A Little Bit About Me

Welcome, friends! I am so glad you are here! You've probably stumbled across this page to try to get to know me a little more to decide if we're going to be a good fit for photographs. I know that I can be a lot sometimes, so no worries if my lot is not suitable for you. I get it.

Well, I am Calli. I am the owner and sole photographer behind Calli Tuggle Photography. I am completely self-taught in everything from camera settings, editing, website design, and now blogging. I have a B.S. degree from Iowa State University (Go Cyclones!) in Child, Adult, and Family Studies with an emphasis in youth. I worked in the public and private social work field for several years before leaving the workplace after having my first son in 2012.

I have been a lover of photography for as long as I can remember. I used to take photos constantly with disposable cameras and polaroids and eventually moving on into digital cameras in high school. I loved looking at the photographs in National Geographic Magazines and I was absolutely enthralled by Annie Leibovitz's work in Rolling Stone. I did many high school reports and presentations on photography and even presented in the county fair queen competition in 2003 with photography as my talent.

My love for the art went by the wayside throughout college with the immersion of camera phones. It became less of an art and rather more of a competition on who had the latest model of phone--and that's not a game I like to participate in.

Once my boys were born though, I realized that I was rarely ever present in the photographs, unless it was a bad selfie. I subtly encouraged my husband to take more photos of me, but again, camera phones were only getting us so far. The digital cameras my husband and I used in college were dated and quite beat up by this time, and the boys claimed them for their own. It was time for an upgrade.

It wasn't even the summer of 2018 that I went into my local camera store to price cameras. I was upfront that day and stated I was not going to be buying but I needed more information on what's a decent DSLR camera for a hobbyist. I was pointed in the direction of the Nikon crop sensors. I thanked them and went on my way with a number in my head. It wasn't until six months later that I was back in the store and ready to buy. I went home with a Nikon D3500 that day with two kit lenses. I was overwhelmed but I watched countless YouTube videos and took several free online trainings to learn about the exposure triangle and using manual mode. I challenge myself to only use manual mode and never flip it to automatic mode. It was a learning curve and one I really enjoyed along the way,

My goal with that camera was to take photos of my boys. I eventually graduated to family selfies using a tripod--which we were doing monthly for awhile. It was fun seeing how my talent progressed along with how the boys grew each month. Friends were giving me compliments along the way about my work, which lead to me eventually opening my own business in September 2021, right around the time of my 36th birthday.

I love bold colors, dramatic skies, and unposed photos the best. I love being a silent observer and watching couples and families connect with one another. I believe it's those moments that people savor the most when looking through photo albums. Although posed portraits are wonderful and I do offer some guidance on posing, I much prefer the natural progression of movement and interaction.

Aside from photography, I love baking, gardening, and hiking. I stay busy chasing after our four boys and puppy. I love reading and listening to audiobooks. I am an avid letter writer and try to stay connected with family through snail mail. I look forward to meeting you!