I always find it very curious how things work out in my photographer career. After nearly three years since I transplanted my photography business to the Monterey Peninsula area, I had never been to Carmel Valley Ranch. Then all of a sudden, twice in August I have two events of two evenings each within two weeks of each other! It was enough that the valet attendant now knows me. For this pair of evening events, Storck USA contacted me about photographing an incentive trip for 17 of their top sales performers. The first evening was their welcome dinner, which started with everyone mingling outside as the sun was dropping behind the hills. I took the opportunity to get a group photo of everyone just before the sun disappeared after making many candids of everyone catching up. Thank you to Rachel and Storck for choosing me as their event photographer!
You may recognize Tim and Anna from a surprise engagement drone video and photo shoot from last December (check out the drone video). They returned to the Monterey Peninsula area for their wedding party reception and asked me to be their photographer again which I gladly said yes too! Their family and friends all traveled to Monterey to celebrate with them. Tim and Anna wanted a photo with each and every person, so I had the guest list in my pocket to make sure we did! In between those group photos I searched for candid moments to capture, before making a group photo with everyone (see above). Then it was time for speeches that were very personal, very emotional, and made me emotional as well to hear them and it was truly special to be invited and included in their celebration. Tim and Anna have been so kind to me since the beginning of this photo journey together last year. Congratulations to you both, and thank you for letting me be a small part of the story.
Photographing the Preservation of History at Asilomar
Photographing this ribbon cutting was especially meaningful because Asilomar Conference Grounds has continued to bring me back for corporate and community events over the past two+ years. This time it was for a ribbon cutting celebrating the Historic Preservation Center where the craftsmanship of the grounds are preserved, from windows to architectural features. Before the actual ribbon cutting, I made a series of group photos and was asked if I was ok being on a ladder as they wanted a high up perspective looking down into the preservation workshop itself. I joked that I am more athletic than the average photographer so no problem to shoot from 10+ feet up! (see the BTS photo below) There were then a series of speakers from Asilomar Conference Grounds, the California State Parks system, and the mayor of Pacific Grove also all talking about the history of the place and what it means to preserve. Then it was on to the lively ribbon cutting! Thank you Alex and Crystal for continuing to choose me as your event photographer for Asilomar Conference Grounds!
Family and Friends Came from Near and Far to Celebrate Patricia’s 70th Birthday
Shandra contacted me about photographing her mom’s (Patricia) 70th birthday party event at Wave Street Studios in Monterey, California. It was a short 1.5 mile drive for me, but I quickly learned that many people came from much, much further away to join the celebration! With roots in Seaside, San Antonio, and Atlanta, this was a cross country gathering. Things started with many emotional reunions between generations of family from siblings to spouses to aunts & uncles to nieces and nephews. There was of course cake, but also a Patricia Trivia contest that I thought was a fantastic party idea! Things finished for me photography-wise with a marathon of family portraits as everyone wanted a photo with the Patricia on her 70th birthday. This was definitely one of the more fun events I have ever photographed. Thank you Shandra for choosing me as your photographer for this family event!
A Complete Business Photo Session for a Local Pacific Grove Accounting Team
I came to know Travis through the Pacific Grove Rotary Club. In talking he expressed an interest in updated team headshots for his accounting team, as well as some “better than stock” candid photos of the team in action. I said I would be very happy to help out with that when you and the team are ready. Well, they survived tax season this year and we scheduled a date for me to bring the mobile studio setup to his office, which is actually only walking distance (if I didn’t have to bring so much photo equipment) from my own photo studio. It took a bit of creative setup to make the best use of the space for headshots, but in the end I was able to figure it out and make the same great headshots I do for all clients whether it is at their location, or at my downtown Pacific Grove photo studio. We moved on to make a couple of group shots, then some candid business portraits, or as I call them, “better than stock” images, which required a little bit of acting on their part which they seemed to enjoy! Thank you so much to Travis for choosing me as your photographer. It is always great to work with a fellow Rotarian too! And thank you to first time photo assistant Theresa, for helping with this multi-faceted shoot and getting that BTS (behind the scenes) photo of me below.
I first met Dr. Jamie and her team two months ago, when they visited my photography studio here in downtown Pacific Grove, CA. The result of that shoot was one of the best group photos I ever made! So I was delighted when she asked me to photograph her grand opening ribbon cutting hosted by the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce. That meant I was there in an official capacity as a professional event photographer, and also as an ambassador for the PG Chamber. Dr. Jamie has personality and energy that cannot be contained! This makes getting great candids and other action shots both easy and a pleasure. I invite you to check out all the smiles below, no doubt made bigger and better both by the fun of the event and her skill as a dentist! Thank you Dr. Jamie for continuing to choose me as your photographer, I really appreciate it.
It was a real treat to have Dr. Jamie and her team visit my photo studio in Pacific Grove, CA for team headshots and a team photo as well! I mostly have individuals come to the studio for headshots, as it is not the biggest studio in the world, but for 5 people it worked out well. So that each person could still have their own individual style shoot, it was only one person at a time in the studio, while everyone else waited out in the lobby. Then after each person was happy with the headshot we made, the rest of the team came in and was super supportive of the image made of that team member, adding reassurance and encouragement! These genuine feelings for each other showed up in one of the best team photos I have ever made (see below)! I liked it so much I put it immediately on the home page of my website in my very select home page portfolio gallery.
