Newsletter Issue 22
Here’s some of the content from my newsletter Issue 11 you can enjoy. Here’s the link to the entire newsletter should you want to read it. And you should, you’ve come this far. :)
What started 20 years ago.
You'd think a somewhat cynical and pessimistic Frenchman wouldn't be into the "being grateful for what I have" thing... because yes, being cynical and pessimistic is a French pastime. it goes with the bad temper, snobbish outlook on life, etc. It's a cultural thing... but, I am grateful. VERY grateful (I must be getting soft as I age).
in the summer of 2000 (21 years ago), I started a very important friendship with a gay man named Michael. He was instrumental in my life in several ways, but mostly because, thanks to him, I met my wife of 17 years (21 years together). We were going to see a movie at a festival but he was held back in a meeting and while waiting for my friend I started chatting with the cute girl taking people's stubs.
Michael, unfortunately, died a few short months later that year. I lost my friend due to the consequences of many years of self-medicating, substance abuse, and AIDS. Let me tell you, as an early 20-something from rural France with a very limited understanding of life, I was not mentally equipped to deal with this correctly. In retrospect, I still feel guilty about I handled the end of my relationship with Michael.
Here's the only photo I have of my friend and I together.
(Pardon the "photo of a photo" thing.)
I have been a lifelong supporter of the LGBTQ community because if I get to enjoy my life the way I want to, anybody else should... and that's that. I feel that thinking people should have equal rights does not make me an ally, it just makes me your neighbor.
I swear I'm getting to a point. stay with me.
So, earlier this year, I joined the SDEBA (San Diego Equality Business Association) and sometimes timing is everything. Shortly after joining, I had the opportunity to work with a marketing agency (Avenir Thinking) that had too just joined and was looking for a photographer for the new Stepping Stone campaign they were putting on. Stepping Stone is an organization dedicated to helping individuals of the LGBTQ community recover from substance abuse. Obviously, this hit home quite a bit.
I know you've seen these images in a previous issue of this newsletter but I'll repost one for the newcomers.
Ok, this is the final stretch of this story, I promise.
What started 20 years ago, culminated this past week when I was honored to have been nominated and awarded the Ally Business Of The Year for my support of the community and my work with Stepping Stone.
This was really special and meant a lot to me. I am very thankful for... everything. [I'm having trouble finishing this sentence eloquently].
This award is for my friend that didn't get to see those past 20 years.
Honestly, I just miss my friend.
Grieving on camera
Dominique came to the studio grieving. she very recently had lost someone very important to her and had pondered many times canceling the session, even while driving down to my studio the morning of the session. Although she was just not feeling it, she wanted to do this for herself still.
she apologized profusely for her state of mind but I reassured her she did not have to. She could be herself in my studio. In fact, I wanted her to embrace this and use it on camera.
This is what we did. I am very very fond of these images.
