Calling in the Marines

Tonite we did a job that was unusual for us. We took photographs at an officer's ball at the Twenty Nine Palms Marine base. They originally contacted us thru the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort where they had planned to have their event, but it was moved back to the base.

Rather than a sponsored event, we were selling photographs to the individuals. This is something that we don't normally get involved with since we are busy with sponsored events. But this is a different kind of year! And when I thought about it, something in my gut said that we need to offer something for these brave individuals who are doing so much for us. And I'm glad that we did it. If nothing else, I got to take this very sweet photograph. (Check out those dimples!)

Normally we are taking photographs that are given away to people who may or may not appreciate all of the lavishness that is being poured out on them. Tonight was very different. The people we were photographing were paying out of their own pockets. And these are people that I'm already so very indebted to.  I'm very glad we could do this. All of the photos are online here.

(Posted by Rand)

Palm Springs photographer.

The right tool for the job.

PAWS of Palm Springs, a boutique pet supply store, hosted a fund-raiser tonight. It was to raise money for the local Animal Samaritans shelter. They asked us to provide a photo booth where the people could take their photo with their dog. They key is that people were dressing up their pooches for a contest! Being dog lovers, and owners of several pound puppies we were happy to participate!

But neither Dave nor I have ever photographed pets before. I had read that it's helpful to have a squeaky toy. The understatement of the evening!

No matter what the owner did, nothing compared to the sound of the little rubber octopus! Curious to see the photos? CLICK HERE to see some funny-dressed dogs and their owners all being entranced by a little squeaky toy!

A Lesson Learned

Tonight I was hired to follow Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra lookalikes to take photos with guests at a corporate event after-dinner party. The goal was to have the photos ready for the guests immediately during the event. As usual, people loved getting their photographs taken with Frank and Marilyn, who are excellent celebrity look-alikes. People also love that their photographs are ready right away, and that they look so good. Technology can be sweet. We used our instant print system with wireless transmission during the event. 

At the end of the photography time, when I was printing the photos I was mobbed by people looking for their photograph. Quite the mob scene! But there was one problem, and that leads to the lesson I learned.

The production company had their photographer at the event as well. He was taking photographs sometimes with me, and sometimes on his own. So the guests were all wondering where those photographs were. They didn't want to hear me say that "the other photographer" was not with me. They don't care. It doesn't make sense to the guests at all.

My lesson is that I should have either offered to print his photographs, or I should have made sure that we stuck together and took the same photos. I really should have been on my toes, I should have put myself in the position of the guests. They don't know what's going on, they just get very dissapointed when that great photo with Marilyn Monroe is not printed out with all the others.

In the future, I'm going to do my best to be proactive about this!

(Submitted by Rand Larson)