A few things about Dave

Christy added 10 things about her so I need to keep up.

1. The most important thing about me is my relationship with Jesus. He is the strength of my life and the motivation for each day.

2. Next, of course, is my wonderful wife, Aileen. This year we are celebrating 22 years of marriage. Each time I photograph a wedding, I am reminded of our wedding day, and my very best friend.

3. Ok, enough of the mooshy stuff. I do need to mention my five kids. While they have given me more than my share of gray hairs, I would not trade a single one of them. The oldest is now away at college and that certainly opens up the windows for the winds of change (poetic isn't it?).

4. I have always had a passion for photography. Doing it as a job is definitely different than having it as a hobby. Many people do not want to make their hobby their job because it is no longer fun for them. I have to disagree on this one. Photographing people is always exciting and every job is different because each person is unique. There is infinite variety and opportunity for creativity.

5. For my geeky side, I do love and hate computers. There is nothing else in life that is so incredibly useful and yet can be so incredibly frustrating as a computer. I have never enjoyed working on cars but I never hesitate to get the screwdriver out when the computer fails. There is something wonderful about writing programs and seeing them come to life in a computer.

6. The geeky part does not end with computers. Since Junior High, I have enjoyed coin collecting. My favorites are very old coins. An old coin will bring history to life and evoke thoughts and images of times past. I once asked a friend why he purchased an old Humvee. He told me that if I had to ask, then I would not understand. Perhaps coins are the same way.

7. While I no longer fit the part, I once was a very avid bicyclist. Perhaps this is one of those things that never leaves. My biggest accomplishment was riding the entire California coast and 3/4 of the Oregon coast in one summer.

8. If you are going to eat food, then why not make it spicy? I have been given a family, in which none of them like spicy food! So, if you ask me where I want to go to lunch, it will either be Mexican or Indian. I do love adventure in food. One of my favorite places is Epcot in Disney world. You can eat your way around the world.

9. Oh yea, I have been to India twice and it is one of my favorite places. You just can't imagine lots of people until you visit someplace like this. The people are wonderful and I now have several friends there.

10. I enjoy geocaching. If you have not heard about it, you can check it out at www.geocaching.com. It's kind of like modern day high-tech treasure hunting. (Back to that computer thing again)

Now you know a few things about me.

bridal portraits in the bathroom?

Check out the most recent bridal portraits we took in the bathroom!!

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new site...

Hey everyone! Christy updated her personal website. Check it out and see what's new!!
www.christycollinsphoto.com

a little bit about christy...

1 - I spent the first 21 years of my life in California, 3 of which were in Santa Barbara, an therefore am in love with the beach.

2- I drink a large cup of coffee every day.

3- I have an adorable orange cat named Morgan. I used to have 2 orange cats, but Jerry got very very sick.

4- I entered college with the dream of working as the still photographer on a movie set, but realized that I don't actually want to live or work in Hollywood.... ever.

5- I am a certified scuba diver, however I haven't taken advantage of that in about 3 years.

6- I have been inside a burning building.

7 - Peanut Butter Pizza from Players in Atascadero, CA is delicious!!

8- My pinky toes are so small they don't even touch the ground.

9- My two least favorite chores are folding laundry and washing dishes.

10- I love living in the south.

Celebrity Photos

Ok, so maybe you don't recognize him. But, if you were from Ethiopia you would! With wedding photography, every wedding is a new and fun experience. Last month, we photographed an Ethiopian wedding and Yehune Belay provided the music. While waiting for the bride and groom to arrive, I had a chance to chat with him. You can check out his web site at http://www.yehuniebelay.com/.

Portraits in the bathroom?

One of my favorite parts about being a photographer is the funny situations we end up in. Photographers go to great lengths to get "the" shot. Sometimes that means crawling through bushes, laying in the mud, climbing on top of things, etc. Other times it means you get to take executive portraits in the bathroom!! 

Although... you'd never know if I hadn't just told you :o)

When I grow up I want to be a photographer...

This morning I, Christy, got an opportunity of a lifetime. No, I didn't go in any more burning buildings! Instead I went inside a building that holds such precious archives that if it was burning all of the air would be sucked out to kill the fire! Myself, along with 3 other photographers, had the opportunity to visit the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (http://www.billygraham.org/default.asp) headquarters to meet with Russ Busby, who has been the head photographer for the last 52 years!

Talk about an incredible man! He's living proof of my theory that portrait photographers are (or at least should be) some of the nicest characters on earth! This man has had the opportunity to travel all over the world photographing everyone from the poor farmer in the Middle East to the president of the United States. When I say president I'm talking pretty much every single president since the mid-1950's!! Just recently he traveled overseas to North Korea... or was it South Korea? I don't remember. Anyway, the guy has stories to tell!! Not just stories, but also plenty jokes and tidbits of helpful information. Something that stuck out in my mind he said at the very end. "It's the person who takes the picture, not the camera." 

Originally our meeting was supposed to be only an hour. Two and a half hours later after hearing stories, seeing the archives and learning about how they work, we were saying goodbye. He gave us each a copy of the Billy Graham documentary book full of quotes, articles and photographs of the last 50 years of his ministry. Quoting Russ, "It's not a book of pictures I've taken, or things Billy Graham has said, but rather it is a book of what God has done." 

It was such a blessing to get to spend a few hours with a man of his character. I can only wish that someday when I grow up I can be a photographer like Russ Busby!!