I'm Back

Alright I've been back for two months but I sure haven't updated my blog. I've kept nice and busy...I love it.

One of my clients is Randy Rohrer from Pacific West Commercial and Industrial, has used my photography for a few commercial properties and a residential property. On this latest shoot, we were talking about the compliments he's gotten on the virtual tours of his commercial properties. He's really happy the virtual tours and has even had someone tell him that he should get virtual tours on all of his properties...I completely agree Randy! As I was working on the virtual tour I couldn't help but notice how well commercial properties and warehouses show with the virtual tours. I just feel that the virtual tours really show the spaces well. Take a look at this commercial property on Naomi St. in Burbank



Click here to take a look at another one of Randy's properties on West Palm

I think the virtual tour looks very slick. If you're interested in having your commercial property photographed...let me know!

I've Run Away

It's been busy lately, but I have taken a week off and run away to Hawaii for my honeymoon. We are in Kuaui and it's amazing here! The weather and water are perfect. I didn't bring my "work" camera however, I have of course been taking some photos. Here are a few...





If anyone needs me to come out to photograph...I'm totally up for it!

Pet Photography Anyone?

I think I should start taking photos of peoples pets. I love animals and I just can't resist taking a photo of them. I had a real estate virtual tour and photo shoot this weekend. While they were still readying the rooms, I was off photographing the exteriors and pets. Take a look at this pup. She was so sweet. This home had a sweet dog, a very very loving cat and a bunch of crazy chickens. It was pretty fun. Take a look...

Missing In Action

In has you haven't noticed the last few blogs have been far and few between. I apologize, I have been very busy. The last two months I have been planning my wedding and of course the minute we set our date to get married, business went through the roof. So the last two months have been wonderful, stressful at times, and busier than I could have imagined. Last weekend was our wedding, now I'm back, you have my full attention, and I have lots of houses, condos, vacation homes and buildings that need to be added to my blog.

So my second task here is to let all of you know my new last name. You will now be receiving emails from Laura D'Anna. Don't be afraid it's still me.

If you read the last blog, you know that I was called Mrs. Carrot at a restaurant a few weeks back. A great friend of ours was the officiant of our wedding. Knowing the Mrs. Carrot story, he introduced us as "Mr and Mrs Media Carrot...I mean Mr and Mrs Mario D'Anna". Luckily it fit with the rest of the ceremony! It was a great day!

PS Here are some photos from our wedding last weekend. I was luck enough to have one of my good friends photograph my wedding. It pays to have photographer friends! I personally think she's one of the best photographers in Santa Barbara! Katie Moos Photography Check out her site and blog. She really is an amazing photographer...

Carrot...Media Carrot

Last night I was at dinner with my very-soon-to-be-husband and my sister-in-law. It was a nice dinner. We sat outside, so there was some great people watching, there was great food, but the best part happened after dinner. Sister-in-law and I decided to split the bill. I paid with my business credit card. When the waiter returned with the two charge slips, he said "Thank you Ms Sister-in-law and Thank you Ms Carrot!" Yes he called me Ms Carrot. My card says my MediaCarrot and right below it is my full name. He must have thought my parents were hippies...I love it!

1153 Fuller

Another great property from agent Pamela Rich at CondosLA.com. I got a call from her assistant Vincent to come out and shoot this great condo on Fuller in West Hollywood. It's a great 2 bedroom 2.5 bathroom condo, with a nice large open floor plan. Very cute! Take a look at the still photos.

Busy Busy Busy

I have been slacking on my blog updates, however this means only one thing...I'm busy! I have tons of cabins and some houses to blog about.

I will start with a beautiful home I photographed a few weeks back in Ojai. One of my favorite agents in Ojai, Vivienne Moody, gave me a call to come out and photograph a property for her. She never disappoints! 821 El Toro Road in Ojai has 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and is on a huge piece of land. I really loved it. The house is on a beautiful tree lined road with a huge backyard. I would have been happy to move into the basement apartment. It's a split level house and the basement apartment opens out to the huge backyard. Enough talking take a look at the photos and virtual tour...

Domain Granite and Cabinet

If you are ever looking for cabinets or granite, take a look at Domain Granite and Cabinet. They are a husband and wife team who design out beautiful kitchens and give you a great deal at the same time. I have photographed for them on several occasions and create slideshows for them. They are really great to work with and if you are updating your kitchen, definitely give them a call!

Not as Cool as I Think I am

Last week up in Big Bear I got to photograph some beautiful cabins. It was a nice cool beautiful day after that heat wave and I was happy. I was photographing the first cabin on my list. I had shot the entire interior and was working on the exterior. My car was parked in the drive and I was trying to decide if moving my car would get me a better shot of the front. I looked up and noticed a gate where I could walk up the hill a little and take a nice shot from above. Perfect because I wasn't feeling it from where I was. So I walked around to the back of my truck and had the shock of my life! Two huge deer standing on the other side of my truck, one with huge antlers! ...then I realized they were plastic. However, it was too late, I had already let out a loud embarrassing scream.



I know they don't look so big and scary but, I swear that big guy was challenging me! And yes I realize they were facing the other direction.

Practice Practice Practice

I love that we never finish learning new things. However, I think we sometimes forget that we need to practice and relearn some of the things we have already been taught. I decided today will be a quieter day for me(although my phone already seems to be ringing like crazy), so today is a practice day. It's a day to make sure I'm headed in the correct direction with my photography.

There are so many opportunities to learn new things in photography. One of the most important lessons I've learned is, the better you photograph the subject in the first place, the less work you have later. I photograph buildings, houses, businesses, etc. I could very easily use the same technique for all situations, but I would be compromising quality, not utilizing the uniqueness of each situation, and also creating more work in Photoshop. Photoshop can enhance, correct and save photographs, but it's the initial work you put out in place that is going to determine the end result.

Today I'll work on my capturing the image, reminding myself of all that information I learned in school and put that degree to good use!

Big Bear Vacations

Last time I posted I mentioned going up to Big Bear Lake for a photo shoot. I didn't want to say to much and jinx it but, I was going up for a test shoot for Big Bear Vacations. Big Bear Vacations is one of the top property management companies in Big Bear. Turns out they were very happy with my test shoot. I now have a contract with them to photograph 200-300 of their properties(they are getting new vacation rentals every time I go up there)! Woo-hoo! I love it. I get to drive up to beautiful Big Bear once or twice a week. It will be a project that we'll work on for the next year. I'm very excited to photograph all their vacation rentals and they seem just as excited to have new photos and virtual tours for their rentals.

Anyone looking for a nice place to get out of town, Big Bear is a two hour drive from Los Angeles. Beautiful, relaxing, small town feel and not too far to worry about the amount of money you'll be spending on gas, but lots of blue lake and blue skies! From what I hear it tends to be a big snow ski area and quieter in the summer. I say Big Bear is the place to head this summer! The summer rentals are very reasonable and very cozy...as I photograph the cabins I'm picking out which I intend to rent when I have some time off! Take a look at some of the photos. I'll keep you updated on how this project is going and the best cabins up there to rent! In the mean time give Big Bear Vacations a call! (800)524-6600

This is Cabin 991 "Winding"





This is Cabin 977 "Hillside Hideaway"

Big Bear Photo Shoots

I drove up to Big Bear today to photograph a Lodge and some cabins. It was a great drive. Traffic was great, I was happy to get out of Los Angeles. All was great and then I hit fog. Then that fog turned to rain. I started to worry about the photo shoots. However, I was curious why I hadn't heard from my client about the rainy weather yet. So, I kept driving. The rain stopped and that was great, but the fog was insane! It was so foggy I could barely see the car in front of me. Tule fog. Then all of a sudden it was clear and I was above the fog bank and it was beautiful. No wonder the client hadn't called about the rain, it was perfect up there! So, I stopped and took a quick photo...

AMLI on the Boulevard

Last week I photographed an apartment complex for the third time...no it wasn't a reshoot and they weren't unhappy. It was for different different owners or publications over the last 5 years. The apartment complex is called AMLI on the Boulevard. I used to live in the area so I would drive by this complex all the time. It has such a great feel and look, you can't help look at it when you drive by. And every time I have photographed it, I have really enjoyed it. Take a look at the photography...

Bel Air Rd Property

I got a call from a Argyropoulos Design. The owner had a house he wanted photographs and a virtual tour for. He was also interested in renting the home out for a filming location, so I showed him the property website that I had made for Granada Hills Estate. He loved it and wanted something with a similar feel. I made him a very very simple website with a slideshow that I really like. He was so happy with it and says he plans of bragging about me to some other friends that might be interested in my photography. I say brag away! In the mean time take a look at the photography...it's a beautiful house!

Granada Hills Estate

I got a call from a home owner looking for photography, a virtual tour, and a property website earlier last month. He had decided to put his house up for a filming location rental and general rentals. He just let me go wild with the photography and I had a great time. I got to experiment with my slideshow software and also make him a nice little website. Take a look at the Photos and Virtual Tour...