Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacie Tatum.
Stacie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a lifestyle & documentary family and newborn photographer based in Dallas. I specialize in capturing real life moments and events. I’ve had a passion for photography since I was a kid. I constantly had a camera in my hands and I took every photography class that I could in high school and college. Eventually it evolved into creating portraits for friends and family. One day I came home from my office job and my husband, a web designer, told me he made me a website, and that’s when my business started to take off. For over a decade, I primarily photographed weddings. I loved the photojournalistic aspect and telling the story of such an important day. When I had twins 13 years ago, it felt like a natural progression to photograph kids and families. Over the years I’ve done nearly every type of photography there is, and it led me to figuring out what I really love.
My favorite types of sessions have always been the ones that capture real life. Real life is messy and chaotic, but there is so much beauty in it and I love being able to show some of that. My focus is now on lifestyle, documentary, and event photography. I really love documentary kids’ birthday party photography – it combines candid photos, storytelling, capturing joy, and documenting major milestones.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have definitely been some bumps along the way; starting and maintaining a business always has its challenges. When I started my business, I was also working a full-time job and it was often hard to find a balance. After I went to full-time photography and had kids, I had to find a whole new balance, which wasn’t easy! There have been many times over the years when I’ve debated if I should choose a more steady, traditional job, but ultimately I didn’t want to give up something that I was so passionate about, so I made it work despite the challenges.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Stacie Tatum Photography?
I specialize in lifestyle & documentary photography for families, newborns, and birthday parties. Real life and genuine moments are my focus. It’s so important to see the beauty in the everyday, ordinary moments that pass so quickly. Kids grow up so fast and I want to help parents capture babyhood and childhood in a way that makes them look back on how amazing those early years are.
The sessions I offer include First 48 sessions to document the very first days of a baby’s life, lifestyle family photos to capture the bonds and unique personalities of a family, Day in the Life sessions to record a real day in a family’s life, and documentary event and birthday party photography to capture real, candid moments and emotions to help people remember their big day.
My focus on documentary birthday party photography for kids sets me apart from other photographers. I wanted to go beyond the typical cake smash and birthday portraits. When I photograph a birthday party, I make sure to document everything from the smallest detail to the biggest moment. When a client tells me they’re looking for a photographer who will capture the joy of the day and candid photos of guests enjoying themselves, I know that we’re a good fit. When they tell me that their photos capture an event, milestone, or their child’s personality perfectly, I know they will cherish those photos forever.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
As phone cameras get better, and people have more ability to edit their photos, it won’t be enough to be able to take a pretty picture. It will become even more important for photographers to really know how to master composition and lighting, plus provide a service that people won’t be able to get just from using their phone camera. As it gets easier to take a “perfect” picture, I think it will be more important than ever to find a way to give clients a more unique, special experience.
Pricing:
- Event photography starts at $475
- Lifestyle & documentary sessions range from $350-$1250
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stacietatum.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacietatum/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StacieTatumPhotography
Image Credits
Headshot by Pinkletoes Photography
All other images by Stacie Tatum Photography
