January 2014...
Kevin and I decided to open our own studio of Blue Rapture Entertainment and Blue Rapture Photography.
Moving stuff into the studio and getting everything together in opening our doors to the public. Well maybe not to the public, maybe just to a certain kind of clientele.
Kevin is one kind of Photographer and I am another. I am finding out that not one photographer has the same kind of photography style. Some may be similar in ways but most likely there is a difference. this even goes to editing skills.
I do not have as much as experience as Kevin does, but that's OK. I do not let that bother me. I look at it as a learning cerve. I am very crucial of my self and what I do with my life, so this will be the challenge of working with others.
Several years ago Kevin was diagnosed with Termly Cancer and his dream was to open a Photography studio and be successful with the studio. His other dream was for me to be successful with what I do as well. I was not happy with my other career with the teeth as a fault.
Knowing Kevin as long as I have it very hard to keep in mind that I have came into business with a friend and an terminal ill one at that fact. Its hard to deal with him not feeling well because Kevin has more down time then I do. That does get frustrating that he isn't feeling well to work, I would love to share these moments with him. being at the studio and doing a shoot does take alot out of Kevin and tires his body and leaves him with no energy quickly.
SO now that we are moved in to our Brand new studio, one of
my long time dearest friends has called me and told me about a great
opportunity for me to work for his magazines and establish some credits and get
some experience to better my Photography title. What....? Really...? Heck yeah
I am jumping on to this train. My publisher friend has been a publisher for
Magazines for over 15years for over 22 Magazines. Very creditable for me and my
new world.
My Photography Hero’s are Daveed Benito. I am sure many of
you may or may not of heard of him, But I love his style, his work, his art,
his drive. I had printed out his bio and price list and posted it on my way as
a tool of motivation. I want to Be better than him with what he does and do.
Daveed has always been my mentor, Now that I have opened my
own studio, now he is my COMPETITOR!
When I model I would of loved to work with him, but his
rates are crazy high and I could never offered his services. But I watched and
watched and watched and every month watching him then every year his skills
just got better and more impressive.
Two weeks after we moved into our studio I have my
motivation tool hanging on my wall, I decided to go to a bar and relax before
the storm hit's and I look over and OMG....... There at the bar is Daveed
Benito! You got to be kidding me I tell myself.... omg. omg.. what do I do...
so I just stared. Yup for over an hour I couldn’t take my eyes off him. What
would I say? Yup then I felt like a stocker creepy feel over my self and decided
while he was still there getting burned down with my intense vision rays and
thoughts I had to go over there and say something.
Ok.. Here I go. I walk over there stick out my hand and say “
I know you don’t know who I am, But I know you and I think it is a honor to
shake your hand before I tell you that You have always been my mentor until a
week ago I opened my own studio and now I look at you as my competor, and I
always here your name, give 5 years and then you will only hear mine because I
am coming for you like Donkey Kong!”
With his reply was something like… well… wow… I thought you
were going to ask me about modeling. But what a surprise, I am excited and I love
the fact that you are speaking your mind. I was where you are and I never gave
up, I starting to shoot in a alley and I never said no.” Please keep in contact
and let me know how things are going for you. “
WOOOOOOOPPPPP.
That made my whole week. I actually just posted his info on
my way and what are the odds of me running into him a week later.
OMG…. I just told him I am coming for you… I hope he don’t take
that the wrong way.
I actually Ran into Daveed Benito at the Tattoo art and Body expo in Phoenix. I was in there with a media pass Taking lovely pictures and Daveed Benito was in there as a vender, Selling his wonderful Masterpieces.
That actually made me feel real good.
Here is a picture of my Publisher and Daveed Benito
