Street Portrait - Hero

We were sitting around for a pint of beer at Marlena's when he walked over to turn on the light behind us. Not thinking much of it, we admired his uniform. Costume, really, we thought.

"What is it? Marine?" we asked.

"No," he said. "Air traffic controller." I thought that was the end of the conversation. No surprise here that I can't recognize an air traffic controller when I see one. All uniforms look mostly alike to me.

Then Robin asked about the medals. "And what about those? Are they real? Did you get them?"

He shyly explained that they were. And what they were all for. I'd tell you, but the only thing I can remember is that I was impressed. Quite impressed. He explained that he was at the bar with 'his fellow' to celebrate the end of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' And that's when I knew that there were medals he deserved that weren't there on his chest. And we thanked him for serving his country even when it wasn't ready to accept him.

I didn't catch his name, but I hope he had an excellent night out. And I hope that when I get to be his age that any of my old clothes continue to fit so well!

Another From the Beach

Night Heron

I was lucky enough to see this guy just hanging out by Lake Merritt the other day.

Cat Macro

Glad to have you safe at home, little one.

October Mini Sessions Q&A

So, since I know you all have burning questions about the mini sessions in October, I thought I'd answer a few here.

Note: October Mini-Sessions are now scheduled for Sunday October 30th, not October 29th. I decided that Sunday would work out a bit better. For more information see the previous post here.

Q: Is 30 minutes really enough time?
A: Good question! My normal session length is 1-2 hours. With 30 minutes things are a bit shorter (obviously), and there isn't the possibility of different locations or outfits (unless you're a quick-change artist, in which case, go right ahead!). That makes the sessions have a different feel. Often they're more relaxed and fun, which I love! Also, it's a great chance to try out a themed shoot, without investing too much time and money into it.
    However, since the shoot is shorter, that means fewer pictures. Included in the price is 5 full resolution images. If there are more than 5 great shots (which is quite likely, you handsome devil you), you'll get to pick your favorite five.

Q: Since it's the day before Halloween, can we wear our Halloween costumes?
A: Absolutely! I thought you'd never ask. I'm dying to have some Halloween themed images. Black cats, Elvis Presleys, and Lady Gagas of the world unite!

Q: I was hoping we could get a good photo of the family for our holiday cards.
A: Sneaky. That's not a question, but it does sound like a good idea. A mini session is perfect for a relaxed family photo.

Family fun!

Q: I'm a little camera shy and I'm not sure if this is a good idea for me. Still, I'm intrigued. What do you recommend?
A: It's only 30 minutes, so why not? Wear the clothes you feel like a god or goddess in, do your hair, get your nails done, or get a massage - whatever makes you feel incredible - and then come work it! I'm pretty sure you'll be pleasantly surprised with the results.

A rockin' dress is always a safe bet for excellent photos.

Q: I'd like to bring my dog and get a shot with him. Would that be ok?
A: Yes! Pets are welcome and totally invited. Bring Fluffy, Mr P, and Speckles. The more the merrier. Just please keep an eye on escape artists. It'd be a shame to have to fish Speckles out of the fountain.

Yes! Bring him.

Q: Where exactly is this going to be? I've never heard of this place TBD.
A: Funny, that's where I initially schedule all my shoots. Most likely we'll be at a park somewhere in San Francisco. Hope that helps you narrow it down a bit.

Chances are, the location will look something like this. 

Then again, pictures on the beach might be great as well . . . 

All right, please let me know if you have any more questions! Contact me at jessica (at) quotidianphotography (dot) com to book a session.

Minisessions in October! (for a good cause)

I've always been a fan of Vanity Fair. I'll admit, I don't always make it to the end of their articles (I swear, they are novella-sized!) but when I do, it's so satisfying. The photography is always stunning (witness this month's Angelina Jolie on the cover - I'll admit I've spent at least a few minutes trying to deconstruct the lighting setup  they used on her face), and the investigative reporting is some of the best on the newsstand. Plus, in this era of information in bite-sized chunks, it's nice to sit down for a good read. One where you need more than two minutes to finish the article.

So, last month (or July - time passes faster than I thought, I guess) they featured a story on the ivory trade and the declining population of African elephants. You can read the full text of the article here, but I'll warn you it's a rather depressing read. In the struggle between elephants and poachers, the elephants are not doing well. Nevertheless, I highly recommend it. You can also see a slideshow of the related images here.

One line from the article really stood out for me. "But elephants are not human, of course. They are something much more ancient and primordial, living on a different plane of existence." It's exactly how I feel about them, although the author has expressed it better than I ever could. And I'd like to do something to help, no matter how small.

All images on this page were taken by Vanity Fair photographers. Not me. Although, someday, I really hope to see and photograph a wild elephant. 

That's why I've decided to donate part of the proceeds from my October 29 October 30 mini-sessions to Save The Elephants.

Date: Sunday, October 30
Cost: $75 (that's half of my most basic portrait session price)
Included: A 30 minute portrait/family/pet session in San Francisco (exact location TBD), and 5 high resolution files with the rights to print them, put them on holiday cards, or just share with friends and family.
Feel-good factor: For every minisession booked, I will donate $25 to Save The Elephants. And together, we can make a difference.

To book a session, email me at jessica (at) quotidianphotography (dot) com.

I'll update this blog post as the sessions are booked.

Mini-sessions, October 30


12:30-1:00 pm - BOOKED
1:30-2:00 pm
2:15-2:45 pm
3:00-3:30 pm
3:45-4:15 pm
4:30-5:00 pm

Gorgeous light minisessions also available! Might be a bit chilly, but sunset/dusk light is some of the most beautiful and flattering around.
5:30-6:00 pm
6:15-6:45 pm - BOOKED

I hope to see you in October. And together we can do something to help, no matter how small.