Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Latinka.
Hi Barbara, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started Yellow Tree Photography about twelve years ago with a simple but meaningful goal – to make professional photography accessible and affordable for families. As a wife and mother of three daughters, family has always been at the heart of everything I do. I wanted to capture the beauty of real, everyday moments and give other families the chance to hold on to those memories, too.
Over the years and in many ways, Yellow Tree has grown with me. It’s become more than a business – it’s a reflection of my own journey. Along the way, I began journaling and eventually turned that writing into a memoir series called ‘Spells for Surviving a Haunted Childhood.’ It tells the story of a young ‘ghost girl’ navigating trauma and learning how to create light in the midst of darkness.
In many ways, my photography and my writing share similarities: to find and celebrate resilience, beauty, and hope – especially when life gets hard. Both have become ways for me to connect with others and remind them that there’s always light to be found, even in the darkest places. Being creative with my photography and writing has been crucial to bettering my mental health.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road for me. My life has been anything but easy, and I’ve had to carve out a name and a space for myself through a lot of hard work and persistence. But I’m proud of that – proud of what I’ve built, not only for other families, but for my own and for myself.
Photography has always been more than just a business to me; it’s a way of bringing people together. Sometimes that means reuniting families who haven’t seen each other in years, and other times it means capturing those fleeting, precious moments that become the last photographs of a loved one. It’s an incredible honor to be trusted with memories that carry so much meaning.
One of my favorite parts of what I do is seeing my work hanging in someone’s home – knowing that these images will become part of their family’s history. I love seeing the reactions when people receive their portraits, that emotional moment when time seems to stand still. The idea that the images I create will forever be entombed in someone’s legacy – that’s not something I take lightly. It’s a privilege I’m deeply grateful for.
My story is one marked by abuse, neglect, addiction, and loss – but also by resilience, strength, and the power of finding your voice. Through my art, both in photography and writing, I’ve learned that even the darkest experiences can be transformed into something meaningful. That’s something I hope to inspire in others: to find what lights them up and use it to heal.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Yellow Tree Photography, I specialize in portrait photography – capturing real, emotional, and timeless moments that tell a story. My goal has always been to create images that feel alive – the kind that instantly pull you back into the moment they were taken. I strive to make every session comfortable and authentic, allowing people to be fully themselves so their genuine connections and personalities shine through.
What sets me apart is the heart and story behind my work. Photography isn’t just about taking pictures for me; it’s about preserving legacies and healing through creativity. Every photograph I create becomes part of someone’s family history – a piece of their story that will live on long after we’re gone. I love seeing my work displayed in homes and knowing those images will be passed down through generations. That’s something I treasure deeply.
Alongside my photography, I’m also the author of Spells for Surviving a Haunted Childhood, a three-part memoir series that tells the story of a young girl navigating trauma and learning to create light in the midst of darkness. Writing that series was both healing and transformative – it allowed me to share my truth and connect with others who’ve walked through similar pain.
In many ways, my photography and my writing share the same heartbeat. Both are about finding beauty, strength, and meaning in life’s hardest moments. I’m most proud of the balance I’ve built between my art, my family, and my healing. Through creativity – whether behind the camera or through the written word – I’ve learned how powerful storytelling can be in helping us heal, connect, and remember who we are.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My biggest advice for anyone just starting out is to pursue your dreams wholeheartedly – even when the road feels uncertain. There will always be critics, but take their words with a grain of salt and stay true to your vision. Growth often comes from trial, error, and persistence.
This journey is full of ups and downs – that’s just part of it. But I’ve learned that with every downward stroke comes the chance to rise again, often higher than before. Those hard seasons teach you resilience, and they make the moments when everything finally aligns feel even more magical.
So enjoy those fleeting moments – when the stars seem to fall perfectly into place and the world feels right. Hold onto them, because they’ll remind you why you started in the first place and help you keep going when the next challenge comes.
Pricing:
- Yellow Tree Photograph Portrait Services www.yellowtree.photography/investment
- Spells for Surviving a Haunted Childhood Parts 1, 2 & 3 ($14.99 EACH)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yellowtree.photography | www.HauntedLight.com
- Instagram: @yellowtreephotog | @hauntedchildhoodspells
- Facebook: @yellowtreephotog | @hauntedchildhoodspells
Image Credits
Yellow Tree Photography
