Rooted and Refocused: What I Took Away From the Root to Rise Retreat

Last week I attended the Root to Rise retreat, and I came home with something I didn’t expect.

Clarity.

Running a business while being a mom of three, a wife, and working full time can sometimes feel like trying to hold a dozen spinning plates at once. I love photography deeply, but I also want my business to support my life — not compete with it.

During the retreat we spent time evaluating our work, our goals, and the direction of our businesses. When my coach reviewed my portfolio and we talked through my schedule, something really important became clear.

My photography has evolved.

And it was time for my business to evolve with it.

Leaning Into What I Love Most

Over the past year my studio has really become the heart of Tara Lee Photography.

It’s where I photograph newborns wrapped up peacefully in their first days of life.

It’s where I capture milestone giggles and cake smash celebrations.

And it’s where families slow down long enough to simply be together.



Studio sessions allow me to create timeless portraits in a calm, controlled space where families can relax and kids can just be kids.

Inside the studio, we don’t have to worry about things like weather, wind, or chasing the last bit of sunlight before it disappears. Instead, we can focus on connection and genuine moments.

Moving forward, I’m intentionally leaning more into studio photography.

This includes:

• Newborn sessions

• Milestone and cake smash sessions

• Studio family portraits

• Branding sessions

This shift allows me to create a more intentional experience for families while also creating a schedule that protects my own family time.

Why Families Love Studio Sessions

One of the biggest things I’ve come to appreciate about studio sessions is how comfortable and relaxed they are for families.

Inside the studio, we don’t have to worry about:

• bugs buzzing around little ones

• summer heat or sweat during photos

• freezing temperatures in the colder months

• wind blowing hair everywhere

• or kids feeling rushed before the sun sets

Instead, families walk into a space that is already prepared for them.

The lighting is perfect, the environment is calm, and everything is designed to make the experience easy and enjoyable.

Parents can relax.

Kids can be themselves.

And we can create portraits that feel natural and timeless.

Many families are surprised at how simple and relaxed the experience feels once they try a studio session.

Simplifying My Fall Calendar

If you’ve followed my photography journey for a while, you know fall used to be a very busy outdoor season.

Golden hour sessions, late evenings, and weekends filled with back-to-back family sessions.

While I loved capturing those moments, it often meant being away from my own family during some of our favorite seasons together.

So this year, I’m simplifying things a bit.

Instead of opening a full outdoor fall calendar, I will be offering a limited number of Fall Family Petite Sessions.

Just 33 sessions total for the entire season.

Introducing Fall Family Petite Sessions

These sessions are designed to be quick, relaxed, and beautiful.

They take place outdoors during the soft golden light of fall evenings and are perfect for updating family portraits or creating images for holiday cards.

Each session includes:

• 20 minute outdoor session

• 5 edited digital images

• Immediate family portraits

• Photographer-selected location

• Option to purchase additional images

Because these sessions are intentionally limited, they tend to fill quickly each year.

And once they’re gone, the fall calendar closes.

Why This Change Matters to Me

This shift isn’t about doing less.

It’s about doing what matters most.

It means spending more time photographing the sessions I truly love — newborns, milestones, studio families — and more evenings spent at home with my boys.

It means running a business that feels rooted, intentional, and sustainable.

And most importantly, it allows me to continue serving families in a way that feels meaningful and aligned with the heart behind Tara Lee Photography.

Fall Family Petite Sessions Open This Summer

Fall Family Petite Sessions will open for booking later this summer, with just 33 spots available.

If you’d like first access when the calendar opens, be sure you're on my email list.

I can’t wait to capture so many beautiful families this fall.

xo,

Tara

Tara Lee Photography