Meet Tammie Bernal of Tammie Bernal Photography in Orange County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tammie Bernal.

Tammie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Capturing memories of people, places, and special occasions has always been important to me. I have an identical twin sister and we only have a handful of photos from our childhood. Each one of them holds a special place in my heart.

When my daughter was born, like most moms, I started snapping away. Her childhood is very well documented in my scrapbook collection. I am so grateful to have those memories preserved of our life together.

As my daughter rapidly approaches age 16, I have become even more aware of how quickly time flies by. A few months ago, a colleague from work (I have an awesome career in elementary education) had a darling baby girl. I have always had a secret dream to become a newborn photographer. On a whim, I messaged this new mom and confessed my desire to try my hand at newborn photography. I asked if she would be willing to let me practice with her daughter. Before receiving a reply, I broke down and finally purchased a “real” camera. That afternoon I took my daughter and her friend to a local park to try it out. I managed to turn it on and shot in auto mode. Even without really knowing what I was doing, the images were so much better than those produced by my camera phone. I was hooked!

The next day I received an enthusiastic “YES” regarding my newborn session inquiry. I was shocked and thrilled and terrified all at the same time! I had six days to research everything I could find on newborn photography. I watched more YouTube videos that week than I had in all the years combined since YouTube launched. I read article after article after article. I rush ordered newborn props and drove all over town every night after work collecting the supplies needed (including a portable heater and disposable potty pads – who knew?) according to my extensive research.

Saturday morning arrived and it was time to head out. I tripled checked my list and loaded everything into my car. Then silence… My battery was dead! My heart sank and panic started to rise. There was no way I could miss this session after all of the time, effort, and money I spent preparing for this special opportunity. I took a few deep breaths and then quickly unloaded my car and called Lyft!

My wagon full of shiny brand new photography supplies and I managed to arrive to the newborn’s home right before our 10:00 am session. Sadly, my beanbag poser and backdrop stand did not arrive in time; but I was equipped with a paper backdrop, round wicker basket, and a few other props. The newborn was a total dream baby. Her parents were so gracious and encouraging. I could not have asked for a better first experience.

My sister picked me up (to be helpful, but also to get her hands on a newborn baby) and then took me to lunch to celebrate. When I finally got home I had to figure out how to use Lightroom (Photoshop was far too intimidating) to edit my images. With more help from my new best friend YouTube, I was able to produce some newborn images to share. Thankfully the parents loved them.

Since newborns do grow up, I quickly launched into photographing people of all ages. Learning about photography and working with my clients has brought me such unexpected joy. I absolutely love photography!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
So far it has been a relatively short road, but I have learned so much about photography and starting a small business. I continue to learn more every day and I am loving every second of it.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Tammie Bernal Photography – what should we know?
I have a portrait session photography business. My newborn and baby sessions are held in the comfort and convenience of their homes. My maternity, children, teens, couples, and family sessions are shot on location using natural light. I am proud of my ability to have fun with my clients to help put them at ease. Since my clients are happy and comfortable, I am able to capture images they love!

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Passion! I am truly passionate about learning and growing as photographer. Every part of the process brings me joy. I love working with my clients to capture images they will love. It is a dream come true.

Contact Info:

• Website: tammiebernalphotography.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tammiebernal/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/TammieBernalPhotography/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tammie-bernal-photography-brea-2

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