Creative Edge: Likeable Likeness

By Kristi Spencer

When we think of hiring a photographer, we often associate it with the happy moments of life like weddings, baby photos and back-to-school pictures. For Tara Buxton of Carl Junction, Missouri, photography became a way to preserve memories during some of life’s most difficult times.

After nearly 20 years in healthcare and food service, Tara found her true calling through the death of a coworker.  

“He didn’t even have a nice picture of himself that his family could use at the funeral,” Tara remembers. “That just sat with me hard. These are good people who deserve to have their lives remembered.”

This experience made Tara question why so many people, particularly those facing serious illnesses, don’t have good photos to hold onto.

Around the same time, Tara’s father-in-law was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. His quick decline pushed her to pursue photography with a new sense of urgency.  

“I started practicing and learning, offering free sessions to build my portfolio,” she says. “I reached out to people going through tough times, especially families dealing with illness. I wanted to bless them with some photos.”

Tara’s photography business, Likable Likeness, started as a way to help others.  

“I want everyone to have the chance to make memories with their families,” she says.  

Tara’s goal isn’t creating perfect, posed pictures. Instead, Tara focuses on the smiles, laughter and genuine connection shared between families.  

“I try to create an experience,” she explains. “It’s about the moments in between: The kids making funny faces, the mom and dad kissing and grossing the kids out. It’s about finding what makes your family beautiful.”

One particular family Tara worked with had a daughter battling cancer. She says it was an honor to capture their journey. “Being part of that process is something I’ll never forget.”  

But Tara’s own life was about to change. In December 2020, she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer.  

“It’s kind of just like a ticking time bomb, unfortunately,” she says. “It’s more psychological than anything.”  

Despite the gravity of the diagnosis, Tara didn’t let it slow her down. She continued working with clients, even as her health was in flux.

A year later, Tara’s best friend and business partner was diagnosed with breast cancer. Tara was there for her, just as her friend had been there for her through treatment.  

“We leaned on each other,” Tara says. “She went through chemo and radiation, and I was there for her. We both understood the importance of documenting our lives while we could.”

Tara says photography has the power to heal.  

“A picture can be a small comfort during a difficult time,” she says. “When someone is battling illness or grief, being able to look back at a photo that shows them happy, smiling and surrounded by loved ones brings a sense of peace. It’s a reminder of the love and joy that was there, even during tough times.”  

In addition to offering free sessions for families facing illness, Tara volunteers her time in the community. She has donated her photography services to school graduations, Christmas photos for teachers and various community events. Earlier this year, she partnered with Higher Power Garage in Joplin, a nonprofit that fixes cars for families in need, to offer affordable family portraits for a small sitting fee, with prints available for just $10.  

“It was a way to give back to people who had been through a lot,” Tara says.

Tara’s commitment to helping others extends to families with children on the autism spectrum. As the mother of a daughter on the spectrum, Tara understands the unique challenges these families face.  

“I know how hard it can be to find a photographer who understands how to work with children with special needs,” she says. “I want to offer that support to help children with autism feel at ease in front of the camera.”  

Tara says incorporating play into the sessions helps. “I find that activities like bubbles or telling a joke can help distract them and make them focus on their environment instead of the camera,” she explains. “It’s about finding a way to relax them so they’re not feeling self-conscious.”  

Through her business, Tara has turned her passion for photography into a mission. “It’s not just about the photos. It’s about the memories we make,” she says. “I want everyone to be able to create beautiful portraits, no matter what they’re going through.”

Tara is dedicated to making photography accessible to all families. “Photography can be expensive,” she acknowledges. “I want to change that. I think everyone deserves beautiful photos of their families, no matter their financial situation.”  

To make her services more accessible, she has created affordable session options, including teen and milestone sessions.  

If you’re interested in learning more or booking a session, Tara encourages you to reach out to her through her Facebook page, Likable Likeness.

As Tara says, “Sometimes all we have are memories, and I want to help you make sure you have beautiful ones to keep.”

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