Yearly Archives: 2014

Uprooted. Brain Tumor [Midlothian VA Photographer]

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June 8, 2014.  For a couple of weeks it looked like Mom was having a bad reaction from an overdoes of pain meds-it was text book ‘too much’ followed by the same ‘withdrawal’, but it wasn’t that. Visits and phone calls were leading me to realize something was wrong.  After a few hours in the ER that Sunday, it hit me that something was really wrong-and we were soon t to find out just how wrong it was.  There’s a lot to this story, and it’s still unfolding day and night by day and night whether we want it to or not, and though I do want to share it with you, I don’t want to tonight.  Since that day in the ER 3 weeks ago, it seems to have been one loooooooong day, but tonight’s story is a little off track of Mom and all her brain tumor has-very sadly and unwillingly- enlightened us to.

Dad was born today 76 years ago: June 29, 1938.  Gram died this same date– what seems like yesterday but has been years. Even before this year, this news, this tumor, June 29th was a bittersweet date on our family calendar…I was just praying we’d make it through it with no more to add than Happy Birthday, Dad.  Today a meal was delivered to Mom and Dad’s house. This is something that others have been doing for a week now.  In and out the door they will come as they drop off wonderful meals to sustain my beloved parents in this time of need. It’s always easier to be the giver than the receiver, but as it turns out, my mom does both with the utmost graciousness. In fact, she’s a blessing to all who are meeting her in her cancer journey already. I’m not surprised…and neither are you if you know her.   I was holding up to the window some old x-rays when a little purple jeep pulled in the driveway. Soon, my husband led the sweet woman in the front door and to the kitchen.  No one knew her. She dropped off a hot homemade dinner of salmon, steamed veggies and pound cake with mixed fruit (yummy).  Somewhere in the mix she shared that she doesn’t cook much at all, yet here she stood in Mom’s kitchen (where she’s spent the better part of her life sharing her own love of baking and cooking with all she knows) delivering a meal.

“Is that your mom in the car with you?” my husband asks.  And then we heard her story.   That jeep was on its way to the Peaks of Otter where a cemetery held residence of her late sister who died, not too long ago, from cancer.  She and her siblings were getting through these tough months in a different way and with more steps forward than her mom was able to manage. So it was another trip to the cemetery for her in hopes that her mom could somehow find enough strength to make it through a few more weeks without her daughter.  Until she pulled away and my husband used the wall behind him as a bit of a brace, I didn’t know she loved rescuing dogs (we LOVE our dogs), or that she was looking for a new place to live, or that she didn’t even know my parents.

Money wasn’t flowing freely through her hands.  Cooking isn’t one of her passions.   Her schedule wasn’t empty.  She had no steadfast friendship to foster with Mom or Dad.

She just signed up and showed up.  I don’t even know why, but I’m sure glad she did.   This is how great our God is…he sends angels right to our front door.  Thank you, Lord.

Thank you to today’s special angel.

I hope you didn’t get rained on at the cemetery today.

I pray you get the return blessing 100 fold.

Psalm 42:8
By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me– a prayer to the God of my life.

 

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At home with her new baby [Newborn photography Midlothian VA]

I am always excited to hear from expectant moms about photographing her new baby in what I feel to be the most precious way–at home and as it is. I think this sweet momma felt the most like I do than any I’ve been honored to photograph in the past. As a matter of fact, she was so easy going that after seeing her new baby boy do so well in just a short time, she was happy with what she saw (That’s all I want! So, with that and a very hungry  and often nursing baby in hand,  I was on my way. That’s how I work best, no fuss, no pressure, no must haves or dos, just let the baby  (and his mommy) take the lead, get what we can and leave them to be together once again.  Of all things I love, Mommy being close by is one of the best…and the fact that the clock is in the photo is great. Time with a newborn seems to run altogether. So glad to catch a glimpse of when this was all happening.

At home in Midlothian VA  with new baby

Baby H loved to keep his hands up by his face. His mommy said that in every ultrasound shot, he’s doing the same.  So incredible these tiniest people are. I’m amazed a new each time I get to photograph a newborn.
thp-2He looks peaceful and content…and he was, after some time and for a minute or two.  He knew there was milk to be had close by! Who could blame him?custom_grid_item_6_1420933404NEWBORN

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His sister was doing a good job learning to be a big sister. For two year olds, this little baby is no small thing. She’s beautiful and I know she’s going to be a wonderful big sister.

After a few snacks and right before I was heading out, baby H awoke to see what was going on all around him. Only a few days old, but very curious already.  Welcome to the world Big Guy.  I wish you the best in all the days ahead of you for you and your sweet little family!
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Thank you for inviting me in and allowing me the honor to share these fleeting few hours with you as you adjust to your new normal. Blessings as your new family grows and adjusts.

~Tamara

Monsoon + Vows [Midlothian VA Wedding Photography]

Bride and Groom Just Married in the rain photo

I have been so fortunate to photograph LOVE more than ever this year.

I DO have a few dates on the calendar that are looking for a wedding (or proposal)…could it be YOUR wedding I have been waiting for?

Book your 2014 wedding now and receive additional free hour of wedding day coverage, or save $250 off of your wedding package.

 Contact me for details and to grab your date before it’s gone.  <3

email:  info@atTamara.com or use my contact form above!  Can’t wait to meet you and your love!

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GLOW Workshop [Richmond VA Photography Business]

 

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The first ever GLOW Photographers’ Workshop took place on May 4, 2014.  Although the day flew by, it was a great day.  Meeting new photographers and friends had to be the highlight, but the beautiful models, the generous catering by Firehouse Subs (did you know they give any tips to the actual firehouses in the area? Cool!), my wonderful hair and make-up artist, my friend at Chesterfield Learning Center  and permission to shoot on the grounds of the beautiful Sunday Park in Brandermill made this day beyond what I had hoped for.

Of course, this day wouldn’t have been anything without the kind hearts of 3 other fabulous photographers!  A little more about them in a bit.  It takes a village is so true, and a village I had. I can’t go without saying that the Village leader is my wonderful husband; I’m not me without him. I am so thankful!

The day started when Amanda drove in for the workshop from Fredericksburg. When I asked her how early she’d be in town, she figured I could use her help setting up, and she was there!  Thank you…that’s what friends are for!  All before she started listening and shooting,  we were steaming dresses, making bouquets, stuffing goodie bags- umm, buckets- and drinking Starbucks, don’t ‘cha know!

Amanda Trahan Photography

Somewhere between when the glue gun was ready and the coffee cold, it was suddenly time for the photographers to start arriving.  I could hardly contain my excitement..it was TIME!  I’d worked and planned long hours for this to happen, and happening it was, and now!

GLOW was created to encourage you as  not only photographers, but also-and just as importantly- as women.  By sharing a wider range of condensed snippets of information from 4 different photographers, each with their own specialty area and passions, we planned to help you in an array of areas as you build your business.  My heart was to do this in an affordable way, because like many of you I know how hard it is when getting going to try to build your equipment and your knowledge at the same time. I wanted to know that those who desired to be a part of GLOW, and who had the availability, would be able to afford it. That was important to me. (If you weren’t able to participate due to your calendar, hang tight…save the date announcement ahead!)

After teaching for almost 2 decades,  running not only my photography business here at Tamara Henion Photography but other successful business over the years and raising a family including taking care of my live in mother in law and homeschooling my now 10 and 20 year old sons, my heart bleeds for teaching younger women to keep the main thing, the main thing.  Bicycles were a prevailing theme of mine. I hope that message never leaves the hearts and ears that heard just a bit of my heart.

Today We Are Rich

Today We Are Rich

And, for many photographers across the board, we get LOST in the world of our computers. Lightroom, editing, organizing, jpgs, raw, uploading, storing, backing up: It’s all too much!  Unless you have the amazing and beautiful person in Erin Schrad on your side. She is ACG (A Computer Genius) though she may humbly deny that title, trust me-you’ve got questions, she has answers!  I’ll say this about each part of the day, we needed more time!  I know I learned from her and from the Q&A, so did each of the rest of our photographers.  You’ll be seeing more of her (and her computer), too!  That makes us ALL happy! Soon, after some more harassing she’ll have a www. site to share  Never mind, take a look HERE; her work clean, crisp and beautiful! Thanks, Erin!

The day I met Riette Kruger with Clearly Perceived Photography, I could see her kind, sincere, generous heart right behind her piercing blue eyes (and trust me, getting beyond her stunning eyes is REALLY hard).  The thing with Reiette is that it’s not easy to figure out if it’s her dreamy photography or her love of people that is most amazing, but once you sit and listen to her talk about loving her clients and all they mean to her (and how she shows them that they do), it’s not hard at all to figure out that her work is that beautiful because of and not aside from the way she loves.  We all LOVED having her and hearing from her; no doubt we won’t forget how important it is to hear someone’s story and then love them through it.  I appreciate you, Riette.

Behind the lens at Sarah Danburg Photography is another beautiful face: the vivacious Sarah!  I feel like I’ve known her for years because of a million little things-you know those people who your spirit says all is right with them? That’s her!  She jumped on board with GLOW and never looked back. In fact, we can’t wait to do it again!  Her love for FACES -little and not so little- as well as light and illumination–shows in the way her photography simply glows. I always know if it’s Sarah’s image, and I always love it!  We were blessed to have her with us sharing more of what she loves.  Oh, and the boots…it was all about the boots!   She’s a snake wrangler too, but that was our little secret while out there shooting.  Thank you, Sarah!

Saving the best for last? I might say that’s the truth.  Although she didn’t get the chance to share, in words, the how and why of professional hair and makeup making a difference in our photography, it was OBVIOUS.  Jennifer Haynes, *my*  😉  hair and makeup artist did an amazing job with one of our models and we appreciate her work so much!  You’re awesome, Jennifer.

A few photos from one little corner of our room…

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And after a delicious lunch (Thank you Bernie and Firehouse Subs!), we hit the windy but beautiful grounds of Sunday Park. I was thankful for a gorgeous day in many answered prayers!

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I was running around a lot and making sure both the models and the photographers could do what they were there to do, so I didn’t shoot as much as I thought I might but I got enough simple shots to tell the story.

I won’t lie, I was beat by the end of the evening, but it was a beautiful day filled with beautiful people. It’s only right that it ended with this view: Do what you love!

Do what you love!

Do what you love!

Thanks for coming everyone; I’m glad for each and everyone of you who came.

Being crowded out is a good thing (sort of), but we’re taking care of that for GLOW 2!

Save the date: September 13th!

It’s going to be even sweeter!

The models are GORGEOUS [Glow Photographer’s Workshop]

GLOW

GROW~LEARN~ORGANIZE ~WORK
 {in photography lingo it’s known as SHOOT}
 
What are you doing Sunday May 4th?
 
I just came from the last meeting getting everything organized for Sunday’s GLOW workshop and SHOOTING.  
 
The models are GORGEOUS.
The wedding gowns are AMAZING.
The fashion looks are POSH.
The weather looks PERFECT.
The location is BEAUTIFUL.
The photographers are INCREDIBLE.
The information, tips & knowledge being shared in INVALUABLE. 
The price is a STEAL.
 
What are you waiting for?  We have a couple more seats available.  
Midlothian, VA   2:00-8:00  Come ready to learn, be inspired and encouraged and shoot! 
email me!  info@atTamara.com 
 
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