Lauren is the daughter of very close and dear friends of mine.  She and Marc met when Lauren attended U.C. San Diego and have been together and dating ever since.  Their first date was at Balboa Park in San Diego and that’s where Marc wanted to propose to Lauren.  It was the perfect place!   Marc went to Balboa Park a few days before the big day and came across Alcazar Gardens, it turned out to be every bit as beautiful as he described it.  I got there about 30 minutes before Marc and Lauren arrived to get ready.  I tried to disguise my looks with a hat and glasses and it worked like a charm, Lauren had no idea it was me.  They arrived at the garden and within a minute or two Marc brought Lauren into the covered arbor area and got down on one knee.  I was shaking like a leaf, praise God I was still able to take photos.  It wasn’t an easy task, as soon as I saw Lauren start to cry it was almost lights out for me.  Marc ended up having to tell Lauren it was me and then she came running over to me and we just hugged, jumped up and down and it was a glorious moment!!!! I would even go so far as to say that photographing a proposal is way more fun than a wedding.  The element of surprise and excitement was unlike anything else I had ever done before, I LOVED IT!!!  These photos say it all, it was in my top ten of best days of all time!

They are also part of an incredibly talented band called “Bedford Grove” who has quickly become a San Diego and LA area favorite.  Bedford Grove opened up for John Legend and Macy Gray at Petco Park last November to rave reviews.  Be sure to check out their Facebook page as well as their main website.

Congrats to Marc and Lauren, I am so honored to have been there to see you get engaged.  I will always cherish that moment.  I love you both!!

~ Cindy ~

May every day of your lives together be as wonderful as this day was!!!

I don’t make a very good sick person. Not at all!!! I get very grumpy when I have to stay in bed, but it forces me to stop and look and things that I ordinarily wouldn’t have time to do. Maybe it’s all been for a reason that I have gotten such a bad case of the flu. I know one thing for sure, it’s opened my eyes to so many things around me and most importantly what really matter most in the world. Last night I was so sick, then my daughter poked her head to see if I was ok in the room and it was as if I had never seen anything so beautiful in my whole life. She was breathtaking!!! She’s going to not like that I wrote that, but I have to speak the truth. I found this photo of her from three years ago and I wanted to share it in this post. There has never been a time in her life that she wasn’t beautiful and she just lights up the entire room when she walks through it!!! When you stop long enough to really look at your life, you realize that all that truly matters are the people in your life who you love and who love you.

I spent most of 2010 questioning whether or not I truly wanted to be in business as a photographer. That may surprise the few of you that will actually read this. The reason I feel that way is that the business of photography changed and it changed quite rapidly after I decided to take my life long passion and turn it into something more. Those who tell you to understand business and write a successful business plan BEFORE you get into business are 100% correct. Those who I have seen become very successful and very fast are not only good in business, they are masters at it. I applaud them for what they have achieved. They have marketed themselves into the top 5% of the industry, whether or not they are the best. Honestly, this exists in all professions but I have seen it first hand in mine. This qualifies as all three: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – depending on the perspective you are coming from!

I learned many things about myself and made many mistakes this past year. My generosity is both my best asset and my worst at the same time. I gave of myself to the point where I “gave it away.” Never, I repeat never, under charge a client because of what someone else charges or because you don’t have the nerve to charge what you know the product is worth. What’s the worst that can happen if you tell a client that something is going to cost double what they are willing to pay? They simply say “no” and you remain true to yourself. I realized this past year, and this is really a tough one for me to say, but I finally have accepted that I have talent. There, I said it…….and yes, I truly didn’t believe it for the longest time. The longer I look at other people’s work, the more I realize that my hard work has paid off. It’s hard to be good in photography. You can’t fake it. You can’t Photoshop your way out of it. I allowed myself to get discouraged at the small-minded mentality I saw in many potential clients I came across. I hear from so many photographers that things are the way they are so you must find a way to incorporate it into your business. Handing over a cd of your images to a client just goes against all my beliefs. This issue has been discussed SO much, but it’s just crazy that this is where things are at. I have spent years, many years, perfecting what I do. Purchasing the best camera equipment, computers, the latest and greatest software, software training, seminars, workshops……..on and on and on. When a client asks you to hand over your images for free what they are really saying is that they don’t put a value on what you do, what you have spent in both time and money or respect your artistic ability.  It costs money to be in business, if you can’t make a profit then you don’t do it!

Some great and wonderful things happened in 2010, without a doubt. I photographed many events for the wonderful Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts, the program both of my children are a part of at Huntington Beach High School. I have come to love those kids in APA so very much and they have been so wonderful to me and have shown so much appreciation for the work I have done. That has seriously warmed my heart in ways I can’t express. Did I happen to mention that HBHS beat all the other schools in Huntington Beach on their API scores this past year??!! Yeah, pretty awesome!!! I have been hearing for a decade how if you live in Huntington Beach you must send your kids to one particular school because it’s known as the “academic giant” in Huntington Beach. Guess what………IT’S NOT TRUE!!!! I have never been more impressed with a school, its administration or more in love with a campus. Have you seen the campus at Huntington High School??? It’s stunning!!! Thank you for giving my kids such a wonderful environment to live out their high school years!!!

One of my photography idols, Debra Rothenberg, gave me one of the greatest moments of my career this past year. Debra L. Rothenberg is an award winning photographer who lives in New York City.  Her work has been seen around the world and her extensive clientele includes ABC-TV, People, Rolling Stone Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Columbia/CBS Records and many others. Debra has taken all my favorite photographs of my favorite artist, Bruce Springsteen. Through one of my dearest friends Debra became aware of me and my work and gave me some very lovely compliments. It’s was one of the defining moments for me as a photographer, to be acknowledged by someone whose work I have respected for so many years. Thanks, Deb………I will never forget it!!!

A young lady, Cassidy Love, who is a sister of one of students in APA won her first beauty pageant and some cash prizes with photos I took of her. I was very proud of that and that I could help her achieve some of her dreams. Congrats to you, Cassidy!  I also had the honor of photographing the gorgeous Swing Kittens, what a great shoot that was!!!  Thank you to all the brides and grooms, actors who needed head shots, family portraits, lifestyle photography clients and those of you who called me based on a referral and used my services.  I thank you all and value each and every one of you!!!

I am tough, I am a fighter and I will continue to fight the good fight as long as I have breath in my body.    I won’t be defeated by this economy or by those who claim this is a young person’s industry.  I say “baloney” to that!!   Every time I hit that shutter I am putting every moment of my life,  every tear I have shed and have watched others shed, every high and every low, everything that has ever touched me and every darn bit of wisdom I have accumulated in my life goes into that image.  So you know what, I have twice as much of all that great stuff that someone half my age has and that is what distinguishes me from the young guns.  You can’t package or market wisdom or get it at a seminar, now can you??!!!

To all of my supporters:  I love you “with all the madness in my soul!!!!”

Love,

Cindy

Nicole and Mike celebrated their two year anniversary and wanted to celebrate the day by taking photos where they first met.  I’ve got to tell you that it’s impossible to say you know this couple and aren’t head over heels in love with them both.  They are adorable, their personalities are infectious and you can’t be around them without smiling and feeling happy to be in their presence.  I feel so blessed to know them and even more to have them both be a part of my children’s lives as well as my own.

Mike and Nicole first met at Huntington Beach High School where they attended high school and both graduated in 2008.  They were both students in the same program my kids are in now, Huntington Beach High School Academy for the Performing Arts.  The fact that both of them are now working in the same program they participated in tells you how important of a role they both played in APA/MMET.  I can remember the first moment I ever saw Nicole, I remember it vividly.  I had taken my son to see the show, “Abbey Road / Rumours” that APA performed in 2008.  Nicole came out to sing her first song and I leaned into my son and whispered in his ear, “she’s amazing, I can’t believe how good she is!”  I knew in my heart that she was a star, nobody had to tell me that.  Today, Nicole and two other amazingly talented and beautiful women are members of “The Swing Kittens” and are quickly becoming very well known.  I have had the pleasure of photographing these three beauties and it was one of my favorite shoots EVER!!!  The link to that post is here!!!

Mike is the drummer in a band called “The Counter Regiment” and they have been playing all over Orange County and Los Angeles.  Check out the attached link for information regarding their next gig at The Roxy on Sunset in Hollywood on Saturday, January 15th.  The Swing Kittens will also be playing, you won’t want to miss this show!!!

I’m not sure what I was expecting that afternoon, but what I wasn’t expecting was for them to be so at ease and so genuinely happy and FUNNY!!

I loved every minute of this photo shoot!!!

I LOVE all of them!!!

There are so many facets to their personalities, I think I’ve only begun to uncover them!

These last two are my favorites!!

I met Roy and Verena on the day of their wedding at the beautiful Surf and Sand Hotel in Laguna Beach.  They were referred to me by a friend and client of mine and they lived out of state, so there was no chance of meeting them prior to their wedding.  It didn’t take more than an instant for me to fall in love with both of them, just look at their faces!  Not only was it evident to me how much they love each other, but they exude such warmth and joy to everyone around them.  By the end of my short time with them, I felt as if I had known them all of my life.  Now we are in constant communication with each other and there’s even a possibility they may be moving to my area – I hope so!!!!  Sometimes, the unknown is a good thing and in this case it was a wonderful surprise.  Thank you, Roy and Verena for including me in your special day with all your wonderful friends and family!

You are a beautiful couple!

You may want to sit down, because these beauties will surely knock you to you feet!!!  These ladies are well known around Orange County as they are a very talented swing band trio called “The Swing Kittens.”  They frequently sing with “The Swing Cats” big band all over the OC and are as talented as they are beautiful.  I had the best time taking their photos and as you can imagine they turned alot of heads.  One young man saw them and parked his car just to meet them.  Hmmmm, let’s see……a single guy sees three beautiful girls walk down the street.  Yeah, I can see why he stopped!!!  It was great!  They are all so pretty and I had the toughest time deciding which images to blog, so here are  just a few of my dozens of favorites from yesterday’s photo shoot.  It was an absolute treat for me, how lucky am I to have had such gorgeous ladies to photograph……………….thank you, God!!!

I told you they were gorgeous!!!!!

The very beautiful Nicole of the Swing Kittens band.  Nicole is also part of the wonderful Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts (APA) at Huntington Beach High School and is the vocal director.  She is one talented young woman!!!

Out-of-this-world gorgeous!!!!

Stunning!

I took a chance as the bus drove by that I would get one of them through the window and I did!!!  So cute!!!

They're spectacular, find out for yourself and go see them!!!

Some of their music and videos can be found here.

Thanks,

Cindy

The following was written by Cassidy’s mom, thank you so much for sending this to me!!!!

Cassidy did her first pageant (after seeing Toddlers and Tiaras on TV) in October of 2009. It was a BIG pageant put on by “California Gold Coast Pageants” and she went home with a very small consolation prize and a broken heart.
But, she was in love with pageantry and determined to win a crown someday! So we set out looking for a coach and a photographer! We never knew that the photos were part of the overall scores. It actually makes a BIG difference in a child’s pageant career. There are two type of photos. Natural and Glitz. Glitz photography takes a team of specialists:photographer, stylist, groomer, and a photo retoucher.
The natural photos are not as “enhanced” and vary more with a wide variety of poses and looks.
We met with Cindy Meadors in April 2010 and had a wonderful shoot on the grounds of Huntington Beach High School.
The day was cold and windy and Cassidy was cranky. We had not prepared looks very carefully and did not hire a stylist. We wondered if any of the shots would be good? (OK I did – maybe Cindy didn’t!)

The photos that were taken that day came out beautiful and have helped increase Cassidy’s scores and pageants wins!

Some of her recent titles include:
Heartbreaker Grand Nationals 2010 – Glitzy Girl Grand Supreme
Nevada’s Fabulous Faces State 2010 – Beauty Supreme
California Cover Miss and Cover Boy State Finals – Beauty Supreme
Magical Dreamworld (Prelim) – Mini Supreme 9 & up
Heartbreaker (Prelim) – Novice Grand Supreme

She is getting ready for a BIG pageant season and currently preparing her routines with her coach Courtney O’Steen, a new custom dress and swimwear, and of course natural photos with Cindy! (hopefully)

Here are some of her winning photos and my personal favorites!!!!

"This was one of her winning photos"

Another one of her winning photos

Back Cover Award winner at Magical Dreamworld Pageant

(pageant photos provided by Cheryl Love)

Keep going, Cassidy, I'm sure there will be many more titles for you in the future!!!

(photo courtesy of Cheryl Love) Go Cassidy!!!!