Holiday Fun

Hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday! I most definitely enjoyed the four day weekend as well as family and full bellies. Although there are no more left overs there are many great memories that will withstand any amount of left over food! 

On another note, Sofia's photo shoot was a blast! She was so great to work with. So much personality! Here are a few of the shots:

So much joy this lil smile bug brought to the shoot. I set up my lights in the comfort of her home which I think brought out the best in her. It is always a toss up with kids. Finding the ways to bring out their smiles is always a fun challenge.

It's That Time of Year

Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore about the Pilgrims
& America’s Thanksgiving

Did you know that for many Native American people, Thanksgiving is cause for mourning rather than celebration? Although the First Thanksgiving included the Pilgrims’ Native American neighbors, that spirit of cooperation did not last long between the native people and the colonists. The land and lives of the native people were pillaged and destroyed countless times during the early history of the United States of America. Racism and bigotry persist until this day. As a result, Thanksgiving has taken on greater historical significance for many Native Americans, who view that First Thanksgiving as the beginning of centuries of oppression and discrimination.

Time to Give Thanks


Count your blessings instead of your crosses;

Count your gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes;

Count your friends instead of your foes.

Cont your smiles instead of your tears;

Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean;

Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth;

Count on God instead of yourself.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off the physical effort of rising,

Thank you, Lord that I have the strength to raise.

There are many who are bed fast.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic,

When socks are lost, toast is burned, and tempers are short,

Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in the ladies’ magazines,

And the menu is at times unbalanced,

Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous,

Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work.

There are many who have no work.

Even though I groan and bemoan my fate from day to day

And wish my modest circumstances were not so modest,

I thank you, Lord, for the gift of life.

Have a joyous holiday, filled with thanks and giving.

Questions and FAQs

This post is going to mostly put emphasis on wedding photography since there is so much that goes into making your special day the best and most memorable! What are some things as a client that you would look for in a photographer? What are some things that would make you choose one company over another? 

So please take a moment and think about anything you would like to know about Stimulate Photography and ask away! 

Wings of Innocence at the Amador County Fair

Copy write Stimulate Photography

Ups and Downs

Being an artist, or any human for that matter, there will be many ups and downs in life. Last night I received an email from a prospective wedding client saying that another photog was offering a better deal on payment plans. To be honest I was a bit discouraged as I had already come down on my price for her as I felt that with this client I would get more out of the pure love of the art than making serious profits on the job. At any rate, I got over it. Wrote her back and said that I understand that cushion is needed in this recession and bid her farewell and happy journeys. 

An hour later I was in bed watching Karate Kid, the original, which I felt was quite fitting. Daniel San never gave up with the support of his mentor mixed with the pure fight in his soul. This reminded me that when one door closes, do not fret for another shall open. It is up to me to walk through! 

That door opened this morning as I opened my email to find that I had sold a print on Fine Art America. Rock on.

Never give up or feel like one down will hold you. As the saying goes there is always ups and downs, not just ups and not just downs.

A shot from MYND clothing shoot

Lady M. trailer

Recently I had the privilege to work on a film with some very talented folks.

• Desperate Visions
• Jason Rudy, owner Desperate Visions Productions
• Kenyon Page, model/actress
• Steve Boykin, Creative Director Vchi Studios 
• Monik Vega of Mystic Hues
• Megan Trader 

jsynchronicty on youtube

Please check out Desperate Visions and Vchi Studios!

Sacramento State Jazz

I can't describe how awesomely lifted I felt after enjoying this video. Crazy enough I ran across this while using iGoogle's you tube link and scrolling through today's top favorites. Please take a moment and watch. You may see some folks you didn't know were a part of this!





The Sacramento State Jazz Singers perform Ben Folds Selfless, Cold and Composed, (from the Ben Folds Five album (Whatever and Ever Amen) arranged by their director, Kerry Marsh. This features Sac States own Antoinette Butterscotch Clinton from NBCs Americas Got Talent on beatbox/vocal percussion. Video recorded by senior Kate Janzen, soloists (in order): Natalie Geeter, Gaw Vang, Sherrine Mostin, Derrick Koelsch, Melissa Fulkerson, Jessie Clemens, vocal coach: Julia Dollison. Sac State Jazz Online: www.csus.edu/music/jazz

Wedding Photography

Today I ran across a great site titled Wedding Photojournalist Association. I went surfing through articles as well as what they had to offer photographers and found this great article:

TIMELESS, OR SIMPLY ICONIC?

There are certain standard wedding images that have been captured again and again throughout the decades. We all know what they are: the bride and her bridesmaids preparing for the ceremony, the father kissing the bride, the walk down the aisle, the married couple’s first kiss and many others. These images are iconic in that they’re instantly recognizable and steeped in tradition.

But many of these pictures are also cliché. They’ve been done and redone almost to the point of yawning boredom. They have been seen so many times, in one slight variation or another, that they flirt with meaninglessness, having lost so much emotional “oomph” as we’ve all become desensitized to the same imagery over time.
The quality of true timelessness, photographs that look as though they could have been created yesterday or 50 years ago, occupies another level altogether. Such images require anticipation, patience, recognition and photojournalist skill on the part of the wedding photographer.

New York City, NY, USA-based WPJA member Jacek Wiesnowski believes that the difference between “cliché” and “timeless” is wrapped up in how you capture the moment, whether in the action, the expression of the faces or the gestures of the hands.

“In wedding photography, what’s important is not just capturing the iconic image, but how you capture it,” he says. “You need to capture emotion at the same time—not just the scene but also emotion in the face. This is what is going to make the image not only iconic, but also elegant.”

Please read more here: Timeless, or Simply Iconic

This article really caught my eye. Enjoy!

How to Contact Stimulate Photography

There are many ways to see what is going on inside the world of Stimulate Photography, but I have decided it is necessary to streamline my links and bundle the updates and photos into just a few different pages. I have been hearing a lot lately about the importance of online marketing strategies and am putting them to the test!

Here are just a few quotes that have stood out to me in my resent research:

"Businesses are not paid to reform customers. They are paid to satisfy customers"

-Pete Drucker

"No matter how much you spend on it, a web site in invisible until somebody links to it"

-Eric Ward, Link Marketing Consultant

"The bigger story here is that the fabric of the Net has changes; it's a place for people to connect up around shared interests and then collaborate towars some sort of action"

-Steve Rubel, Edelman.com

So without further delay, please check out my links!

• Stimulate Photography Website
• Stimulate Photography Facebook Fan Page
• Fine Art America 
• Model Mayhem, bringing all indutry folks together! 
• Follow me on Twitter!

Santa Cruz Beach Wall

New blog!

With the new so fresh and so clean Facebook profile created and underway, I only thought it fitting to have a fresh, clean and up to date blog! Welcome!

The motivation to have a fresh start has mainly been my first photo series titled Stimulate Awareness. This series of images is dedicated back to our Mother Earth in hopes to raise awareness as to how beautiful and bountiful she really is! You may view the series at www.stimulatephotography.com Please take a moment and check it out!

Winter is quickly approaching! There are many photographic specials running through Stimulate Photography until the end of the year!

• Family Photo Session starts at $50!
• Maternity Photo Sessions starting at $100!
• and so many more!
  

For details or question regarding photographic services or the purchase of prints please contact me through the contact us page at www.stimulatephotography.com



Thank you and welcome to the new blog!