Summer Shooting Schedule

Today I find myself working on this holiday weekend while my husband is in Oregon with the boys. This is not what work should be. And this year I made a promise to myself that I would finally set some boundaries for my work so my family life would not be impacted by my self-employment.
I have so much work on my desk that I am thankful to my husband for being willing to go away w/out me. I am enjoying the weekend to work myself out of this mountain I have buried myself under and start working towards the my 2010 time management goal.

So this post is very exciting for me and hopefully helpful to all of you. If you follow the link on the right side of this page called "Shooting Schedule" you will see the dates I will be available through September. My summer & fall weekend dates are limited so please call or email me soon to ensure you get the date that will work for your family.

This post has been a long time in coming. Due to the urgency to post all my GEDIM images to get people excited to join me in May this little guy's images were pushed to the back burner. When I was working through them today I was so thankful that they made me smile because I think they will make his parents smile too & make the wait all worth it. When I was photographing him I couldn't stop saying how cute he was and he is photogenic too! He has a new sibling arriving in June who will be so lucky to call him big brother!

It was an absolutely amazing day today at Safeco. I have to admit I was a little anxious (which is very rare for me) about the day. I was worried that the experience the families had would not live up to their expectations. But thanks to the incredible generosity of the Seattle Mariners staff, Dan Wilson & the dry weather the afternoon was a HUGE success! I cannot explain the sense of relief I had watching the kids (& parents, too) gaze in amazement of the setting, grin from ear to ear as they took it all in and then see the Moose running out to see them.
I have not had time to look at any of the images but Lynette has posted a few on Soul's blog.

I will share more this weekend.

GEDIM May 24th Part II

Before I head out the door I must share the second half of the beautiful day I had Monday. I think the first image really sums up how the entire day went. These sisters could not have been any cuter. I am in love w/ all their pictures that we were able to capture in 15 minutes. They were amazingly cooperative and stunners to boot! And then I got to enjoy two more sets of siblings to round out such a great day.
Have to be brief so enjoy the pics...

Thank you!!

I am getting ready to head out to Safeco for the finale to my Giving Every Day in May. I am really excited about how the afternoon is going to play out. I cannot give enough thanks to the Seattle Mariner organization for giving me the opportunity to make my idea into a reality. And there are a few others I must thank for giving of their time. Dan & Annie Wilson, wonderful and longtime supporters of Soul, for joining me to make the experience so much better, my good friend Ben Nakamura who has been a huge support to me this month and joining me today on his day off to ensure that all runs smoothly and the Mariner Moose who is also joining us on his day off. The kids are all going to be thrilled and I cannot wait to capture it all!!

And finally I must thank the 4 families who have donated to Soulumination to be a part of today's experience. Their giving exceeded $1,100. I have not had time to count my total month's donation but I know it must have helped me get close to my $5,000 goal.

THANK YOU!!

It was a Beautiful Day!!

Beautiful Day by U2 is one of my very favorite songs and I think it was Monday's GEDIM theme song. I finally got a break w/ the weather & all the kids that turned out were stunning & so much fun. Downloading the images from my cards had me smiling all day today. How do I get so lucky to photograph such stunning kids? I'm really not exaggerating just to make the parents feel good. Because there was such a great turnout that day I need to break the post into two parts. So here are the first three groups and I think you will see what I'm talking about.

Last day of GEDIM change

This rain is completely bringing me down. I was really looking forward to ending my shoots on a high note and I just don't think today's weather is going to allow that to happen. I am not one to just throw in the towel. Here is what I am going to do. There will be a random day in june that I am going to do one more shoot w/ the same format as the GEDIM shoots have been so, stay tune in June and we may get an amazing day!!

I know there are many of you that wanted to join me this month. I wish I could have photographed you all. If you love the images you have seen I promise I will give you your own to love and cherish so call me soon to schedule a sitting for the summer or fall.

The weather is questionable again today but I really hope there are a few of you out there that will join me rain or shine. I will be getting some beautiful balloons that your kids will love. I will be at Gas Works Park at 2:30 and will stay as long as there are people who want to donate to Soulumination. Call or email me if you think you can make it and I can plan ahead just a little so no one has to wait too long. If it is raining I will be back at I-5 Collonade. Rainboots, umbrellas & balloons will make gorgeous pictures & there are lots of dry spots there too.
206.335.8098 or tara@taraclarkphotography.com

Safeco Nominated Family winner is...

Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations for the gifted sitting at Safeco. I wish I could have selected everyone, they are all so deserving. I'm sure I can figure out another great idea down the line for these families!! One thing at a time, I guess.
I cannot wait to meet the Odell family!! I will wait to share their story with you and thank you to Christina Parker for nominating them and being a winning bid one of the donation spots. I can't wait to meet you all!!

Bidding is closed for the Safeco event. Thank you everyone for your bids.

Last GEDIM city shoot...

I am going back to one of my favorite spots for tomorrow's shoot and will be bringing balloons!! (Thank you Red Balloon Company on Cap Hill). I will be at Gas Works Park tomorrow afternoon. Not sure what time yet. Check back later & I will know.

Safeco Field current bids

I will be closing the bidding tonight on the Safeco Field spots. Here is a rundown of the current bids w/ bidders' initials. If there are bids of the same amount the bids will be awarded to the people who bid that amount first.:
1. $200 (LS)
2. $200 (JB)
3. $200 (CP)
4. $150 (TB)

Please email me to get yourself a spot for Thursday!! tara@taraclarkphotography.com

Thoughtfulness & Generosity

I just returned from the New Day NW taping at King 5. It is really great that King 5 gave us an opportunity to talk about Soulumination & my fundraiser. Many may think that being on the show would be a highlight for me but this morning I was uplifted more by the generosity of my friends and a complete stranger. If any of you know me, clothes, fashion, grooming...not my strong point. It is not that I don't want to look good it is just that I don't take the time to figure out how to do it all. Well my friends know this about me and this morning should up at my door for a quick styling consultation. Thank you Ben, Petra,Theresa & Julie for thinking of me and going so far out of your way and to make me feel good as I walked on stage. And then as I was leaving the studio a woman stopped me and asked if she could donate to Soulumination. Katherine Seel from Tacoma completely made my day!! Without ever hearing about Soulumination or myself before today she opened her heart & her checkbook to support what we are doing. Thank you so very much Katherine!

These things is what is making this month so incredibly special for me. I have been running a bit ragged but being touched by such generosity and kindness is really keeping me going!!

If you are not able to join me this week but would like to donate like Katherine did today please email me to find out how you can do just that. tara@taraclarkphotography.com

Location for GEDIM May 25th

Giving Every Day in May for Tuesday will be at 4pm. Meet me at the I-5 Collonade Park, rain or shine. It is a very cool spot, great green space, cool textures, stairs. You will be surprised! 2nd to last day of scheduled city shoots. Don't miss out on your opportunity to support Soulumination!

Images from GEDIm May 21st

The weather was not very cooperative last Friday but one little guy braved it out. And with his mom & I missing each other at the park he even had the patience to hang out until we finally connected. After all his waiting he still managed to turn on some MAJOR charm. He isn't even a year and a half yet, his personality was that of someone so much older. I really couldn't get enough of him...

I have received many emails & questions regarding when & where I am going to be this coming week & if you have been following me this whole month you know that I do not announce very far in advance the time & place of my shoots. I do not do this because it is a big secret. I do it because I really don't know. I am working these shoots in around my regular work, family schedule & this uncooperative weather. I know it makes it difficult to plan but please know that the only motive behind this madness is to enable me to be successful w/ my month of giving. My goal when I started this was to shoot every day that I work. I have been able to meet that goal and then some. I have been asked if I am going to shoot this Friday & weekend. My original plan is to have the 27th be my last day. I don't work Friday - Sunday as much as possible and this coming weekend my husband is actually taking my kids away so I can try and get my head above water w/ my work. If I find I can shoot this weekend & not go completely insane than I will post it here first. So stick with me & if you can, join me tomorrow, Weds or Thurs to help me finish Giving Every Day in May as strong as I can.

The last week of Giving Every Day in May started off w/ a bang! Thank you everyone who came out to support Soulumination today. All your kids did fabulous & I cannot wait to share the pictures w/ you.

Tomorrow's shoot will be at 4pm. Still trying to come up w/ where. Will post on blog tonight. If you want to join me & have a great idea for a location email me!

Tune in to New Day NW on King 5 at 11am Tuesday to learn more about my fundraiser and Soulumination.

Safeco Field Thursday

I was hoping to have heard from many people interested in joining me in Safeco on Thursday. I guarantee it is going to be an unforgettable time! And I am going to do something I never do. For all the families that join me and donate $500 or more I will give them ALL the digital files from their shoot. Those donated spots under $500 will receive the complementary 5x7 that has been given for all my GEDIM shoots.
Here is where the current bids stand:
1. $200
2. $150
3. $150
4. $150

And I have not received any nominations for a deserving family to fill the 5the 5th spot. If you know of a family please email me and the gifted spot may be theirs.

To submit a bid or nomination please email me at tara@taraclarkphotography.com.

This is the start of my last week of GEDIM. So if you were hoping to join me before the end of the month there are only a few days left. And tomorrow the weather forecast looks great so come join me at 5pm at Montlake Community Center. I will be near the parking lot. Email or call me if you think you will be able to make it. Because it is the last week I am considering starting earlier and running longer if there is there are more people interested. But in order to do that I will need to hear from you. If you can't find me at Montlake call my cell 206.335.8098.
Here are a few from last week's shoot at Montlake. Lots of great little spots to take advantage of.

Not sure how Sunday already crept up on me. Friday's GEDIM was on the quieter side, thank you Tiffany for coming out to make a generous donation to Soulumination. I had so much fun photographing your little guy.

GEDIM May 24th will be at 5pm. Not sure where yet so check back later. There are only a few days left w/ the month long campaign & I really hope to finish strong for Soul.

On Tuesday May 25 I will be on King 5's New Day NW @ 11am w/ Soulumination's board president & father of two beautiful souls, Matt Kochel. Tune in!

I had another brave mom join me Tuesday at Volunteer Park & we managed to get in 15 minutes before the deluge of rain hit. Her daughter couldn't have been any cuter or easier to photograph. I think the pictures will prove that for sure.
I will be at this same location tomorrow. It is a great spot w/ tons of things to shoot in a little area. GEDIM May 21st will be at 2:00pm, park in the circular drive around the water tower. You will find me there. Only a few more days to donate to Soulumination & get images like these...

The weather this week has been a major downer for me. With the cold and the rain I know people have been hesitant to come join me. And today was no different but I left the shoot on a high because today I had two moms who decided to trust that I would be able to give them some great images regardless of the conditions. I had SO MUCH fun & I really want to thank Rebecca & Emily for coming out. You two really lifted my spirits & I have some images that hopefully will lift yours for years to come!
I am going to do an image dump because there are just so many that make me smile & I have narrowed down as much as I can w/out wasting the night away. My family is already itching for me to come down & join them for dinner.
The first little girl was such a trooper w/ the wind and rain. Not one peep of a cry & she even managed to give some priceless smiles. And if you know me well you know I LOVE little boys so this afternoon w/ these two was just like playing w/ my boys. I could have stayed for hours. And since they were the only ones to show in the afternoon they got the bonus of more than 15 minutes. I seriously couldn't stop shooting them.
And for this wks other families. I promise to post some pictures soon, there are definitely great ones too I just wanted to share today's because they have me on a high.
**these are SOOC & will get even better in print!!