We had the good fortune of connecting with Dawn Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dawn, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
My favorite quote is “Life is a one-time offer, use it well”. It’s very similar to “Life is short”, but it reminds me to let go of anything that does not serve me. It’s very refreshing to conserve your energy for things that matter.

I also like to remember the adage – “This too shall pass”. Whenever I start to feel like things aren’t going my way, or I’m having a rough day, it’s good to remember that it’s fleeting and will pass soon.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a photographer, the bulk of my professional work has been portraiture, primarily working with families and children. I worked in a portrait studio for over 11 years. There are definitely some occasional challenges, especially working with small children. If a toddler isn’t feeling well, or the photo shoot is scheduled for when it’s normally naptime… meltdowns are inevitable. If confronted with a situation where the photo shoot isn’t going as planned, sometimes you can get back on track by taking a small break (or a snack break!). But what I have learned over the years is not to push your luck. Reschedule for another day/time. Chances are the little one will be feeling better, and you don’t want to overdo it and have the child associating getting their photos done with having a bad experience.

For my own enjoyment, I also enjoy photographing landscapes and events. I love capturing the beauty of our surroundings. I also enjoy documenting events via photography and capturing special moments.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Whenever I have company come into town, the usual sites that I try to show them to get a great glimpse of our city are Balboa Park, the Embarcadero and Seaport Village, as well as La Jolla Cove and tidepools. There is always a lot to do and see at any of these locations. As for eating, you can’t go wrong with the options in Little Italy and La Jolla.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to give my Shoutout to two photography groups in San Diego; the Light Chasers group, and Lenslife Meetup group.

When I moved back to San Diego in 2015, I started going to Lenslife photography meetups through Facebook. I met a whole group of wonderful San Diego photographers. It was such a joy to meet such great people who were very welcoming and also seeing the location images we photographed through such talented and different perspectives. Not long after joining these meetups, Light Chasers was formed by a small group of those photographers and they took the meetups a few steps further and held some classes and critiques to help us grow as photographers. They are a wonderful and supportive group, and such a blessing to the community.

Website: https://blueberriedawn.viewbug.com/

Instagram: instagram.com/octoberdawnphotography

Facebook: facebook.com/octoberdawnphotos

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