Through Her Lens: Capturing the Connections That Make Madrid Home
For Tanae, photography isn't just about taking pictures. It's about preserving moments, celebrating community, and highlighting the connections that bring people together. Those values have been central to her life for years, first as an employee at the Madrid Home and now as a local photographer whose camera regularly captures the people and events that make the Madrid community special.
Long before she picked up a professional camera, Tanae was building relationships at the Madrid Home. She began working there as a teenager, first in the kitchen and later at Tiger Tots daycare, and eventually became the Activity Director. She spent nearly a decade serving residents, families, and staff.
"The Madrid Home was my first real job," she recalls. The position gave her more than a paycheck. It became an outlet for her creativity and her passion for helping others. As Activity Director, she developed programs, organized celebrations, and crafted experiences that brought residents joy.
Some of her favorite memories still trace back to those years. She eagerly anticipated the annual Iowa State Fair celebrations at the community and cherished the Christmas donation programs that provided personalized gifts to residents. Watching residents open carefully selected presents after months of planning and preparation remains one of her most meaningful experiences.
When she left the Madrid Home to stay home with her children, she didn't realize another creative journey was about to begin. Photography entered her life unexpectedly when one of her children began modeling boutique clothing. To get better-quality photos, she bought a camera. What began as a simple way to document family moments quickly grew into a passion and, eventually, a business.
Today, Tanae runs a part-time photography business and helps manage her family's construction company, rental properties, and storage operations. Despite a full schedule, photography remains an important creative outlet.
Her favorite subjects aren't elaborate landscapes or staged studio sessions. Instead, she loves photographing people, especially at community events where relationships and personalities naturally shine. Whether she's covering a local parade, a sporting event, a family gathering, or a community fundraiser, she captures authentic moments that might otherwise be forgotten. That focus on authenticity has become her signature style.
"I like to tell people I'm more of a candid photographer," she says. Rather than relying on rigid poses and forced smiles, she fosters an atmosphere where people can relax and interact naturally. Through games, conversation, and humor, she captures genuine expressions and emotions. Over time, she has grown more confident in letting moments unfold, producing images that feel honest and personal.
Her connection to Madrid adds an extra layer of meaning to her work. At community events, she often photographs friends, neighbors, former coworkers, and familiar faces. Because the people she photographs know her, that trust yields images filled with personality and warmth. "I know almost everyone," she explained. "They see me behind the camera and recognize me." That familiarity often brings spontaneous smiles, playful expressions, and genuine moments of connection that can't be staged.
Although she no longer works at the Madrid Home, she remains closely connected. Both of her husband's grandmothers live in the Madrid Home community, and many of the staff she worked with years ago are still close friends. Those relationships make returning to photograph events and activities feel less like work and more like coming home.
One quality that sets Tanae apart is her belief that professional photography should be accessible to everyone. She describes herself as a "budget photographer," someone who believes every family deserves quality photographs, regardless of financial circumstances. That philosophy reflects the same spirit of service and care she showed during her years at the Madrid Home.
Whether she is documenting a birthday celebration, capturing community traditions, or photographing residents and families at the Madrid Home, Tanae’s goal remains the same: to create images that tell authentic stories.
For her, the most rewarding part of photography isn't the camera, the equipment, or even the finished image. It's the personal connection behind every photograph. That connection to people, community, and shared experiences first drew her to Madrid Home years ago and continues to inspire her work. "I like the personal connection with everything," she says. Through her photographs, those connections become lasting memories others can enjoy for years to come.
Tanay connects photography, community, family, and service. Whether she's behind the camera at a community event, capturing memories for a family, or reconnecting with friends and residents at Madrid Home, her goal remains the same: to make a meaningful difference through genuine human connection. This philosophy guides her work and her life. As she puts it, "At the end of the day, I'm just someone who believes in working hard, loving my people fiercely, and leaving everything I touch."
