Tara Lynn shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Tara, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
The beach! I could sit and listen to the waves for hours or get lost in a good book. The beach is my happy happy happy place where I don’t care what could be on any to do list. It refreshes my soul.
I also love to puzzle during the Christmas holiday break. I will give myself five more minutes and then realize it’s after 1am. I love the challenge. I sometimes listen to music, but often enjoy having my brain totally focused on the visual challenge with nothing else to think about.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a born-and-raised Southern gal and mom of three tiny humans and our rescue dog, Boone. (Forever mom to Baxter 2008-2023) After 15+ years as a TV news reporter, I traded breaking news for stories that celebrate love, laughter, and real moments for dog-loving families and brands.
As a pet photographer in Raleigh, North Carolina, my style is vibrant, heartfelt, and polished, capturing the kind of love that makes your heart ache in the best way. My goal is to capture meaningful moments that celebrate love and connection, helping families and brands hold onto the stories that matter most. Through this work, I aim to create and share moments of beauty that inspire hope, beyond the frame. Because the world needs more love and kindness.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I always thought I would have to go live in another country or experience some sort of solo adventure (like backpacking through Europe or serving on a mission trip in a 3rd world country) to “find” myself. TV shows in the 90’s probably fed a lot of this idea. I also had such a great childhood, that I may have thought life was too easy for me to really make it in the “real world.” I think another part of that belief may have been that I couldn’t have a real impact on the world unless I had some crazy story of adversity to tell. I’ve faced plenty of adversity now to know that life will grow you and stretch you without having to experience extreme environments or situations. No matter how you grew up or where you are in your life right now, you can make a positive impact. Each part of our journey has a purpose.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I had an eating disorder for two years (senior year of high school and freshman year of college). It started as part of an exercise program to stay in shape after high school sports ended. My type-A-perfectionist personality took it to an extreme. It then morphed into a sense of control while I was away from home as a freshman at college. If I could control how many calories I had each day, I would somehow prove to myself that I was in control of my life. Counting calories became a coping mechanism. I’d write out what I ate multiple times a day on my school work. What was a coping mechanism soon became a cage that controlled me. Control falsely creates a sense of safety. But I’ve learned through that experience and others that once you finally let go of what you are desperately trying to control, you will grow and find so much freedom to soar. Ultimately, I had to let go of what I thought the numbers on the scale meant. I experienced something similar in 2024 with my photography business. I had started tying my self-worth to my business revenue. I worked hard in 2025 to shift my mindset and find joy in my business rather than fearing failure. And guess what…2025 has been the best year of my photography business in North Carolina.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Kindness. Love is the most powerful force for positive change we have. By showing kindness to others in simple and big ways, we can make our communities a safer and more beautiful place for everyone. I sometimes hesitate to articulate this belief because it can sound trite or cliche. But I have see how simply smiling at somebody that you pass down an aisle or holding the door open for somebody can bring a smile to somebody else. Kindness has a ripple effect no matter if the action is big or small. I often ask my kids if there are any friends at school who don’t have somebody to play with at recess or sit with at lunch and encourage them to sit or play with them. Loneliness leads to isolation which continues to fracture us as a society. It is easy to sit at home and scroll on our phones and believe everybody is hateful. This year has reminded me that there is so much more good and good people in the world when you get out and start a conversation.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What pain do you resist facing directly?
Disappointment. When setting financial goals for my business the last few years, I usually had a number I knew I could hit and a number just slightly higher as a super duper stretch goal with no intention of hitting it because if I didn’t make the goal, I would feel like a failure. I find I do this in different areas of my life where I lower expectations to something where I know I won’t be disappointed. I’ve done a lot of work this last year to think about it in a different way and realize disappointment is something I can handle and then move on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.taralynnandco.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.comtaralynn_andco
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-lynn-39838b78/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taralynnandco/
Image Credits
Headshot of Tara Lynn is by “Firefly Pet Photography”
All other images are by Tara Lynn & Co. (me)
