Meet Tara Simon | Photographer, Potter, Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tara Simon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tara, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
That’s a great question because I think a lot of us give up too early because we didn’t see results right away. I know that I’ve done that many times and wish I would’ve kept going. Patience, time and how much effort/attention you give are all key factors. However, I think that if whatever you are doing no longer becomes fun or brings you joy, then that’s your sign to either take a pause and reevaluate, or to give up and move into to another project or idea.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
About 10 years ago I felt a very strong pull to become a photographer, however I knew zero about how to use a camera. That didn’t stop me though. I bought a cheap Canon and taught myself, building my portfolio by photographing little creative fashion shoots with friends. Instagram was still pretty new, but I was able to connect with other creatives, and slowly make my portfolio and skills stronger.

At that time I was shooting whatever I could to make money, but found my passion in photographing fashion, beauty, fine art nudes, still lifes and food.

I think my work portrays women in a strong and beautiful way with a bit of a sensuality, edginess and cinematic undertones mixed in. I would not say that the journey has been easy for me. There’s a lot of amazing photographers in LA, and that means a lot competition. I also struggled with finding my personal style and lost my desire to shoot for a short time. The end of 2022 was a bit of a resurgence and reemergence for me. My excitement is back and I feel my work is better than ever. Sometimes you just need to have patience and be kind to yourself. Taking that time off to recharge was the best decision for my creative spirit. I have so many shoots in the pipeline that I cannot wait to share!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would definitely take them to Disnleyland and spend the day there and after eat somewhere in the Anaheim Packing House. Another day I would take them up the coast and stop at The Getty, some Malibu beaches and hit up one of my favorite spots to eat Malibu Seafood. The Huntington Gardens is also a beautiful spot to wonder and grab some food in downtown Pasadena. Other notable places I’d take them for both shopping and food is the Art’s District in DTLA, Koreatown, some local farmer’s markets and fleas during the day, and a drag/burlesque shows at night.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
As a photographer, I would like to thank all the people who worked with me behind the scenes to bring an image to life, such as the makeup artists, hair stylists, wardrobe stylists and designers. I feel they don’t always get the credit they deserve. I see all the hard work they put in and I want to honor them. We are a team and without them it would make my art so much harder to achieve. I would also like to thank everyone who has supported my work and growth over the last 10+ years, and trusted me enough to photograph their beautiful faces.

Website: www.earthtotara.net

Instagram: www.instagram.com/tarasimonphoto

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-simon-9853a012/