I found these beautiful images right here in my backyard.
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Welcome! Thanks for stopping by. Check back here frequently to keep up with my lastest projects. March 2010 - Let's get caught up!
Hello everyone.
I am back from hiatus. Let’s get caught up. Team Ruff Holiday Portraits The 2009 “Team Ruff” holiday family portrait was a winner! Our annual trek to the beach was a blast last year with the topper being a simply beautiful evening in Laguna Beach. Check out those smiles!  OCPAC Candlelight Concert The 36th Annual Candlelight Concert in December was glamorous, glittering and pulsating with the energy of the ‘70s disco star, the iconic Donna Summer. www.ocpac.org  Icon Roy E. Disney Sails into the Sunset One Last Time on December 16, 2009 I had the honor and pleasure of getting to know Roy while working with him doing photographic stills on the documentary film Morning Light. Roy and his executive co-producer wife, Leslie DeMeuse Disney, teamed up to tell an inspiring true-life story about one of the youngest crews ever to compete in the Transpac Yacht Race from Long Beach to Honolulu – a 2,225 mile ocean race aboard this extraordinarily high-tech sloop. In addition to a sea adventure that captures your heart while giving you an adrenalin rush, it’s a must-see movie about how the sea can teach rookies to become winners and leaders – especially under skillful mentorship and coaching – and how anything is possible with vision, humility and will. Roy was an avid competitive sailor and held several elapsed-time records for offshore races in the Pacific Ocean, including multiple wins in the Transpac. Needless to say, after personally photographing sailing races and regattas for nearly 25 years and then being able to work with someone who, like me, so loved the sea, my heart was really saddened when I heard of his passing at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, California following a year-long battle with stomach cancer. Roy Edward Disney was the son of Disney Studios co-founder Roy O. Disney, and nephew of Walt Disney. He was 79 years old with the spirit and drive of a much younger man. He was “a successful businessman, philanthropist, filmmaker, and award-winning sailor, who played a key role in the revitalization of The Walt Disney Company and Disney’s animation legacy. He was associated with the Company over a 56-year period, and from 1984 – 2003, served as vice chairman of the Company’s board of directors, and chairman of the Studio’s Animation Department. In recent years, he held the title of director emeritus and consultant for the Company.” It was a pleasure to get to know and work with him. He will be greatly missed! For more about Roy’s life please follow this link: http://corporate.disney.go.com/news/corporate/2009/2009_1216_roy_e_disney.html What a year! What a decade! New decades, like other milestones in life, offer an opportunity to reflect on not only the immediate past year but the last decade as well. 2009 was filled with challenges, both with the economy and business. The diversity of both clients and photographic projects allowed me to keep the doors open – even try some new things – when other photographers were closing their doors. I was reminded that having an “attitude of gratitude” could also help me continue to do the work with the several charities that my wife and I support and truly appreciate all the gifts that we are given each day. Emotionally, 2009 took a toll with the loss of several truly great friends and human beings: Tom Holt, the husband of my long time mentor and friend, Joyce Wilson, passed away in April. Then, fellow photographer and friend, Chloe Blom, lost her battle with cancer and passed away in June, followed by Roy E. Disney in December. What I have learned through this last year and the decade gone by is how important it is to support one another and find a way to not only keep moving ahead but to enjoy the journey with your friends and family. Orange County Performing Arts Center (OCPAC) The Orange County Performing Arts Center (OCPAC) season has started! Wonderful shows like the Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, the Bolshoi Ballet, and the Alvin Alley American Dance Theater in Segerstrom Hall have been playing to full houses. We are rich in world-class theater offerings here in the OC and there is truly something for everyone! My wife, Karen, and I hope to see you there! Don’t forget all the great concerts presented by the Philharmonic Society and the Pacific Symphony in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Check out the fun intimate shows like Pigeon Party in the Samueli Theater. For tickets and more information visit the OCPAC website at www.ocpac.org.
Doug Gifford Photography Blog Fall 2009 EditionWeddings, 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 
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.
www.girlsinc-oc.org
This year’s fundraising event, 2009 Annual Strong, Smart, and Bold Celebration was held at the Balboa Bay Club and Resort in Newport Beach. We had the pleasure of joining Elaine Levin, who is both Secretary and President Emeritus of Girls Inc. Read all about it in the OC Register: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/girls-inc-human-2636083-options-marcus?referrer=facebook
Let's get caught up - Summer 2009 |
