Mr. David Ramirez is one oober talented individual! My love affair with his music began one day when I stumbled across another photographer's website who had a song on it that just grabbed me. Unfortunately the artist info wasn't posted so I had no idea of who the artist was but I had the title of the song and so I began googling lyrics. Everything that came back was for a solo artist, David Ramirez on myspace. There was no song with the title or lyrics I was looking for on this particular page....so I kept looking. This went on for a few weeks. Then one day I decided to revisit the Myspace when it came back up in search results and I heard the most amazing song...."Mothers and Fathers" At that point I didn't care whether or not this guy was the one I was looking for, as far as I knew I had just stumbled across something beautiful! So I downloaded his album...legally of course, and listened to it in complete awe of his words and the beauty of his lyrics :0) The album, which was Birmingham, was phenomenal! I listened to "Mothers and Fathers" over and over again. Then I decided to search David Ramirez on itunes and see what I could find. And low and behold...I found it! Perfect People by the David Ramirez BAND. It had been him all along!!! He had just gone solo since that particular tune. I couldn't believe it, so of course I downloaded that too. Well it seems the "Mothers and Fathers" song was a winner with one of my April brides who hunted Mr. Ramirez down in an effort to hire him to perform at her wedding reception, which she did with success :0) Obviously when she called me I was jumping for joy at the opportunity to meet someone whose lyrics touched my heart, and at times, made me cry. The April wedding came, and unfortunately, since I was at work, as was he, I couldn't talk his ear off. So we snapped a quick pick with him, he finished his musical duties, and was gone. Did I mention that he sounds better live than on his record. For an artist to do that, that is really something. Well months went by and one day I noticed David had a facebook, as half the planet does, and so I requested him. He kindly accepted and so I saw this as an opportunity to ask something I had been dying to do since I first heard his music....would he pose for photos for me. What was the worst he would say...no? If he said no, then I'd be in the same position I was currently in...no photos of David Ramirez....with a slightly bruised ego to go along with it. But as luck and his kind heart would have it, he said yes. Haha, sounds funny when you say it that way...he said yes! lol. Well we set up a time and a place and then the day came. The weather was cruel. It rained non-stop, except for the 45 minute break we got in which we snapped the following pictures. Bonus: He loved 'em!
I'm thrilled that we have made plans to work together again in January, and I'm looking forward to having calmer nerves this time around. I was slightly intimidated by him, knowing that his girlfriend is a gifted photographer who has turned her camera on him countless times, I had mighty big shoes to fill. I can't wait to share next month's images with you....we have worked out a concept and theme and we're going to run with it!
Funny story about our day of rainy photo fun....after we wrapped the shoot, we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. Well as I'm chuggin along 290 out in the middle of NOWHERE my sister in law and I see this awesome abandoned house in the middle of a field, so naturally I felt like photographing it. To make a long story short, I got my truck stuck in the mud. And I mean really stuck! Just when Mr. Ramirez thought he was off the hook we call him for his assist. The three of us fools tried, without success, to push that beast outta the mud. Fortunately a nice man with Rodeo Ministries stopped and hooked us up to his dually and we were outta there. If anything came out of that experience it was the dinner and margarita that followed with David. It was nice to sit at a table, even for only an hour, and talk to him on a level that gave me the opportunity to talk with someone whose creative mind intrigues me. He is such a kind, down to earth person, and I am truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to work with him. I look forward to a lasting friendship and to the opportunity to working with miss Paige Newton one day!!!
David,
Thanks a mill for lending your face to me and for the off road assistance and the dinner conversation. You are truly talented and kind....but that should come as no surprise. Thank you sir for the opportunity!!!
Amber
And here are some of the photos from that wet, nasty day :0)
www.davidramirezmusic.com
www.myspace.com/davidramirez
www.davidramirezmusic.com
www.myspace.com/davidramirez
