Saturday, May 24, 2008

Shooting in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands




















I was privileged to shoot the wedding of Katy and Kellen this past weekend in Jamaica. They have been together for nine years, since they were teenagers, and they just love each other so much. The way he looks at her...well, let's just say it reminded me of how Buzz used to look at me before we had two kids sleeping between us every night. Their parents love them so much. It hurt me to see how much their parents love them, because my parents are pretty much gone, and it made me miss them. I am the first to admit, I don't like to shoot a lot of weddings...I will only take 10 weddings a year, only people that I absolutely believe in and fall in love with, and this one was the first one in quite a while that made me cry with it's beauty and simplicity. After the wedding, they jumped in the ocean in their wedding clothes...the pure joy of it...I realized that as a photographer, I watch too much...which is what makes me a good photographer, I guess, but the next day, I just felt like I needed more, I took my family to Ricks Cafe, an "overrated tourist trap" according to the tour books, but the greatest rush in the world for us as far as jumping off high cliffs go. Even four year old TT made a little 5 foot jump! I felt like I really was alive, living in the moment, no cameras, nothing in the way of feeling the rush of jumping off that cliff. I think that as a "professional watcher," artists, photographers, writers, it's important to go out there and DO sometimes. A lot of times, actually. It makes I guess my guest spot on the http://www.daretobefabulous.com/ website paid off. That day, my husband looked at me like he did on our wedding day...even with two squirmy girls sleeping between us. It was a good day.

Friday, May 9, 2008

Daring to be Fabulous in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands

I am honored to be this month's guest columnist on a very cool website called http://www.daretobefabulous.com. There's a rare picture of moi, which is always fun, because no one ever takes my pictures...hmmm, maybe threre's a reason for that? and my little sweet girls, and, oh yes, the story of my life and, ummm, how I'm daring to be...um, fabulous. So take a look at it and learn everything you've always wanted to know about me but were afraid to ask.

I am leaving for my Caribbean tour on Monday. Anyone who still would like to have me shoot for you while you're there, please feel free and give me a ring or email before then. It's going to be a great time!

Monday, May 5, 2008

What to Wear to a Photo Session

With my photo shoots in Jamaica, Florida and Reno coming up soon, (there's still room! Book now!) I have had a ton of calls from people asking me what to wear, so am thinking that this must be a point of angst for a lot of people. While the simple answer is wear whatever you feel ccomfortable in, (see this week's cover shot of my girls and myself at my web site http://www.barbstitzer.com/) most families want to be a bit more matchy than that, so I've noticed a trend; no matter where I am, North Dakota, Kaua'i, a Caribbean island or right here in hot, hot HOT Arizona, most people wear blue jeans and white shirts for their first pictures. I don't know why. They just do. More adventurous folk move to all white or all black...I really do like all white...like flowing white, not tight. Some families have the boys wear one thing and the girls wear another, which looks really great. Nancy Sherman, a wonderful client and friend who lives right here in Anthem, told me that she was going to have an aple green and sky blue configuration for her family, which I just couldn't wrap my arms around until I saw them, and the outfits were an absolute knockout! I would much rather have happy children and stress free adults than mad, crying people who match.

A general rule for all shots is to really look at yourself in the mirror...do you want to show that much cleavage? Yesterday I was at my friends house wearing a new wrap summer dress, and her daughter reached out and touched me in a place that was showing that I definitely wouldn't want to show in a picture...so if you're wearing anything new, move around before the photo session! Make sure that when you're shakin' your bacon there aren't any...um...leftovers hanging around. Are any of your trouble spots bulging? Check cleavage, under and over your bra, waist, hips, panty line. And speaking of which, are you wearing the right colored undergarments?

Business shots really require business attire, arms covered, chests, male and female, covered, undershirts for men, bras for the women, professional makeup (for the camera) and hair for women.

Senior pictures--I usually tell the kids to wear something that their mom absolutely adores even if they hate it, something that their mom might hate that they absolutely adore, a professional neckline, something they would use to kick around with their friends, something they would wear on a date, and something super formal, and that way they get a great variety and everyone has something that they like.

Models--I know that I'm going to get letters for this one, but unless you know high end designers who will let you borrow your clothes, your issue is that you're going to look obsolete if you're not using the latest fashions, so go to a high end store that takes returns willingly, buy the newest stuff, put dress shields in everything, tape the tags inside, DON"T SWEAT into the garment, and go for it. Then bring it back right away. Or have a sugar daddy. Just kidding.