Right before I was about to leave my house – well, let’s be honest, 5 minutes after I should’ve left my house – there I was, running around and stressing about what to wear. That’s right, I’m the kind of person who worries about what clothes to wear for a radio interview! Haha! What can I say, I was nervous! I’d never been on the radio before, much less been interviewed in a segment all about my photography business, so my nerves were definitely acting up. Luckily, my husband had the day off work, so he agreed to come to the station with me and make sure I didn’t wimp out completely.

I had been asked to be on San Diego’s Finest Business by the show’s executive producer, which is an hour-long radio show that covers 3-4 local San Diego companies, so listeners can learn about what they do, their philosophies & all about the people behind the business. This producer had heard about what I do and thought it’d be a unique business for her listeners to learn about – and I’m glad she did! I’m sure plenty of people have never even heard of the pet photography business (it’s a pretty specialized niche!), so I (nervously) agreed to spread the word. It all happened at WS Radio, which is San Diego’s leader in internet radio, and I was interviewed by Jack Warren, who has almost 15 years in the radio industry and also happens to be a former retail photography business owner in the Pacific Northwest.

I wasn’t sure of the protocol & how much time I’d have, so I didn’t bring my camera. I didn’t hesitate to take a few iPhone photos during downtimes, though!

Here’s the interviewee that was scheduled before me, a realtor, in Studio A (where I was interviewed too).

More of the studio:

The mic! I had to sit just a few inches away.

Ken took a few photos of my during the interview… haha!

Me and Jack, after the interview:
(aaahh, iPhone photo quality…)

Here’s a link to the site with all the interviews from the day’s show. I recommend giving them all a listen; San Diego is home to some pretty incredible business owners.

All right… since you asked nicely, here’s a link to my interview. (Gah! Don’t judge my “um”s!)

I was happy to talk a bit about my past in sports photography, but I hope I did a good job of explaining what pet photography is and why my clients (and I) love it so much! Let me know what you think of the interview in the comments!

After we finished up, Ken & I went just down the road in Mira Mesa to a brewery for a pint of craft beer… a celebratory drink for my “bravery”, haha!

Thanks for reading! :)

Today, on this ancient day of history & folklore, there is a tale that must be told. A tale of tradition, greatness, and the struggle to uphold them both. And perhaps that tale is best told through the eyes of just a single character in our story…

Bailey is a common beer maid at the town brewery. She was born & raised amongst the wheat & barley stores in the back of the brewery, and grew up learning to distinguish different varieties of hops from only their aroma; this brewery is and always will be her home.

She is happy here. Her pleasures are simple: listening to the grains ping against the copper vats each morning, running her paws over the smooth wooden surface of the bar that’s been worn down by centuries of visiting beer enthusiasts, feeling empty glasses fill to the brim and grow heavy with cool, foamy craft beer. Truly, Bailey is happy to greet her guests each day, and they enjoy her cheerful service behind the bar.

But times are not always easy at the brewery. Sometimes, whole shipments of hops are lost to thieves. The local brewery has had a successful past, but money has never been tighter, and sometimes Bailey can sense the pressure of an economy that almost feels like it’s evolving past the age-old craft of brewing.

But Bailey knows that a steady determination – and a positive attitude – are the keys to continuing her happy existence in the way she’s always known.

When times are tough, Bailey reminds herself: enjoy the little pleasures in life! Every smiling face that comes through the doors is another opportunity to make a friend, build a relationship, and strengthen the community that upholds the brewery through all the tough times. So she makes sure to greet each visitor with her cheerful smile!

Every morning, Bailey gets dressed in the traditional clothing of her ancestors. She takes comfort in the familiar folds of the dirndl, its cheery white blouse and deep brown apron skirt, and the handmade headscarf that keeps her unruly fur out of her eyes. She herself stitched the red threads into her outfit, to add a bit of color to the surrounding brewery’s rich, deep chestnut tones.

And sometimes, at the end of a hectic day, Bailey loves to enjoy a pint as she unwinds. While her favorite brew has always been the traditional pale ale, occasionally Bailey enjoys a stronger taste of hops from one of the brewery’s IPAs.

Bailey’s counterparts – all of them men – don’t always include her in discussions of the brewery’s direction & future. At times, Bailey wishes she could join in these conversations. She has so many ideas from watching the day-in-day-out hustle & bustle from behind the bar… so many ideas that could improve their service & lessen their often-overwhelming workload. But at other times, she purely wishes to join in for the friendship & camaraderie. It’s not always easy being the sole female bartender.

But Bailey values her solitary time, too. When she’s not behind the bar serving guests, she can think deeply about the world, the brewery, and her place in both.

So despite her everyday worries, Bailey truly loves living at the brewery and tending the bar for its guests! She’s at home here!

 Happy Howl-o-ween! 

Big thanks to Mission Brewery in downtown San Diego, CA! And have a very happy Howl-o-ween, from Bailey (whose real job is to be an intern at Allison Shamrell Pet Photography)!