After making a video and photo set one of the guest rooms at Del Mesa Carmel earlier this year, I was invited back to capture drone video and aerial photography of the community and surrounding Carmel Valley landscape. It was great to work with Odeli again who made the whole process of getting drone video of the expansive 55+ community organized and efficient. They just updated the courtyard by the main community building, so I made that one of the focuses of the drone video.
A Second Visit to a Pebble Beach Build in Progress
I returned to this stunning in progress Pebble Beach estate 6 months after my first visit to make updated drone video and aerial photos and to also get still photos of the special materials being used to define the interior of this 10,000+ square foot home. A lot has happened since August of last year when I first met Nick of Annigoni Construction on site. The most obvious addition to the exterior is the stunning copper roof! It glinted in the sunlight as the drone flew around it capturing new video. The interior had several different types of wood used in the ceilings, as well as stone on the walls. Thank you Nick for continuing to choose me as your drone pilot and photographer and I cannot wait to return to get the finished property drone video and photos!
This marketing video for Pacific Grove Adventures was created as part of an ongoing video project for the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce, highlighting local businesses through short, approachable, story-driven videos. In this case, the “studio” was the beach, the props were bikes and a SUP board, and the goal was simple: show what it actually feels like to spend a day exploring Pacific Grove with Pacific Grove Adventures.
Once again Jazmyn and CC were pros in front of the camera! This video shoot required more physical action than the others, but it was no problem for them on land and water.
How a Conversation Led to a Guest Room Photo and Video Project
You never know what may lead to a photography job. Such was the case of how I ended up working with Odeli of Del Mesa Carmel. I received an invitation to the first Makers’s Market at Asilomar Conference Grounds in December. Setup across from my table display was an artist. He wandered over and we got to talking. I had the drone on display on the table, so in talking about that, he mentioned having a friend who was talking about needing drone video. I gave him my card to give to her. Well, shortly thereafter that person walked by so he introduced us, and here one month later I was on site starting out by making interior photos and video of a guest room available for residents of the community. Thank you Eric for the intro and thank you to Odeli for your help during the shoot. I will be back to make the drone video next!
This short marketing video above was created to complement interior photography by showing how the guest room flows, how light moves through the space, and how the room is actually used. Videos like this work especially well on websites, social media, and digital marketing platforms where attention is limited and first impressions matter.
Surprise Engagement Drone Video and Photography in Pacific Grove with Tim and Anna and Goose
This surprise engagement drone flight and photo shoot was long in the works. Tim first contacted me a few months ago when we started discussing locations and ideas for how to pull off this surprise! The location Tim chose, I knew very well since I walk the Pacific Grove coast often myself. I knew exactly where the spot was he showed me in just one reference photo! With the location decided, then how to capture the candid engagement moment? Tim ultimately chose for the actual real, candid moment to be recorded with drone video (see the above video). I got there early with my assistant, Felix, and was in position with the drone already in the air so I could capture their walk up and approach to the coastline. Tim told me he stoop down and pick up three shells, and the third would have the ring hidden under it, so that was my signal. Being as discrete as possible I had the drone hovering near the couple, and as I saw him make his move, I slowly brought the drone in closer and closer until you can see in the video Goose started barking at it, but by that time I had already recorded the actual proposal moment!
Photographing The Wharf Rats at the Salty Seal in Monterey Live for Promotional Photos and Video
How did I end up making promotional photos and a video of The Whatf Rats at the Salty Seal in Cannery Row in Monterey, California on a recent Saturday evening? All through the Pacific Grove Rotary Club of course! Fellow Rotarian, Matt, is the singer and guitarist for the band and he asked if I could come to their performance and make a series of photos of them performing, and then at their start of their second set list, make video of those songs. The lighting was better than I expected resulting in more dynamic still photos and the proximity I could get to the band members while they were playing allowed for close up video shots. The video above features the start of them playing Black Magic Woman, which we did not coordinate, I knew the song pretty well, and with a bit of luck and a bit of good timing, was able to record from start into the opening of the lyrics like we practiced it many times! Thank you Matt for this opportunity and for choosing me as your photographer and videographer.
Upper Klamath Lake in Oregon Like an Autumn Mirror
This was my second time in the area of Klamath Falls for long time land real estate client Hemingway Land Company. This trip to photograph four land properties brought me to the Upper Klamath Lake area by the small town of Chiloquin. Right after I finished the 7.5 hour drive from Pacific Grove, California to Chiloquin, I checked into my hotel room, dropped off my bags, and headed right to the first property which was a stone’s throw from the lake. The client also wanted drone video and photos of the lake itself, so I went just a bit south of the property to Henzel Park where the sun was reflecting off the surface of the lake like a giant mirror. It was a stunning scene, that I had all to myself! If you can believe it, no one else was at this park seeing this incredible view. I am glad to share the drone video, drone photos, and still photos of this special sunset from this special place in Oregon.
