Making Waves 2026 Event Photography at Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove

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Making Waves 2026 Event Photography at Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove

A Hospitality Community Celebration in the Heart of Pacific Grove

Thanks to a recommendation from Alex Marin of Asilomar Conference Grounds, I was connected with Paige Viren, an executive director for a hospitality program at CSUMB to photograph the big Wave Makers fundraiser event!

The Making Waves 10-Year Celebration brought together leaders, students, alumni, faculty, chefs, hospitality professionals, and community supporters for an evening at Kimpton Mirador in Pacific Grove. The event celebrated ten years of the Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism Management program at Cal State Monterey Bay, with a courtyard full of conversation, local food, music, awards, auction items, hugs, laughter, and the unmistakable feeling of a community that genuinely supports one another. I photographed the evening as a participating local creative partner. It was a privilege to contribute professional event photography to a gathering that highlighted so much of what makes hospitality on the Monterey Peninsula feel personal, connected, and deeply local.

Thank you Alex for the recommendation and to Paige for choosing me as the photographer for this great fundraising event!

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Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce Board Member Headshots

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Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce Board Member Headshots

Professional Headshots for the People Helping Lead the Pacific Grove Chamber

I have always joined the local chamber of commerce in all three states I have had my photography business. So naturally I joined the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce right at the launch of my photo business in California, and became an ambassador right away too. I have valued my relationship with the PG Chamber from the start, getting a referral the very next day! The chamber itself has directly supported my local photography business as well. The latest example was hiring me to make team headshots for the board of directors for the chamber itself. To maximize convenience for every one, board members had the option to come to my photo studio on their schedule, or, at the January board meeting, get their headshot made at the mobile studio setup I had right outside the boardroom. And since that time, through my team headshot system, new board members have come to my studio for the same consistent, professional headshot as everyone else got months earlier. Thank you to the team at the PG Chamber for choosing me as the photographer for photographing the board!

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Dr. Gentry Branding Photos for New Carmel Psychiatry Practice

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Dr. Gentry Branding Photos for New Carmel Psychiatry Practice

A First Branding Shoot for a New Practice

Dr. Gentry reached out to me about the new psychiatric practice he is opening in Carmel, California, and how he wanted a series of personal branding photos for his upcoming website. As his office space was still coming together, we decided to start in my studio here in Pacific Grove for the first shoot, focusing on branding photos that would prominently show his logo on his white coat. We worked carefully together on both expression and posing to get the look Dr. Gentry wanted for representing himself to patients on his website and other branding materials. That process also involved getting the background color right, choosing the best shirt to wear under his white coat, and then focusing on the most important part of all, his eyes, so they conveyed the right tone. Thank you, Dr. Gentry, for your patience as we worked through all of those details together, and thank you for choosing me as your photographer.

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Restaurant Photography That Does More Than Make Food Look Good

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Restaurant Photography That Does More Than Make Food Look Good

Why Good Restaurant Photography Is About More Than Pretty Food Photos

A lot of restaurant owners understandably start from the same place when thinking about photography: they want the food to look better. That matters, of course, but I think the real value of restaurant photography goes further than that. Strong restaurant images should help people stop, pay attention, get a feel for the business, and feel more confident about coming in. On the Monterey Peninsula especially, where people have plenty of dining options, photography should not just make menu items look appealing. It should help a restaurant stand out, build trust, and attract both new customers and repeat visits.

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Pacific Grove Volunteer Appreciation Lunch and Awards Ceremony 2026

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Pacific Grove Volunteer Appreciation Lunch and Awards Ceremony 2026

Honored to Be There, and Glad to Contribute

This was my first time to be invited to the Volunteer Appreciation Lunch & Awards Ceremony for the City of Pacific Grove because I just became a commissioner on the Traffic Safety Committee earlier this year. So the invitation came as a very nice surprise! It was an honor to be included in an event recognizing people who give their time and energy to the city. As always, I brought my camera even though I was just attending as a guest. Deputy City Manager, Joyce Halabi, is someone I often see at various city events getting photos too, so I asked her if it was ok to get some shots of the awards ceremony. She said yes, and helped coordinate the photo ops as well. Thank you to the whole team at City Hall that helped put this together for the volunteers. Being there as both a volunteer and a photographer felt especially meaningful, and I was glad to help document a small part of what makes Pacific Grove such a special community.

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Team Headshot System Update for Monterey Natural Wellness | New Staff Headshot Match

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Team Headshot System Update for Monterey Natural Wellness | New Staff Headshot Match

When a Team Grows, the Branding Should Still Match

Eight months after I first brought my mobile studio setup to Monterey Natural Wellness to photograph Dr. Allison and her team, and two months after she first sent new team members to my headshot photo studio here in Pacific Grove, she reached out again because a new team member needed a headshot that would match the same established look. Melissa does not live nearby, so I was glad to schedule a shoot time for her specifically that worked best for her to maximize convenience.

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Monterey Peninsula Golf Photography with Mike and Mike

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Monterey Peninsula Golf Photography with Mike and Mike

A Round of Golf, Family Along for the Walk, and Plenty of Good Moments to Catch

Mike contacted me some time ago about golf photography for playing a full 18 hole round with his dad at the most famous golf course on the Monterey Peninsula. The weather forecast was not looking great only a few days out, but rapidly improved to a near ideal day out on the course! Mike’s dad is also named Mike! It was not only fun to capture their golf action shots, but also the interaction between them as father and son. Additionally, following in a cart watching their round was Mike’s mom and sister. It was great to be a part of this family golfing experience on such a beautiful day out on the course. Thank you Mike for choosing me as your golf photographer!

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