I took a lil breather...I won't lie. Things have been pretty interesting lately...let me explain what trouble I've been causing...

In April I started dating a new guy...things didn't exactly work out and ended late May. So I'm now single and loving life (for the most part). I'm still having health problems, but I live everyday like it's my last.

I also stumbled upon an Car Enthusiast club called Nine-0-Five Rides, here in Niagara Falls in late May 2009...and I've been hooked ever since. I guess you could say I unofficially turned into their official club photographer, when I had never tried Automotive Photography in my life...first impressions are key, that's all I know.

I got fired from my day job back at the beginning of June due to having "too many doctors appointments" so I've been doing photography full time ever since...or I should say, trying to make ends meet by doing photography full time. lol. I attend car shows almost every weekend and I participate on the car club's forum. I've been learning a lot about cars and have even looked into starting to modify my car a bit with funds pending. I'm hoping by next summer to have some rims/tint and a nicer sound system in my badass '92 Corolla. We'll have to see how things go in the off season. I gotta focus on paying some debts off first.

What am I now? I consider myself an Automotive Photographer. It's my passion and I'm honestly sad that the summer is coming to an end. I'm even considering doing some traveling to warmer states so I can continue once the snow hits Ontario. Chances are I'll be at the Detriot AutoShow in October, and I'm also hoping to get Media passes for SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas in November. *fingers crossed*

But yeah, I've been whoring out my business at car shows for the past 2 months and it's finally starting to pay off. I've gained about 250 members on my facebook group, and also promoted my fan page a lot more. I went from 2 members overnight to 160+ the next day. Crazzy?! Just a lil. But it's good right? Oh, and I'm also getting paid work, which is fantastic.

I moved out of my parents house in May, and I've been having a great time. I've had the house basically to myself for the most part, since my roommates live somewhere else during the week, and I'm usually not home on the weekends. I'm also thinking about moving my studio to a different location...which happens to be around the corner from the place I'm living in now. Hopefully I'll be able to pull it off by September 1st with a lil magic.

I also have a new assistant, who is very very amazing. We actually met at Cruise Night in Niagara Falls one night and it's kinda blossomed from there. We're even going to a 3-day Wedding Photography Class in Niagara On the Lake in September together, since yeah, I'm going to start shooting weddings next spring/summer/fall. Crazy, right? Oh well, it's good money and I know what I'm doing for the most part.

My health has gone from okay to pretty bad lately. I used to have pain attacks every 3-4 weeks, but I'm medicated every day now, and have been for the past 2 months. Luckily, I've had minimal hospital trips, but the doctors also can't find anything wrong yet, which is frustrating. It's been 10 months now...and St.Catharines, and Hamilton haven't been able to help yet...I might have to go to Toronto the next time something big happens, or start searching for specialists there so I can find out what I have and work on a solution. As of today, I've taken myself off the medication and I'm fighting the pains I have, but it's better than being high on narcotics. I just have to remember to smile at every chance I have and live life like I'm a normal person.

With that said, I'll start posting some of my automotive photography up. The stuff I have currently posted is from one of my first shows back in June. My work has improved drastically, and I've even done some crazy stuff to get some wicked pictures (hanging out of a sunroof while driving at 130km/h on the highway is just to name one of my crazy tactics). I'm also in the midst of doing some research in order to start building a rig set up during the off season, so I'm ready to go for next spring/summer

Everyone should go check out my website...it's had a HUGE make over since February and I have a LOT more pictures up

www.redsevenphotography.com

I'll try to keep this updated, but I have so many websites to update, I might overlook this one from time to time. I'll do my best guys...Oh, and I guess this Journal also lets everyone know that I'm still alive. It's good to be back! - Nat