More ego boost! / Thank You

Got a really nice email from my #1 fan Gabe today. (or maybe #2, DannyHong are you still out there??? Canadiasian fanboys?!?!?)

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from Gabe G [gabeg@gmail.com]
to DK [DK@gmail.com]
date Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 8:35 PM
subject Headshot advice and your blog

Hey Dennis,

A couple hundred of my 3 billion cousins are seniors this year and have asked me for some portraits/headshots.

I don't actually have that much experience with headshots, as I do mostly photojournalism and concept stuff, so I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask a master. I was hoping to see if you had any tips. Like lighting, or lens preference....or how you get the background so blurry. Anything would do.

Also, I wanted to mention on why I was so eager to meet you and why I love your blog so much (other than the fact that it is hilarious). Its mostly because I came across your blog when I was at a major crossroads in my life. I had finally decided that law school was not the right choice for me and was questioning whether or not to pursue something involving photography, which I love. Which is why I am such a loyal reader of your blog.

Something happened to you that made you dive right into photography and your success on everything since then has been really inspirational. So I left my nice job, took a trip around the world and have decided to pursue photography. I am looking to move from Seattle (maybe), and am considering going to LA or SF, taking a couple of classes and go from there. Not really sure if it will work for me or not, but your blog really did help me a lot in making this decision.
So thanks for that ;)

I wanted to take the opportunity, if we had met, to ask you questions revolving around what kind of obstacles you faced. The advice you had on getting a job with a professional photographer and any advice you had on starting your own business and getting the word out there. Sadly, my time in New York was spent in family chaos or being hungover so sorry I never got the chance to meet.

I am going to LA in May to check it out. Maybe Ill get another chance then.

I am not good at writing emails, but overall, I just really wanted to say what a great read your blog has been :)

Gabe

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Wasn't that nice?

I mean. I am all about funemployment, but please don't all go quitting your jobs because of me.

But Gabe, you're doing well with it. Keep it up!

I am so thankful to all of you out there who have inspired and supported me as well over the past several years. As I begin a new phase of my epic life journey, I guess now is as good a time as any to send out some thank yous to the people who have had the greatest impact on me. Like Bjoern, without whom my sick nasty life would not be possible. Or Dad, (and a little bit of my retarded Nigerian-scam-artist-loving Mom) also whom without my sick nasty life would not be possible. Kristy Euge DrDan and (I think) MrsDrDan who have sat down to dinner with me and set me in the right direction whenever I've been quarterlife crisis-ing and have been supersupportive ever since. MAO whose fun and beauty and gift-giving abilities transcend time and space. And Felly Steph Ashwin Shiri and TL who allowed me to keep the bicoastal dream alive.

There are so many people to thank and obviously I can't fit you all in here. Well actually that is a lie because it is my blog and it is the internets and not that Academy Awards so I can ramble for as long as I want. So fine. Thank you to all my beautiful clients for keeping a roof over my head and a plane ticket in my pocket. And thank you Smershy Goony Heidi KG Narni Kaystyles Teebags Danny Matty Yeebee Annie (who is totally MIA)... as off-and-on BFFs you all have been a great source of support and photographic fun over the years and I look forward to so many more!

P.S. I'm drunk.