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OCTOBER IS FAMILY PORTRAIT MONTH!
This October, Doug Gifford Photography will participate with an elite group of photographers around the country in a very special family portrait promotion. Throughout October, we will celebrate “Family Portrait Month,” a wonderful opportunity for you to update your family portrait (or portraits of your children), and help to support Operation Smile, which treats children around the world who suffer with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.
Along with other studio members of Professional Photographers of America (PPA), we have pledged to contribute $25.00 from each session to PPA Charities, which has chosen Operation Smile as its charitable partner.
What’s more, we want you to benefit from this special offer. With your purchase of a single wall portrait, choose one of the following:
• 2 free gift-sized portraits
• 24 free custom holiday cards
• 10 percent discount on framing
• $75 gift certificate (for your use or as a special holiday gift)
Recording the faces of children and their families is our greatest pleasure. That’s why we believe so strongly in the work of Operation Smile. Each year this incredible organization of more than 6,000 volunteer doctors, nurses, dentists, and specialized health-care professionals, perform free reconstructive surgeries for children suffering with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities. More than 100,000 children are born with a facial deformity each year in Operation Smile’s 26-partner countries.
We also believe that Family Portrait Month is a wonderful way to teach children the value of reaching out to others. Even small children can understand the importance of Operation Smile’s work, and they are eager to help these needy children.
We hope you will join with us in helping to make this vital work possible. Don’t forget that the holiday season is right around the corner, so there’s no better time for a family portrait! Plus, portraits are always appreciated as gifts for family and friends and to send along with holiday greeting cards.
Call now to schedule your appointment and be part of helping a child smile!
As always . . . we look forward to creating some truly wonderful portraits of your family.
Karen Gifford Named President of NAWBO-Orange County
It is with great pleasure that I announce that my wife, Karen Gifford, executive and leadership coach and principal of Gifford Management & Leadership Coaching, has been named president of the Orange County Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners – the largest in the country with 400 members, www.nawbo-oc.org. She is also a founding member of the Professional Coaches and Mentors Association, www.pcmaonline.com and member and former director with the Forum for Corporate Directors (www.fcdoc.org).
Congratulations!
October is Remarkable Women Month
I just realized that this blog includes a lot of remarkable women – and I am lucky to know a few! October 15th is the 14th Annual NAWBO-OC Remarkable Women Awards dinner event. I have had the opportunity to experience this high energy and exciting event and it is always a sell out! This year the three honorees are: Laura Neubauer, Founder and CEO of Deliver It! for Entrepreneur to Watch; Cheryl Osborn, Founder and CEO of CASCO Contractors, Inc., for Business Owner of the Year; and Heidi Miller, Founder and CEO of Tight Assets and Founder of Heidi’s Frogen Yozurt for Lifetime Achievement. The event is six weeks away and over half of the seats have already been sold! For more info: http://www.nawbo-oc.org/RWflyer09.html
Congratulations!
Kimberly Snodgrass
The story of Kimberly Snodgrass, www.kimsodgrass.com, who went through foster care and adoption and is now on her way to Harvard Graduate School, is an amazing one. A friend of mine, Debbie Douglas, who is a partner in Douglas Strategic Communications (with her husband Gary), www.douglasstategic.com, and a volunteer at Orangewood Children’s Foundation, www.orangewoodfoundation.com, was in an article that I read in the Orange County Register. The article told the story of Kim and how Orangewood was helping her prepare for a graduate and post-graduate life as a professional. When I read the article I wanted to help, too. As my wife, Karen, always says “these young professionals are our hope for the future.” So, I emailed Debbie and offered Kim her first professional portrait as my gift. The next day, I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing a beautiful and bright young woman who I have a sense is going to accomplish great things in our world. That night I was invited to her launch party, hosted by Shirley Pepys and Orangewood at Shirley’s home on Balboa Island. Heartwarming! Good luck Kimberly!
Step Up Women’s Network
I was ask by my friend and Step Up board member, Julie Brady, who is the Catering Sales Manager for Patina Restaurant Group at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, www.patinagroup.com, if I would be willing to donate my services and photograph the July 30th meeting of Step Up Women’s Network at the St. Regis Hotel in Dana Point. It was my pleasure to do so and to meet all the dynamic women involved in this wonderful organization.
The best way to summarize this organization is to quote from the website: “Step Up is on the cutting edge of women’s philanthropy and social enterprise. The organization’s strength stems from member’s abilities to leverage their personal and professional skills and relationships to give back to the community. Our programs are designed to engage women in a way that inspires a life-long commitment to responsible, philanthropic involvement encompassing hands-on volunteer work and leadership opportunities. “Invest, Involve and Inspire” is our motto.”
To learn more, go to their website at www.suwn.org.
Jim Palmer - President OC Rescue Mission
OC Rescue Mission Board of Directors
I was honored to be asked to photograph the board of directors for the OC Rescue Mission, www.rescuemission.org.
As many of you know, I have been working with them over the last year. The people there are wonderful and they are doing great work in support of the homeless in Orange County at the Village of Hope that was carved out of the former Marine Air Station in Tustin.
Please support them if you can with a donation of money, food or time.
Orange County Performing Arts Center (OCPAC)
It is almost that time again, to Get Centered as the 2009/2010 season starts at OCPAC. For more information about all the happenings at the Center this season or to make a donation, please visit their website at www.ocpac.org.
I hope to see you there!
Megan and Garrett Haake Wedding – Dallas, Texas
I had the pleasure of photographing Megan and Garrett Haake wedding in Dallas, Texas on Saturday, May 9, 2009. The wedding ceremony was in the beautiful Perkins Chapel on the campus of SMU and the reception was at the Belo Mansion.
A good time was had by all, and I have the images to prove it!
Orange County Rescue Mission’s Village of Hope
During early May I had the privilege of again working for Roberta and Howard Ahmanson photographing the reinstallation of the stain glass windows in the chapel at the Orange County Rescue Mission, Village of Hope in Tustin by Danish artist Peter Brandes. He was also here to install stained glass windows in the new Ahmanson home which I also photographed. The best part was to get the whole story behind each piece from Peter.
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. https://www.rescuemission.org/
Tour de Force: A Dance Spectacular
A whole host of Russian ballet stars put on an amazing one night only show in Segerstrom Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center last month.
I have had the opportunity while working at the OCPAC for the last 8 years to photograph many great dance programs, and this was one of the best. Check out more about this show and others to come by visiting the OCPAC website: www.ocpac.org.
Jane Griffin, PhD.
Congratulations to our “niece”, Jane Griffin, who received here PhD from UCI this last week. After the usual boring ceremony, but we had a great party on the beach that was attended by lots of family and friends.
Jane is the daughter of our dear friends Wayne and Susie Griffin who live on Catalina Island. Susie is one of the Innkeepers at the Inn on Mt Ada, www.innonmtada.com which was the old Wrigley Mansion and is now a four star six room bed and breakfast. While Wayne heads up the Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Bureau, www.catalinachamber.com.
As many of you know, I have been teaching an extension class at UCI over the last 8 years. So, over the last 5 years as she complete her studies, Jane and I would have dinner together at In n’ Out Burger on the UCI campus before I would teach my class. We would solve all the world’s problems by the time I had to go to class, and so I will miss my “dinner dates” with Jane as she now moves on to teach at the University of Indiana.
All the best Jane!
ACES Photography Club
Last year I had the pleasure of judging the print competition at the ACES Photography Club in Garden Grove, and this year they invited me to speak. www.aces-photo.com
I choose to speak about something that I know a lot about, but is rarely talked about, Low Light Photography.
With all types of photography, at the beginning and end of the day, inside and out, you work with low light all the time.
The room was full and everyone said they enjoyed the program. I enjoyed talking to this very nice, passionate group of photographers and hope to have a chance to do it again.
Look for an announcement soon about more of my private classes held here at my home studio over the summer. www.douggiffordphoto.com
PPA International Print Competition
June 13-17 found me heading to Atlanta, Georgia, to judge the International Print Competition for the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) www.ppa.com. I was one of 40 judges selected from a total list of only 125 qualified jurors who, over a four-day period, judged over 5,000 entries from PPA’s 20,000 plus members. To become part of this esteemed group of jurors, I first had to become a Master Craftsmen Photographer with PPA, then judge for many years at the local, state, and regional competitions, followed by completing a series of judging classes, and finally a review of my background and submissions of my work for review by other judges. Over the years, I have also had many opportunities to judge the international print competition for the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI). By judging these international print competitions, I get to see thousands of prints from photographers around the world. This allows me to stay in touch with the latest trends and styles in photography and, most of all, to always provide fresh perspectives and ideas for my clients.
Morning Light is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray
Morning Light is a documentary sailing movie by Roy E. Disney. I had a chance to work on it shooting stills with my friend, and long-time yacht photographer, Sharon Green (www.ultimatesailing.com). It is available on DVD and Blu-Ray.
The movie is about a young crew of sailors that are on the yacht Morning Light in the Trans Pac Yacht Race that sails from Los Angeles, California to Honolulu, Hawaii every other year. The movie follows 15 young sailors through the selection process in August 2005, their training in Hawaii and Long Beach, and sailing the race in July 2006. http://disneydvd.disney.go.com/morning-light.html
Friends of Dorothy
June 11, 2009, found me at the Impulse for Spring Fashion Show for the Friends of Dorothy Guild at Macy’s in South Coast Plaza. The guild has raised a whopping $245,500 to date for Aids Services Foundation.
As you can see from the other posts in this blog, I have been supporting this organization proudly for the last year and an half.
I hope to see you at the next event! For information: www.ocasf.org/dorothy.htm
Sad News
Chloe Blom lost her battle with cancer and passed away on Friday, June 19th. She and her husband, John, have been dear friends and colleagues for the last 28 years. For 30 years, John and Chloe have owned and operated John L. Blom Photography in Corona del Mar.
Chloe started out only running the business side, but soon picked up a camera and started producing some beautiful images. They were a great team at providing some of the best photographic services in the country.
Chloe was very loved and will be deeply missed by all of us who knew her.
Our prayers are with John and the family.
I am proud to have an image on the cover of the Spring 2009 Scanner Magazine, with another image used inside with the article about the Toshiba Golf Classic event. Both images are of Eduardo Romero who was the winner of this year’s event.
This is the second time I have had an image on the cover of Scanner, the first one was of Roy E. Disney’s yacht Pyewacket sailing in the Hoag Cup in 2005 with Hoag Hospital in the background.
Scanner magazine is published quarterly by the Hoag Hospital Foundation in support of Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. www.hoaghospitalfoundation.org
Class began April 9th with 10 students in my basic portrait photography class for the UCI Extension program. From students to retirees, this year class is as diverse as all the others have been over the last 8 years. Some come wanting to just learn how to do a better job of taking their snap shots of their family and friends, and others want to make a living with a camera like me. My hope each semester is that I can share what I know and help them all enjoy taking better photographs of the people that end up in front of their lens, for fun or profit.
If you would like more information about the UCI extension classes please call 949.824.5414, or go online at www.extension.uci.edu.
35th Grand Prix of Long Beach
Wow! It is hard to believe it has been 35 years that they have been racing through the streets of Long Beach. I have had the pleasure of being a staff photographer for the last 28 years, from the days of F-1 to now with the Indy Cars.
This is the first year that the newly united open wheel race teams of Indy Car were racing on the streets in Long Beach. It was great to have the “family” back together again and to see all the familiar faces again, Tony Kanaan, Justin Wilson, Dario Franchitti and, of course, Danica Patrick.
Besides the Indy Cars, we had the Indy Lights, American Le Mans series, Speed World Challenge, Drifting, and, of course, the Pro Celebrity race with Keanuu Reeves.
The weekend started out with beautiful weather and then it got hot. It was over 100 degrees on Saturday and Sunday. I got to the track at about 6:30am in the cool of the morning and left about 6:30pm at night, when it was still 85. Despite the long hot days of work involved, it is still a lot of fun being a part of the Indianapolis 500 of the West Coast.
Come out next year and join in the party! www.gplb.com  
  
Karen’s Birthday!
My wife Karen had her birthday in April and we went to Disneyland to celebrate. For those of you that don’t know, you can sign up to get a free pass to go to Disneyland on your birthday. www.disneyland.disney.go.com
Her birthday fell on one of those hot days we had and so we didn’t go to the park until later in the day to avoid the heat. We got the pass, then went to dinner at the Grand Californian Hotel, before going into the park. We had a great time.
The other big news from Karen’s birthday was that I gave her a digital camera. It was time for her to go to the digital side and now she is learning to love it.
“ Morning Light” on DVD
The Roy E Disney documentary movie, “Morning Light” that I did the still photography on, and was in theaters this last October, is being released on DVD and Blu-ray on June 15th. www.amazon.com – morning light
This movie is about the casting, training and the participation of 15 young sailors in the Trans Pac yacht race that sails from Long Beach to Honolulu, Hawaii every other year.
Of course I love it because I was involved in it, but it is a great story about an amazing group of young adults. You don’t have to be a sailor to enjoy it.
Sad News!
My mentor and friend in photography of 28 years, who is one of the premiere portrait photographers in the world, Joyce Wilson, lost here husband to cancer in April.
Tom Holt, was a wonderful man. I meet him soon after I met Joyce. He loved a lot of the same things I loved so we got along great. He loved life, family, golf, fishing, good wine and single malt scotch, and of course Joyce.
They moved from Indianapolis to Santa Barbara where Joyce taught for awhile at Brook’s School of Photography. As much as Tom loved the Mid West, he grew to love the weather and the wine of California.
A couple of months ago we had the pleasure of having Joyce and Tom stay with us. We had just pruned our roses back, but Tom showed us how to do it better. I had forgotten that he had owned a garden shop before they moved out West from Indy and so he knew what he was talking about. As Tom’s condition became worse we sent him a picture of how well the roses had come back in. I had a chance to talk to him just before his passing and he was happy to see how beautiful the roses were, and happy that his knowledge had helped. We now have a beautiful way of remembering him.
A wonderful service was held in Tom’s honor in Santa Barbara which Karen and I attended.
He will be missed.
wSpring Cleaning
If you or anyone that you know would like to buy their negatives from any type of work that we have done over the last 28 years, now is the time to talk to us.
We are cleaning out the storage locker that we have stored all the negatives in and will be destroying the first 15 years (1982 to 1997) of negatives in the next couple months. Over the next year we will be trying to contact clients to give them all one last chance to buy the last 12 years of negatives and then we will be destroying those.
Kristen and Mike
Some dear friends of ours, Kristen and Mike are getting married at the end of May. Enjoy some of the engagement Images I did for them in Laguna Beach.
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