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Barbara DuMetz (born 1947) is an American photographer and pioneer in the field of commercial photography. When she began working in Los Angeles as a commercial photographer in the 1970s, very few women had established and maintained successful careers in the field, especially African American women. Known for her work with African American celebrities, corporations and images of everyday life in African American communities.
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Early life
DuMetz was born in Charleston, West Virginia, the only girl and second of four children to Eustace T. DuMetz, II, DDS and Constance R. (née Brooks). When DuMetz was 5 years old, her family moved to Detroit where she attended school, graduating from Central High School. She attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, majoring in Psychology. After graduating from Fisk University, she attended the Art Center College of Design, now located in Pasadena, California, where she learned the art and business of making great images.
Career
DuMetz has been a professional photographer for more than four decades. Over the course of her career, she has produced award-winning images for advertising agencies including Burrell Advertising, J.P Martin Associates and InterNorth Corporation and publications like Essence and Black Enterprise as well as corporations including the Coca–Cola Company, Delta Airlines Inc. and the MacDonald’s Corporation.
DuMetz's has shot photo layouts of celebrities and artists and personalities including Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Betye Saar, Charles White, Samella Lewis, Ernie Barnes, Bernie Casey, Richard Roundtree, Pam Greer, Nancy Wilson, Della Reese, Ed McMahan and Lou Rawls. DuMetz ran and maintained three different photography studios located in the Los Angeles area where she was contracted by department stores, record companies, graphic design studios, advertising agencies, public relations firms, film production companies as well as the many actors and business professionals who needed head shots.