We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tara Krauss. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tara below.
Tara, appreciate you joining us today. Along with taking care of clients, taking care of our team is one of the most important things we can do as leaders. Looking back on your journey, did you have a boss that was really great? Maybe you can tell us about that boss and what made them a wonderful person to work for?
I graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy in 1996. That spring before graduation, a New Orleans shipping company recruited at the academy for various positions within the company. The company extended job offers to a handful of graduating midshipmen- myself included. I had never been to New Orleans before and the transition from New York to New Orleans was as large as the transition from Montana to New York had been 4 years earlier.
The summer after graduation, we filtered into the company and were dispersed among the various departments. I didn’t know then what an impact my department assignment would have on me, both professionally and personally. My boss led by example- he provided opportunities to learn the ins and out of the industry, he assigned me tasks just beyond the reach of my capability so I could expand, he went above and beyond the role of supervisor to set me up for success within the company and the industry, but most of all, he believed in me. He saw character traits in me that I was too young to realize I had. He introduced me with pride and a smile as the one who would be his boss someday. He led with firm ideals, clear expectations and a kind heart. He cared not only for the employee on the clock, but the young person stepping out into the world making my own way.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost 30 years since that time in my life. As I think back to those days, I realize that I must be about the age now that my boss was when he took me under his wing. This dual perspective between then and now has given me insight as to how to positively engage with people along all points of the professional spectrum. I no longer work as a cargo coordinator in the maritime industry, but the skills I learned from those years in New Orleans have been ingrained in how I present myself professionally as well as how I conduct myself personally.
And sometimes, on a hot, humid summer day, my senses bring me back to the road trips, from port to port, the introductions to the hard-working people of America’s heartland and my boss sharing a lifetime of knowledge with me. I won the ‘boss lottery’ that day in New Orleans in 1996, and I am forever grateful for the roles this man has played in my life- boss, mentor and friend.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Let me introduce myself- my name is Tara Krauss. For 12 years I have lived in the Pinery neighborhood of Parker in the south Denver metro. The Navy brought us to Colorado, and it is here we have made our home and are raising our family. My one criteria during the Colorado house hunt was that I have a studio with outside access that doesn’t go through our living spaces. In 2011 we found and purchased that home, and in 2016 that space was completely remodeled into the studio that it is today. As a 20 year Navy wife, my first devotion has always been to my family. When my husband was deployed, I was the parent holding down the fort. Having a home studio was an integral piece of our lifestyle that I needed to be the best wife, best mom and best photographer I could be.
In this studio, I have a special setup for headshots bringing modern, studio headshots to our community. I was raised in a small town (much smaller than Parker) but I have also embraced my time in the bigger cities. I know what it’s like to not have the amenities that larger cities provide. I set out to bring this professional service to the south metro so people wouldn’t have to travel into Denver. My headshot photography provides city style with small town convenience.
With frequent military moves, I am very aware of how many talented photographers exist in our communities. In Denver, I struck out to make a name for myself in providing headshot photography services in a different way. Colorado is beautiful and there are many natural light photographers doing environmental headshots. I wanted to share my skills in a way that provides a service off the beaten path that complements our growing urban area. Studio headshots with an emphasis on expression captured with specialized lighting is the direction that appealed to me and fit a need for professionals.
I find it very rewarding to be part of a network of photographers providing this style of headshot photography. I value this network and the referrals I have received from across this country and even beyond. Making a name for yourself requires that you constantly ‘up your game,’ finesse your style, improve your approach and strengthen your perceived weaknesses. I never want to let anyone down whether it be a client, a referring photographer or myself. Settling is stagnating, so I choose and pursue growth whenever opportunities arise. It can be a tricky balance to approach life in this way because hard times and failure are also excellent learning opportunities. That’s when grounding in compassion and kindness, for yourself and others, brings it all home. For me, it’s just as important to be known as a good person as well as a good photographer- striving each day to be the best version of both that I can be.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Early in my photography journey, I had to pivot. I began with a love for landscapes when we lived in Washington state. Puget Sound stoked my creative fires and I channeled that enthusiasm into creating images that mirrored the beautiful landscapes around me. I enjoyed the simple pace of selling my artwork at the local farmers markets. But with a change of duty station for my husband on active duty with the Navy came a change in my photography focus as well. No longer was I surrounded by mountains and water, but instead the urban landscape of the DC metro. Although beauty could be found in this new area, the pulse of the community was vastly different. I received request upon request to photograph people- babies, children, senior, musicians and events. I pivoted and combined the photography I knew with what I had yet to learn and embraced a new direction. When the Navy brought us from the east coast to Colorado, the pace of this area was different than the one we had just left. This is when I embraced the concept of specializing in professional headshots. I think with every entrepreneur and artist there will come a time when what you want and what the people want won’t always align. That’s when you get creative and approach what you do from a different angle to best serve your interests and the needs of your community.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I feel that my entire photography journey has been a path of resilience. Every move brought about new challenges, new communities, new needs, and new ways to circulate my name within those communities. Facing these challenges became routine after experiencing them so many times. One of the most difficult situations I have faced was the wait to be matched with our adopted child. We waited for 6 years and 3 moves during this process. I set up her bedroom 3 times in 3 houses in 3 different states. Yet, we waited. We were finally matched with a beautiful little girl when we moved to Parker. The desired 2 year age difference between our first child and this child stretched out to 10 years. The momentum I had built around my photography came to an abrupt, voluntary stop. I had missed the first 15 months of this baby’s life, and there was nothing that would prevent me from this special bonding time with her. The only times I used my camera for the next several years was to capture family memories. (And, I created some beautiful portraits of my children within this time that I see every day on our walls.)
As all stages of life do, these first few years of having our daughter home passed. Our son was in high school, our daughter was entering grade school and it was time for me to advance as well. It was then that I really honed in on headshots and went full speed ahead. The momentum in my business has been building ever since. As I look back on my life, I see it has all played out just the way it was supposed to be. I’m grateful for each and every step along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.parkerheadshots.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parker_headshots/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parkerheadshots
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarakrauss/
Image Credits
Tara Krauss, Parker Headshots