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Cooper is coming!! | Apex, NC Maternity Portraits

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:51:40 +0000

To say that I love this family, is an understatement! Kristen was one of the first brides to take a chance on Tara Parker Photography. Who would have known how far we all would have come by now when Kristen and I met that first day. Kristen and her husband Quentin had one of my favorite engagement sessions to date (You can see it here!) and they had an absolutely gorgeous fall wedding in 2010 (You can see that here!). I couldn’t have been more thrilled when I saw the Facebook post last spring that Kristen and Quentin were expecting a baby! I was so honored to be able to capture some fall maternity pictures and some family portraits with their other oldest son, Kaelob. I am even MORE thrilled to be photographing Cooper’s birth ANY.DAY.NOW!!!! It is a humbling thing to be a part of all of the biggest moments in a person’s life and to know that they will be looking at your pictures throughout their family’s history. I am BEYOND honored that I will be able to come full circle with Kristen and Quentin while they welcome their new baby boy, Cooper, into this world. There is NOTHING like photographing the moment that a life enters this world! I can’t wait!

Kris + Aubrey | Day After Session | NC Wedding Photographers

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:30:29 +0000

I absolutely love photographing Kris and Aubrey! Aubrey has done such an excellent job of styling the shoot every time I have worked with them including on their wedding day a few months ago. Leading up to the session, I followed her inspiration boards on Pinterest and I KNEW that she was going to come armed with lots of ideas and props and she did not disappoint! Kris did not disappoint either! While Aubrey came armed with her props, Kris came armed with his quips and antics that always make me laugh! He even came prepared for his “close up” with a real prescription monocle! Who has prescription monocles anymore?! Hahaha! We also had the opportunity to hear about Kris and Aubrey’s new business venture! They are very shortly opening a whoopie pie business called Whoopie Squares. They brought along some pies for us to incorporate into the session and even brought some for Dave and I to take home. They were pumpkin whoopie pie with cinnamon filling and they were TO.DIE.FOR! I believe that they are going to start out selling locally but then they will be moving towards internet orders. I will post a link once their site is up and running because you are going to want to try them! I promise!

Thanks Kris and Aubrey!! It was a blast as always!

Baby Girl Alyssa | Raleigh, NC Birth Photography

admin — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:58:02 +0000

I was so completely honored last fall when Lauren Garrison, of Lauren Garrison Photography, contacted me and asked if I would be interested in photographing the birth of her daughter. I have never done birth photography before, and admittedly, I was quite nervous about it for a couple of reasons. One, a birth is definitely a once in a lifetime kind of thing, even more so than weddings! Two, it is always a bit nerve wracking shooting for another photographer who knows the ins and outs of the craft. In the months leading up to the delivery, my nervousness increased, hoping that I could give them what they were looking for and praying that I wouldn’t sleep through the “big call” and miss the whole thing! It’s funny how waiting for something like a birth kind of alters your life because you start planning your day around how long it would take you to get to the hospital, would there be time to get home for equipment first, do I have enough snacks and water for my pregnant belly packed in case it is a long labor. We waited and waited for the day to arrive, and sweet baby Alyssa decided to make a casually late grand entrance a week past her due date. Lauren was induced 8 days after Alyssa was due to arrive, which made it nice for all of us because the delivery took place during the day! YAY!

Once Lauren and her husband Chad were all checked in at the hospital and they started the induction, I headed that way, fully expecting to be there for a good portion of the day. When I got there, the atmosphere was nothing like what I expected. I expected Lauren to be in a lot of pain, so maybe not as sweet as she had been every time I had talked to her (normal expectation during birth, right?!). Instead, I found Lauren in such good spirits and we spend the next couple of hours chatting about our sons and about photography and telling funny stories between contractions and we had a lot of fun! I never thought that I would see someone so calm and happy and smiling while in labor! Lauren was amazing! I did feel badly at one point because Chad and I were making her laugh during some of her contractions because we couldn’t stop laughing ourselves (imagine that? Tara can’t stop laughing?), and I know that it must have been SOOOO painful! It was kind of like when you got the giggles in church as a kid and you knew that you were not supposed to be laughing but that made it even worse and you laughed even harder! It was horrible! We spent so much time laughing and actually having a pleasurable time that I think everyone was a bit shocked when three hours after I arrived, the nurse said that she was going to get the doctor because Lauren was ready to start pushing! I think we were all a bit stunned! Lauren pushed for about 20 minutes and Alyssa joined the world!

I seriously could not imagine being a part of a more amazing moment or time! I feel like I missed out on a lot with the birth of my own son because I had a C-section, so it was so magical to be there for Alyssa’s birth! I started to tear up when they laid Alyssa on Lauren’s chest immediately after she was born because it was such a magical and amazing moment! Their lives are forever changed and I was there to see and document the very first moment of Alyssa’s life and their new lives as a family! It was truly a blessing to be there and I couldn’t have been more honored to have been asked to be a part of it!

Here is a tiny slideshow of a handful of the images from the amazing day. Thank you Lauren and Chad for letting me be a part of it! It meant more to me than you will ever know!

Collin | Durham, NC Senior Portrait Photographer

admin — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:17:20 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, I had the honor of photographing Collin’s senior portraits. This was the second time that I was able to photograph Collin as I photographed Collin and his brother last spring for a father’s day gift for his dad. Collin will be graduating high school this June and will be entering the US Marine Corps at the end of the summer. Collin will be going to boot camp in Parris Island, SC and plans to enter the Security Forces. As I photographed Collin, I couldn’t help but think how hard it must be for mothers to see their kids leave the nest, but even harder to know that they are leaving for the military and that they aren’t going to be there to protect them anymore. At the same time, mothers must be so proud of their children’s decision to go fight for their country so they can do the protecting for a while. I am sure it is a bittersweet experience.

Cyber Monday Sale!!

admin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 22:26:58 +0000

Have you been wanting to get new family portraits? Are you expecting a baby in the spring? Are you newly engaged or do you and your husband want to take those couple’s portraits you always wanted to take? We will be hosting a Cyber Monday Sale on this coming Monday ! We will be offering a 1-2 hour session at the location of your choice and a high resolution DVD of all of the edited images from the session (minimum of 25) for $400!! This deal will only be available to the first 8 clients that contact me and pay for the session. Starting at midnight on Monday morning, you can email tara@taraparkerphotography.com to reserve your session. I will then respond to let you know if you received one of the 8 spots and will send you an E-invoice so that you may pay for your session and DVD with a credit or debit card. All sessions must take place within January 2011 and April 2011 and must take place within 30 miles of Holly Springs, NC. We are available for travel but travel fees will be applied. Please email me if you have any questions! This will be the only time to get a discounted session and DVD in the upcoming year! Don’t miss out! Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!!

Aubrey + Kris | Hillsborough, NC Engagement Portraits

admin — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 23:02:17 +0000

I am so excited to share this engagement session! I LOOOOOOVE themed engagement sessions and I was so excited when Aubrey and Kris informed me that they wanted to do an engagement session that was styled after the animated movie Up ! The movie holds a lot of special meaning for Aubrey and Kris so it was appropriate that they create their own spin on it for their engagement portraits. I was thoroughly impressed with the attention they paid to detail in creating their props for their shoot! Everything from the grade soda top pin to the house floating with the balloons! Take a peek…

Veronica + Arlan | Rumbling Bald Resort Wedding Lake Lure, NC

admin — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:24:27 +0000

Sometimes you have the complete pleasure, of meeting and working with a bride and groom that you just know are completely made for one another. Veronica and Arlan are two of those people and it was a complete honor to be able to photograph their wedding day. Veronica and Arlan were married on October 1, 2010 at the Rumbling Bald Resort in Lake Lure, NC. Their wedding took place on the most amazingly beautiful day and the day was filled with more love and support than I think I had ever seen, from everyone. Veronica and Arlan entrusted their friends and family to take on little responsibilities for the day so it truly was a day that was filled with so many little meaningful touches. Thank you Veronica and Arlan for allowing Dave and I to be a part of your amazing day and congrats on the beginning of an amazing life together!

String Quartet: Opal String Quartet
Videography: Island Sound Video
DJ: Mr C’s Mobile DJ
Flowers: Flying Cloud Farm

Bloom Forum is officially OPEN!! :)

admin — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:29:51 +0000

One of the biggest investments I made in my training as a photographer when I was first starting was taking The Bloom Workshop with Kristy Lane and Brenda Acuncius. That workshop was an invaluable experience for me because not only did I learn SOOOOOOOO much about the basics of photography, rules of composition, and how to portray my style and vision in my photography, I also met the most incredible group of women across the world that shared the same passion as me. Ever since I took the workshop, we all continue to email back and forth and support one another in our businesses and I can’t wait to meet all of these ladies in person one day. Today is a big day, because Brenda and Kristy have knocked it out of the ballpark again by creating The Bloom Forum where you can join and build relationships with tons of amazing photographers and gain access to invaluable information that can help you become an even more amazing photographer! You don’t have to be a professional photographer to join, you just have to love photography! Just click on the banner below to get a free month and check it out!

I am so excited for Brenda and Kristy’s newest adventure and I know that it will be hugely successful!

Amy + Roni | Raleigh, NC Photography

admin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:08:44 +0000

Meet Amy + Roni! I was so completely honored when Roni, of Amy + Roni Photographie , contacted me to see if I would be interested in photographing them so they could have images for their new website. To have other photographers ask you to take their pictures, means a lot!! Amy and Roni previously had their own separate photography businesses but have since decided to join forces to make a power duo and started Amy + Roni Photographie. When I took a look at their site, I knew that I would have a lot of fun shooting with them! And have fun we did! We laughed, we goofed off, we talked about photography business, and just had a really great time! I feel like I have made two new friends and I can’t wait to see how our businesses will collaborate in the future! Thank you Amy and Roni for allowing me to be a part of your new adventure! I am certain it is going to be wildly successful and I can’t wait to see what you guys can accomplish together!

Thanks again ladies! It was so much fun!!

Joshua & Collin | Siler City, NC Children’s Photographer

admin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:33:29 +0000

Wow! It has been a while since I have posted hasn’t it? Life has been crazy the last month or so and it seems that a lot of stuff has gotten behind including blog posts. I had surgery last week to have my tonsils removed, so what better time to update the blog than when I am at home recuperating and I can’t talk to the outside world! Right?! :)

Meet Joshua & Collin! Aren’t they handsome little boogers? I told their mother that she is going to have her hands full with these two! We had the shoot as a father’s day gift for their dad. We started out with some more casual shots, but then we headed over to the baseball fields for some real boyish fun!! Enjoy!

That last one was so funny capturing because I was literally right behind Collin, where an umpire would usually stand. You know! Where they stand with all of their face masks and chest pads? Yeah that is where I stood…. without face masks and chest pads with my camera…. that has a lot of glass. Yeah… not my smartest moment! Haha!