NAWBO- OC Special offer.

Here is my limited time special offer to all the National Association of Woman Business Owners of Orange County (NAWBO) www.nawbo-oc.org members.

Book an Executive Portrait Session before June 30th 2009
and receive a FREE Family Portrait session.

Hurry to book your session today for this great limited time offer!

Call today at 949.362.3661 or e-mail me at doug@douggiffordphoto.com.

Visit our website at http://www.douggiffordphoto.com/ to see all of our other services for your corporate and social photography needs.

Happy New Year 2009

Wow! Where has the time gone?

Let’s get caught up.

Thanksgiving in Seattle 2008

My wife, Karen, and I made our annual pilgrimage to Seattle to celebrate Thanksgiving mixed with several days of work for both of us.

Our first stop was to our friend’s home on Bainbridge Island where we also spent the 4th of July this year. They have a beautiful home right on the water and the pre-holiday weekend was spent reading, watching the ferries pass by, the eagles hunt for food on the sound and the seals play. All of this was also under the watchful eye of their cat named Sting. The boys strung the Christmas lights and the girls made candy. We had beautiful weather and a relaxing start to our trip.

Kirkland was our next stop where we visited with our friends of 30 years and where we have celebrated Thanksgiving for 25 years with their family and friends. Kirkland is very picturesque and I have loved photographing there.

From the street, our friend’s home looks like it is 800 square feet, which is what it was the first year we visited. But now, as you walk through the front door and towards the other sided of the house, it opens up to be 3,000 square feet.

At first, we always had a project to finish as the house was growing before we could get started on preparing the meal. But a few years ago, they finally finished the remodel and since then we can now focus on relaxing and catching up and then preparing the food.

The final stop was in Puyallup, just outside Tacoma, to visit my now empty-nester brother and his wife and our niece and nephew both in college at Western Washington University. We managed to eat some more leftover turkey and lots of homemade fudge.

This was actually the third time I had seen them this year. I had the pleasure of photographing a beautiful summer wedding in the area – a referral from my sister-in-law. I love visiting the Seattle area and welcome doing more work there in 2009.

As the blessings of Thanksgiving came to an end the rush of Christmas began!


Orange County Performing Arts Center (OCPAC) – Candlelight

As you might have read in previous blogs, I have worked with the Orange County Performing Arts Center www.ocpac.org for about six years now and photograph about 30 events a year with them. One of those yearly events is called the Candlelight Concert and is the event of the year for the Center. This year’s concert featured Diana Ross and a Las Vegas theme.

It is always amazing to see how the Center is transformed with decorations for this event each year. And, as you would expect, Diana Ross remains a draw! Check out some of the images on the OCPAC website in the Center scene section, www.ocpac.org/home/Content/ContentDisplay.aspx?NavID=615, and on the OC Register website, www.ocregister.com/articles/event-president-red-2252118-included-chapman.



Professional Photographers of Orange County (PPOC) Honor

I have been a member of our local professional photography group, Professional Photographers of Orange County (PPOC), www.ppoc.org, since 1982. It has been a great place to get to know my peers and to learn my craft through the classes, seminars and print competition that is offered up each month. This group is the local group that is then affiliated with the State organization, Professional Photographers of California (PPC), www.prophotoca.com, and the international organization, Professional Photographers of America (PPA), www.ppa.com, all of which, I am a member.

As with most professional non-profit groups, the best way to get the most out of it is to get involved in the running of the organization. Over the years, I have held all the offices, including President in PPOC, and been on the board of the State (PPC) and International (PPA) groups.

Since leaving the PPOC board, I have continued to attend as many meetings as I can because today there is so much to learn; and, I find that it is so much better to get that information first hand then on the Internet. I also attend all the events I can for the state and international groups for those same reasons. These days, I am able to give back to all three groups by being an international photographic print competition judge. As I have talked about before, this allows me to stay in touch with the trends and techniques, and allows me to help the new photographers learn their craft better, as it did for me.

I was honored this year at our annual Christmas party to receive a Lifetime membership in PPOC in recognition of all of my time working with the organization. I was very touched by this honor and look forward to attending as many meetings as I can in the years to come.

If you are interested in joining PPOC as a student or professional, the meetings are on the third Thursday of each month. Check the website for time and location www.ppoc.org.


Holiday Portraits and Cards

Each year during the holidays, many families call upon us to take their family portrait. Some are new clients, but many are families that come back year after year.

One of those families is the Ruff Family of Coto de Casa. Since 2005, I have photographed their family during the Holidays. Each year, it is always fun to get caught up with what has happen since the previous year. This year, we had a new member to “Team Ruff,” but we still managed to get an image that was worthy of the cover of this year’s card. Each year, they send out hundreds of holiday cards to their family and friends – selected from a range of choices.

Let us know how we can help you each year create images that you would be excited to share with your friends and family, for the holidays or any time during the year that you gather your family.


Kona, Hawaii

This year we were once again invited to spend the New Year holiday with our friends at their condo on the beach just south of downtown Kona, Hawaii.

It was as beautiful as ever this year. We had mild weather with temperatures in the 80’s and very little rain. We had the whales and the turtles greet us when we arrived and we watched them play in the ocean many other days from the lanai.

Because their condo is right on the beach, the sound of the waves creates amazing music to my ears. The 400 square foot, west-facing lanai creates a great atmosphere for visiting friends we have come to know over the years, listening to the surf all day and night, reading, eating, and drinking. Trust me, I am a trained professional at these pursuits!

All-in-all, it was a nice time of relaxation, reflection and renewal. The time always goes by too fast and then it is time to get back to work in this amazing New Year.





The Professional Photographers of America Convention in Phoenix, AZ

A couple of days after getting back from Hawaii, I was off to this year’s Professional Photographers of America (PPA), convention www.ppa.com which was held in Phoenix, Arizona.

This year, I concentrated on attending many of the programs and spending more time in the trade show to gain a clear understanding of the new trends, technologies and techniques that contribute to making this profession one that is always changing and definitely exciting.

Another part of the convention is the chance to see so many of my friends and get caught up with them. After 28 years as an active member in the PPA, I have hundreds of friends from all over the world. It is always great to see them and talk to them about what they are up to in their respective areas of the world.

I write this on Martin Luther King’s birthday which has become a day of service for many. Speaking of that, clearly it is by giving that we get. This year at the convention, I volunteered to mentor new photographers that are interested in print competition. Because I am one of only 120 national affiliate jurors for PPA, I feel I have both an honor and responsibility to help new photographers become better. Most of all, it’s simply a great feeling to help another person with their dream!

It was a great trip, in a wonderful city, and I now have a “to-do” list a mile long, so it is time to get to work. I hope to hear from you!

Costa Rica Wedding

On November 15th, with my wife Karen, I had the pleasure of attending and photographing the wedding of Christa and Kevin Hanson at sunset on the beach in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

It was a beautiful afternoon and the ceremony was performed as everyone gathered around the bride and groom as the sun was setting. Wow!

The reception followed in the two side-by-side houses that they had rented for the families just steps from where the ceremony had been held on the beach. A good time was had by all!

Check out a few of the beautiful images here and see more on my website in the destination wedding portfolio.

This is the second time we have been to Costa Rica and I would recommend it as a place to consider for a wedding or as a honeymoon destination.

I have traveled to over 65 countries and 45 states and enjoy traveling with my camera to capture beautiful images anywhere in the world. Let me know if I can be of service to you.

A busy week for DGP!


Lifetime Giving Luncheon and Good Scout Award

On October 22, my wife, Karen, and I attended a luncheon that The Boy Scouts of America, Orange County Council held to honor a good friend of ours, the Honorable Harriett M. Wieder, with the Lifetime Giving and Good Scout Award at the Islands Hotel in Newport Beach.

It was a great event with lots of people there to honor and support Harriett who has worked for many years in Orange County politics and has put together programs that supported organizations like the Boy Scouts.

It was great for me to reconnect with the Boy Scouts because I earned my Eagle Scout award as part of a troop here in Orange County. I hope to continue that involvement in the years to come and can highly recommend to others to consider this worthy organization. www.ocbsa.org

A project that has been in the works, and is now open, is called the Outdoor Education Center which is located in and around Irvine Regional Park.
This facility will be available to everyone to learn and enjoy outdoor activities. For more information please visit: www.outdooreducationcenter.org



The President's Volunteer Service Award

On October 23, I was honored to be the photographer for a ceremony to honor the recipient of The President's Volunteer Service Award in Orange County which was held at the Village of Hope in Tustin.

Rather then try and tell you a lot about the award, simply go to their website at www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

In another one of those small world moments, as I was walking past some of the recipients before the ceremony, I heard someone shout out my name. It turned out to be Karissa Kiremit who just two nights before had booked me to photograph her wedding that will be held in January 2009. She was there with her mother because her father was one of the recipients that day. It was wonderful to meet Karissa’s parents and then have someone that I knew receive one of these prestigious awards.




Girls Incorporated of Orange County

On October 24, my wife and I attended another event at the Islands Hotel in Newport Beach in support of an organization we have enjoyed supporting for many years, Girls Incorporated. http://www.girlsinc-oc.org

Mission: Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.SM
Vision: Empowered girls and an equitable society.

This says it all about the organization who serves about 4,500 young girls from 4 to 18 years of age with many programs around Orange County and the country.

It is such a pleasure to be around the girls that are part of the program. If the mission and vision speaks to your heart, getting involved with the girls and the organization will only make them both come alive. I can wholeheartedly recommend Girls, Inc. as worthy of your time and support.

Friends of Dorothy Halloween Party

October 25, I donated my time and talent to photograph the Haunted Halloween Costume Party for the Friends of Dorothy Guild at the Village Crean in Newport Beach. The event was a smashing success raising $45,635.00 for Aids Services Foundation.

As you can see from the other post in this blog, I have been supporting this organization proudly all year.

I hope to see you at the next event! For information:

www.ocasf.org/dorothy.htm

VW Drag Races at the Irwindale Raceway

Finally, on October 26th, Karen and I went out bright and early in the morning to the Irwindale Raceway to watch my sister, Susy, and her husband, Mike, race their VW’s down the drag strip. It turned out to be an all day family affair, with my sister, Kathy, and her husband, John, my Aunt Judy, my cousin Jack and his wife, Linda, there to support Susy and Mike.

My sister and brother-in-law ended up racing each other in the practice runs – great fun to watch this married couple beat it down the stretch! The race of the day, from my perspective, was “The Powder Puff VW Division” comprised of all seriously competitive women – including my little sister! She placed second while her best friend took the checkered flag. I was the unofficial photographer for that division. The next race is Fontana on May 3rd, 2009. Be there!

“Morning Light” Movie Premiere

After waiting for more than a year for Leslie and Roy E. Disney to complete the editing process on the documentary movie “Morning Light,” my wife, Karen, and I were invited to attend the premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood on Tuesday, October 7. The movie will be in “select” theatres starting October 17th.

For those of you that don’t know, I did still photographs during the filming of the movie. If you go to the “meet the team” tab on the “Morning Light” website and, at the end of the movie, the photographs of the crew are all my images. It was fun to see my name in the credits at the end. To our surprise, Karen and I are in the background as the boat leaves the dock in Long Beach for the start of the race, so we get a little face time in the movie, too!

If you would like to know more about the story, there’s an excerpt below straight from the movie website.
http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/morninglight/

Fifteen young sailors... six months of intense training... one chance at the brass ring. This exciting True-Life documentary tells the inspiring story of a group of intrepid and determined young men and women, on the cusp of adulthood, as they embark on life’s first great adventure. Racing a high-performance 52-foot sloop in the TRANSPAC, the most revered of open-ocean sailing competitions, the crew of "Morning Light" matches wits and skills in a dramatic 2300 mile showdown against top professionals. From their earliest training sessions in Hawaii conducted by world-class teachers through their test of endurance on the high seas, they form an unbreakable bond in the process of becoming a singular team that is greater than the sum of its parts. Edited by one of the key filmmakers responsible for the acclaimed 2004 surfing documentary, "Riding Giants," written and directed by the team of filmmakers behind the recent rock documentary "Amazing Journey: The Story of the Who," and the critically acclaimed "Once in a Lifetime; The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos," "Morning Light" will appeal to the sense of adventure in everyone.

It was great to see and catch up with all the “kids” again and to finely see what they were doing for eleven days at sea. We had only heard a few stories, but because it was all documented, we got to see what they experienced. It is an amazing journey!

I know I am a little biased, and I would recommend seeing the movie. You will not be disappointed. It is a wonderful story, told well! Heck, it’s a Disney movie!

Cheers!

Centennial Heritage Museum

I had the pleasure of donating my photography services to document the 4th annual fundraiser, “Gangster Gala and Flapper Fling,” on September 27, 2008, at the Centennial Heritage Museum in Santa Ana to help raise funds for the education programs at the museum.

For those of you that do not know about this wonderful organization, the Centennial Heritage Museum is an award-winning, non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, promoting and restoring the heritage of Orange County and the surrounding region through quality hands-on educational programs for students and visitors of all ages. The museum receives approximately 20,000 visitors each year primarily from schools, both public and private, and groups affiliated with United Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of America.

Besides the educational activities that go on throughout the year, the historic Kellogg house and wonderful gardens provide a beautiful background for numerous weddings and corporate events. So, check them out if you have a wedding or other event coming up.

Visit their website at, www.centennialmuseum.org for more information about everything that is going on at this amazing location. They can also be reached by phone at 714.540.0404. They are located at 3101 West Harvard Street, Santa Ana, California 92704.

Orange County Rescue Mission’s Village of Hope

On September 12, 13, 14, I had the privilege of working for Roberta and Howard Ahmanson photographing a series of events for the Orange County Rescue Mission and the opening of the Village of Hope in Tustin.

The Village of Hope is a 200-person residential facility for homeless families located at the former Tustin Marine Corps Air Base. The Ahmanson’s have been long-time supporters of the OC Rescue Mission and were a big part of helping to build the Village of Hope.

Friday night, September 12, the Ahmanson’s hosted a sit down dinner for the residents and staff of the Village of Hope at the facility in Tustin. After dinner, everyone was treated to a concert by The Pacific Symphony and Pacific Chorale that played for the first time a commissioned piece titled “From Greater Light” by composer Alva Henderson.

Saturday night, September 13, a benefit dinner and concert for the Village of Hope was held at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. The dinner for 375 guests was held in the Samueli Theatre. The Pacific Symphony and Pacific Chorale headlined the concert in the Renee and Henry Concert Hall that was dubbed the “Concert for Hope.” After the intermission, it was time for the world premiere of “From Greater Light.” It proved to be a delightful musical event, not just a noble one.

Sunday afternoon, September 14, was the Grand Opening for the Village of Hope in Tustin. The afternoon was full of fun, food, drink, music and tours of the facility for the public. The Ahmanson’s commissioned art pieces by sculptor Albert Paley and artist Peter Brandes which were also dedicated that afternoon. Jim Palmer, the director of the OC Rescue Mission, hopes that these and additional paintings that are on loan from the Irvine Company will, with their beauty, help to inspire the residents.

The weekend was a lot of work and extremely fulfilling. It was great to be a part of all the events over the weekend and to see what was being done by the Ahmanson’s to support the homeless in Orange County.