Weddings, portraits, corporate jobs and projects for several non-profits for which I have a passion have kept me on the go on the professional side for the last several months. For fun, my wife, Karen, and I, have been hitting some great events at OCPAC (Rent, Spamalot, Trey McIntyre Project). (http://www.ocpac.org/) It’s always a treat to be at this beautiful Orange County venue and have some time together – especially these days as Karen, in addition to her business as an executive and leadership coach, has been very busy as the President of the Orange County Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (www.nawbo-oc.org). Speaking of great events, her organization just had its Remarkable Women Awards Dinner Event on October 15th at the Hilton-Costa Mesa. It was truly inspiring hearing the stories of three successful women business owners – Laura Neubauer, CEO of Deliver It! (www.deliverit.biz), Laura Osborn, CEO of CASCO Contractors (www.cascocontractors.com), and Heidi Miller, Owner of Tight Assets and the World Newsstand in Laguna Beach which had there big event last month. If you are a women-owned business or want to do business with women-owned businesses, I encourage you to take check NAWBO-OC out. I know that the “purse power” of women is strong and the women of this chapter are determined to get the Orange County business engine going!
Doug Gifford Photography E-News
Thank you for your many kind comments (and your referrals!) about the inaugural edition of E-News in September. I hope you will equally enjoy this second edition!
Our goal is to provide you with special offers, photo tips, and to feature articles and information about topics to help you make better photography decisions.
Please sign up for the E-News by e-mailing me at doug@dougiffordphoto.com if you are not yet on the mailing list.
Executive Portraits
Executive Portraits have always been something we have offered both – either in the studio or at the company location. Today, with more and more people changing careers or needing their image updated for professional and social media purposes, we have seen an increase in requests.
Our “Image Portrait” includes a head and shoulders studio portrait, a clothing consultation, the session, retouching, a high and low resolution file of and usage starting at $195. On-location rates for executive portraits start for as little as $450. We have worked with terrific hair and make-up referrals who, like us, understand lighting to help you become ready for your close-up. We can also help you and your team with creative on-location images of your company, products, employees and customers for marketing, incentive and annual report purposes. Simply call us for a quote.
To see examples of our work, please visit: www.douggiffordphoto.com and select the “portrait tab” and then “executive portrait portfolio.” To schedule an appointment, call 949.362.3661 or e-mail doug@douggiffordphoto.com
Alliance Medical Products, Inc.
Have you ever had one of those amazing experiences that leaves you feeling like your work matters? I sure did when Alliance Medical Products, Inc. (AMP) asked me to photograph their new machinery for marketing and display pieces. AMP is a very successful contract pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Irvine, California. (www.amp-us.com)
The unusual and fun part of the experience was going through training in order to “suit up” in the sterile gowns eight different times to go into the clean rooms in which the various pieces of machinery were located. I had to choose the photography equipment I wanted with me before I went in each room because I could not come back out without undressing and redressing. This made it a little more challenging. What really got my adrenalin going was knowing that they had to shut down their production lines and then spend two days thoroughly cleaning each room when we were finished with the photography (a huge cost to and investment by the company) in order for me to produce the images they needed. So as interesting as it was to be in the rooms with the machinery and my “models,” I had to stay focused on getting the job done right the first time! I’ll let you know when the images are up on their site. The rush felt like my many times on the Formula One race track or the America’s Cup course when there was only one chance at getting the shot! I still love that feeling after 25 years. AMP was a real WOW! and I’m ready for the next opportunity!
Sunwest Bank
Headquartered in Tustin, California is Sunwest Bank - the premier small and middle market business bank in Southern California,
www.sunwestbank.com.
Glenn Gray, President & Chief Executive Officer, and I met through my wife, Karen, at the Forum for Corporate Directors (www.fcdoc.org) several years ago. Karen was on the board and Glenn was a new sponsor of that organization. At one of our first meetings, I learned that Glenn is an avid scuba diver and loves underwater photography. He also wants to continuously get better at it. I think that always learning and improving is what makes Sunwest such a great bank under his leadership. Anyway, he hired me as his photography coach to do a better job of taking photographs underwater. That led to photography engagements at the bank for customer appreciation purposes, marketing and last week to cover the 2010 Economic Outlook event hosted by Sunwest Bank for their customers at the Center Club (http://tinyurl.com/ydvbdjs) – a venue where I have photographed countless events. Sunwest continues to maintain a strong and growing presence in these interesting times. My sense is that you can “bank on” Sunwest for being around well into the future!
Friends of Dorothy
Over the last couple of years, it has been my pleasure to contribute my time and talent to photograph all the events for a super organization called the Friends of Dorothy, which is a support guild of Aids Services Foundation. This year, at the annual Haunted Halloween party at the Village Crean, I was presented with “The Red Shoe Award” for my support of and love for the organization. As is often with things like this, when we are giving of ourselves, we are the ones who are really benefitting. So, “thank you” for giving me a chance to be with some really great people helping great people challenged by HIV/AIDS. It is truly my pleasure and honor and I have met so many wonderful people. At the top of the list especially is my friend, Tim Dunn. He invited me to get involved after working with him at the Orange County Performing Arts Center where he is head of PR. He plays that role as a volunteer for Friends of Dorothy. Our eight years at OCPAC and three at Friends of Dorothy working as a team have meant a lot to me and I know we will continue for years to come.
If you are looking for an organization to support that is doing great work in providing services to those whose lives have been touched by HIV/AIDS, I can highly recommend getting involved with Friends of Dorothy. You will not only be doing good, I promise you will have a really good time!
Please go to their website, www.friendsofdorothy.org to get more information on their up coming events and I will see you there!
OC Rescue Mission
If you have been following my blog for the last couple of years, you know that I have been working for many years with the Orange County Rescue Mission and their facility in Santa Ana, The Village of Hope.
Last week, the playground at the Village of Hope was the setting for this year’s holiday card. President, Jim Palmer, and 25 kids of the village had a chance to play and pose as I captured their joy and smiles before simply playing was what the kids had in mind! Their energy was engaging and the photo heartwarming. Look for it as we head into the season. And, if you want another place to give of your heart, time and resources, Jim and the Village of Hope team can always use help!
For more information about what they are doing for the homeless in Orange County and how you can help, please go to there website at www.rescuemission.org.
Heritage Museum
The Heritage Museum of Orange County is a cultural and natural history center dedicated to providing hands-on educational programs that emphasize the history, heritage, and diversity of Orange County and California. The Museum is also committed to preserving and restoring the historic buildings and artifacts that have been entrusted to our care.
Each year they have a major fundraising event. Last year and several years before, I photographed the event. This year, thanks to Karen’s paddle going up at last year’s auction to support this wonderful organization, we were rewarded with tickets to just be guests at the event this year. We were joined by a table of friends who were delighted to find out about this OC museum and, like us, enjoyed being able to donate to a wonderful cause to help educate thousands of SoCal kids. This year’s event theme was A Night in Casablanca, which evoked the Moroccan setting for the classic Bogart/Bergman movie. It was a wonderful night of food, drink and fun. This organization really gets into creating magical events. It’s a two thumbs up from our perspective!
Outside of regularly hosting school kids on educational tours, the museum is also the location for parties and special events, such as weddings. For more information, please visit their website at www.heritagemuseumoc.org.
Girls Incorporated
Over the last couple of years my wife, Karen, and I have supported Girls Incorporated in Orange County by giving our time, talent and donations. Their mission statement tells you exactly what they do: Inspiring all girls to be Strong, Smart, and Bold.
I have had the privilege to hear many wonderful performances working as a photographer for the last 7 years with the OCPAC, and the OCYSO performance was as good as you would hear from any orchestra, of any age.
Play ball! It is that time again, time for opening day for the Laguna Niguel Girls Softball League, 
