Finding my way in Southern California

     It appears that I have been away for quite some time since I've not written a blog entry since 2013.  One of my resolutions for the coming year is to be more active with this blog and that's the reason for this first post.  
     I moved to Southern California from North Carolina in the later part of 2014 and have spent the past year trying to jump start my photography business from scratch.  I won't lie to you; it has been very hard and many times I have thought about giving up.  I have joined business networking meetings, professional photography clubs and Facebook groups for local photographers in hopes of finding my elusive clients.  As you may have guessed, I'm still slowly finding those clients on my own.  I've recently decided to streamline my work to portraits and weddings with a strong emphasis on Contemporary Glamour Portraits. I was trying to sell myself as a jack-of-all-trades but that doesn't fly well here.  In my opinion, one must have a niche in the market in order to get noticed among the pack of momtogs (moms with cameras).   I've always wanted an in-home studio and living in California has provided me that opportunity.  I'm following the business plan of one of my favorite portrait photographers, Sue Bryce.  Sue started her business in her home studio and has worked her way up to greatness.  She inspires me to work harder and overcome my fears; or blocks as she calls them.  Here are a few images from a recent photo shoot here in my home studio.   I'm slowly finding my way in California and I know with patience and lots of advice from other greats in the area I will survive. 

My Sister's Wedding Photographer

Hi Guys,

I recently had the pleasure of photographing my sister on her wedding day.  What a pleasure that was for me.  I have very fond memories of playing dress up with her as a small child.  I would get her all gussied up in my older sister's frilly dresses and make her hold a small bunch of flowers while I took pictures of her.  Our family album is littered with such pictures.  When I think back to my childhood years I could never have imagined that I would be my sister's wedding photographer.  I am  grateful that she asked and grateful that God has blessed me with the ability to capture such beautiful memories.

Erika Jayne @ 2012 Pride Charlotte Festival

Erika Jayne is an American dance/club music performer born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, where she attended North Atlanta High School for the Performing Arts. Currently based in Los Angeles, Jayne arrived on the club music scene in 2007 with the electro-hued track "Rollercoaster", which went to number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. In 2008 her follow-up single "Stars" reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart. Both tracks appeared on her debut album Pretty Mess, released August 2009, and produced by veterans Peter Rafelson and Eric Kupper.

Jayne released her new latest single "Party People (Ignite the World)" in November 2011. "Party People" reached number 1 on the dance/club chart in January 2012 becoming her 6th number-1 hit. Having landed six number one slots on the Billboard Dance Chart, Erika Jayne ranks with the Pussycat Dolls and Rihanna for the most number ones on a debut release. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erika_Jayne)

 Erica Jayne was recently in Charlotte for the 2012 PRIDE CHARLOTTE FESTIVAL. 

Sunny San Diego

Elegant and sunny San Diego is truly a city with something for everyone. In town, a whole day or more could be spent in Balboa Park playing golf, touring the world-famous San Diego Zoo or visiting a museum. Just outside of town, Torrey Pines State Reserve offers a somewhat wilder terrain where visitors can view rare birds and the stately trees the park is named for. Children, and in turn parents, will be delighted with the city's wide range of family-oriented activities. From SeaWorld to the historic Gaslamp Quarter, there are events and exhibits to keep even the most hard-to-please happy. San Diego boasts an array of fine and trendy restaurants covering a melting pot of cuisines, world-class shopping and hotels from lavish to budget. - TripAdvisor.com

The North Carolina Zoo - Asheboro NC

 “Located just south of Asheboro, the North Carolina Zoo is seated on a 1,500-acre tract of land in the Uwharrie Mountains.  Approximately 500 acres of this property have been developed into one of the largest "natural habitat" zoos in the United States.  You won't find cages made of steel and concrete there.  The animals are given enclosures that mimic their natural habitats to include trees, ponds, rocks, grass and dirt."

 

 

"The North Carolina Zoo grew from an idea initiated by the Raleigh Jaycees in 1967.  Through a series of fund-raising events--including at least one professional football game-the site was selected and secured to be close to the center of the state.  The Zoo is 75 miles west of Raleigh, 25 miles south of Greensboro and 75 miles northeast of Charlotte."

“The first exhibits opened in 1974 as a temporary facility while the permanent Zoo was being built.  The first permanent exhibit was the "Forest Edge", home to Zebra, Ostrich and Giraffe.  This opened in 1979, and exists today much as it did in the late 1970's.”

-        http://www.nczoo.org/about/index.html

The Angel Oak - Johns Island, SC

The Angel Oak is a Southern Live Oak Tree located on Johns Island, near Charleston, South Carolina.  It is estimated to be in excess of 1500 years old, it stands 65 ft tall, measures 28 ft in circumference, and shades with its crown an area of 17,000 square feet. Its widest crown spread point-to-point is 180 ft, which is longer than any other live oak in the country. Its longest limb is 105 feet in length. The tree and surrounding park have been owned by the city of Charleston since 1991.  The Angel Oak is thought to be one of the oldest living organisms east of the Mississippi River.  
The Angel Oak stands on part of Abraham Waight's 1717 land grant from the English Colonies. The oak derives its name from the Angel estate, although local folklore told stories of ghosts of former slaves that would appear as angels around the tree. The tree has become a significant tourist attraction. It has survived countless hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and human interference. Angel Oak was damaged severely during Hurricane Hugo in 1989 but has since recovered.  Acorns from the Angel Oak have grown to produce authentic direct-offspring.

National Cathedral - Washington DC

A Rose window (or Catherine window) is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in churches of the Gothic architectural style and being divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery. The name “rose window” was not used before the 17th century and according to the Oxford English Dictionary, among other authorities, comes from the English flower name rose.  The term “wheel window” is often applied to a window divided by simple spokes radiating from a central boss or opening, while the term “rose window” is reserved for those windows, sometimes of a highly complex design, which can be seen to bear similarity to a multi-petalled rose. Rose windows are also called Catherine windows after Saint Catherine of Alexandria who was sentenced to be executed on a spiked wheel. A circular window without tracery, such as are found in many Italian churches, is referred to as an ocular window or oculus.  Rose windows are particularly characteristic of Gothic architecture and may be seen in all the major Gothic Cathedrals of Northern France. Their origins are much earlier and rose windows may be seen in various forms throughout the Medieval period. Their popularity was revived, with other medieval features, during the Gothic revival of the 19th century so that they are seen in Christian churches all over the world.  The Rose Window that I have photographed here is located inside the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.  http://www.nationalcathedral.org/