Meet Tara Carter: Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tara Carter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tara, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
A friend of mine actually noticed my interest in photography and asked if I would take pictures of a recent project she had just completed. I was doubtful but she saw my ability and trusted my eye. I took the photos and realized how much I loved the whole experience. It combined my love for design, art, and photography and sparked my creativity energy. I realized then I could turn my hobby into a tangible job that I could create into a career.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think what I love about my work is the collaboration and the relationships I build with my client. I love working with interior designers, hearing their vision for their projects and then being able to capture that through my photos. I think thats what makes my work unique and what excites me the most about my career. My initial challenge within my field was my lack of experience or knowledge in the beginning. I knew no one in the photography field taking pictures of design. Most of my photographer friends did weddings or portraits so I started to reach out to other interior design photographers and I took classes online to learn the technical side of photography and how to run a business. It was really hard and sometimes daunting. I also had three young children under the age of 5 so I was busy. When I look back on my work I was doing 6 years ago, I can see how much I have learned and grown since I started. And I still am learning and meeting challenges. Every project I take on is a challenge. I am always working in new spaces, different light, new clients – nothing is ever the same. I think that’s what keeps me moving and encourages me to continue to do photography. I am really proud of where I am now and my journey.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I have lived in the Atlanta area for 11 years and I am still finding new places to explore and eat. What makes Atlanta so unique is it’s history, diversity, and the food that exist around the city. We would of course hit all the important historical and prominent tourists spots in Atlanta but most of my friend’s visit would circle around food, particularly carbs. I love the doughnuts at Revolution Doughnuts. The plain vanilla glazed is a favorite and reminds me of biting into a marshmallow. They have some of the best raised doughnuts in town. I am also partial to Sara’s Donuts near my home in Duluth. Their sour cream doughnut turned me onto old fashioned doughnuts and the apple fritters are great! I would definitely take them to Korean BBQ, a pho spot along Buford Highway, and a stop at Umaido in Suwanee for ramen. In recent years, many of Atlanta’s suburbs have been revitalized and offer unique options to hang out. Our town of Duluth has a great vibe downtown so we would also grab a drink from Good Word and stop at one of my favorite stores to shop – Personify and Hello Rainbow. And at the end of our food tour if we need some relaxation, I would suggest going to Spaland one of a few Korean Spas in the area. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My friend Natalie. She was the one who saw my potential and encouraged me to put myself out there.

Website: www.taracarterphotography.com

Instagram: @taracarterphotography

Image Credits
Design by Duett Design, Morse Design, Orange & Orange Interior Design, and Thought Starter Design