Buzzy Photography: The Daily Buzz

Holiday Discount Portrait Event!

2011-11-25T10:24:00.001-05:00

Saturday, December 3rd and Sunday, December 4th

I know you all had good intentions to get in early for your holiday portraits to send out in greeting cards or to give as gifts to the grandparents, but there is still time! On Saturday, December 3rd and Sunday, December 4th, I'm offering discount sessions in the studio. Normally $150, they are only $100 for these two days only! This includes the session and an online gallery of all your images (not limited to families- any kind of portrait session is discounted for these two days!). From there you can decide what prints, cards, or digital images you'd like to order. Samples of card designs will be available at your session to get some good ideas. Call or email today! A limited number of time slots are available.

Wedding in Hawaii!

2011-11-15T18:43:00.005-05:00

It was a dream come true. I am so jet lagged that I'm not even sure if it really happened or if it was just a dream?! I was hired to shoot a wedding in Kona, Hawaii on the Big Island at an absolutely beautiful resort called the Hapuna Prince Beach Resort. The bride and groom and their families were super nice and so gracious. I have photographed several events and portrait sessions for the groom's family. They said they were afraid to trust the photos to just anyone and asked me to come. Of course!! Jesse and I turned it into a super fun trip. It was our second visit to Hawaii. We LOVE it there. The photos from the wedding will take some time to sort through but this one says it all to me. My expression looks exactly how I felt at the time... amazed, overwhelmed, anxious, excited, playful, breathless and so happy!

Discount Portrait Day

2011-09-30T10:27:00.000-04:00

Outdoor Fall Leaf Portrait Sessions for only $100!

Fall photo shoot at the park

Let's shoot some fun family photos to use for holiday greeting cards, to print and hang on your wall, to give prints as gifts to the grandparents. Or, just come and do a portrait session of yourself for the heck of it! Do you need a new business headshot? Facebook profile photo? Location portrait sessions are normally $200 and on this day, they will only be $100. This includes an online gallery and from there you can choose your images to order as prints, digitally, or as holiday cards.

In mid-October there is always beautiful light, and it is the prime leaf time. Wear your Halloween costume and get a free 5 x 7!

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16th (rain date is Sunday, October 23rd)
10 am to 7 pm at Mellon Park in Shadyside
Call or email to schedule your appointment today. Spots will fill quickly!

412.371.5212

anita@buzzyphoto.com

Pittsburgh Parent Magazine

2011-04-30T15:08:00.003-04:00

I have five covers of Pittsburgh Parent Magazine this year. Here is my favorite one... my daughter Cassandra climbing a tree. I love her confident expression!

Business Tips for Emerging Photographers

2011-03-02T18:32:00.001-05:00

Business Tips for Emerging Photographers
by Anita Buzzy Prentiss
Buzzy Photography

1. "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." -John Weikert
-Arrive on time, smile, shake hands, make eye contact, be nice. When in doubt, overdress. Spit out your gum. Don't carry around yucky coffee mugs. Stay off your cell phone.

2. Anything you hand to someone - make it beautiful.
-Choose quality over quantity. Don't overwhelm people. Only show your best work. Ask for help when you need it. Look for inspiration from photographers you look up to.

3. Be quick!
-Return phone calls and emails within 24 hours. Underpromise and overdeliver! Keep excuses and your personal life out of it. Exceed your customer's expectations.

4. At first, don't say no to any assignment. Later, find your niche.
-Try anything once! If you are clueless about how to shoot it or price it, do some research, then get back to the client. You will quickly find out what you like and don't like to do and learn a lot in the process.
-"Do what you fear and the fear disappears." -David Schwartz

5. People buy on emotion.
-Focus on how your customer will benefit, not on how awesome you are.
-Don't price anything based on what you would personally pay. If they really want something, they will figure out a way to pay for it. (Pricing can be challenging so turn to a mentor for advice.)

6. Keep going in your own personal creative work.
-Take your inner artist out on a date as often as possible. Read The Artists' Way by Julia Cameron
- Shooting for free often leads to business, and one project inspires another.
-Be yourself!
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” -Dr. Seuss

7. Befriend other photographers, business owners, movers and shakers.
-You never know who your next best referrer will be so take your business cards with you everywhere!

8. Write down your goals.
-Surround yourself with reminders of those goals. Make a treasure map.

9. Know your niche market.
-Who is your perfect client? Study her. Know where she shops. Visit her favorite stores, look at her favorite catalogs and web sites, and design your material to appeal to her.

10. " When you do mess up, fix the problem immediately and spectacularly." -Michael Redford
- Good customer service is crucial. If you aren't making your customers happy, they will find someone who will.

11. What you think, what you say, and what you act on is your reality.
-You have a choice of what enters your world. Surround yourself with people, information and activities that affect you positively.
"Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. Live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you!" - Christian D. Larson

12. Find a mentor. Be a mentor.
- Volunteer for causes you believe in.
-Join networking groups. Word of mouth referrals are the best.

13. Business is business and Christmas is Christmas

14. Bartering is beautiful
-Keep your overhead costs low.

15. Always carry backup equipment.
-Then carry backup equipment for your backup equipment.
-And get insurance!

16. "Eat that frog." -Brian Tracy
-Get stuff done that you don't feel like doing as early in the day as possible.

17. Know your tools so you can focus on your subject.

- “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou

18. Keep learning.
-Attend conventions and seminars, read, observe, ask questions. Constantly.

19. Figure out what your priorities are and then manage your time.
-Read Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

20. Do what you love and the money will follow. -Marsha Sinetar
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." -Howard Thurman

Beautiful bride!

2010-11-15T18:03:00.001-05:00

True Blood Star!

2010-10-02T10:35:00.002-04:00

Joe Manganiello is an old client of mine. I did headshots and modeling portfolio photos for him back in 1995 and now he is starring on HBO's True Blood! Here is a favorite photo of him that I shot with window light at the restaurant, Kaya, in the Strip District. Joe is a Pittsburgh native and had just gotten out of college and was thinking of moving to New York to pursue acting. And here he is, 15 years later, famous and on the cover of Entertainment Weekly this month! He is the Sexy Beast on the right. Congratulations, Joe! (Maybe he'll be back for wedding pictures, then baby pictures...)

Square Cafe Show

2010-10-02T10:31:00.005-04:00

My photography is featured at the Square Cafe in Regent Square this month!

Stop in, enjoy a delicious meal and view my Metallic Collection throughout the month of October. Included are infrared images of Pittsburgh, Italy and my backyard.

The Square Cafe is located at 1137 South Braddock Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15218 412.244.8002

The Square Cafe is "one of the most premier and beloved eateries in Pittsburgh. The space doubles as an art gallery showcasing some of Pittsburgh's finest talent." Wow!

Jen and T.J.

2010-08-27T13:46:00.002-04:00

Good Morning Pittsburgh!

2010-08-23T16:56:00.006-04:00

I put this picture up on Facebook one Sunday morning, and within a few hours, 28 friends posted their compliments! It was taken at a wedding while I was walking around at Station Square with the bridal party. It gave me an idea... I have a show at the Square Cafe in Regent Square in October, so I think I will hang some of my favorite infrared photos on metallic paper. I'm excited! I have photos from weddings, of horses, in Hawaii- all shot in infrared and super cool. I will shoot some more of Pittsburgh and maybe some people will want to buy them. I think I'll even print postcards. Fun!

Pittsburgh Parent

2010-08-23T16:54:00.001-04:00

I shot the cover of Pittsburgh Parent magazine this month! I knew they were looking for a photo of a child and a cell phone, so as I was doing a portrait session for a client, I asked if she could hold a cell phone and try some shots to submit for the cover. We all had lots of fun and it made it on the cover!

Boxing Buzzy Boys 2010

2010-08-14T13:34:00.007-04:00

You might have seen the original "Boxing Buzzy Boys" photo hanging in my studio (photo below). So many people comment on it. They say, "Who are those handsome boys? Are they really boxers?" I have to tell them the story...
I was visiting my nephews (The Buzzy Boys) in Florida in 2002 and my brother (their dad) had a black eye from getting hit by a baseball. He suggested doing some family photos, and I said, "You look like you were in a boxing match!" He said, "Why don't we all just blacken our eyes, put on some boxing gloves, and do a picture that will make our dad laugh?" (My dad was a boxer in the Marines and had quite a few black eyes.)
Last week my nephews were visiting here in Pittsburgh, and the oldest brother, John Harrison, had a black eye from wrestling with his brother. I said, "I think it's time for a new Boxing Buzzy Boys photo!" Here is the updated version. I think every 8 years, we'll have to do a new one!

Working hard

2010-08-14T11:59:00.005-04:00

‎

Photo by David Cooper

"The harder I worked, the luckier I got. Working hard overcomes a whole lot of other obstacles. You can have unbelievable intelligence, you can have connections, you can have opportunities fall out of the sky. But in the end, hard work is the true, enduring characteristic of successful people." -Marsha Evans

Sophia and Gus' Wedding Slideshow

2010-08-10T13:14:00.003-04:00

Cassandra and Vanessa

2010-08-09T15:43:00.003-04:00

On the beach in Stone Harbor, New Jersey a few weeks ago.

Laura and Andrew

2010-08-06T10:19:00.005-04:00

Jesse and Cassandra

2010-07-14T10:37:00.002-04:00

Two of my favorite people in the whole world!!

Brother, Sister, Baby

2010-07-14T10:30:00.003-04:00

Sisters

2010-07-14T10:26:00.001-04:00

Some of my favorite clients... growing up!

Pregnancy Portrait

2010-07-14T10:23:00.000-04:00

Fun!

2010-07-14T10:20:00.001-04:00

Sophia and Gus' Wedding

2010-07-14T10:06:00.004-04:00

Amazing Photo!

2010-07-14T10:04:00.002-04:00

I am still trying to figure out how real this picture is. It's so awesome! ! It was taken by Selina de Maeyer who is a Belgian photographer.

Coolest Bride's Shoes Ever

2010-06-23T16:37:00.002-04:00

Cassandra

2010-06-23T16:01:00.003-04:00

My father in law took this beautiful picture of our little Cassandra who is now five years old. We were all playing in their backyard when it was taken. I love her expression and even she loves this picture. I'm not sure what it is about it but I think it is a true classic!

Station Square Engagement Portraits

2010-06-11T11:37:00.007-04:00

I had lots of fun photographing Lisa and Anthony around Station Square! It was drizzling on my way there, and very dark, and I thought for sure we would need to cancel but miraculously we had just enough light and the rain stopped for us. We wandered around and couldn't figure out a way to get to the train tracks without jumping a high fence, but we still found some cool spots! Lisa and Anthony are getting married in October and they are so cute together, I'm really looking forward to it.

Playing

2010-06-11T10:10:00.001-04:00

I love this photo of my little daughters playing dress up and dancing around my studio backdrops.

Me and my wedding photographer!

2010-05-24T21:40:00.003-04:00

This was taken at my wedding (March 21, 1998). My awesome wedding photographer was Robert Henshaw-Suder. I was his intern/assistant all through college and he taught me so much about lighting, business, marketing, and being an artist, plus we just had so much fun. He was my mentor and one of the best friends I have ever had! He lives in Virginia now so we don't get to see each other as much but we now take photos with our phones and share them on Facebook and get artsy and make each other laugh and share the same sense of art and humor that we shared back when I was 19 just trying to get my feet on the ground. Now we are more like "peers" in the photo business but I still can call him with any question or problem or anything I need. I love that I can refer business to him when possible and I can't wait to help him shoot his daughter's wedding next year!! He gave so much time and energy and love into training me back in the old days. I will always appreciate my buddy Bob.

Robert Henshaw-Suder and Anita Buzzy-Prentiss
3/21/98
Photo by Eric Albert

Martha Graham

2010-05-22T20:46:00.006-04:00

I love this photo by Barbara Morgan of Martha Graham in 1940. Photos of her and her quotes have always inspired me...
"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable, nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work.

You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you.
Keep the channel open."

- Martha Graham

Anna

2010-05-14T20:22:00.003-04:00

Pregnancy Photos

2010-05-14T19:12:00.004-04:00

I was interviewed for the second time for an article about pregnancy photo sessions. It strikes me as kind of strange that people find it so interesting to write about. It seems so simple to me! Pictures of radiantly beautiful pregnant women are super cool!! Why not have photos taken when you are pregnant?

Click here to read the article...

Animal Friends Benefit

2010-05-08T09:15:00.007-04:00

This is the press release that was sent to the papers.

Local Artist shares her love of animals by giving the gift of photography.

Anita Buzzy Prentiss, a professional photographer with a studio in Squirrel Hill, wanted to dedicate more of her time and energy to helping animals, so she decided to use her services as a studio photographer to help support Animal Friends’ ongoing efforts to find homes for needy animals.

Ms. Prentiss made the announcement of the event through email and through Facebook that she would be offering free portraits—with the sitting fee being donated to Animal Friends.

Her initial efforts lead to one full day of portraits with 7 people jumping at the opportunity to support Animal Friends and a total of $300 going toward Animal Friends.

Ms. Prentiss says of the day “I am lucky to have a gift that I can share. Providing free portrait session for a day resulted in a nice amount of cash for Animal Friends. We have adopted all of our pets from homeless shelters, and I hope that this event results in some families happy to add a new furry member, as well as my photo subjects excited to have some free photos.”

The day was a way to uniquely combine her two loves: photography and animals. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Prentiss household has been the home for many homeless animals of all types, and currently is home to one dog, Molly, an Amazon parrot named Louie, many fish, and also, Ms. Prentiss rides horses and has helped find homes for horses in need.

Given the success, she plans on conducting future portrait sessions for Animal Friends.

For more information about Anita Buzzy Prentiss and her program, please visit Buzzy photography at http://www.buzzyphoto.com or 412-371-5212.

Grand Passion

2010-05-07T17:00:00.001-04:00

"Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole and, once it has done so, he will have to accept that his life will be radically changed."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Photo by David Awesome Cooper

Spring

2010-04-29T10:53:00.002-04:00

This is my little Vanessa in the front yard. Few daffodils survived her avid picking. But, they looked beautiful inside in a vase!

Favorite photo of the week

2010-04-25T18:39:00.001-04:00

Cassandra climbing a tree outside of her school.

Ferns Unfurling

2010-04-13T16:14:00.002-04:00

Beautiful little baby ferns uncurling their little leaves in my yard.

Brande's Riding Portrait

2010-04-08T20:37:00.002-04:00

I was inspired by Tim Kelly, a photographer whose work I admire when I photographed Brande. We ride together and I think she is such a classic beauty.

Pretty Baby

2010-04-02T12:49:00.002-04:00

I love using the "Buzzy Filter" on shots like these. It is a "super secret formula" I have devised...
(For you photographers out there- Nik Antique Plate on one layer, and then lower the opacity and let some of the color come through). I used to do this by hand with oil paints years ago.

A crazy idea...

2010-03-30T15:28:00.005-04:00

What if I did portrait sessions for free one day each spring? Pick a random weekday, don't give a lot of advance notice, and just offer free sessions to benefit my favorite charity,
Animal Friends.

Schedule your session and come on over! Here are the details of my first "Free Portrait Day":
Wednesday, April 7th
Times available:
10:00 to 11:30
12:30 to 5:00
7:00 to 8:30

Call or email to schedule... 412-371-5212 anita@buzzyphoto.com
Bring cash to donate to Animal Friends.
Images will be posted in an online gallery and available to purchase.
P.S. Did you know my portrait sessions normally cost $150- 250?

Digital Infrared

2010-03-26T21:11:00.003-04:00

Playing with my new toy.... my converted Nikon D100 Infrared by Life Pixel. www.lifepixel.com. Finally able to create super cool digital infrared images that look like old school infrared film! :) Yahoo!

Pete Bush and the Hoi Polloi

2010-02-22T17:14:00.002-05:00

This is the band that my husband, Jesse, plays with. They are incredible musicians and I love going out to see them.

at left, Jesse, Pete, and Christian

The Snow Princess

2010-02-06T15:40:00.002-05:00

My daughter, Cassandra, The Snow Princess.
Yes, the snow is up to her waist!

Beautiful Brides

2010-02-06T11:13:00.009-05:00

Here are some photos that I took at the Bride Show last weekend. I set up my booth to be a shooting area, and also had albums set on a table to people to look at. Many people stopped to watch the live photo shoots, and I think I got some gorgeous photos of brides! I also took some of them outside to take advantage of some natural light and the cool urban environment at the Pittsburgh Hilton.

The Bride Show

2010-01-30T20:40:00.003-05:00

Here is my booth at the Bride Show at the Pittsburgh Downtown Hilton. I had fun taking pictures of models (from Docherty Casting) in bridal gowns (from Babe's Broadway Bridal in New Kensington and Exquisite Bride in Gibsonia). Lots of people stopped to watch the photo shoots in action and got to see the instant previews on the laptop!

Snowed In

2010-01-08T16:24:00.003-05:00

I love being snowed in. All the possibilities! Playing outside, then getting warm and cozy inside. A cup of hot tea never tasted so good. This is the view out of my front window looking out on Commercial Street on one of our recent snowy days. I love the concept of unexpected free time.

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-30T08:30:00.002-05:00

Hope you have a wonderful 2010!
Lots of love,
Anita, Jesse, Cassandra and Vanessa

Maeve and Rudolph

2009-12-10T18:26:00.000-05:00

Thinking Holiday Time...

2009-12-10T18:13:00.001-05:00

What a couple!

2009-11-12T20:03:00.002-05:00

Big Sister

2009-11-12T20:00:00.000-05:00

Helping her little sister make it through a difficult photo session...

I love this baby photo

2009-11-12T19:57:00.001-05:00

What a little sweetheart!

Cassandra and Vanessa

2009-11-12T19:45:00.000-05:00

Two little beauties.

Julie and Korel

2009-11-12T19:35:00.003-05:00

I had the honor of photographing Julie and Korel's wedding last weekend and here are two of my favorite photos. I shot beautiful Julie on the roof of the Mansion at Maple Heights in Shadyside just as they sun was setting. Brides who are willing to climb out windows with me and grooms who play rock and roll at their receptions are my favorites. :)

Saxonburg Farms Wedding

2009-10-14T17:23:00.004-04:00

What a beautiful location for a wedding! I was so happy for this sweet couple as they enjoyed great weather, gorgeous scenery, delicious food, and love all around on their wedding day. :)
Taken by my awesome assistant, David Cooper.

The Gallery Crawl

2009-10-02T09:15:00.003-04:00

Here is a Wet Hyacinth, a sample of one of the ten images I will be showing at the Gallery Crawl tonight. It is from 5:30 - 9:00 all around the Cultural District in downtown Pittsburgh. My photos are hanging at the beautiful Salon Christine. I have known Christine Goodis, the owner, for 24 years (since I was 14!) and she has always been an inspiration to me of a creative, confident, smart, spunky woman. I am honored to show my art at her Salon.
The images I chose to show resulted in a collaboration I did a few years ago with my good friend from college, John Zavocki, who develops web sites for rock stars in NYC. He and I got together with a perfumer, an expert of the elements of good smells, and we brainstormed about images that would make people feel like they are having a sensory experience. The images with the most impact, we believed, are ones that combine both the beauty of the subject, and also make the viewer feel that they could reach out and touch the wetness on the petals, and smell the aroma of the flower. Aaaaahhhh!

My new favorite picture

2009-09-06T20:20:00.003-04:00

I just love the picture of this bride from the wedding I shot yesterday. She looked so gorgeous, and you could tell she felt so happy and knew she looked great all day. She was a joy to photograph!

A typical day at the studio

2009-08-17T17:34:00.002-04:00

Cassandra with purple streamers

2009-08-17T17:32:00.000-04:00

Cassandra taking a picture of me taking a picture of her

2009-08-17T17:31:00.001-04:00

Cool Cloud Photos

2009-08-17T17:21:00.004-04:00

Vanessa and her big blue eyes

2009-08-14T16:36:00.003-04:00

I took this picture of my little daughter Vanessa and it is one of my favorite photos of her so far because it really shows off her big blue eyes that she got from her Daddy!

Serene

2009-08-14T16:26:00.003-04:00

Here is one of my favorite places in the world, the pond at the barn where I love to ride horses, Anvil's Ring Farm in Mars.

The Su Boys

2009-08-14T16:19:00.003-04:00

I love photographing these two boys. I photographed their parents' wedding and have been enjoying watching their family grow.
It is sometimes the most unexpected shots that stand out in my mind from a session. We could have never posed this shot, but for some reason, it's one of my favorites. Kids are so unpredictable and I love to go with the flow and capture all the little crazy moments.

Profile

2009-08-14T16:13:00.001-04:00

The Kiss

2009-08-14T16:05:00.004-04:00

Congratulations to Mollie McBride and John Hanratty!
Their wedding at Montour Heights Country Club was absolutely gorgeous.

Sweet Baby

2009-08-14T15:59:00.006-04:00

Jennifer

2009-08-14T15:57:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite shots so far of this wedding season... Jennifer Beckjord exiting the limo.

Chance

2009-08-14T15:48:00.004-04:00

I am so thankful to have a gift to share with others. These are some pictures I took of my friend with her horse, Chance. She has to have him euthanized soon because he is struggling with cancer. When I heard the news, the first thing I thought was that she needed pictures and I got there as soon as possible. I know she will be so sad to lose him but she'll be happy to have some good pictures to remember him by.

Lovely Lauren

2009-07-10T15:39:00.009-04:00

I thoroughly enjoyed photographing Lauren at Anvil's Ring Farm for her senior pictures. It was fun because she was cooperative and into it, she brought great clothes and had some of her own ideas, we shot at the barn where we ride which has lots of fun spots, the light was totally perfect (7:00-8:00 pm), and she is so pretty to start with but I hope she feels good when she sees these images because she looks GORGEOUS in them! I feel wonderful when someone allows me to do my best and I can create something we both love. It's one of my favorite feelings in the world!

Julia and Jake's Wedding

2009-05-23T11:16:00.006-04:00

Here are some photos from the Julia Rees and Jake Lauthi wedding. Some thoughts about Julia and Jake...
You can't pose a real smile on a bride. It's either there, or it's not, and Julia had a REAL smile! Beautiful choices all around- the locations, the flowers, the gown, everything was gorgeous.

Horses Teach Me

2009-04-11T12:46:00.005-04:00

"My horses not only taught me riding, but they also made me understand many a wisdom of life besides."
-Alois Podhajsky

This is a picture of me riding Amy, a beautiful, gentle horse that I am so lucky to have the pleasure to ride. I am thinking, if I can get this thousand pound animal get over this little fence, and we both look graceful doing it, then I can do anything! Breathe, relax, keep your heels down, sit up tall, eyes up, don't lean, stay straight, half halt left rein, where are we going next?

Photo by Tammy Ehrensberger, my amazing studio assistant.

Springtime Friends

2009-04-04T12:37:00.002-04:00

Cassandra, Cian and Isaiah enjoying the bridge over the pond in my backyard. Most of the rocks you see are now IN the pond.

Newborn Twins

2009-03-27T10:30:00.004-04:00

Here is a wonderful Thank You note from a recent client and a favorite photo from their session. Photographing her newborns was an inspiring experience.

Anita,

Words cannot describe how profoundly beautiful the pictures came out. Even with two cranky newborns you managed to capture beautiful moments of my daughters lives. They brought tears to my eyes! It takes a special person to not just tolerate two hysterical newborns but to also find the beauty in their tears.

Thank you for working with us and we look forward seeing you again!

Angel With Attitude

2009-03-14T11:18:00.002-04:00

Here is little Cassandra wearing some wings a friend gave me.

Love for a newborn baby

2009-01-29T15:37:00.002-05:00

I am privileged to be invited into people's homes to capture the love of a newborn baby. There is nothing quite like it!

Beautiful dancer

2009-01-29T15:35:00.001-05:00

Tracie's energy was so graceful and beautiful. She was a joy to photograph!

The McGrath Family

2009-01-29T15:17:00.010-05:00

I have followed this couple's love story from their wedding through the birth of their two little girls. They live in Arizona, and make the time to come see me when they come through town visiting family.

Happy New Year!

2008-12-29T10:00:00.003-05:00

This is our family holiday card collage and it's filled with my favorite photos from this year!

Hope your 2009 is filled with love, happiness, success, and all the best of everything!

Anita, Jesse, Cassandra and Vanessa

Mother's Boutique

2008-10-12T10:54:00.002-04:00

Here is Pink Jody, one of my favorite models ever, holding my baby Vanessa. This photo appears on the home page for a wonderful web site that offers clothing for nursing moms,,, www.mothersboutique.com.

Tribune article

2008-10-12T10:47:00.004-04:00

Two of my photos and a bunch of quotes appeared in the Sunday Living section of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review on September 28th...

"A photographer who has been to many of the popular venues is Anita Buzzy-Prentiss, who at one time averaged 55 weddings a year. The Squirrel Hill resident currently averages 30. When a couple opts for a unusual location, she says, it is usually a place that means something unique to them.

Last weekend, Buzzy-Prentiss shot Rita and Kevin Kondrath at Mellon Institute in between the 16 statuesque 36-foot cement pillars.

"I love the structure and the architecture here," says Rita Kondrath, of Hampton. "It is old-world style. We knew we wanted to come here because it is gorgeous. And it is in contrast to photos we took after the ceremony, where it was lined with trees and had beautiful grass."

A photographer can create something special pretty much anywhere...

Some of the best photos are not planned, says Buzzy-Prentiss.

"I remember one couple wanting to stop at CoGos for slurpees and chips, and another at McDonald's, and another at their favorite bar, so I took photos of them dressed in gowns and tuxes in those places with people cheering in the background," she says. "Those places might not be picture-perfect spots, but you can capture a moment that they hadn't planned on, but that will now last forever.""

Rita and her beautiful bridesmaids

2008-09-22T18:52:00.005-04:00

Rita and her beautiful bridesmaids!

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review interviewed me about locations to photograph bridal parties and actually sent a reporter to cover this photo session at Mellon Institute. The story will be in next Sunday's paper!

Smiley Me

2008-09-20T10:00:00.002-04:00

Feeling smiley at a wedding...
my assistant, David, shot this one. I really do have fun and enjoy being an important part of these happy events!
It is challenging, but very rewarding.
I love to soak it all up... the intensity of emotion... and to be reminded of how important it is to put love, family, friendships, beauty, good music, delicious food and fun as priorities in life.
The best of everything!

Heather and David

2008-09-14T11:27:00.004-04:00

These are 2 of my best friends in the whole wide world- and they just happen to be getting married to each other in a few short weeks. It is always a wake up call when I take pictures of people who I know and love. It reminds me of the tremendous responsibility and honor I have for my clients who trust me to document their most important moments.
With Heather and David for this engagement portrait, I was hoping to capture the intimate, sweet expressions that I have seen them show towards each other throughout the many years that I have known and loved them. As they get closer to their wedding day, I can sense even more tenderness and excitement surrounding them. Luckily I will not be the one responsible for taking their wedding photos (I have my 2 awesome assistants doing that!) because I know I will be crying my eyes out ... I am so happy for them!!

Dillman trio

2008-09-13T15:25:00.002-04:00

These are the Dillman family siblings on my swing in my backyard. Casual photos like this are my favorite. I have been photographing for this family since the oldest sister, Katie, was a new baby. It is so much fun to see them grow! Maybe I will shoot her wedding someday...
I've been loving photographing people for 18 years now!

Happy people!

2008-08-22T20:41:00.002-04:00

I believe the moment of truth at every wedding is when the couple walks down the aisle and it's just me and them at the end! What do they do? Some people just drop their arms from each other and walk away, chatting with the church lady, complaining to me about the heat, whatever. This is their first moment as husband and wife! It's time to beam with joy and hug and kiss and forget about all of us for a minute! This couple was adorable. Jamie and Aaron gave me these real smiles, then ran away to a corner together and hugged and kissed. All good signs for a long, happy marriage!

Priceless original

2008-08-22T20:11:00.005-04:00

"True, every photo is a priceless original. The moment will never come this way again. "

- Karen Maezen Miller from the book
"Momma Zen"

Kung Fu Masque Master

2008-08-13T16:21:00.000-04:00

Oh, Little Cassandra, you are so awesome...

Evans Baby

2008-08-13T16:18:00.002-04:00

Being a Mom myself now, I seem to have a new understanding of my portrait sessions of new moms. Loving this new little beautiful person is the most powerful emotion... and I feel so lucky to be trusted to capture those moments for my clients. At this session, I was blinking back tears as I was trying to focus my camera.

Hyper Reality

2008-08-13T15:54:00.002-04:00

This is an example of an HDR image I made (high dynamic range). The first time I saw this type of image, it looked like a hyper reality moment in life... super bold colors and textures popping all over the place! I wondered, "How can I do that?" Well, I asked my friend who knows how, and he set me up. Thanks Tom! You take 3 photos of the same scene in 3 different exposures, and this program you can download blends all the best of each range together and makes it look all funky like this.

I started a group called "Inspired Photographers" in 2004. We meet once a month at my studio and share our own personal creative work. You can see more of our projects at www.photorise.com/ip
I love the friends I have made in this group. It has been instrumental in my progression as an artistic photographer. When you do photography for a living, sometimes you forget how much fun it is to just shoot something for fun! This group keeps the fun part of photography alive for me.
I wouldn't have created this image if it weren't for the assignments we create in Inspired Photographers.
This photo is of one of my favorite places in the world... where I ride horses at Bittner's Farm in Mars, PA. It is so beautiful there and the people and horses are wonderful and I ride there every chance I get!

Littlest love

2008-07-26T14:52:00.003-04:00

Here is the littlest love of my life, Vanessa Christine Prentiss. Her big blue eyes are starting to look like Daddy's! :)

Nervous Dad

2008-07-13T16:42:00.002-04:00

I see nervous looking dads like this one at almost every wedding. This is Lauren's dad waiting for his daughter to arrive at Heinz Chapel so he can walk her down the aisle. What is he thinking? It always seems like dads are psyching themselves up. "I'm not going to cry!"

Erin in the mirror

2008-07-13T16:30:00.002-04:00

I see this nervous expression so often from brides on their wedding day... I always wonder exactly what it is that they are thinking. I remember being so excited, nervous and happy and I couldn't believe the day had finally arrived and it was really happening! "Am I ready?! This is it!!"

Cassandra

2008-07-13T08:49:00.001-04:00

This is the big sparkly glowing love light in our lives.. sweet Cassandra.

Bobbie Townsend

2008-07-01T16:16:00.002-04:00

This is a shot I took of Bobbie Townsend last week. She is a super cool, gorgeous and talented singer/songwriter from Pittsburgh. You can check out her music at www.bobbietownsend.com.

Pittsburgh

2008-07-01T16:13:00.001-04:00

This view of Pittsburgh's skyline from the West End Overlook is a wedding classic- made funky by infrared effects in Photoshop!

Pink Jody

2008-06-30T14:54:00.001-04:00

I had the pleasure of photographing the lovely Pink Jody for the Larrivo clothing line yesterday (www.larrivo.com).

The Knot

2008-06-30T14:22:00.003-04:00

I was very honored to receive an award for being one of "The Best of Weddings 2008" as voted by local brides in The Knot national magazine. I love what I do, and that is reward enough, but I feel giddy about being recognized by those happy brides! :)

The dog who wouldn't cooperate

2008-06-30T14:20:00.001-04:00

This big golden retriever at Erin and John's wedding wouldn't stand up and sit pretty for the camera. Mom gave up- she's going back inside the house.

Red table setting

2008-06-30T14:18:00.002-04:00

I love this beautiful red theme I saw at a rehearsal dinner last week. It was great for a hot summer night that ended in a huge thunderstorm with guests running for cover!

John Harrison Buzzy

2008-06-21T11:12:00.004-04:00

This is my handsome nephew in my garage for his senior portrait. You might recognize him from the boxing Buzzy boys photo that hangs in my studio, and appears on my website. Yes, his signature look is the white tank top.