We Just Want To Be Loved By You!
Our business name was inspired by a famous movie "Some Like It Hot" with Marilyn Monroe filmed here in San Diego County in 1959. It seemed fitting for our fun style of photography but please know that we do not limit ourselves to just vintage style photography. Our business is licensed, insured, members of WPPI and NAPP. We are published internationally almost on a monthly basis. We provide professional, proficient & personable photography services to a large variety of clients.
We are a married photography team with an occasional guest photographer; Alisha is the main photographer and Holland is the assistant/2nd shooter/lighting man. Together we are a contributing photographers for Dog Fancy Magazine, Willow Creek Press Calendars, Dogs USA Magazine, Dogs For Kids Magazine, Brown Trout Publishing, Kiss Fist Magazine and other publications upon request for articles, cards and calendars.
Both of us have attended photography and art courses. We attend workshops/courses annually to make sure we stay up to date with the current techniques and trends. As with most things, photography is a never ending learning experience.
Alisha's photography journey - beginning to never ending...
Growing up an only child with weekends and summer trips with Dad, and a no-friends-over policy at Mom's, meant a lot of time to entertain myself. My dad had taken black and white photography in high school and loved to show me his photos growing up. Although it was nothing professional, the photos of hiking trips with beautiful landscape did influence my fascination with photography. On my 9th birthday I received a hot pink rectangular Kodak film camera that would begin a love for being behind the camera. My mother was obsessed with taking snapshots (using my pink camera) just as well; every gift opened, every sport played, every dance performance, everything was being shot but not usually with great results after being developed. This began my basic understanding of composition as well as lighting without the technical understanding of it all. In effort to help make the photos better from in front of the camera I had learned where, how and how fast I could move while posing for a snap shot depending on the light around.
In the 90's my grandmother purchased a full frame SLR (film) camera, mostly used for shooting the family and her gardens, and this would influence me because the results were always so much better than the snapshots my mom was taking. I would listen while grandma would talk to her friends about using the camera and when bored (as the oldest of all the cousins) I would read (or admire the photos in) the photography books that were under grandma's living room coffee table. In high school I was known to have a disposable camera with me at almost all events. My mom would even send friends with a camera (much to my discontent) to school dances to take candids and eventually I'd figure it out, steal the camera and take photos myself. Summer trips to national parks were becoming a great way to practice composition and lighting since there were no real controls on the camera or other kids to hang out with. Much of my trip photos were of my dad or trying to show that I was there, with my shadows and feet in the photo in some way or form.
After high school digital cameras were in the market at an affordable price range and thinking I had the world at my finger tips with my new 2.5 megapixel camera, I took photos of everything. At the time I was still saving images to a floppy disc from my computer. Times certainly changed. I took a basic photography workshop in 1999 as my first real experience with photography. At the time, courses were only offered for film photography and I had a digital camera; so I decided to not continue taking classes that required developing film etc and put the technical aspects of photography on a back burner. Continuing to take photos of my life, I pursued my education with a major in Dance for the first 2 years of college. It seems that every aspect of my life has emphasized visual skills. I grew up dancing and for 7 years I taught competitive jazz, tap, ballet and hip hop. Understanding body placement, symmetry, posing, formations, timing and facial expressions are all influential in my photography. I staged photo days for the parents/students at studios who did not hire a professional and took photos of my students dancing quite often. I brought photo albums for parents to look at during class almost every week and although photography wasn't my main passion at the moment, it was still there always lingering.
My husband, Holland, and I married March 2003. Our photographer was fantastic, she won Seattle's best family photographer that year... and although our wedding was small and short she took amazing photos we asked for vintage looking black and white (my dress and shoes were modern vintage apparel and not a white wedding dress) as well as color. She was only using only film but they did turn out exactly how we hoped. I did not do the research I should have though, I simply was looking at her amazing photos and availability for our wedding date. I did not realize that for all that we paid only her time was included. On a military budget we only were able to purchase 50 prints from our wedding and nothing was able to be uploaded on our computer since it was film prints alone. This had a huge impact on my perspective of film photography and wedding photography. It was so disappointing to not be able to afford all of our photos, its heart breaking and I told Holland that if I were ever to do wedding photography I would make sure the couple got to have their photos. Nothing is worse than seeing a photo on your wedding day that you can't afford to have. (Which is why I offer wedding packages that have all of the photos on disc). At that point as a hobbyist I had already photographed 2 family members' weddings with our little Canon powershot 3.3 megapixel digital camera (as a gift because there was no photographer there). I was dipping more into the career and I didn't even know it.
Holland was deployed to Iraq just a few days after our wedding and once again I had the opportunity to be alone and entertain myself with camera in hand. I made him a daily photo journal, in hopes that while he was gone with no contact for four months I could make sure that he knew he was on my mind. At the time I was teaching dance on weekends, working downtown during the day and going to Seattle Central CC with a new major in Sign Language Interpreting. Every day I took a different photo, printed and taped it into the journal with a journal entry. Months later, when mail was finally set up in his area, I was able to send him the journal and the opportunity to see what was happening on the home front. I still can't explain how happy I was that I decided to do this, my love for photography began to mature into much more than the snapshot style I had been used to when he was gone.
Once Holland returned, we moved to California and purchased MY FIRST DIGITAL SLR! You cannot even imagine how exciting this was. My first digital SLR was an Olympus 7 megapixel, I used the kit lens for a while. Most of my photos at the time were of my husband, my dog and our lives in Orange County California. We were pretty involved with Boxer rescue and I was voluntarily taking photos of dogs at events, but it wasn't until I volunteered to take photos of dogs with Santa Clause that I started to get inspired to venture into photography as a business move. At the time I was going to school for ASL interpreting, teaching dance at a competitive studio and coaching for 2 public high schools, but I could not get photography out of my mind. I made a web site for my dog and one for my dance students, all with photos of course and I ran the Boxer OC Rescue website for the 2 years I was in OC...I don't think they were anything spectacular but it was a beginning for me. Friends of friends were asking for photography and I was getting praise for the few photos I had done. I started dabbling in photoshop with my first class in 2005, once again wow have things changed since then. At least I wasn't using floppy discs any more. Holland convinced me that I should get a business license and begin charging for photos versus volunteering - especially since he was also volunteering as my lighting & 2nd shooter ...so in January that is exactly what I did.
Soon after, I realized I didn't have enough clones of myself to do all the things I was aspiring to do and I had to choose between dance and photography. Holland helped me realize that although dance was important it wasn't something I could share with him and my family the way I could photography. I stopped teaching dance all together and we moved to Sherman Oaks to pursue our University education and began to look at photography in a serious way. At the time I knew the field of photography was extremely competitive. L.A. is known to be very cut-throat and it lived up to its expectations in every way. Around every corner is a photographer trying to make a name for themselves and an aspiring actor in need of photos but without any money. My experience with many of the professionals I tried to contact was rejection for internships, assisting, or mentorship (and I understand why when I look back). So, I stuck with what I knew best which was pets and their people, all the while knowing that I had a back up plan with sign language interpreting incase photography did not work out. I took photos in a lot of the classes I was taking, my most memorable one was the Deaf Theater class in which I was assigned to be the photographer. I helped make a book of the play "Stone Deaf" (which was written by the students in our class) using many of my photos and I hope they have kept that to show or publish in the future.
My neighbor was a cinematographer for a big studio, I could not understand for the life of me why he lived in our apartment complex but soon realized that he traveled a lot. He was very influential in my photography and I am embarrassed to say I only know his first name and have not been able to contact him since moving. It did not dawn on me how much influence he had until later. He was a Hasselblad and Canon enthusiast with a plethora of knowledge about photography, and a degree in cinematography. I purchased my Canon 5D from him as he was upgrading to the newest top line Hasselblad and I bargained to have private tutorials if I bought his Canon with his lenses, since I was so used to Olympus. This was by far the best accidental bargain and purchase I made. We took money from our savings and purchased the camera, along with it I got a peak into a real photographer's mind from the technical perspective. He gave me amazing tutorials, he reviewed my photos and answered questions that made me think about photography in a whole new way. This opened my world of curiosity and I began attending workshops and classes frequently to sharpen my skills. I had newer higher goals for myself than ever before.
In 2007 I graduated from CSU Northridge with a B. A. in Deaf Studies ASL/English Interpreting. As you could see from our videos I am fluent in American Sign Language. We moved to San Diego and now I hold 2 professional careers; one in fulltime photography and the other part time interpreting for the Deaf at the community college district. It is a juggling act at times, but my photography business does take priority and thankfully interpreting provides me with a flexible schedule and enough finances to support my photography addiction. We take photography & photoshop classes/workshops annually. We love the UCSD digital photography program, there are amazing photographers with something fun & new to learn. I do believe I will be a student for life, this is a field that is ever changing and forever a learning process.
If you're looking to become a professional photographer I do have a 'note' on our facebook fanpage that explains a business perspective that most people don't want to reveal.
A little about Holland...
Holland's first major was Art following in the footsteps of his father, a well respected artist and former USD Art Professor. Prior to graduation life had different plans for Holland as he joined the US Army and served as an Army Ranger for 5 years. As a sniper he learned some amazing skills in aiming and focus that have had a huge benefit in his photography.
Life after the Army has been wonderful. Holland now has a B. A. in History from Cal State Northridge and a Masters Degree in Library Information Sciences from SJSU. He plans to continue with photography as he begins his career as a librarian and joins the double career life style. Because of his passion for history & historical archive/documentation a lot of Holland's photography style is that of a photo historian or photo journalist. Which is absolutely a perfect compliment to work with as a 2nd shooter, he has a very different perspective visually and it shows in his photos. Working together is like the best of both worlds.
Our Fur Kids
Charlie -Butt wiggling, licking madness from this guy. He acts like he is the father of our Bostons, always looking out for them.
Deaf Coco - Our sassy little girl with an obsession for fetch. She has her CGC Title for Obedience & hopefully will do therapy work one day.
Deaf Rocket - Our sweet boy, snuggles & licks for all. He is by far the most affectionate dog we have met. Being held like a baby is his favorite.
CHARLIE, COCO & ROCKET'S MYSPACE
Without them we probably would not have a photography business. They inspire us, their photos have given us the recognition needed to be published, and their love keeps us sane. We owe a lot of thanks to them. This is one reason why we offer pet friendly sessions; a family photo isn't complete without your family pet.
Client Testimonials
First of all, the photographs are wonderful - but that wasn't really a surprise, given that you're a professional. What was surprising was how easy and fun you were to work with, how flexible you were with our requests (no matter how unreasonable they were) and how willing you were to adapt when we kept changing our minds. Your patience and easy-going nature were greatly appreciated, both before and during the shoot. The pictures all turned out so beautifully that it was impossible to choose just a few so, of course, we had to get them all. Thanks for making that feasible. For all these reasons (and too many others to list,) I would recommend you without reservation to anybody who was looking for a truly gifted photographer to capture that "special occasion." Thank you for making our little get-together so memorable by providing us with this remarkable keepsake to remind us all of just how special it really was. Thanks for a wonderful and memorable experience! ~ Rick Rohlf & Family (El Cajon, CA and Texas)
Alisha perfectly understood my ideas of what I wanted to portray in the photos, and she was so creative in choreographing the whole shoot. I was able to change into four different outfits, and each set of photos really has its unique style. She has great talent in understanding the nature and background and make it look so great in the pictures. The sunset photos are amazing! I have so many pictures to choose from in my gallery, and they all look completely natural and full of life! ~Magdelana Cernouskova (San Diego, CA)
Once again Alisha, you are amazing! We love working with you! You are so artistic and talented and I love the personal touch you put on every single photograph. It was an honor to work with you both on our wedding day as well as maternity pictures. You have made these monumental times in our life that much more memorable. We cannot thank you enough! xoxoxoxoxo! ~Sharon & Darrick DeLaO (Seal Beach,CA)
Thank you so much for doing Cassie's Senior pictures. You did an excellent job. Even though we had never met before and knowing that we were from Wisconsin and were looking for something different than the norm, you did a great job. You were able to get us the ocean views we wanted (which we don't get in Wisconsin) along with the beautiful scenery in La Jolla. You did a great job on catching Cassie's personality. There are so many wonderful pictures, it made it very difficult to decide what we like best, so we took them all. I had such a great time watching you photograph her. It seemed as though you were having as much fun doing your job, as Cassie was being photographed. You made this experience a very enjoyable and memorable time for us. Keep doing what you do, you are very talented and fun to work with.
~Thank you, Cindy and Cassie Nell (Wisconsin, US)
Alisha has it all! She is a talented photographer, she is VERY professional, has great repoir with people & pets, and still manages a way to have reasonable rates! No wonder she is constantly booked! I wouldn't dream of using anyone else for my business!
-Bow Wow Beauty Shoppe (San Diego, CA)
Alisha is AMAZING! She is talented, creative and a great person. I have used her to photograph my boxer, my pregnancy and my sister's wedding. The pictures are unbelievable. I recommend her to EVERYONE!
~Dawn A. (Los Angeles, CA)
Alisha McGraw photo shoots are so much fun and I was completely comfortable with the session. Some of my photos were a little provacative, but the photography was very profesional and the pictures came out AMAZING!!! I've never felt so good about myself. I also got them back pretty quickly. Alisha is extremely pet friendly, so if you wanted a picture with your precious pooch, she's the one to call... Thank you so much Alisha and I cant wait to see the rest!
~Allison (San Diego, CA)
Alisha did an amazing job with our wedding pictures and the artistic work that came with it was genius. They really look like pictures out of a catalog. The best part was that she knew how to handle everyone in the wedding party and the many guests at our reception effortlessly--that right there was half the battle and she did it all with a smile. I couldn't be happier with my wedding album and I hope to fly her out here for more special occasions in the near future.
~ Maria (Seattle, WA)
I had so much fun shooting my engagement photos with Alisha , not only is she extrememly talented at her art...she is such a doll!! So much fun to work with...like hanging out with an old friend! Definately would recommend her..coming from someone who has worked with many photogs in the past for modeling!! She's the best!!
~Ellie & Tom (San Diego)
Alisha is a great photographer. She took the most amazing photographs of my little Pomeranian Molly. She was great at getting little Molly's attention and was able to capture her personality. I would highly recommend her. Not only is she a great photographer, she is a super nice person.
~Nicole & Molly (San Diego, CA)
ery professional and people oriented service. We invited Alisha to make pictures for our New Year's party and were very happy with her job. Paid attention to little details. She is very pleasant to work with. Good Job!!!
~Leila & Alex at Cafe2121 (San Diego, CA)
We can’t tell you how pleased we are with Daisy’s photographs! We laughed and cried when we first got the pictures because you completely captured our puppy's fun-loving, happy personality. You let Daisy just be herself for the entire session (and kept up with her!) and all of the pictures show her playful, loving spirit. Also, your props were adorable and really added to the creativity of the final pictures. Your love (and patience!) for animals really shows through your work and I am so lucky to have found you! Thanks again for all of the love you showed to our Daisy girl and we’ll see you in November for her 1-year shots!~Shelley Taft & Family (San Diego, CA)
Jason & I just wanted to say thank you again for the wonderful photos you captured for us at our wedding! We were so pleased with your professional attitude and personal touches! It is such a wonderful experience as the bride to be completely confident in your photographer's commitment and talent - you didn't miss a thing!
Thanks again for being a part of our amazing day and most of all for the incredible memories that we will be proud to show off for years and years to come. Thanks again for everything!!
~Jessica & Jason DesLongchamp (Seattle, WA)
Thanks so much!! I was screaming I was so excited with how the calendar turned out! I just love them all! You made my holiday!
Lots of Love, Angela & Tuaca Marquez (Buena Park, CA)
Alisha has an incredible relationship with people and animals that translates excellently in photos.
She truly is talented in taking pictures "as is" or with artistic effect.
~Beth Lutrell (Los Angeles, CA)
Your photos are amazing. Seriously, you are quite gifted. I'm so thankful that you were there and contributed your talents. I'm very impressed with the results. Jessica is lucky that she has such great photographs from her most important day. Thank you again for all your hard work!
~Connie Bradley (Seattle, WA)
Alisha, you made our baby girl look like a diva princess. You did a phenomenal job with Stella and you will be her only professional photographer. You went above and beyond what was expected and we love you.The photos are just as priceless as Stella. Thank you.
Love Shawny and Stella (Hesperia, CA)
Thank you, Alisha! We had a great time during the session and were thrilled with the results! You are so good at capturing the moment. These are the most natural and entirely flattering family portraits we have ever had taken. We will treasure them always!
~Very sincerely, The Mitchell Family (Los Angeles, CA)
My child is beautiful inside and out, but Alisha's eye, talent, ability to work with children and my family was phenomenal -- the pictures capture my daughters true spirit and inner beauty. Alisha is a remarkable photographer - the poses, creativity, patience and determination to capture every special moment is unrivaled. My experience in taking my daughter to commercial locations ( JcPenny Etc) pales in comparison not only in quality but in experience -- the photos we have from Alisha are remarkable family heirlooms. THANK YOU helping me preserve such precious moments in time.
~ Allisun & Indigo Kale (Topanga Canyon, California)
We would LOVE your thoughts! Email Us with your testimonial. or leave comments and ratings on A-List, Kudzu or Yelp. There are over 50 testimonials are on the links if you are interested in knowing more about what people think of our services.
I can't believe how great those came out!! You're amazing!! I know he wasn't easy to photograph ...being a moving target blind and deaf!! I love them all!!
~Ginny & Keno Williams (Huntington Beach CA)