Author Archives: Tara Showen

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My name is Tara and I am a TV addict...

Yep, there it is...

If I am at home with a computer on my lap, (which I am most days) I am also binge watching entire seasons of shows on Netflix, Hulu or Xfinity. Of course, this is only possible because both of  my kids are now in school and I find myself with a solid 6 hour block of time in which to get my Tiptoe work done...and to work my way through the last 10 years of TV!

Now, I know this is definitely not a good thing but here's the thing...I feel no shame. So what if I feel like checking in on Don Draper to see if he's drinking himself stupid in his office (the 50's/60's sure were crazy, am I right?!) And when I am feeling a little nuts and out of sorts, well at least I am not as nuts as good old Dexter Morgan, right? The bright side and all...

So, TV lovers and fellow binge watchers, I have put together a top 10 list of my favorite, binge-worthy series. You will probably see right away that I tend toward the dark and twisty! Enjoy!

10. Mad Men

9. 6 Feet Under

8. True Blood

7. Sons of Anarchy

6. Breaking Bad

5. Dexter

4. Supernatural

3. Prison Break

2. Weeds

1. The Walking Dead (duh) This is the one and only show that I believe is worthy of watching on live TV, commercials and all!

Of course this list just scratched the surface. A few other faves are Scandal, 24, The X-Files, The Sopranos.... So, if you are a fellow TV junkie and need some guidance in what to watch next, just ask! And I am always looking for my next series, so suggestions are always welcome! I am currently on the last season of House of Cards and may start on Entourage next unless anyone has any better ideas...!

XOXO, TV Girl   (free session fee to the first one of you who gets that TV series reference!)

PS. And yes, I am bingeing  right now... 😉

 

 

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It's about that time again! Our annual Mommy and Me sessions are right around the corner and this year we are excited to offer all of the hard-working mommy's out there a true day of pampering! On Sunday, May 3rd our studio will be transformed into "Tiptoe Day Spa"! Professional hair and make up staff will be on hand to make sure that you are flawless for your photo session. While you are being pampered, take advantage of the snacks and yummy mimosas we'll have prepared especially for you!

We are offering something new this year...free baby-sitting! These sessions are open to moms and their babies of all ages. If you have little ones who need watching while you are relaxing, we will have a baby sitter on staff to keep them happy and occupied until it is time to smile for the camera.

We know Mom is usually the one behind the camera; let us "put you in the picture" and capture some beautiful memories! Happy Mother's Day!

Mommy&Me

 

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Soooooo, a few months ago we put a post on Facebook asking if our fabulous followers would be interested in taking classes if we were to offer them. The OVERWHELMING response was yes! Because we love to make YOU happy, we have prepared a trio of classes that we will be offering over the next few months! Yay! We are planning on starting off small with intimate class sizes (and BREAKFAST!) and then seeing how we grow from there. So, don't miss this opportunity to start learning the Tiptoe way of shooting from the original Tiptoe ladies!

As a little "teaser" here is the first page of our custom Tiptoe Workbook, written by yours truly and chock full of awesome tips and tons of information!

Welcome to our World…
So, you want to be a photographer? Or maybe you just want to know how to take some pretty awesome shots of your family? Or maybe you just bought a fabulous new DSLR and you want to take advantage of all of the various options it affords you? Well, this workbook is your key to navigating the complex but oh-so-fun world of photography from a Tiptoe Studios perspective. We have spent the last six and a half years amassing tons of knowledge and honing our own, signature technique. Now, we are ready to share it with you! So, whether you are learning for fun or you are planning on developing your craft in preparation of opening your own studio, we have what you need for each step of the way!
We have divided this (priceless) workbook into 3 specific categories to closely correspond with our fabulous Tiptoe workshops:

Know Thy Camera- A basic beginner’s course for those of you who are starting from scratch, focusing on how to use basic camera settings such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO and how to choose the right lens.

Let There be Light- A hands-on, intermediate workshop for those who have mastered the basics, focusing on lighting, composition and posing.

All About the Biz-An overview that will guide you on how to set up and run a photography business successfully! No guesswork needed!

Remember, this workbook and the above-mentioned workshops all follow the Tiptoe Technique of shooting. You will hear us mention “The Tiptoe Way’ several times during the workshops and within this book. Keep in mind that no 2 photographers are exactly alike. This is our signature style of shooting which we have perfected over the last 6 years. All of these tips are what we have found works best within OUR business. We offer you these guidelines and welcome you to find YOUR niche in this ever-growing community.

With these tools at your fingertips, you will be shooting like a pro in no time! What are we waiting for? Let’s get started!

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Raise your hand if you knew that Tiptoe Studios offers school portraits...

Okay, so I know that the weather has been super nice for approximately 2 days and there is still a TON of snow on the ground but I can feel spring coming!

Can't you?!!

Right about this time every year, people start to emerge from their houses, say hi to the neighbors they haven't seen in months (due to the 5 second dashing from the house to the car and back again because it is just too darn cold to socialize!) and start spending more time in the great outdoors. At Tiptoe Studios, we start getting pretty excited right around this time, too. It is no easy task to coax people out of their warm homes in January and February to go outside and take pictures! So, now we get to shake the dust off of our cameras and get to work and we couldn't be happier!

Now, amid the frenzy of booking weddings, family sessions, spring sessions and newborn sessions, we have a completely different (and, perhaps little known) specialty...school portraits! Four years ago, we started out with one local preschool. Every year, we add to the Tiptoe preschool family, little by little and now we service 5 different preschools and are always looking for new clients!

Our approach to school portraits is the same as our approach to any Tiptoe photo session...personalized and perfectly edited! We offer the boutique look for fabulous discounted school pricing! Our preschool portraits have been so popular, that we have started offering our own, studio-hosted Tiptoe school portrait day where parents can bring their student of any age to have their custom school portrait done. Our next one is April 25th so call or email us now to book a slot if interested!

Know a preschool who would love to jump on the band wagon? Just give us a holler and we will be happy to send out some information on how you can have the signature Tiptoe look at your school!

In the meantime, just take a gander at some of the gorgeous kids we have had the pleasure of "shooting"...

1378036_10151752309322955_2098984368_n ben2 brannock barlow brogan1 Damien delanie graham3 kayden4

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What happens after we "shoot" you...

As our loyal clients already know, after your photography session, it takes us about a week to have the images edited and ready for you to view and order. Ever wondered why the wait? After all, the Picture People have them ready in an hour...! You put together the most fabulous of family outfits, the kids were well-behaved and you just know we got some awesome shots...and you just CAN'T WAIT to see them! Believe us, we KNOW! What you may not realize, is that we are super-excited too and can't wait to get home and start editing!

Yes, we are professional photographers and we can absolutely take a great shot that looks pretty wonderful in camera. But, the editing process is where the magic happens! It allows us take that great shot to the next level, resulting in a fabulous mind-blowing piece of artwork that you will want to display in your home as a big ole 20x30 canvas! (And take our word for it, bigger really IS better!)

Now, we are not fans of showing raw, un-edited images to our clients but thought it would be fun to give you a little taste of what a huge difference our editing process makes to our final product. So, the first example is up! This is actually from my son's 6th birthday session. His birthday is in May and I believe I finally got around to taking these sometime in October but don't judge me too harshly!

beforeafter1

This perfect example of adorableness (Can you tell he belongs to me? I am not too proud or anything!) didn't need a whole lot of editing. Children rarely do; they tend to have that perfect, creamy skin, bright eyes and a bubbly smile that makes editing an easy and enjoyable task. The original shot is great and I knew it as soon as I took it. At the same time, I was already imagining what it WOULD be when I finished editing it. I gave it the true Tiptoe treatment and I think the result is a happier, more vibrant image that I would be absolutely delighted to hang on the walls of my home!

beforeafter2

This was our family shot for Christmas of 2013. This was our second go round at a family portrait in about 1 week and I was not optimistic about the outcome.  For some reason, the Showen family can never get it together enough to get it right on the first try and I have come to know and expect this!   Jennifer had the pleasure of "shooting" my family for this particular session and I did the editing. And by the way, this is the shot that hangs in my home as that big ole 20x30 canvas I mentioned earlier. And. It. Looks. Awesome!

At first glance, I was underwhelmed by the setting in this image. The field was nice but didn't exactly fit my artistic "vision". However, when I started editing and the different colored grasses started popping, I was truly blown away! This shot required a little bit more editing. For one thing, there are 4 people instead of 1. Also, I put MYSELF through an insanely ridiculous and THOROUGH editing process before I go up on any walls (virtual or literal)! Do I look skinnier in the after image? Because I guarantee you...I am absolutely skinnier in the after image! 😉

Yeah, we can do that.

So, this is why you have to wait that week before getting to view your Tiptoe'd images! We are taking the time to make them a picture-perfect, custom work of art! It is one example of what separates us from "the pack". Our work stands out, creates emotion and captures a perfect moment in time, every time!