Life As A Dad In Los Angeles

 

Last night I realized my life as a father here in Los Angeles is probably a little different than most dads.  I'm already different than most dads in the fact that I stay home and work all day with my child, but this little difference makes me feel some-what like a "cool" dad. 

Last night, around 8 o'clock after Stacey, Zoe and I got done eating we began the evening bedtime ritual.  It was a bath night, so we did the whole shabang.  Bath, lotion, playing, reading and then the crib.  It was just another night at the Blackwells, but very special in it's own right.  As I was sitting there with my girls, pleasant music playing, lights dimmed soft, everything was very quiet and calm.  I knew this was about to change.

Once the ladies were almost asleep I packed up my camera gear and headed down to good ole' Hollywood to photograph a band at the infmaous Whiskey A Go Go.  (You know, the place where the Doors were made famous, or whatever?)  Driving down the Sunset Strip, looking for a parking spot that didn't cost $15, and finally getting into the Go Go for free all started the crazy loud part of my evening.

There was a really cool band (Preach Unique & the Cloud 9 Empire) on before the band I came to photograph (Soma).  I snapped a few really cool pics of them, and got to meet and chat w/ the lead signer afterward.  Then Soma was on and they rocked the house.  This band blows my mind every time I see them.  It's not typical music I would enjoy, but live they put on such a killer show that I've started to get into their music.  Head banging, rock jam band is how I would describe them.

After the show we were standing around Sunset Blvd. and I was waiting to get paid when the band realized they had some how lost someone in their transportation and needed a lift.  I offered our SUV and we crammed drums, amps and guitars all around the stroller and car seat.  :)  I drove to one of the band member's home and dropped off the stuff, had a beer, hung out with the guys and headed home.

It was a great evening.  One I really appreciate.  My wife is super cool letting me go out on weeknights, even if I am working.  I hope for many more like these.

What I Do ... Now.

My number one priority right now is Zoe, (who is really 15 weeks old this week).  I am a dad, then a husband, photographer, web designer.  So let me explain really quickly what it is I do.

I run a small sole proprietorship called Marc Blackwell Photography.  It's been a legal business since 2007 and it's been a lot of fun.  I shoot everybody, but I work with actors more than anyone else.  I shoot headshots, musician portraits, bands, families, you name it I've shot it.  I also shoot weddings with my amazingly talented wife.  She has a day job but we work on the weekends when we're together and someone can be with Zoe Toes.  Together we make a good team.

I also work with Stacey, my wife, and our good friends Brandon and Laura in a little company we call Red Letterbox Productions.  Brandon is an amazing music producer, crankin' out jams left and right for established and aspiring musicians.  Really, his sound is amazing.  And Laura is a bright and creative graphic designer mixin' up images, cd covers, social media graphics and more colorful stuff.  Stacey and I do photography together and I also create the websites for the group.  We're a one-stop shop for actors and musicians.  And it's been fun so far, we're really hittin' it hard this year. 

So I work on a lot of websites as well as taking pictures.  I've devoted myself into the world of CSS, HTML, PHP and Wordpress.  I can create a mean website that does more than look pretty.  And it's perfect work being at home I can do it whenever I'm not feeding, changing or playing with ZB.  :)

Here's to the economy picking up, and to doing our part by providing high quality services and products for fair prices.  It's how the world goes round. 

Much love,
-marc