About Us :: Our Bios

Tamara Lackey

Tamara shoots year-round and speaks at workshops and conventions around the world.
For a full bio, see About Tamara.

Jessica Blakely

Senior Associate Photographer Jessi Blakely’s passion for photography started at a young age as a student at Durham School of the Arts. Her experience and education in photography began in the darkroom and continued on into the digital age at Appalachian State University, where she received a Bachelors of Science in Technical Photography.

For the past three years, Jessi has worked full time as a professional photographer in a boutique studio in the Washington, D.C. area, shooting portraits and weddings across the United States. Jessi’s work has appeared in Carolina Parent, Our State Magazine, Chapel Hill Magazine, and Endurance. Her photography has also been featured on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and her fine art photography has been featured in solo shows in North Carolina, Maryland, and Oklahoma.

Heather Lauffer

Senior Associate Photographer Heather Lauffer dedicates herself to capturing emotion and inner-beauty through each photograph.  As a mother of two young boys, Heather understands the importance of providing each client with images that reflect upon the details that we hold close to our hearts…be it the sparkle in a child’s eye or the emotion of a special event.

Heather specializes in newborn, child, family and wedding portraits.  Mentoring with Tamara Lackey in August of 2010, Heather gained not only a new love for her career, but a new aspiration to join Tamara’s amazing team!  Working for Tamara Lackey Photography can only be described as a “true dream come true”!

Kaitlin Rogers

Kaitlin recently graduated from Duke University with a degree in Psychology and a certificate in Documentary Studies. For the past two summers Kaitlin has worked to develop a Literacy Through Photography program in Arusha, Tanzania. During her time as an undergraduate Kaitlin worked for Tamara Lackey Photography moving from intern to production assistant, apprentice photographer, and finally associate photographer.

Sarah Coppola

Studio Manager Sarah Coppola has a passion for art and the emotion it evokes from others.  She has long-standing experience in the art world, after growing up in her mother’s pottery studio.

After four years at UNC Chapel Hill, including a semester in Florence, Italy, Sarah graduated with a BFA in Studio Art and a second major in Anthropology.  While in school she worked building sets at Paul Green Theater and in Visitor’s Services at Ackland Art Museum.  Following graduation she managed an art gallery for four years before coming to Tamara Lackey Photography.

Following in her mother’s footsteps, Sarah also does clay sculpture and jewelry in her spare time to provide herself with a creative outlet.   She loves to be around creative people and is thrilled to be working with such wonderful photographers.

Alisa Katz

Business Development Manager, Alisa Katz’s passion for capturing memories and storytelling led her to join Lackey + Casey Studios in January 2011. In her new role, Alisa oversees distribution, sales, marketing, publicity and web series production for the recently launched Tamara Lackey’s Capturing Life Through (Better) Photography™ brand.

Alisa is a graduate of University of California, San Diego and the Film Academy of Prague in the Czech Republic, where she studied filmmaking, photography and education. Alisa’s love of imagery and storytelling in a collaborative environment drew her to the film industry in Los Angeles, where she gained extensive experience in the fields of producing, cinematography and film festival programming.

During Alisa’s work experiences, her enjoyment comes from the moments she is able to capture the faces, stories and landscapes of the various locations and environments in which she finds herself. Alisa also enjoys the arts of printmaking, bookmaking, and drawing with children.

Alisa is excited to be a part of the Tamara Lackey Photography team!

Amy Lyons

Designer Amy Lyons’ passion to create inspired her to pursue a new career path. She holds a BA in Mass Communications and Psychology and, after spending over 10 years working in television post-production, she went back to school to study Graphic Design.

What she loves about design is the ability it has to improve communication, delight the viewer, and create an impact in so many ways. Of course, being able to use her creative skills every day is icing on the cake. Outside the studio, she enjoys working on personal design projects, photography, and making jewelry. She is excited to being working in a creative environment with such talented people.