June 30 – Heatwaves and birthdays

Havin’ a heatwave… We’ve officially switched on the air conditioner for the summer. At some point, you admit that the warm breeze outside is never going to actually cool the house down, even after sunset. This week was spent taking care of business while hiding from the heat blast. My work tends to slow down this time of year, but I had a quick shoot day with the team at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. I’m always impressed by the amount of arts education programs they offer to the communities of Orange County. Yes, they’re most known for the touring musicals that play there, but they offer many many educational opportunities for kids, and fundraise non-stop for them.

The other thing I was busy with was a big birthday party for my Mom. Summer birthdays are notoriously difficult. (Mine is only a few weeks away!) So we were initially hesitant to plan a cocktail party for her. It’s always a crapshoot who is actually free to show up. What started as a small cocktail party turned into a catered dinner and a few pre- and post-gatherings with neighbors and friends. I can safely say I enjoy photographing events a lot more than I do planning and producing them. Still, it was a beautiful weekend and we had a ton of fun and food.

Heading into to July, I have my aforementioned birthday and probably more hiding from more oncoming heatwaves. I’m doing my best to keep my thirsty garden of herbs and tomatoes alive.