I met Bruce...

Warning: This post contains a bit of name dropping, side comments and my normal rambling.

Yesterday I was at the Four Seasons Hotel in St. Louis scouting out a location for a photo shoot in September. The hotel lobby is on the top floor so that you get a spectacular view of the St. Louis skyline and arch as you check in. It is absolutely amazing. I can not wait until I shoot a wedding there. I already have locations for portrait sessions picked out.

So while I'm waiting to see the property I take a seat on a beautiful leather couch and try to keep an eye out for Ashley Brewer, the conference services manager. Across from me sits a older gentleman in a ball cap with a set of iPod ear buds peaking over his shirt. Sensing I was a little anxious (I wasn't sure if I was waiting in the right place) he told me to enjoy the view and we chatted a little bit about the weather and the Girl From Ipanema that played softly from the speakers above us. His name was Bruce and he was from Santa Barbara. I explained that I was there scouting for a photo shoot. (Normal constant rambling from me.)

Before I could ask him what brought him to St. Louis, he introduced me to a man that just got off the elevator, "And this is John Stamos."

Suddenly there were a thousand thoughts going around in my head. "John Stamos, wait, I know that name. Can't be, it is, it is THE John Stamos." I shake hands with him and he quickly takes a seat to chat with Bruce while I start to wonder who Bruce really is. "Bruce, Bruce, he looks familiar, where is he from? John Stamos is touring with the Beach Boys this summer. No. Can't be. really? Who are you really sitting across from, try not to stare. Be polite. Don't ease drop. Or at least don't look like you're ease dropping. You never know who you'll meet in the lobby of a hotel. I love my job."

So yes ladies and gentleman, I got to talk to Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys. I really wanted to pull out my camera and take a photo. But they were just going to breakfast and a person has a right to a somewhat normal life. I may play a paparazzi at my weddings, but I'm really a sweet hard working pro in real life. (Which reminds me, I probably need to post something someday about being invited into peoples lives to capture found images. Stalking people is never cool. It is much better to be invited in and become part of the fixtures. That's when people relax, open up and share.)

Maybe someday I'll get a press pass to a Beach Boys show and I'll be close to the stage with all the other photographers and I'll get a real photo of them. Hey, anything can happen - and I definitely have the skills to do the job well. ;)

Thank you for indulging me and reading this post. Recent work of amazing weddings soon to come.