking bummer.”

Lane xmas shots

Model: Lane

Hair and MUA: Jana Marie

Christmas is Coming!!!

Jessa Doll with Hair and MUA: Jana Marie

Can you believe how close it is to Christmas? Today I sleep (I am just about to clock out) then get a workout in and make some lip balms and cocoa ornaments. Tomorrow I sleep and then have a baking afternoon with Ana before going to my brother’s to celebrate a Christmas dinner with my mom and siblings. I can’t wait. And then Friday I have off and so does Mike! I miss sleeping next to him as silly as that sounds, I really really do. So I am excited for a few days off, and excited to sleep in the same bed a few nights. Friday is xmas eve and that’s when all of my dad’s family gets together. For me it’s too hectic, too many people, but I still love to see my family, even if I feel like I barely say hello before we are all saying goodbye. Then Saturday, Christmas day I get to spend with Mike’s family which I am extra excited about. It’s super low key and we are doing a secret santa swap! I am really so excited to give gifts, I love doing that! And I got to wrap some really nicely this year and Shannon helped me too. More photos of all sorts of shit to come, I promise!!!

A little note on how Tara O. Photos is doing

I am really feeling much more confident in my photos lately. I think that I am getting a better grasp on my lighting and also being more successful and being inspired by other photographer, rather than getting down on my self because I am not good enough. The thing with art is that it has all been done, so you really can’t be a “true” original, but you can take bits and pieces of what you enjoy and what you want to show the world and mush them together in a different way so that it is your own. That is why I am trying to do, take a pose idea from here, an angle from there, a prop or theme from somewhere else, heck I even borrow from my own past works and idea, which also came from somewhere else in some way. It’s frustrating, but also a very kind of awesome process. I am getting a lot more excited about the work I am producing and a lot more excited about coming up with some rad stuff that is more “art” then client based, if that makes sense at all.

I also think my background paper is a great investment and I plan on getting many more. I know it’s not equpiment that makes a good photographer but it does help. I asked my dad for a new lens for xmas and I am hoping that I get it so I can get even better photos. I feel like my lens is just not as sharp as it use to be, it’s quite a few years old, along with my body. If a Canon 5D Mark II fell in my lap I would probably have a heart attack and die and not even be able to ever use it. I really can’t wait to get to a point where I can afford to get the stuff I really want to take my photos even to the next level.

For now I have a few shoots lined up and in the works right now. I have plans for Viva and for Ink and Iron again. I am the official photographer for Rockabilly Royale in Flagstaff this summer. I am going to do a Valentines Day shoot (oh yes- pink red and lots of LOVE) and who knows what else. I’m loving how it is going right now and hope I just keep on going up up up!

Brianne xmas shoot

Model: Brianne Emal
Hair and MUA: Jana Marie