So… part of the reason I started this whole blog thing was so that potential clients could spend some time on their own getting to know me, with fairly little effort. I think by reading my blog, you can get a sense of who I am. What type of work I do, and even some of the things I like or dislike. And I’ve come to realize that a pretty significant part of my life is completely absent from my blog, and that is my involvement in the restaurant industry.
One of my first jobs way back when (other than teaching ballet to youngsters) was bussing tables in a little restaurant in my hometown of Kingsburg, CA. I made like $7 bucks a day in tips, and this was back when minimum wage was something like $4.15. While in college at UC Santa Barbara, I worked at the Elephant Bar in Goleta. Needless to say, I made much more money as a hostess, then waitress, then cocktail waitress, then bartender. It made it possible for me to go to college, and I met lots of wonderful people there, including my husband/assistant extraordinaire.
After graduating from college, I was so sure I’d never work in another restaurant again. Of course I was wrong, and it wasn’t the first time either! Working in a restaurant means a flexible schedule, and instant income in the form of tips. I thought I wanted to be teacher, until I did some math, and found out I’d take a pay cut, and still have to work in restaurants all summer to make up the difference. Around the same time, I was taking pictures fairly casually of friends and family. And something strange happened: they kept turning out really well! With encouragement from my husband, my boss, and some close friends, Summer Dawn Photography was born.
But let’s be honest folks. Starting a small business is no easy feat. And trying to be a working artist is not easy either. Neither is being self-taught. So I have had my bumps along the way, but I am so very proud of where my business has come over the years. For nearly the last five years I have poured nearly every penny right back into the business. So, to pay those annoying bills that show up every month, I’ve continued to work in restaurants. It allows me to create income at night, work on images during the day, and shoot on the weekends. Of course one day, hopefully in the near future, I will only wear my “photographer” hat. But for now, I thought I’d start to share some of the more amusing, or interesting, or just things about working as a cocktail waitress that I can’t get off my mind.
So, for Table Talk entry #1, I’d like to share with you the link to Matts’ Rotisserie and Oyster Lounge. You can find me, and my husband/assistant there many weeknights. We’ll be the ones probably running around frantically trying to keep everything in order, and every guest happy, which is NOT always easy 
I’ve done some photography work for Matts’ as well, and all the images on their current web site are ones that I took. And if you are wondering, yes they have fantastic food, really great wine, awesome cocktails, and great service
