Portrait Expressions Blog

portrait of: autumn

Tammy Councilman — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:49:12 +0000

Autumn is my favorite time of year and I always enjoy getting outdoors with my families and shooting their family portraits! Finding new locations is always fun too so when we decided to shoot at the Oak Ridge Town Park I couldn’t wait! What a surprise to find that in addition to the enornmous football field and playground area, there are walking trails that take you through the woods that opens up to a beautiful field and pond. When you think of fields of gold, you have to think of this place! I really enjoyed the beauty of the outdoors and spending the afternoon with this family. Looking forward to putting up their gallery!

New Site Launched!

Tammy Councilman — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:51:45 +0000

Portrait Expressions has launched a brand new site! You can now visit Portrait Expressions by Tammy at http://www.portraitexpressionsbytammy.com. Please check back for updates as I roll out the new products for 2010.

Thank you to all my clients for making this possible!

portrait of: baby, baby!

Tammy Councilman — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:30 +0000

This session has to be one of my most favorite sessions in a long time. These little guys are very special, and their story is one that I hold closely to my heart. Their mom and I went to high school together and were reunited through Facebook. Little did we know that we would forge a much deeper friendship as adults, and that these precious babies would be at the center of it all. It was such a privilege to spend the afternoon photographing and holding little R and little A and I know that little M was looking down on us all along.

portrait of: Kate

Tammy Councilman — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:55:45 +0000

It is with a heavy heart that I finally write this post. A little over three months ago I lost a very dear friend to cancer. It happened suddenly with very little warning. There was no time to prepare. No time to gather friends and family for the fight. Kate was here and then she wasn’t.

I have grieved Kate since the last time I saw her and kissed her goodbye. Not a single day goes by that I don’t think of her and miss her terribly. She was the reason I finally mustered up the courage to start a blog and share my work in a personal way. You may remember some of the very first images posted on here showcasing her beautiful family and the life of a six pack. Kate left behind a husband who loves and adores her very much and six great kids. When I photographed Kate and her family earlier this year, there was no way we could have known it would be the last time their family would be photographed together. This is the way we all remember her. Full of life and love and surrounded by the family she loved so much.

A few weeks ago Kate’s husband invited our family over to decorate their house for Halloween. Kate loved all the holidays so it was a real tribute to her. These were a couple of images I took in the midst of draping the whole house in cobwebs. Aiden, their youngest son sat down in the grass right next to the arbour his dad built in her memory. Kate lives on in the brightest part of the sunniest day, the comfort of a hug from a long lost friend, and the quiet moments that make you realize it’s true. Love really has no end.

portrait of: summer wedding

Tammy Councilman — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:35:52 +0000

I love summer weddings. Maybe it’s because I was a June bride. Maybe it’s because the mixture of the sultry southern air and jasmine makes for a romantic setting. Or maybe it’s the way the sun slinks down the horizon at the end of the day. Whatever the reason, I’m always excited to photograph summer weddings, especially the ones outside among the trees and God’s green earth. When my dear friend and talented photographer, Sally Gupton, invited me to assist shooting Audrey and Jon’s wedding at Grassy Creek Vineyards in Elkin, NC I was thrilled. The landscape was beautiful, and could only be topped by the gorgeous couple this day was meant for. Thank you Audrey and Jon for allowing me to share this beautiful August afternoon with you.

portrait of: summer

Tammy Councilman — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:00:05 +0000

I don’t have a green thumb. Never have and probably never will! But I’ve been very fortunate to have dear friends who do and are always willing to share the fruits of their labor. About a week ago, my friend Laura gave me another bushel of yummy zucchini and squash and tomotoes and I promised her I wouldn’t let these veggies be eaten before we got a picture of her hard work! Without further ado: Laura’s veggies (sans the one tomato we couldn’t resist eating)

portrait of: beauty

Tammy Councilman — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:00:39 +0000

People tell me all the time, almost always adults, “I don’t photograph well!” or “I hate having my picture taken!” As women I think we’re especially critical of ourselves. I know for myself, I’d rather be behind the lens than in front of it! But I think most of us still secretly crave that one picture of ourselves when we felt the most beautiful, the most confident that years later we can look back and smile and proudly say, “that was me!”

This session was unique for several reasons but the one thing that stands out the most for me is that I think we as women, sometimes lose sight of what real beauty is. Real beauty is not about being a size two, or dying our hair the perfect shade of red or brown or blonde. It’s not about convincing ourselves one face cream is better than another OR that our life won’t go on without it. It’s about being empowered and embracing who we are and feeling confident about WHO that is. Taking chances and taking ourselves less seriously. Living our lives, not for someone else, but for ourselves. That, is real beauty.

portrait of: Just Married!

Tammy Councilman — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:26:56 +0000

I’ve been absent for awhile, consumed by projects small and large, the biggest one being my new website that goes up in a few weeks. It’s been therapeutic to get back to business and post some of the things I’ve been up to. I had the privilege of joining a very dear friend of mine, Sally Gupton, as a second shooter last month to photograph the wedding of Paula and Jordan. Paula is a woman after my own heart, a ballet dancer from the School of the Arts. I met her fiance Jordan the day of the wedding and had a terrific time hanging out with the guys before the wedding. They are a gorgeous couple!

portrait of: trash the dress

Tammy Councilman — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:54:22 +0000

The wedding’s over, the honeymoon spent, and your dress is just hanging in the closet right? Why not seize the opportunity to put your dress on one last time and have some FUN! If you or a friend has a wedding gown that’s collecting dust and you’d like the chance to wear it again without worrying about getting it dirty, then here’s your chance! I’m looking for ladies who are willing to “trash the dress” for a project I’m putting together to display some new ideas I have for contemporary wedding design. Shots will be taken at various locations over the Triad, indoors and outdoors, there are no limits to your creative ideas or mine!

If you’re interested, please email me at tammycouncilman@aol.com and reserve your spot today!

portrait of: wee one

Tammy Councilman — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:33:18 +0000

A few weeks ago I sent out an email blast on Facebook looking for some brand-spankin’-new newborns and got an overwhelming response! I’ve had several projects waiting in the wings, one of which included some ideas I have for newborn sessions. While little “Q” isn’t quite a “new” newborn anymore he was so easy to work with that I told mom he has to be THE easiest wee one I’ve ever worked with! He never once fussed in spite of the multiple poses and wardrobe changes (or lack of!) and moving him around. I hope mom is as pleased as I am!