My husband and friends have been gently pushing me into the world of professional photography for some time now. Don't get me wrong, I just didn't pick up a camera last week, I have been taking photos for friends for their engagements, weddings, childrens' baptisms, important birthdays for YEARS now. They have all told me that my photos were better then their 'professional' photographers, but the time just didn't seem to be right for me. I finally bit the bullet and went Pro a few months ago and have been thrilled with my decision! Please, may I have my first serving of "I told you so...".
About 2 years ago, my parents went to the Mission Inn in Riverside, and told me. "You HAVE to take the boys there - it is amazing." Fast forward 2 years and, in my defense - I DID take the boys there, but only for the Christmas light festival, and we walked the perimeter of the building.
I recently found a new photo lab and saw an INCREDIBLE photo, and asked the lab owner "WHERE was that taken!?!" He said... "The Mission Inn". (Here come my second helping of "I told you so"). I thought to myself "oh HERE we go again!" (insert eye-roll). Lucky enough I had a client set up for that upcoming weekend who wanted 'cool buildings'. I gave her a call and asked her if she was up for a little road trip. Thankfully she said yes, and we met at the Mission Inn.
My plan was to get there 1/2 hour earlier then the family so I could scope out some cool places and find the exact same spot I saw in the lab. Can you believe it - they beat me there! They were 1/2 hour early! LOL! So we took the opportunity to explore the grounds together.
It pretty much turned into a 'choose your own adventure - style photo shoot.' As soon as we found one amazing spot we would say "I wonder what is up here..." We walked up the spiral- stone staircase we would almost in unison say and "ahhhhhhh.... (insert sound of angels singing here) WOOOOOW! Cooooool! -THERE would be ANOTHER AMAZING spot. It never stopped, every corner we turned, every level we went up. Each spot was just as amazing as the last!
