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.

Awesome!

Sweet email I just got:

from: Gabriel G
to: dk@gmail.com
date: Mon, Nov 7, 2008 at 11:49 PM
subject: Blog, Thanks, Drunk

Hey Dennis,

When I asked a friend what we should hit up on a recent trip to Hong Kong for fun, she actually referred me and my friends to your blog. So thanks to your blog, we pretty much had our three days in Hong Kong planned out. Lots of fun was had, and lots of "wastedface" as your hilarious blog often puts it. Keep up the fun posts!

Gabe
http://www.violentpillow.com/

Naia's TOTALLY EPIC 25th Birthday Bash

It started with pregaming...



...and an incredible post-pregame cab ride downtown.

The driver had a tv screen and a hilarious Chris Rock standup dvd.




I had bailed on dinner because I just knew it was going to culminate in a multi-thousand-dollar bill-paying fiasco and instead opted for ordering pizza and beers for everyone. (Sorry Narns!) (By the way, we got there as they were embarking upon the hour-and-a-half shitshow that was reconciling the bill and I was right.)

Oh. Also. Props to Naia for flipping her shit when they tried to keep us in line outside and getting a sea of people into the club at the same time.



Smershy, Lady Di, and The Pentacostal were on hand for a drink but quickly peaced out to attend what they thought was going to be a sweeter party at The Standard.



I think they were wrong.



Naia chose to have her bday at a sweet new rooftop bar/club called Elevate.

See that little bluish glow on the lower left? That's The Standard Hotel's rooftop pool/bar as seen from the incredible balcony that encircled the entire club.



Many of our favorite people were on hand.

The boys.




The Alis. (Yes there are three - Annie, Tatyana, Kimmie.)



Even Ryan Starr from American Idol: Season One/Surreal Life made an appearance.



The place was SO BEAUTIFUL and it was INCREDIBLE FUN SEXXYTIME.



(Also the above picture features the first person I have ever seen to totally rock a unibrow and not have it look totally disgusting.)

Nice work man!



It was So. Much. Fun.






If you don't believe me, look very closely at this next photo.



Hirarious.



And now for the MOST EPIC EVENT IN EGGFURY HISTORY:

These random well-dressed, good-looking Asian guys from Canada recognized Chrispy or someone and then looked around and realized they knew EVERYONE.

Why?

Because they randomly read this blog EVERY F-ING DAY at their boring office jobs. IN CANADA.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was totally awesome. Maybe equally as mind-blowing for us as it was for them.

Me: Do you know him? (pointing to Eugene)
Asian fanboy: Yup!
Me: Do you know Naia? (pointing to birthday princess)
Asian fanboy: Yup!
Me: Who's that? (pointing across the bar)
Asian fanboy: That's Ryan!
Me: What do Angelina Jolie and I have in common?
Asian fanboy: (thinks for a second) ...the same LASIK Surgeon!

We. Are famous.

One day we will look back on this night and be like "Remember that first time someone recognized us in public?"

So cool.



Welcome, boys! (I don't remember your names but shoot me an email from my website.)

Also, in case you're wondering why your skin is flawless and you look so damn good, it's because:

(A.) my camera is made of magic

and

(B.) zits*, tummies, arm fat, weak jawlines, and tiny boobs (YUCK!) are not allowed in the world of eggfury.

Now you know all my secrets.

*- with some exceptions



Kate was subject to some interesting Canadian mating rituals where apparently you just ROAR at your victims, erm, I mean, pretty girls.



Did I mention how much fun we had?





HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAIA! YOU RULE!!!!