How It All Began: My Photography Journey...



For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved taking photos. I started out as a kid with nothing more than my phone... back when phone cameras weren’t all that great. It was fun though, and sometimes I wish I still had some of those first photos I captured.


Growing up, I moved around a lot. That meant I didn’t always have many friends in one place, so when I was bored, I’d head outside with my phone and take photos of anything that caught my eye.... flowers, plants, old yards, and especially the animals. We usually lived on properties, so farm animals became some of my favourite subjects.

We often moved once, twice, sometimes even three times a year, so I became used to new places and new SCENERY. photographing them became my way of holding on to those moments.


As I got into my later teenage years, my love for photography only grew stronger. I still only had my phone... a real camera just wasn’t possible back then, but it never stopped me. I made the most of what I had, and that little device became my creative outlet.

Back then, I even went by Shorty Photography... a nickname I carried growing up and my first little step into sharing my photos with the world.

A dog watches horses grazing in a field in dramatic black and white photography.
Black bear feeding in tall grass at night illuminated by golden light.
Portrait of a white dog standing proudly on rocks in vintage-style black and white.
Sepia-toned photograph of an antique wooden wagon wheel in tall grass.
Artistic close-up photo series showing bare feet stepping in shallow water with dreamy vintage effects and splashes.
Silhouetted couple embraces on beach with turquoise ocean and vibrant sunset in background.
Close-up portrait of someone wearing a white t-shirt against a rustic brick wall with vintage photographic effects.
Abstract artistic photograph featuring shoes with blurred edges and soft lighting effects creates a dreamy atmosphere.

About 10 years ago, just after I had my first-born son, we moved to Kingaroy. That’s when I was lucky enough to borrow my aunt’s old Nikon with a couple of kit lenses. I started practicing more... mainly on my son and our pets. Photography quickly became my happy place. It was how I held onto all the little moments, because as every parent knows… kids grow up way too fast.


At the time, I never wanted it to be anything more than just my thing ... the one thing that belonged to me and no one could take away. Every now and then, friends or family would ask if I could take their photos, and of course I was always happy to do it.


That’s when I came up with the name Forever Moments Photography. The name felt right, because that’s exactly what photos are... forever moments. Something you can always look back on, a memory frozen in time to keep forever.

Close-up portrait of an infant with bright blue eyes against a yellow background.
Dramatic sunset over a calm lake with silhouetted trees on the horizon.
Dirt bike rider in blue gear performing a jump on a dusty track.
Scenic Australian outback landscape with gum trees reflected in still water.
Group of young brown and white calves standing together behind a wooden fence.
Black and white series of artistic photographs capturing a newborn baby in soft, natural poses on dark backdrop.
A yellow toy dump truck machine photographed at multiple angles with what appears to be rice grains spilling from its back.
Dirt bike rider skillfully navigates a muddy motocross track with water spraying during an off-road competition.
Serene lake panorama with sunlit autumn trees reflecting in tranquil blue water under clear skies.

As I slowly learnt and practiced more, I decided to make a Facebook page to share my images. Before long, a few more people started to enquire about having me take their photos. I tried my best to do my best and people seemed to genuinely love my photos.


But as a young mum of two, I often felt torn between my love for photography and my desire to spend as much time as I could with my little family. Eventually, I made the hard decision to step back from photography and focus fully on them.

We moved to Miles, Queensland for a little while, and during that time I hardly touched my camera. But then something amazing happened... a decision I’ll never regret! .... we moved to Gayndah at the end of 2018.


By then, I hadn’t picked up a camera in years. That is, until my birthday, when my mum surprised me with a Nikon D3500. That gift sparked something inside me, and I decided to try again.


By this stage, I had three beautiful children, and I still wasn’t sure if I wanted to turn photography into anything more than a hobby. SO, I began just like before .... photographing for myself, and sharing on my Forever Moments Photography page so I didn’t spam friends and family with my random photos.


Being new to Gayndah, I didn’t know many people yet. But in 2019, when the Orange Festival came around, I took my camera down to the parade. My son was on the Kindy float, so I figured I’d capture some photos for us to remember. By then, I’d started learning more and was slowly improving my skills. I decided to share those parade photos with the community online.


At the time, no one really knew who I was ... just some random girl with a camera. But people seemed to love the photos, and slowly, as I got to know more people, more and more began asking me to take photos for them. And of course, I was more than happy to.


That’s really where it all started. I decided it was time for a fresh start, and I changed my photography name to Tara Courtney Photography ... because that’s who I am. And from there, I began turning my little dream into something real.

Black and white portrait of someone in a flowing tulle gown in a field.
Row of parked motorcycles lined up at night showing multiple chrome and painted bikes on stands.
Panoramic silhouettes of birds on hilltop against purple and pink sunset sky with photographer's watermark.
Maternity photo of woman in white dress on forest path.
Pregnant woman in flowing pink dress standing on beach at sunset.
Silhouetted figure in flowing beige dress stands on hilltop against scenic rural landscape at golden hour.
A historic panoramic view of a forest landscape with scattered trees and brush in black and white.

I’ll forever be thankful for all my amazing clients ... past and present. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Some have even returned to me multiple times over the years, and I’ve been lucky enough to watch their beautiful families grow right in front of my camera.

I still work on improving my skills every single day. I’m not yet where I want to be in my photography journey, and that’s okay. Like anything, it has had its ups and downs. There have been days where I’ve thought about hanging up my camera and stopping altogether… but no matter what, photography remains my happy place.

My love for it has only grown over the years, and I truly can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next. ✨📸

Family in rustic outdoor setting wearing blue denim and white lace dress pose together during golden hour.
A couple sits on a blanket in a field at sunset while horses graze in the background.
Six closeup profile shots of different horses' heads showing their varied coat colors and facial features against dark backgrounds.
A loving couple in casual attire shares tender moments with their newborn baby in a series of intimate family portraits.
Smiling baby wearing giraffe print overalls sitting outdoors in warm sunset light.
Three creative sequential photos show a person in a cream-colored dress playfully leaning and spinning on a beige patio chair.
Multiple views of someone lying on dark textured surface wearing light colored undergarments and tattoos.
An ethereal maternity photo in a sunlit forest featuring a flowing tulle dress.
Five synchronized horse portraits in silhouette show equine profiles against a dark background, creating a dramatic panoramic effect.
A chestnut horse with western tack stands in a golden field at sunset while a shadow figure appears beside it.