Taunya Tae Photography

The Power of a Professional

2011-08-30T13:44:00.008-04:00

Some jobs require professionals.

Others don't.

Joe called me because he had searched online for a professional portrait artist. He had an idea and he needed someone to make it happen.

"I'm wanting to possibly have me and the boys in black, maybe some hats, kinda the godfather look for me, and the bulldog in there with maybe a hat and gold chains or something. Is this something you could do?"

Inspired by the TV show "Rob & Big" we embarked on getting our portraits taken. Here is the final result, what do you think?

Making art out of moments...

2011-01-12T15:26:00.004-05:00

I don't know how life gets so busy, but it does. The next thing you know 6 months has rolled by. Even for us photographers, it happens. So, while I can not make up for lost time, I can make Art. Two projects come to mind: Ingrid's photo session and Kristen's photo sessions!

Ingrid's photographs are online now, because they have placed their order and I am working on creating books and things. Her gallery can be found at http://taunya.zenfolio.com/p642389014

Kristen's are still in the proofing stage. Her last session was taken outdoors just after we received 13 inches of snow! This is Kristen above in cap & gown.

Commissioning a Painting

2010-06-17T16:04:00.003-04:00

Commissioning a Painting from me, is a very personal experience. It's not just a painting for me, it becomes much more than a project.

One of the first things I need is a high resolution photograph. I prefer to work from my own photographs, but that isn't always possible. The better the photograph shows details, the better the painting will be. I can do all sorts of "magic" and change out backgrounds and take out unwanted items, etc. I can work from multiple photographs and use them as reference material.

When you commission me to paint for you, I will come to you and take photos of your pet, horse, or child. Then I will return to my drawing tablet and make a selection and send you a digital proof to approve before the painting process begins.

I'm currently painting using Corel Painter, using oils and acrylics, so I produce my final artworks onto canvas. You can opt to have words printed on the edge of the canvas, or I can create painted edges to match your painting.

If I've forgotten anything about this process, please forgive me. I'm writing this without sending it to a professional copywriter and examining it over and over.

I accept Mastercard, Visa and Discover. I will work with you on payments, not to worry. And if you are close enough for me to deliver the painting in person, then I would love to see your face when you see the painting for the first time. ~Taunya

Spring into Summer

2010-06-10T15:01:00.002-04:00

Well, the Spring has seem to have come and went for us here in Tidewater Virginia. All the trees are in bloom and all our pets have shed out their winter coats. It is the time for family portraits before they teens go off to college and time for our horse portraits because they've gotten rid of all their winter coats. I'll be making my way around Tidewater this summer, taking photos and setting up my exhibits. I'm really looking forward to creating some beautiful work for my clients to treasure for years. The sailing painting will be on display for only a few more weeks at the Smithfield Center...and I have a great replacement of a groom portrait to hang there. I'm so excited to be a painter and a photographer and to have all the wonderful people and pets in my life. So, here's to seeing you this summer!

VPPA Feb Convention & Detail from a painting

2010-02-23T11:02:00.005-05:00

I went to Richmond yesterday, Monday, Feb 22 to attend Helen Yancy's presentation to Virginia Photographers. Helen is a really nice lady, and I enjoyed meeting her in person. She taught how she used Painter to paint from photographs and I learned some new things. This is detail from a painting that I did for another photographer, Cathy Benton, last year. It was the first little girl that I have done. I know I can do even better now, after seeing how I could have handled details a little differently in this painting. Could your child be next?

trash the canvas winner announced!

2009-12-15T11:24:00.004-05:00

I'm so happy! Things always work out, don't they?

Here is what I ended up doing with a disaster...I turned it into an opportunity.

http://www.simplycanvas.com/cashfortrash/

And here are all the pictures from that afternoon's brainstorm!

http://taunya.zenfolio.com/p375595718

Thank you Simply Canvas!

PPA's Super Monday:The Concept of a Conceptual World by Lissa Hatcher

2009-11-03T21:30:00.004-05:00

On Monday, October 25th, 2009 I attended a workshop given by Lissa Hatcher. We accompanied her on a photo session and were given an assignment, to find the picture within the picture.

It was about 4:30 p.m., the sky was overcast and it was windy and drizzling rain, not to mention cold! Watching Lissa work, was comforting and calming. I took some photographs of her working too. Here is my assignment. The picture within the picture. Below is the original image. Let me know what you think!

The progress of a painting

2009-10-08T12:20:00.004-04:00

Art can be very subjective! But I wanted to let you have an inside peek at what an almost finished portrait painting looks like. I've included the original photograph so you could see what I started with.

Photo Session of Cinda and Zeus

2009-10-06T15:57:00.004-04:00

I had the great pleasure of meeting up with Cinda and Zeus on a very warm September afternoon for some photo time. Here are my three favorites from the session. ~Taunya

Can you paint from an old photograph of mine?

2009-09-25T11:50:00.004-04:00

Can you paint from an old photograph of mine? I get asked this question a lot. And truthfully I always have to answer, "I don't know, until I see it." That was the case with this project. My client and now friend, had a wonderful idea...Wouldn't it be neat to turn this photo she had of Joe and his grandson, Luke into a painting. So she brought me the digital image and also some older photographs of Joe. I knew we needed a new background, so her and I talked about ideas. She went back home and took some photos for me, and this one of the shed worked perfect. I had to reconstruct Joe's eye from some earlier photographs, and his tail, and also Luke's tail. The bottom image is the final rendering in photoshop and it is ready for me to start painting now! The title will be "The Mentor Lives on! "Grandpa, will I be like you when I grow up?"

High School Seniors

2009-09-02T16:29:00.008-04:00

One of my most favorite subjects to photograph are high school seniors. They seem to enjoy themselves after we spend some time together...and I get these wonderful photos of them!

Here is one of my favorites! I'm going to try to upload a few more to my facebook page, so if you are on facebook....look me up under Taunya Tae Photography!

We are family!

2009-08-06T17:04:00.000-04:00

Here's a neat idea. My client wanted to see if we could get all four of her dogs onto one canvas. So we created this collage or grouping in a 16 x 20 format. What do you think?

Painting Doggies

2009-07-23T19:19:00.005-04:00

This is my latest painting...with modifications. It will be 24 x 30 on canvas. What a joy it was to paint these three doggies.

Dog Days of Summer is Saturday

2009-07-16T11:05:00.003-04:00

The fundraiser for the Isle of Wight County Humane Society is coming up! Today is Thursday and I'm working on the schedule and stuffing the goodie bags.

I found some cool fluffy rugs and blankets at the store last night and I can't wait to set-up the backgrounds and test things.

There are a few sessions times left in the afternoon as of 11 a.m. Thursday...so if you are procrastinating...you are in luck!

Call me 757-357-9508 and schedule your furry friend for a fun photo session!

smArts July in Smithfield

2009-07-10T10:50:00.002-04:00

I'll be exhibiting today, Friday, July 10 in downtown Smithfield during the smARTS event. I'll be at Imagine Art Studios and I think I'm going to be in front of the Ham Shoppe too.

Guy, my rescued bunny, had his "snip-snip" surgery yesterday (Animal Clinic of Eagle Harbor) and finally ate some lettuce for me this morning! I'm relieved! Thank you doctor McCrary and Hosp. Manager Ellen Norris for taking good care of my Guy, and thank you Isle of Wight County Humane Society for helping me with the surgery. It's nice to know people who are as nutty about their pets as I am. :-) And I say that with a generous dose of love.

Dog Days of Summer appointments are filling up. I can't believe it's next weekend. I have so much work to do to get ready yet! But I'm so looking forward to photographing everyone's pets.

So tonight, if you are out, please stop by to say hi.

When was the last time you had a family portrait?

;-)

Finding Inspiration

2009-06-30T11:07:00.003-04:00

Sometimes inspiration comes from unusual places. Check out this lady's video!

http://www.babelgum.com/html/clip.php?clipId=3020170

Meeting People

2009-06-30T10:06:00.005-04:00

Well, Friday and Saturday went well. All set-up on the porch of the Smithfield Inn with my photography and paintings. The Smithfield Inn's dining room and tavern were very busy in contrast with them not being busy last year during Olden Days. I met a lot of really nice people. A lot of them were tourists visiting our little town and some of them were people who knew me but had no idea that I was doing photography or painting.

I have not gotten one job or commission from the two days of sitting in the heat, but I really enjoyed talking with people about their love of photography and love of art. I also met some flautists from northern virginia, who inspired me to pull out my flute on Monday and play some scales...so who knows what the future holds for any of us. My biggest lesson that I learned over the weekend is that I'm not superwoman and I need to rest and restore so I can continue to be the best to my clients and to my family.

Today, even though I don't have enough money to pay for the things that make life happen, I can say that I love life and am looking forward to overcoming poverty. Not to mention that I'd like to banish the bronchitis that has been bothering me since May. So here's to smiling in the face of the enemy and pledging that I will not fear!

Olden Days on the porch of the Smithfield Inn

2009-06-19T12:42:00.002-04:00

I'll be setting up on the porch of the Smithfield Inn (www.smithfieldinn.com) next Friday, June 26th to promote my paintings and photography. I'll also be handing out Dog Days of Summer information and taking improv photos. So please come on out and visit with me Friday evening and then all day Saturday, providing the weather doesn't close me down!

See the 24x24 painting I did of Linda and her brother, sailing. Plus I'll have a portrait of Buddy, and a painting I did for my husband of a boat. Who knows what else I'll be showing off! But it's sure to be a good time...I can't wait! Hope to see you there!

WIDE 10 mm

2009-06-09T15:12:00.002-04:00

Now, here is the W I D E open version at 10 mm.

Fish Eye—Wide Angle Lens

2009-06-09T15:09:00.002-04:00

Well, I traded in two of my lenses for Canon's EFS 10-22mm lens. I think I like it!

I took some photos last night at Pawsitive Attitudes in Carrollton, so I could see just how far the lens would go. This first one is at 22 mm. Nice and wide!

2010 High School Seniors

2009-05-28T13:34:00.003-04:00

This is the first year that I've had time to think about what to do for High School Seniors. I've been researching what other photographers are offering their Senior clients. I have several ideas about what I can do to help the parents of next year's seniors.

But I'm willing to take ideas from parents or Seniors through my blog! So if you have an idea of how I could help with the expenses of getting your photography, please let me know! ~Taunya

Wow! What a weekend!

2009-05-26T11:08:00.003-04:00

Saturday I spent a few hours at Smithfield Assembly of God. The youth group was washing dogs to raise money for their missions trip here in the states. I want to say thanks to Darrin and Wayne for setting it up for me to share some time with the kids and dogs. I still have to process images and will have those done in a day or two to post on the gallery at www.taunya.zenfolio.com

And Sunday, I spent the entire day in Suffolk at Bridlewood Estates at my booth. I ran 200 feet of electrical extension cord and powered my laptop and huge monitor to display my photography and artworks! Thanks to everyone who stopped by to visit. Thank you Trish Hardy for helping with the logistics of the booth.

Now, some personal notes! My horse Ruutu had to have stitches on Friday. Him and another pasture mate got to playing and Ruutu got injured. It's just near the corner of his left eye and yesterday (Monday) it was looking like it was infected. So, I've got his Doctor Jessica to prescribe him some antibiotics! Yeah! One more thing to take care of! That's okay, anyone who knows me, knows I love my animals. Which, by the way, Bagheera is doing fine living out in the back yard, and the new bunny, Guy Varley seems to be settling in just fine in his bunny condo above Pixie Sticks. oxoxox taunya

Revised my studio logo!

2009-05-21T13:44:00.004-04:00

I revised my logo this month. I finally found a font that I liked! I have been updating my website and my printed pieces slowly. And I also got the logo put on the back of my truck.

I'm so excited I have to share this with you! I am trading in two lenses and I'll be getting a Canon Wide Angle lens. This lens will be another tool for me to use to create wonderful portraits and paintings from!

It's another slow day in the studio...but that's okay. Because I have a ton of things to do! My website is getting updated and I'm actually taking time to design my own promotional materials. Usually I don't get time to work on my own stuff, 'cause I'm so busy working for everyone else.

The sun is shining today. I ate lunch on the back porch, which was nice, without bugs yet. And in the company of my dogs and cat. I even took a few minutes and attacked some pesky weeds that are invading my green sanctuary. I hope to get some time to ride my horse, Ruutu, this evening.

New Day

2009-05-19T14:19:00.000-04:00

It's windy out today...but the sun is shining. Slow day in the studio...a great day to start the blog.