Tara Lemana Portraiture - Kapiti Coast and Wellington Photographer

Tara Lemana Portraiture - Kapiti Coast and Wellington Photographer Hi, my name is Tara and my passion is making sure people exist in photos.

Why print your photos? Why not just have them on a USB and be done with it? Printing is costly and time consuming, right...
31/03/2025

Why print your photos? Why not just have them on a USB and be done with it?

Printing is costly and time consuming, right? A hassle.

The thing is, there's been a fair bit of research into the effects of printed photographs on the human psyche. A study published in Psychology Today found that seeing photos of positive memories and experiences triggers feelings of happiness and nostalgia, as well as a sense of connection. But in order for us to experience that, we need to actually look at our photos, not just have them sitting on a USB in a drawer. Photos that are printed and framed, hanging on walls or sitting on shelves at home are seen on a daily basis, impacting us on an ongoing basis.

The effects of seeing photos of themselves on young children are even more impactful. Studies on child development have shown that seeing themselves in family photos helps develop a sense of identity and belonging in young children. It helps them recognise their place and importance in the family unit, and boosts self esteem.

And no, they do not have to be professional photos; your own, phone-captured photos are perfectly acceptable. Would I love to come and take a whole boatload of special shots of you and your loved ones? Of course! But mostly, I want you to print the photos you take, the ones you have and love, and put them up where you and your kids can see them every day.

Because your happy memories matter, and I want you to soak in that happy feeling.

If you have some cool shots on your phone, please share in the comments, I would love to see. :)

Drank coffee, like a boss (or a tired parent, depending on how you look at it 😆).How about you?
27/03/2025

Drank coffee, like a boss (or a tired parent, depending on how you look at it 😆).

How about you?

The older our kids get, the fewer photos we tend to take. In some cases, it's because our teens don't want to be photogr...
24/03/2025

The older our kids get, the fewer photos we tend to take.

In some cases, it's because our teens don't want to be photographed (unless it's in a selfie with a bestie, of course). In other cases, it can be because the opportunities to do something together as a family get fewer and further in between as our kids get more independent. And often, the very idea of forcing everyone to sit on a couch together for the sake of a posed family photo elicits groans and complaints.

The thing is, these years are just as precious as the years when we're changing nappies, wiping noses and playing with matchbox cars with them. They look different, sure, but capturing our kids, ourselves, and our connections to each other remains important. We don't know how long we have, any of us, and our memories are fallible - we forget, in time, what's not right in front of us.

When I photograph families with older kids, I encourage the family to forget about posing and just go and have some fun. Play. Be silly. Make memories together. Do stuff you'll enjoy, and leave the photos to me. It's my job to make sure you get photos that show your bonds to each other, and that remind you of the good times you had together, no matter what the future brings.

And each time, the photos that come out of these sessions are some of my favourites. Given permission to be silly and just have fun, everyone just gets into it and quickly forgets my camera and I are even there, and the photos show that in their authenticity and their sense of fun and movement.

If you have older kids, don't stop taking photos. Shift your expectation from posed photos to action photos, and use that cellphone camera to capture some memorable moments. And if you'd like some photos of all of you together that aren't boring and staged, some where no one is left out of the fun, shoot me a message, I'd love to come and capture your family story.

If you've read this far, I'd love to see a favourite unposed photo you've taken of your child or your family, please share in the comments! :)

I took up salsa dancing again two years ago, after a fifteen year break post-injury. I missed it a lot, and it's become ...
18/03/2025

I took up salsa dancing again two years ago, after a fifteen year break post-injury. I missed it a lot, and it's become a life saver over the past two years.

I've learned how important it is (for me, for everyone) to play. Life is too serious so much of the time; if we don't play and have fun, what are we even doing here?

What is your version of "play"? How do you fill your cup? Feel free to leave a photo in the comments, I'd love to see! ❤

It's all about the headshots here lately! There's been a big demand for fresh portraits to start the new tax year off wi...
16/03/2025

It's all about the headshots here lately! There's been a big demand for fresh portraits to start the new tax year off with a new look, so I thought I'd hold a special Headshot day at the Raumati studio.

It's an awesome opportunity to pop in for a really quick session at a fraction of the usual cost and come out with beautiful portraits to use across all your marketing for the new tax year.

Spots are going fast - will you nab one before they're all gone?

The past few weeks have seen me photograph several powerhouse business women. Many of my clients are a bit nervous getti...
05/12/2024

The past few weeks have seen me photograph several powerhouse business women.

Many of my clients are a bit nervous getting in front of my camera; it's a simple fact that most of us don't love being photographed, but as a small business owner, it's something you can't afford to neglect. Your potential clients want to see who they're doing business with!

But this is what I do: it's my job to make you feel safe and comfortable in front of my lens, to make the whole process easy and painless, and create portraits you absolutely LOVE along the way.

When it comes to location, I highly recommend photographing at your home, business premises, or on location in the community, for photos that are completely unique. But if that's not an option, I do have a beautiful Raumati-based studio we can use to create your portraits.

Here's a selection of photos from the past few weeks of my fabulous clients (notice the unintended, but very pretty, pink theme :D ).

I only have a few spots left before the end of the year; first in, first served, so do flick me a message asap if you want to inquire!

Models: Zebunisso Alimova Mike Pero Mortgages
Ingrid at Integrity Recruitment
Tina at See the Signs - Child Safeguarding Consultancy

Behind the scenes with Zebunisso Alimova and Emma Law Hair & Makeup Artist , getting our photo on today! 📸
10/10/2024

Behind the scenes with Zebunisso Alimova and Emma Law Hair & Makeup Artist , getting our photo on today! 📸

How's everyone's week going? I'm in the middle of yet another bout of insomnia (one of the unexpected gifts bestowed on ...
11/06/2024

How's everyone's week going?

I'm in the middle of yet another bout of insomnia (one of the unexpected gifts bestowed on me when I became a mother twenty something years ago) so my word of the week is coffee. 😆

Just for fun, please share a gif, meme, or a few words to encapsulate how your week is going in the comments. 😆

The weird things of life with kids that no one tells you about. 😆(It's jumpers and socks for my Little Dude, he can't st...
07/06/2024

The weird things of life with kids that no one tells you about. 😆

(It's jumpers and socks for my Little Dude, he can't stand to wear either, no matter how cold it is, but the principle stands.)

What's a weird thing you learned about parenting only after you became a parent?

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Raumati Beach

Telephone

+64272588415

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