Light Knows Where to Find the Wild
Hi, I'm Tara,
Charleston native. Light chaser. Story seeker.
I got my first camera when I was twelve. A little blue Kodak that fit in my palm, and suddenly the world looked different. I started with the quiet things: marsh grasses bending in the wind, footprints disappearing into sand, the way light caught on ordinary objects and made them extraordinary. Then I turned the lens on people, and everything changed. I learned early that the most powerful images show off the cracks and raw edges. So that's what I've been chasing for over a decade now. I work with a mentor who taught me the technical side, but the real education came from watching people see themselves through my lens and realize they were stunning all along. Now I shoot elopements under live oaks, families in all their beautiful chaos, anyone brave enough to show up exactly as they are. This work isn't just about making art. It's about making you feel seen in a way that shifts something inside you. Because sometimes it takes another person's eyes to show you the light you've been carrying all along.
The Experience
I don't follow a formula. Some sessions feel quiet, others break wide open with movement and laughter. What stays the same is this: I'm paying attention. To the way you hold yourself when no one's looking. To the shift when you soften into your own skin. We'll find good light and the truth living underneath. When you see the images later, I want that pull of recognition. That strange, stunning moment of witnessing yourself as you've always existed. Like "Oh, there I am".
fun facts about me
Every story asks to be told differently
What Kind of Light Are You Chasing?
Maybe you're standing at a threshold, about to say vows under spanish moss with only the wind as witness. Maybe your family is gathered and loud and perfectly imperfect, and you want to remember this exact constellation of people before time scatters you again. Maybe you need someone to look at you the way you've forgotten to look at yourself. Whatever brought you here, there's a session that fits. Not because I've boxed everything into neat categories, but because I know how to listen to what you're actually asking for. The images we make together will depend entirely on what you need to feel, to remember, to become. Let me show you what's possible when we stop trying to fit your story into someone else's frame.
When I'm not behind the lens
you'll find me taking my dog Bernie Sanders on an adventure walk or negotiating with my cat Curry about who really owns the couch.
Im a sucker for a good mystery novel
I've read nearly all of Riley Sager's books.
I grew up by the ocean
so the scent of salt air just feels like home
I'm obsessed with thrifting
I have thrifted almost the entirety of my closet and home decor
My happy place is:
the kitchen filled with music, herbs and a well crafted cocktail
"I always love booking photography sessions with Tara for any occasion I can."
"Not only are all the photos always stunning, but the biggest thing for me is how easy, comfortable & fun she makes the process. I’m never quite sure how to pose or exactly the look I’m going for, but she somehow always manages to envision what I see, & bring it to life perfectly, while also making it an actually fun outing." | Madeline P.
"Tara Leigh Photography captures magic in her pictures."
My family has worked with Tara many times. She is professional and makes you feel comfortable in any environment. She is able to bring out the beauty of simple moments and turns them into fine art. She is unbelievably talented, and I recommend everyone to choose her to capture your special moments. | Courtney B.
"I have had numerous amazing experiences during my sessions with Tara Leigh!"
"She makes you feel very comfortable with her easy going personality. Tara shows up to sessions with many of her own talented ideas however she is always open to creative ideas of her clients. She has a way of making her sessions fun and playful, you’ll truly feel like a friend is snapping your photos. Tara will capture your special life moments flawlessly creating timeless photos to forever relive." | Tori L.