<![CDATA[Tara Gill Portrait Photography, Families, Head Shots - Blog]]>Sun, 11 Jan 2026 21:19:42 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Author of Marketing Books, Head Shot]]>Wed, 06 Dec 2017 19:30:00 GMThttps://www.taragillphoto.com/blog/author-of-marketing-books-head-shot
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I'd Like Variety!

I 'd like variety! These are the words from Jason McDonald, author of SEO books and classes on internet marketing. This was a fun, animated session.

If you are in the market for some marketing, look no further. Jason is fun, sincere, authentic and helpful.
]]><![CDATA[Fall in Palo Alto, an Indoor Outdoor Session]]>Wed, 15 Nov 2017 18:48:57 GMThttps://www.taragillphoto.com/blog/fall-in-palo-alto-an-indoor-outdoor-session
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Entertaining, Sweet and Silly

Before a session, families fill out a questionnaire that helps me understand and express their families' unique qualities.  They are definitely entertaining, sweet and silly, the 3 adjectives Mom chose. 

They wanted to have a nice portrait for their wall and have digital files so they could make their holiday card. Looks like they are ready for the party!

See the video from this session.
See Their Video
]]><![CDATA[New Beginnings, Celebrating Graduation]]>Thu, 01 Sep 2016 21:30:39 GMThttps://www.taragillphoto.com/blog/new-beginnings-celebrating-graduation
Head Shots by Tara Gill
Wearing the crown proudly.
Head Shots by Tara Gill
Looking inward, letting kindness, thoughtfulness and genuineness guide.
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Life is good!
Head Shots by Tara Gill
A student ID photo full of joy!
Head Shots by Tara Gill
Looking forward onto the landscape of the future.
Kimaya and her family wanted images to celebrate her accomplishments, for student ID and for her LinkedIn profile. A head shot session was perfect to get all these images done at once. It is also nice for her parents to have a beautiful photo to look at while she is away. We went to Niles, in Fremont.

Kimaya is a lovely, accomplished young woman on her way to college, she is sprouting wings and moving across the country. She is Miss California State and having a picture to mark this achievement and all the hard work that went into it is a tangible way to mark the occasion. Congratulations!



]]><![CDATA[Changing and Growing]]>Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:21:14 GMThttps://www.taragillphoto.com/blog/changing-and-growing
From baby to child. Family photography by Tara Gill
One of the pleasures of having children is seeing how they grow and change. And boy do they change! Hiring a professional photographer to document this growth will be a gift to them and you in later years.

This little girl gets her photograph done around her birthday every year.

Get started today! Call or email to inquire about a session.
]]><![CDATA[Head Shot for an Architect]]>Wed, 06 Apr 2016 05:16:36 GMThttps://www.taragillphoto.com/blog/head-shot-for-an-architect
Working with different professionals is one of the things I love about my job photographing people. I get to understand a portion of someones work world, make sense of it, understand their perspective and figure out how I can communicate my understanding of their contribution through location, lighting and posing.

Alexandra is an architect. She is the first stop when a client is thinking of investing a significant portion of their income into a home. I asked her how she would describe her favorite client and that led to a story about how she helped a client to discover how a water element in their home would contribute to a peaceful surrounding, and how reflections in water brought inner reflection and a space for contemplation.

I was able to weave this reflective element into her head shot.

My location was downtown Niles in Fremont, one of my favorite places to photograph for its many walls, colors and unique architecture.


]]><![CDATA[Holiday 2015 Card]]>Tue, 29 Dec 2015 00:27:33 GMThttps://www.taragillphoto.com/blog/holiday-2015-card
Holiday 2015 Image
Thank you to all my customers past and present for making it possible for me to support my family and follow my dreams!
]]><![CDATA[Preparing for your Family Photo Shoot]]>Fri, 16 Oct 2015 19:27:31 GMThttps://www.taragillphoto.com/blog/preparing-for-your-family-photo-shoot
It can be hard to set aside the to-do list and take time to connect and rest but let's see if we can do that in service of self care. Even if it is 10 minutes of rest.

Preparation
  • Make sure that your child has taken a nap and eaten before the session. You too parents! Take 5 however you can.
  • Have some non-messy snacks available and ready.
  • Simple unprinted clothing is best for photos, if your baby is still drooling, a spare shirt or bib would be a good addition. Plain shirts and textures help bring the focus to faces.
  • Consider a simple activity that you enjoy doing together, having a tea party, playing hide and seek, wrestling, painting, eating ice cream. Let's talk about your ideas before the session.
  • Take as much time as you can to fill up those kids' cups with love before the session. Have a pillow fight, cuddle, whatever helps your child feel close to you and you to feel close to them. That connection is the most important thing, what we cherish as families, and what I want to capture.
  • Don't plan a lot. Keep the day as simple as possible so you can relax and be as present as possible.

During the Session
  • Take deep breaths, be present, have fun.
  • Let's have the laughs and smiles come naturally.
  • I will direct you if I need to so you don't have to worry about doing the right or wrong thing. You are perfect just the way you are.
 
]]><![CDATA[Children who shine from within]]>Sun, 11 Oct 2015 17:19:17 GMThttps://www.taragillphoto.com/blog/children-who-shine-from-within
Children who shine from within. Family Photography that includes butterfly and firefly children.
I read a blog post from Rachel Macy Stafford author and creator of Hands Free Mama. She used the analogy of insects to compare ways of being in the world. It highlighted how some children are like fireflies, they shine quietly from within. It really touched me. I have one of those children, quiet, introspective, and thoughtful. While I do love the butterfly children of the world, it is important to recognize the quieter ones and see their gifts. There is space for everyone.
]]><![CDATA[Quotes on Family]]>Sun, 05 Jul 2015 22:55:16 GMThttps://www.taragillphoto.com/blog/quotes-on-family
Family, like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one.
Family. We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.
The love of a family is life's greatest blessing.
A family is a little world created by love.
The best things in life aren't things.
-Art Buchwald
Love grows best in little houses.
Love is the bridge between you and everything. -Rumi
]]><![CDATA[The Gift that goes both ways]]>Sat, 04 Jul 2015 18:29:29 GMThttps://www.taragillphoto.com/blog/the-gift-that-goes-both-ways
Quote from Mom and Dad to child. Tara Gill Photography
As I raise my son, I find myself reviewing a lot of the ways I was raised. One thing that I would have liked was to be told what was precious about me.

In my latest offering I give parents and children this gift of connection. Parents are invited to say what they treasure about their children and pair this quote with their favorite images from their portrait session.
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