Here at Calluna we are always looking for new ways to highlight and honor some of the amazing creative partners we get to work with. We feel incredibly fortunate to work with some seriously talented vendors in the industry, and we want to show them off to you in our new Calluna Community Series! We will sit down with some of the fabulous vendors of Colorado and get to know about them, their business and what life is like behind the scenes. Stay tuned for more!This week for Calluna Community we caught up with Tara of Tara Bielecki Photography Cheers!
Xo, Calluna
Describe what you do!
“On the surface, I’m a fine art, film wedding photographer. Meaning I photograph primarily on film and use a mostly editorial approach to capture a wedding day. However there’s so much more to it than the photography aspect!
I am heavily experience driven. From the second a couple books with me, I go into full on planning mode behind the scenes for them. I have several check-in points throughout the engagement to set us all up for success on the wedding day and to ensure a single thing isn’t missed. I also have a few surprises along the way for my couples to show how excited I am to be apart of this process with them. On the wedding day I am there every step of the way with them, ensuring we’re capturing everything to the best of our ability and the conditions given, I am crying behind my camera during the tearful first looks, meaningful toasts, and emotional first dances. At the end of the process I want my clients to feel like I was there every step of the way with them, supporting them and and delivering a final product that they can be proud of for generations to come because the images will always stand the test of time and passing trends.”
What is your idea of a dream project?
“I have been so lucky when it comes to projects and editorials! This is totally a testament to how amazing our wedding industry is. I’ve had projects from NYC to the Southwest to the Pacific coast and each of them have been so very special. The standout projects have always been ones that were well organized on the front end and collaborative amongst all vendors. I always want each vendor to walk away feeling like they put their unique stamp on the project – that each of us to felt like we created in our own right because that’s what it’s all about, fulfilling a creative drive and enhancing our community by lifting each other up. I love collaborative projects!”
What has been your favorite wedding that you have worked, or attended?
“I don’t know that I could ever pick one wedding from the past nine years! However, I will say that the things my favorite weddings have had in common are attention to meaningful details, have had a heavy focus on the meaning and emotions of what a new marriage is, they’ve had strong vendor teams that have executed the couple’s dream wedding effortlessly, and they were the ones that were filled with joy and celebration no matter the circumstances. There are sometimes things we can’t control, like the weather, and I’ve always enjoyed the couples who don’t sweat over the little things on a wedding day because they know this day is about something so much bigger – it’s about love and all that it can do.”
What does your morning routine look like?
“I start my mornings with a cup or Yerba Matte before I do anything else! I use this time to reflect on the day ahead or maybe do some light meditating. I usually dedicate 45 minutes to cardio and deep stretching after that to get the blood flowing since I’ll likely be sitting behind my computer working on client materials or editing for the rest of the day. I typically round out my morning with a walk to my favorite local coffee shop, Blue Sparrow, with my Miniature Pinscher, Bella. Then I’m ready for work! I’m a pretty type-a personality when it comes to my work day, so I always start with working on a list for the day and prioritizing what needs to be accomplished. Lists keep me on pace throughout the day!”
What are some of your favorite trends that you are seeing?
“I’m mostly loving the shift we’re seeing back into thoughtful details that are meant to enhance the feeling of the wedding day. When I ask my 2018 and 2019 couples to describe their wedding day, I find they’re no longer describing the style of it, but rather the feeling of it and what they want their guests to experience. It’s been such a fun shift in conversation during my consultations! When choosing specific trends, I am loving that more color is being incorporated into wedding days through florals and decor and textured linens. These are just a couple of easy ways to put a fresh spin on old trends!”
What advice would you give to a younger you? ”
Oh boy! So many things I would love to tell my younger self, though I have no regrets of the path I’ve walked. I guess what I would say to younger people in the industry is to trust the process and don’t rush through it. Like all good things building your business takes time, loads of persistence and a strong community. Be patient with yourself and put in the hours required. I definitely would have told younger me to give myself more grace through the times I’ve stumbled or where things weren’t totally perfect. In retrospect, the imperfect moments or doors closed were a beautiful lesson of growth.”
What makes you excited to go to work in the morning?
“People! Though not in the way you would think, since I work from home. My clients and peers are what drive me every single day. So though I may not see them every day, knowing that I need to keep pushing forward and working hard for these humans is what drives my very soul. I come from a customer service background and I love to go above and beyond for people in all facets of my business. That means I need to have strong and efficient workflows, I need to be highly communicative, and I need to deliver and final product that exceeds expectations. These are the small things I’m continually making tweaking in my day to day business to ensure the best possible service from initial consultation to delivery of a full wedding gallery.”
What is your favorite cocktail, or what are you drinking tonight?
“My absolute favorite cocktail is a Manhattan on the rocks with either Breckenridge Bourbon or Bulleit Bourbon and light on the sweet vermouth. I’m a sucker for a good bourbon!”
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