Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Baez Robinson.
Hi Barbara, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m going to start by saying something cliché but true… I’ve loved taking pictures since I was a child! It all started with my mother giving me my first camera at the age of two. You read that right! Two! There is a picture of me in diapers with my camera, lol.
I took my first photography class in middle school and my love for photography has just continued to grow. Since then, I have been capturing candid shots of my friends & family on camera, they began to call me Babarazzi- a combination of my name “Barbara” and Paparazzi. Remove the “P’s” and add the “B’s”.
On my travels, I began to develop an appreciation for nature shots and landscapes. At parties and events, I would help by taking pictures, which helped me to improve group shot composition and portrait style. As a favor to my husband, I started taking photos of his band and I realized that my quick candid shots were perfect for live photos. The musicians loved seeing these photos of them giving their all on stage and this positive feedback made me realize that I wanted to make photography my career. That is when I decided to Trademark my name & start my business BabarazziPhotos!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life will always give challenges but it’s how you use those challenges to our own benefit that makes the difference. I am a First-Generation Cuban American growing up in West Tampa by a single mother which means there were many hard times. Don’t get me wrong, my mother would do everything she could to ensure my sister and I had what we needed. Now I was raised in two households in a way because my parents divorced when I was two years old, so most of my weekends, I went to my father & stepmother’s house. Usually, people feel sadden by a divorce story, but it was a great opportunity to learn the American way of living (my stepfamily) and still grow in my Cuban Culture at my mother’s house. I was always learning different customs from everyone around me and by the age of nine years old, I declared I will be a world traveler taking photos of my adventures! My family thought I was cute, and it did take me a while to even leave Florida (till I was 26 years old) but so far, I have been to various countries and now I am 37. I started working the moment I could at the age of 15 years old to help the family and get what I wanted. By my early twenties, I had to buy my family home to avoid us losing it. I was already going to university full time & working full time as a Medical Biller, so I was able to do this for my family. I would do it again, but it did weigh on me from being able to live my life the way I wanted. The years passed and everyone went their own way, so the house was given up and I started getting my life where I wanted it. Then I met the love of my life Aaron Robinson and in these past 11 years he has helped me reach my childhood dreams of traveling the world & taking photos! We even got married at Disney World! That’s another story! We both have the same ambition except he does it with his guitar while I do with my camera. Point of the story is that sometimes coming from hardship does make it difficult to achieve your dreams, but hard work and dedication will grant those wishes.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I have been a professional photographer for more than four years but have been taking photos all my life with education in photography. I have captured many amazing moments in various events from Quinceañera to award ceremonies. It is important to me to always start & end my sessions with honesty, attention to detail, and fun! I enjoy capturing significant moments in my clients’ lives while being creative! I’m inspired by the beauty of this world and its people. Documenting these moments of love, adventure and happiness has become a fulfilling career.
I specialize in family photos & musicians. I know it sounds total opposite, but it is not. I can capture the excitement & dedication in both. I enjoy capturing action shots and important moments. Making memories permanent.
I contract all types of photoshoots, from Baby Bump Photos to Graduation Photos, Live Music Shows to Charity Events, and from Sweet Sixteen Parties to Weddings. You need a photoshoot? Just let me know what you want.
I have had some great moments like this magazine interview. My photography has been on magazine covers (KeyLine Mag), articles for musicians (Legacy Magazine), been used for advertising by Soultone Cymbals, Inc and Solar Guitars, and exhibited at the Florida Museum of Photography Art (FMoPA) in Tampa, Florida. A goal for me is to one day become a Getty Image Photographer.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Photography has been around for almost two centuries and with our growing social media plus technology, I see it only growing more. Everyone wants to capture their memories, and many have to use photos for advertising. Now being a photographer has its shaky moments because of new technology of camera phones and easy quick cameras that you just point and shoot but it never replaces the photographer completely. It takes understanding of lighting, angles, and the talent to capture the moments. Plus, even though camera phones have higher pixels now and can change the main three settings (Aperture, ISO, and Shutter Speed) it still doesn’t give that perfect crisp shot that a DSLR and Mirrorless camera with specific lens can give you. Especially when it comes to commercial & nature photography. At the end of the day, I would think many would not risk an amateur taking photos of their special day, like a wedding, on a camera phone or a theme park using commercial advertising without professionals behind it. So, my conclusion is that I think this industry will continue to thrive in the next 5-10 years.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://babarazziphotos.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/babarazziphotos/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BabarazziPhotos
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPbH1YWh89tQFcnwaOGy0-w
