Tara Leigh Photography

07/20/2026

Summer Nostalgia Sessions are all about documenting the little things that won’t stay little forever. 🌞

Also, a reminder that your kids don’t have to be on the internet to have beautiful photos. 🖤

Tiny hands, muddy feet, sprinkler afternoons, towel dried hair, those moments tell their story just as much as a smiling face.

Your family’s privacy will always be respected here. Always.

taraleighphoto.com

07/08/2026

Finally getting around to blogging some recent weddings and sessions! 🖤

Folly Beach November elopement with close family and friends, a windy beach ceremony, and a joyful celebration in downtown Charleston

07/07/2026

I'll never get used to watching someone's world change in a matter of seconds.

This Charleston Battery proposal was full of happy tears, champagne, FaceTime calls to family and friends, and the kind of excitement that makes the whole afternoon feel like a fever dream.

I shared the full story and some of my favorite images on the blog. 🤍

Planning a Charleston Battery proposal? See this windy waterfront engagement filled with champagne, happy tears, and unforgettable moments.

07/06/2026

07/06/2026

Remember when summer felt endless? 🌞

Sprinklers in the front yard. Popsicles melting faster than you could eat them. Water balloons. Bare feet on warm pavement. Slow evenings that somehow lasted forever.

That’s the feeling behind these sessions.

No stiff poses. No pressure to smile at the camera. Just 45 minutes to slow down, play, laugh, dance in the kitchen, run through the sprinkler, share watermelon on the porch, or simply enjoy this season of life together while I document it as it naturally unfolds.

These sessions are for families, couples, and anyone wanting to hold onto the feeling of summer a little longer.

Because the moments you’ll miss most are the ones you never thought to photograph.

Send me a DM or inquire on my site to book your Summer Nostalgia Session. 🌈✨

06/18/2026

All Emma wanted was a family session where she didn’t have to pretend or put on a show. So that’s exactly what we did.

I chased the boys around with my camera while they played with water balloons, fought, cried, laughed, and just got to be kids. Feeling ashamed or embarrassed is something you never have to worry about in my sessions. I may not have children of my own yet, but I understand them. Life is messy and chaotic most of the time, but that’s no reason not to document it.

I’m here to capture the ice cream in the bathtub because you discovered it’s the only way on earth to get 30 minutes of peace in the evening. I want to photograph you doing what you do every. single. day. Like reading your babies a bedtime story.

It may not be glamorous or picture-perfect. There may be unfolded laundry scattered around, empty sippy cups on the bedside table, and your brain may be completely fried. But trust me when I tell you the emotion and connection that come out in these photos will remind you why you did it all in the first place.

Inquire for booking : taraleighphoto.com

06/04/2026

A wet dress.

Sandy toes.

A baby experiencing the ocean for the very first time.

And a few tears.

Honestly, if you've ever taken a baby to the beach, you already know how this story goes.

One minute they're fascinated by the waves, the next they're convinced the ocean is personally attacking them.

But that's what I loved about this session.

Nobody was worried about making everything look perfect. Mom and dad just rolled with it. They picked her up when she needed comfort, let her explore when she felt brave, and laughed through all the in-between moments.

The dress got wet. Everyone got sandy. There were tears. There were cuddles.

And there was so much love.

These are the kinds of sessions that remind me that family photos aren't about perfect behavior or perfect smiles. They're about remembering what this season actually felt like.

and this felt like one of those stories where not much happens, but somehow everything does.

Let’s capture this season before it becomes a memory.

taraleighphoto.com

04/29/2026

taraleighphoto.com

04/21/2026

I’ll be honest
I don’t care if the location is “pretty”

I care if it feels like you

the best sessions i’ve ever shot
weren’t in perfect places
They were in places that already meant something

that’s what makes it real. 🖤

04/16/2026

Hey, if you’re new here, I’m Tara. I love humans, romance, and making people feel seen.

I recently had to make the decision not to move forward with a soon-to-be client. We were all set, and I was about to send over a contract when I received a text from her that was meant for someone else, but it was about me.

It said, “Her hair is not bright red like in the photo on her website. She is lovely. I think she has lost a lot of weight since her website photo was taken. I really like her personality.”

I don’t believe this came from a place of harm. In fact, I think it was meant as a compliment in its own way. But she also mentioned not wanting her daughter to feel like she was hiring someone who would stand out too much on her wedding day.

I’m not sharing this to shame anyone. I’m sharing it because it gave me a really clear moment of reflection on who I am and why I do what I do.

I’ve struggled with body image since I was about 10 years old. For most of my life, I’ve looked in the mirror and picked myself apart, like so many people do. When I started getting into portrait photography, that’s when the fire for making people feel seen and beautiful really started to burn inside me.

So last year, when I built a real brand around my work, I knew I wanted it to be rooted in authenticity. I wanted to show up as I am, and create a space where people, no matter their background, sexuality, size, or ethnicity, could feel safe doing the same.

Because of that, I’ve learned to pay attention to what aligns and what doesn’t. And in this situation, it just didn’t feel aligned with the kind of experience I want to create.

And the truth is, I’m not here to blend in. I’m here for the people who want to feel something when they look back at their photos. The ones who don’t mind a little personality, a little presence, a little realness behind the camera. If that’s not what someone is looking for, that’s okay. But I’ve built this space on honesty, connection, and showing up as myself, and I’m not willing to shrink that to fit into someone else’s version of what I should be.

Warmth and light,
Tara Leigh Photography