barbarastitzer

Barb Stitzer is an award winning Master Photographer living in Hudson, Ohio with her husband, her teen, Zoe and her tween, Tenley. She creates beauty and memories worldwide. Feel free to find her on Facebook or check out her website.

How to Photograph Your Baby with a Special Gift or Toy

By BarbStitzer
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This week, I had the opportunity to shoot photos for an adorable boutique clothing line called Bella and Gracies. Karen, the fabulous owner/designer had some super soft plush puppies that she wanted to show the world, so I lined up some of the most beautiful children known to mankind and we went to town. While I was shooting, I thought about some of the fabulous gifts that people had given to my girls, and how nice it was to have great shots of the girls with their gifts.

These tips can also be useful for those who want to take a picture of their children with the birthday or holiday toys that have been sent to them by family friends or relatives.

… Continue reading How to Photograph Your Baby with a Special Gift or Toy

Mastering Family Portrait Part III: Posing Guide

By BarbStitzer
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It might be the redheaded stepchild of photography, the gum under your shoe, the backwash left in the glass when you think you’re drinking champagne, but posing is one of the most important parts of any photograph.

I am not a traditional poser, so I’m not going to get into thumbs in or out of pockets, or serious or smiley, or even all looking at the camera or away from the camera discussion, although I do personally think that seven people all staring out into space is kind of 1970’s-esque spaced out druggy weird. Not that I have a strong opinion on that.

… Continue reading Mastering Family Portrait Part III: Posing Guide

Close-knit, Connected and Cohesive: Coming Together in Fall Colors

By BarbStitzer
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Fall is still going strong here in North Eastern Ohio, so I grabbed a couple of my favorite models, the fun and fabulous Brooke, Chloe, Emily, Erica, Kelly, Lexi, Tenley and Zoe, and we Headed to the Hills… oh, right, it’s totally flat here…so we Headed to the Forest of Peninsula, Ohio one early, crisp fall morning.

We had everyone dress in black, grey and cream so that the drabness of their clothing would stand out amongst the brilliance of the fall colors, and so that they would form a cohesive look without being too matchy-matchy, which was very popular in the ‘90’s, but has now definitely fallen by the wayside in favor of everyone having their own personal style while still keeping the flow of the group.

… Continue reading Close-knit, Connected and Cohesive: Coming Together in Fall Colors

Fall Foliage Photography Guide for Taking Better Autumn Photos

By BarbStitzer
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The world is filled with Red and Gold…Get out there and Shoot!!!

So, as many of you know, I have never actually lived in a place with true fall. I’m from Los Angeles, lived in Hawaii, both of which basically are perfect always, did an eight year stint in North Dakota, where it’s frigid for ten months, then there’s a brief stint of bee and mosquito season, then right back into frigid again, so when everyone would wax rhapsodic about “Going to see Fall Colors”, I was kind of nonplussed.

I mean, what’s the big deal about a few leaves turning colors anyway? Well, I was w-r-o-n-g, WRONG…The colors are SPECTACULAR!!!

… Continue reading Fall Foliage Photography Guide for Taking Better Autumn Photos

Tips, Tricks and Treats for Your Halloween Photos

By BarbStitzer
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This week, when my fearless leader, Photodoto Head Honcho Nancy Young, asked me to write a story on shooting Halloween, I must admit that I kind of had a freak out attack. I’m just not a Halloween person. I mean, bobbing for apples? Totally unsanitary. Haunted houses? They’re SCARY.

But of course I take pictures of my children in their costumes…they cost too much for that single-use-two-hour- frenzy-in-the-dark-when-no-one-even-sees-their-costumes not to!!

… Continue reading Tips, Tricks and Treats for Your Halloween Photos

Mastering Family Portrait Part II: How to Deal with Clients

By BarbStitzer
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So you had your pre-shoot consultation, and you’re ready to go. You get to your location, and the family are all there on time, in happy moods, excited to shoot, and looking great.

Except for that toddler who just wouldn’t go down for his nap. (Note: NEVER shoot a toddler during his naptime…EVER!!!) Or that grandfather who doesn’t want to walk all the way over to that perfect location that you spent hours scouting, the teen aged boy who hates you on sight, and, Oh, right, Bessie just broke her arm yesterday…hmmm, a little daunting, but you can get through it, I promise.

… Continue reading Mastering Family Portrait Part II: How to Deal with Clients

Mastering Family Photography: What You Need to Get Started

By BarbStitzer
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One thing that I shoot my fair share of is family pictures. I love the family dynamic so much: the “over primpers”, the “get me out of here’s”, the “I’ll be in the picture, but I’m going to ruin every single shot”, the “smile or I’ll beat the snot out of you later’s” and the “gee, we’ve known that we were going to do this months in advance, but we just rolled out of bed so here we are in our pajama’s ” types recur no matter what the social or economic dynamic. That’s why shooting family photos is so much fun, but can be a little scary if you aren’t used to doing it.

In this first of a multi-part series, I will give you tips on taking a family shoot from nightmare to dreamland.

… Continue reading Mastering Family Photography: What You Need to Get Started

How to Photograph Teenagers: a Kick-ass Guide

By BarbStitzer
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Whether it’s for a magazine beauty and fashion spread, senior pictures, or my daughters and their friends just dressing up and having fun, teenagers are up for absolutely anything, which makes them my favorite subjects to photograph.

Stand fully dressed under a freezing cold waterfall while hanging ten off a surfboard and holding a drooling English Bulldog? “Sure!” Go to a skate park and enlist 20 strangers on sticks to roll in a circle, and drag the shutter so that everything blurs out but the model? “Awesome!”

… Continue reading How to Photograph Teenagers: a Kick-ass Guide

How to Take Amazing, Beautiful Photos Any time of Day…or Night

By BarbStitzer
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When I first started in photography nineteen years ago, Photo Law dictated that you dare not show your face shooting outside after 8 a.m. or before 4:30 p.m. My Prime Appointment was 7 a.m. Well, I’m here to tell you , those days are over.

No one needs to get dressed up in their best clothes and drive an hour for a 7 a.m. appointment any more, because, you, the photographer, have all the power in your sweet little hand…and flash…and sometimes, even, your garage.

… Continue reading How to Take Amazing, Beautiful Photos Any time of Day…or Night

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