Meet Tara Krauss | Photographer & Business Owner

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

Hi Tara, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am from a small town in western Montana. Everything about my background has impacted who I am today. Before I was born, my dad was a Marine in Vietnam. I was raised with a high emphasis on integrity and loyalty, in other words, Semper Fi (‘always faithful’). That experience shaped my dad as much as having him as a father shaped me. I have so much respect for who he is, his life’s priorities, the way he cared for our family, his loyalty to my mom and his compassion for his customers. My mom’s quiet strength, dedication and support were key components of every aspect of the life they created together.

I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My dad went to trade school after Vietnam, returned to our hometown in Montana and began a business with my mom. I saw, on a daily basis, the hard work, the commitment, sacrifice and struggles of being a small business owner in a rural area. I saw this with my parents’ business, my grandparents’ business, my aunts/uncles’ businesses— they were all entrepreneurs! I observed all of this as a child, but I wish I could go back with the knowledge I have now as an adult business owner and study the trial and error that surrounded each of my family’s businesses. Each family business served a different segment of our community; each one carved out its own path to success. As different as each business was, the underlying principle was the basis for the business, ie the people it served.

I ‘accidentally’ fell into entrepreneurship after following in the footsteps of my dad and brother in the military. As I mentioned, my dad was a Marine, my brother was in the Air Force after graduating from USAFA, and I graduated from the US Merchant Marine Academy and served in the Naval Reserve. To me, the link between country and family is a parallel bond with deep roots. I am so very grateful for where I was raised and how my family raised me. Americana values are at the core of who we are, and these values are the foundation for the way in which I interact with the world.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I find these questions interesting, an implied arrival of success. I think every path, personal and professional, has challenges. And, I think every path of growth will continue to have challenges as you continue toward your goals. When the challenges cease, so does that forward momentum. When I look back on my starting point as a photographer and compare that with where I am now, I don’t see a straight line. As a photographer I am visual person, so I see this path as a windy road switching up and back along a mountainside. I continue up the mountain toward the summit, but with each new scenic vista along the way I realize the importance of the climb- the personal and professional growth. I feel that the most important lesson I have learned is that a goal is a moving target because once you achieve it there is always another one ahead of it just like the mile markers along that mountain road.

I work with purpose and heart, and I strive for meaning and value in all of my endeavors. I want others to know that there is more depth in my skills beyond my current speciality of headshot photography. Everything I have learned in photography over the past few decades have accumulated in my ‘toolbox’ that I bring to each client. I am proud of my skills, but what really gets me excited is when I hear the comments of how I have such a unique gift of bringing heart into a photograph and a way of capturing people authentically. I feel I have succeeded when I photograph someone in a way that gives them the opportunity to see that they are so much more than the reflection they see in the mirror. This is the depth that I strive for in my work. We all have our challenges, our successes, our flaws and our gifts, so when I can wrap all of that together into one moment and make that moment beautiful, then I have succeeded.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
During my years in New York City, New Orleans, Seattle, Washington, DC and Asia, the urban adventures were my favorite. Now that I am older, I see my preferences reverting back to experiences similar to that of my time in Montana. I love spending time in nature enjoying simple activities. If I had a week to show someone a special place in Colorado, I would drive them about 3 hours southwest of Denver. There I have found a valley nestled between two small towns that looks and feels very much like my Montana home. We would explore those small towns with the galleries, book stores, coffee shops, distilleries, restaurants and farmers markets. We would picnic at the parks alongside the river that rolls through the towns. We would head out into the nearby mountains and explore the remnants of ghost towns, hike the trails, take in the views at the continental divide and, of course, capture the moments and scenery with camera in hand. At night, we would share stories around a campfire under the starlit sky surrounded by the silhouettes of the trees and mountains. The idea of reconnecting with a friend in such a relaxed atmosphere makes my soul happy!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
From a personal aspect, I am so appreciative of the support my husband has given me in the pursuit of my photography career. It’s been a lot to juggle at times with the military service, his deployments, kids and creating my business anew with each military move. Just as I stood beside him so he could fulfill his professional roles, he has always extended me the same respect and encouragement. I am very thankful for him and the life we have created together.

From a professional aspect, I am grateful for Peter Hurley’s Headshot Crew. I have learned from many photographers over the course of my career, but Peter and the Crew have had the most impact on my professional growth. In that community, I’ve been intensely inspired and challenged to elevate my skills. Participation in the Crew has been a pivotal experience in my photographic journey.

Website: www.parkerheadshots.com, www.tarakraussphotography.com, www.tarakrauss.com

Instagram: instagram.com/parker_headshots/, instagram.com/tarakraussphotography/, https://www.instagram.com/tara_krauss/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarakrauss/

Facebook: facebook.com/parkerheadshots/, https://www.facebook.com/tarajkrauss

Other: tara@parkerheadshots.com, tara@tarakraussphotography.com