Wow!

I was making my blog rounds this morning and came across this video post by David Jay. Got me to thinking....

Who will be your photographer?

I haven’t always been a photographer, but the photographer has always been in me. I guess I have always been an artist in one form or another, but, I never found a medium that was truly who I am. My mom is the artist of the family; the rest of who I am comes from my father. My dad has always been the one I have felt the need to prove myself to. He was always his own boss and walked to his own beat, I saw from a young age how he interacted with people, how by respecting others they in return respect you. I too walk to my own beat, challenging the status quo; life is more interesting that way. I never attended college after high school; instead I went to work with my dad in construction. I remember one morning getting ready for work, ironing my shirt and asking my mom if “this was as good as it got” in which she replied, “this is why you need to go to college so you can get a good education and get a good paying job.” Even back then I knew it wasn’t money that motivated me, I would rather be broke doing something I loved than make a living in a job that I hated. My path from that moment was to follow my passion, my passion lead me to 3D animation, graphic design, website design and computer programming. I have never worked a day in my life past that moment. Through my passions, other things have found me, I met my wife while I was programming. Soon after that my good friends from high school had a baby, that baby is some how the cornerstone of who I am today.

I am a photographer.

I didn’t start with wedding photography. Weddings, to me, deserved the passion, skill, and attention that only experienced photographers could offer. Come to find out most “photographers” start with weddings because the family is looking for a deal, therefore anybody with a camera will do. You spend thousands of dollars on your wedding day, only to put aside the one thing that will last several lifetimes. It has been 7 years since my wedding, the one thing I remember, is seeing my dad after the ceremony, a tear welling up in his eye and giving him a hug. I have never seen my dad cry, but in that moment it was just he and I. I knew he was proud of me. Your wedding day is made up of these moments, its important to have somebody that is experienced enough to stand back and listen.

I am your photographer.

The image that started it all

So here it is, the image that pretty much started it all. The image is of my high school friend's little girls Twyla and Emma (on the ends) and their cousin Layla.

Why did I get into photography? I have no idea, but, some how, it all revolves around these two little girls. This image was taken May 5th 2005 at Lodi Lake, for some reason, I had a Nikon D100 that I had never used and an itch to use it. This wasn't the first time I had photographed the girls. Kendra and Chris (their parents) took Emma for the first time ever to Disneyland way back in 2004, this event definitely needed documentation. I Was the only one who had a camera, so I was designated photographer.

Needless to say, I loved it! So much that a mere 6 months later I would quit my full-time programming job and pursue my new found passion.

There is a story behind this image, we spent all day with the girls and they were on their last nerve. The girl in the middle is actually crying her little heart out.

Brittany

If you haven't seen it yet, we released a new video on our myspace. I had the opportunity to photograph Brittany's senior portraits a couple of weeks ago, what a blast! I knew as soon as she walked in the door she was going to be a lot of fun! Here is a glimpse of our New Year offerings! Check it out!