Photography After the Holidays

After the holidays, when our stomachs are full, our wallets are empty, and our heart is warm with the joy and fun we had this holiday, we have nothing but out memories, and photos taken to look back on. Looking back at the photos we have taken can be a lot of fun, and have a great effect on what we want to do in the future. The future you ask? Well, when I look back on the photos that I have taken over the holiday season, I tend to not only have fun re-living the moments I have had, but I look at what I can do to have the same experiences, if not better experiences and memories next year.

Have you ever gone to your grandparents house and seen photos on the walls, or in albums and wonder who the people are, where did they come from? Ever wonder about all the photos people have taken throughout the years? Well I did. But I did it full force on my own. Here is what I did...........

Several years ago, I told my mom that at some point, I wanted to take all her photos, scan them, and put them all on my hard drive. So a couple years ago, they came out with the 1TB External Hard Drive, and I had to have one. When I got it, the first thing I did was called up my mom, told her I was coming over to her house, taking every photo that she had, and I did. So I went over, grabbed all her pictures, albums, and frames off her walls, and bolted out the door. As I started scanning the photos, I came across a large amount of photos, that I had no idea who the people where. So I pulled my mom in, and started asking questions. I found out a lot about my family. After I was done, I turned around and asked My In-laws for their photos, and started working on those photos. I still have not finished their photos, but they have tons, and I mean TONS of photos.

Heres the fun and cool part........ I think everyone should do this. So I urge you, ask you, plead to you. PLEASE try what I have done, and comment back telling me how it is going, how everything turned out, or some of the things you have done or found in your family photos. Now I'm not asking you to go out, spend $150 on an External Hard Drive and scan all the photos your family has ever taken. I'm asking you to go back, and look at old family photos, ask questions about them or talk about them. if your young, talk to your parents or grandparents. If your not so young, talk to your kids about old photos, or if your older, please talk to your grandkids. Hand down your old photos, teach or learn the history of your family. And when your done, share with us! Here are some old Photos I found from my Family......

Holidays and Photography

Holidays are a time where you can sit down with your family, share moments, give tokens of love, and have a great time with friends you are close with. In the Photography world, we have things that come up, things that happen, and events that happen with friends and family that we either want to remember for the rest of our lives, or have memories that we wish to forget......

This year, I had a couple of those memories I would love to share: Here is the Awesome, Bad, the Great, and Have Fun:

The Awesome: In the past couple of weeks, there are a lot of things that have happened that a huge blessing. My Family is closer, we are able to give a lot to others, and we have had several things go in our favor. This past weekend my Best Friend CJ came to spend the holidays with me and my family, and it was awesome. We hung out, talked about a bunch of things, and really got a chance to take some snap shots of some really great moments. There is nothing like taking snapshots and fun pictures of different things going on, and having a great time doing it. If you would consider this though, make sure you get yourself in some of the pics, and if not hire or find someone who can help you share in the memories, and not just capture memories without you in them.

The Bad: Throughout the over 15 years I have been a photographer, a lot of my time has been spent in Photo Studios during the holidays. For a lot of people I know, its a tradition. But even though people get very good pictures, a lot of people tend to have a very bad time getting them done. When you go to a photo studio, like in a mall, there are a few things that you get in your Experience. You get to wait to long, you get to take a lot of rushed pictures, and you get a very big bill at the end of it all. When I worked at the studios, I was told I could only spend 10 mins in each session, no matter how good the pictures will turn out. Some people would spend 2 or 3 hours waiting to spend 10 mins doing something that they may not like, but have to settle for because they have no other choice. Why go through that when you can hire a Private and great Photographer to take all the time you want, as well as take a lot more pictures out of it for the same amount of money. If not Hire me, Research photographers in your area, check out their work, pricing, and please give yourself options.

The Great: This year I am proud to say that there are a lot of Firsts in our household. During the first part of this year, We bought a house, its a fixer upper that we can change and make it ours. Shortly after that we had a baby named Rebecca. And now, I am happy to say this Christmas is our First Christmas as a whole family. So Far it has been a blast, we get to go take pictures with Santa, decorate, put up lights on the house, and capture the joyous memories of this season. In addition, we got to take a picture in our living room, in front of our tree and send that picture to our friends and family. If you can, please take the time to capture these moments as I have on camera, weather its hiring a photographer to come out to your house and photograph these events, or its capturing them on your own camera, Please get as many pictures as you can.

Having Fun: OK, so here is me having fun.... I know it maybe a little dorky, but this is fun to me. I love my mom to death, she is one of the best women in my life, she has raised me to be the person I am today, and I am greatful to be able to spend every min. that I can with her. But when it comes to Technology, she is not Bill Gates... This year, we were able to buy her a Digital Camera, She has not opened the gift yet, but that was her big gift this year. I know, you guys are thinking SO? Well this is her First Digital Camera, as of right now she is still using a film camera. And this is going to be fun. And Yes, I will be capturing every moment on my camera. I know going into this, there will be some challenges, But all in all its going to be a lot of fun. 

Now that I have shared my moments this season, what are yours?????? Any Questions? Concerns? or just want to tell us about some experiences with Santa Pictures, Holiday Pictures, or any other Pictures? Please post a comment. I Look Forward to hearing from you!

Lastly, From the bottom of my heart, I want to wish you and your loved ones a happy, safe, and great holiday season! From My Family to Yours Happy Holidays Everyone.

Photography At The Starting Line

Photography was something I fell into, it was something that needed to be done so that I could get my job done, but now, its a huge passion of mine. Flash back to 1995, when a buddy of mine, while in English class told me about the Yearbook. He told me that it was an easy class, you got out of other classes all the time, as well as being able to go to school functions and games for free. So I signed up, applied for the spot and got it. As I was working on a spread for the yearbook, I needed a staff photographer to take some pictures, so I asked the advisor. Just before I could ask, he told me there were no photographers available for at least 2 or 3 weeks, which if i had waited, I would not have met my deadline. So I asked if i could be shown how to use a camera, and I would take the pictures for myself. A couple weeks later, the pictures came back, I finished the spread, and the advisor made me a staff photographer.

After 2 years as a staff photographer, photographing everything from sports, plays, functions, as well as other programs and events the advisors had to offer. I graduated high school, and moved 5 hours, where I found work as a photographer at a major photo studio. I was originally hired as seasonal staff, but soon after I was hired, the Manager had me doing some of her duties, and after 2 weeks I was running the studio. I managed the studio for almost 2 years, before I decided to move on to a different company. There, I started yet again as a photographer, and quickly moved up the ranks as an Assistant Manager. After a year, the company sent me to a training studio, and they soon realized after a week of being there, that I was better suited as full on management. I traveled around as a District Training Manager for 2 years, seeing different cities every week, as well as different parts of Northern California.

After several years jumping from Photography job to another, learning all I can about my craft, and how to better myself and my skills, I am now at a point in my life where I can venture out yet again, on an adventure of making memories with friends and family. As well as photographing students and kids all over Southern California, I have been photographing all aspects of photography. Photography for me as grown from just something that needed to be done to get a job completed, to sharing and making memories with family, friends, and loved ones throughout the nation. It has been my goal, and will always be my goal to take the best pictures I possibly can for myself, and for others, and in business, provide a way of capturing memories, as well as creating opportunities for people around me.

15 years later, Photography has been an ultimate labor of love, a work of wonder, and a passion for the pride I have in my work. I am one of the few in the world that gets to say I love what I do, and I have fallen in love with every person I have photographed in all the wedding, parties, sports, schools, as well as all the other events. The great part of all this, is that as I grow as a person, and grow my company, I get to meet great people, whom I can not only help capture memories, but I can fall in love with............