Careful What You Ask For

So I guess when I said I wanted to run my own photography business that was GREAT.  When I said I was moving it to Los Angeles and going to relaunch and grab life by the wahoo that was ok...  Well that was until I realized grabbing any kind of "wahoo" can really make things insane... You following me yet?

Well I moved, and did grab.  And the grab has taken me for a ride and it's getting insane!

It's 1am, in my bed, and I'm just now done working on some post work from a recent shoot I had in Santa Monica this week.  At 10am, thats only 9 hours from now, I have a meeting with a gentleman who designs amazing neckwear in regards to shooting his first look book.  This is a big deal.  I've done some minor work for him a few months back but that wasn't for a whole look book!  I've got some ideas and thoughts that I hope he goes for, we shall see.  Then right off the bat this week I have another 3 hour shoot with a local Hermosa Beach business for a retail holiday event they are part of, which will then be quickly post processed and turned around for their customers.  (I teamed up with the local business back in November and it was such a hit I was asked to come back, yes this is horn tooting and I deserve it.  I don't toot often if you truly know me)

It may not sound crazy busy but you have no idea.  Especially if this look book job comes through.  I still have to manage my own personal holiday card/photo.

Yes I have a good amount of photographer friends who are way more busy right now but most of them have been doing this longer and have a routine, this is truly my first time being this crazy busy.

I LOVE every minute of it though!  However once again I wasn't fully aware what pair of wahoo's I was grabbing to make my dreams come true.  I'll make sure I'm more selective before reaching...

-Gawdun

Yay Obama

I was out in North Carolina for the last few days of October and first full week of November.  

This made it interesting from a political stand.   During the last election North Carolina voted for Obama, but only by a small margin.  Time time around they went back to their republican roots.  That's what's great about our country.  You can change your ideals with no problem.  

This time, since I have made my California move, had to vote myself via absentee ballot.  My initial plan was to vote for Roseanne.  Go ahead.  Laugh.  While Obama and Romney were busy claiming their policies Roseanne discussed hers.  Her's just made sense and were literally for the people.  With that said my plan was to vote for Roseanne.  Utah didn't add her to the ballot, so I resulted to by second choice and that was... Obama.

YAY OBAMA won :)

The last four years were amazing and while there were flaws and imperfections the next four will be just as great!  

So I guess what I'm saying is, Obama won and I'm truly happy.

-Gawdun 

It's Monday

Ok here this goes...

I moved to LA early, early part of 2012.  It's been so amazing!  Since moving here I lived in Torrance.  Torrance was ok, had a small town feel to in even though it's part of LA county.  That residence was also 3 miles from the beach.  However now I live a block from the water in Hermosa Beach.  I know, I know, "stop bragging." But I do live so close.  I can see the water from my back porch where I eat many meals.  

Photography was the majority maker in the move to LA followed by the fact that I have always wanted to live here.  I made it happen.  Photography is starting to take off.  In a couple hours I'm heading to Palm Springs for the annual Beloved Festival.  If you all recall "Beloved" is the style of photography that has had me so fired up the last couple years.  SO much love and warmth felt in imagery I love it!  # fun filled long days exploring the paths of love and all that is included in that to make such beautiful un staged images.  Ahhhhhh  life is great.  

I have way slacked off from gym attendance.  Huge shocker to all of you as well.  I mean I was the guy that literally spent up to 2 hours a day the last year at the gym.  But then again what else was there to do in Saint George and then again the gym wasn't that expensive.  I found a loop in the gym world here though...  By purchasing a 2 year 24 Hour Fitness membership through Costco it will only be $300 or so.  This is huge! That is literally a break down of $12.50 a month.  How many of you have cheap memberships like that?  :-)

Ok Man I am going on and on about me and my new fun LA swanky living.  I shall stop but I will return.   I need to get my run on before Palm Springs.  Until next time....  I leave you with this image shot with the iPhone app Instagram...

-Gawdun

(thanks for the support and reading) 

Hello? Is It Me You've Been Looking For?

I've been absent, I've been relocated, I've been alive, I've been present...  Ive been living..

I've thought about coming back to the blog world but before I do such I need to know if you're all there still reading?  Leave me a comment to bring this back


-Gawdun

A Magical Life I Lead and I Don't Apologize

On my list of people to photograph resides a brilliant singer, Santigold.  She is brilliant and lovely and talented in so many ways.  Oh and that's right, I get to meet her next Thursday and see her perform...  I'm already trying to remind myself to "be cool, be cool" for I may say some stupid thing that makes me sound creepy.  I mean similar things have happened when I have been so excited!



(by the way it was well worth the few year wait for a purely magical second CD release.  And hey she doesn't use auto-tune.  Imagine that, a real artist!)

-Gawdun

Yup, It's a Monday

Today I woke up late even after going to bed fairly early for myself.  Most of the time I am in bed around 2am, not last night.  I made it long before then...  

I'm focusing a great deal of energy in not being down and out.  Somedays I believe we should just have the right to be down and out.  So I managed to finally get out of the house and talk myself out of the car and go for a pretty good run along the coast.   Most of the time a good run clears the head.  This time it just confused it if not added more into it.  I managed to find some great photo locations along the way though that was a plus.  

...  You know what... STOP.  I could allow myself to be in a rut today longer than I already am.  I make this decision right now to not be in one.  Life happens, things happen,  life takes time.  I live in a world where people want it now.  Well guess what, it doesn't always happen ASAP, and that is awesome. :)

I am connected to some amazing people here in LA and they are wonderful.  I have a great life!  I have a great support group here and back at my mothers home in Utah. I have people routing for me and I will make it happen for me no matter where I am.  

Besides I will be meeting Santigold on May 31st and that just happened today so I guess life isn't rough.  My photo business will only get better.  I will one day run that long race on foot.  And all the people around me that said I couldn't do any of my goals will just kiss my grits.  

~~~~~~~

I think it's funny that I started this posting in a rut and mid way through it turned that around and wouldn't give power to that rut anymore :)

How has your day been?  What new adventures are you up to?  

Oh and I finally have a website and new blog hosting for my photography business :)

www.argimag.sqsp.com

but I still wont answer a call if I don't recognize the number, just FYI :)

-Gawdun

I Visited Prison

Ok maybe not officially but I was on the inside even if by voice!

Today I received a random call from a Texas number.  I rarely answer calls if I don't recognize the number and NEVER call back if they don't leave a message.  However since I am a business owner in a big city of people from all over the country with many different numbers I am working on answering when the phone rings, it may be a potential muse.

I digress...

So today, I mean yesterday as its Sunday at 2:30am, I got this call from a Texas number as I said above.  I went ahead and answered only to hear an operator inform me that the Carson City Correctional Facility was trying to connect me with an Inmate.  I could barely understand the name recorded so I hung up.  Yes, the thought did cross my mind that my brother had made the "facility" his home again for a weekend as he has done once before but he at least has clear grammar.  I mean mother did not raise idiots in english.  *on a side note yes I have a sibling who has tried the "facility" before to see if he wanted to live there and he decided against it, too hard of beds and the concierge sucks ;-)  


So once I hung up I then had this horrid thought that the poor chap who was calling dialed wrong and I was his only call and I could have relayed his message or at least told him it was the wrong number which would then allow him the chance to correct his miss call and dial correctly.  Not two-seconds later "Carson Inmate" via Texas called back.  I answered, found out that my phone is not set up to pay and receive collect calls from that "facility," (didn't now I needed to have my number frisked and read rights in order to take calls from the "facilities") however the operator did tell me I could have this first call free but would then be given the chance to set up future payment options.  Yeah I don't plan on making this a routine phone session, unless 'Inmate Portrait Sessions' somehow becomes a new biz for me.  

Anyway I got the man on the phone who needs to learn to speak and enunciate clearly, I have no idea who he was in the end, and informed him that I have had that phone number for the past 9 years and he probably dialed wrong.  He sounded bummed but I am sure he saw the error in his dialing and was hopefully granted another phone call to reach the intended party.

This is just one of the many random things I have been recipient to on my phone this week.  In the last week I have received scam text messages telling me that I have a free gift card if I act now and respond, and now the "facility" call.  Seriously people, I have been the owner of my telly number for 9 years, 9 years (I am holding 9 fingers up to simulate even though you the reader can't see me).  I could understand if this was a reused number but I am the originator.  I just wish the wrong calls were more exciting...

-Gawdun