One.

Hey… we’re one! Maybe this sounds timeworn – but it really is hard to believe that it’s been an entire year. This week, APS hits its anniversary. We’ve learned a lot about running a storefront portrait studio... keeping the door open and dealing with the business end of things. Maybe a surprise to only us, but the grunt work of marketing, bookkeeping and networking fills a majority of the time. Some of the work we assumed we’d be concentrating on has become of less import… and other work greater. But over the course of the year, we’ve met and photographed some truly excellent people. We’ve been a witness to a slew of couples starting their lives together in marriage, held shows for photographers we love, watched little kids grow up, photographed rock bands on tour and poured the town lots of wine during monthly Arts!Arcata gigs! It really has been a smashing year with the future looking equally upbeat (even our bookkeeper says we’re one of the few businesses she hears from who are smiling this year). Recently, we’ve become slightly… as Sheldon is fond of saying, “lean and mean.” Taffy Stockton of S&S Events shared our Jacoby’s Storehouse studio space. She and husband Aiden are purchasing a house out of which she’ll will run S&S. We’ll miss her as she really helped set the tone for APS and classed up the joint. Additionally, Martin Swett is moving to the big leagues of mortgage finance at Wells Fargo and won’t be running his brokerage down the hall. That’s a good biz move for Marty, but one that will take the majority of his energy. The result – he’s taking a year sabbatical from APS, but will still be available for some weekend shoots. So it’s just Terrence and Sheldon. And we’re enthused. We’ve got a solid plan for the year and looking forward to seeing more of you in front of the camera. Thanks to all of our clients who gave us a shot and helped us make memories for them that matter. A little birthday gift to ourselves, we’re taking Friday’s Arts!Arcata off. After 12 A!As, we want to check out Arcata’s other venues and see how we can do better. Cheers!