EBONY's URBAN CREATIVES $10,000 PITCH

Last week Dillion from JamesMatthewDesign.com, pitched to me the idea of helping submit a video submission for EBONY'S for the Urban Creatives Contest of which the winner wins $10,000. It just so happened that Dillion was in the middle of moving out his condo, so we took on the opportunity to immediately start shooting. 

Since I am not well adept in video - Les Lockheart (new team member alert!), our video specialist, put this preview video together for social media as a preview: 

Here's the actual video submission to EBONY. Unfortunately, James Matthew Design did not win. However, this gave VYRL Co. Design the experience we needed to apply our  skills to future projects involving videography. 

Sidenote: We had to do ALOT of improvising (this video was made and completed within 6 hours.) but I'm still impressed with what we came up with in such a short time period. 

Here's the ACTUAL Pitch...

All donations are considered a charitable gift and are recorded on our books as income but are not tax deductible.However, your contributions will help us to upgrade needed photo equipment, appear in multiple shows, and assist us in bringing more beautiful nature, scenic and wildlife  photography to more and more people to love and enjoy. 

To make a donation, simply click the donate button below and put in any amount over $1.00.

 
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Weekly Archive #Uno

For the sake of not only having new content, but also to encourage myself to keep posting all of my photography throughout the week, I'll be posting a weekly photo archive of my work. 

I haven't mentioned this on my blog, but I am in the middle of transitioning from living in Houston to Austin, Texas. I've been living in Austin with friends during the week for work, then on the weekend returning back to Houston until my apartment is ready. It has been a very necessary, but exhausting process. I've always felt so uninspired and unhappy in Houston. I've experienced heartbreak, financial struggles, lack of opportunities in the marketing field and a cluster of fucked up situations that I've had to deal with alone. Although, I know you're not supposed to run away from your problems, but for my own sanity. I need to go.

And so Saturday, I'll be able to move into my 1 bedroom apartment in Central Austin (Just me and my dog, Jackson).

So I'll be posting pictures from my last week in Houston, plus some other commission work I snagged during my work week in ATX. 

Photographed: Michael and Dillion Dorsey.

Menu Design for Finger Lickin' Farley's (Commissioned)

Budget Travel: Why sleep in a hotel when you can sleep in boat?

BUDGET TRAVEL

Ok so, this Galveston trip happened by complete accident. I don’t want to make this a long story but basically myself and my roommate, Tiye, was supposed to go to Austin, Texas Friday afternoon. Something happened at the car rental place that deterred us from driving there so we decided to freestyle a whole trip to Galveston since our bags were already packed. 

And as you know. I’m always down for adventure. 

Instantly, we made new plans. We were able to book a stay at our timeshare for $50 for Saturday/Sunday with Holiday Inn Club Vacations Galveston Seaside Resort . We were lucky that my parents timeshare had available rooms for Saturday/Sunday. However, we still did not have a place to stay that night.    Immediately we began to search for inexpensive lodging and started with Airbnb.  I am almost ALWAYS on a tight budget, but that doesn’t stop my need to wanderlust and so Airbnb has became my prime source for traveling.  Instantly we saw a sailboat listed for $69. Excitingly my roommate said "OMG! Let's book it!"....and then we booked it to Galveston. 

Since we booked the boat the day of the trip, we weren't sure if the owners would be ready for us to come so soon. Usually Airbnb hosts need a full 24 hours notice. We contacted the owner/host, Samantha, through Airbnb and heard back almost immediately.  I told her about myself and how my roommate and I was coming to Galveston on a completely impulsive whim. We we're told to meet her at the Galveston Yacht Club. Once we met, we learned that she is a portrait painter and then we was given a briefing on the basics of the boat and the location of certain amenities around the club. 

Tiye and I loaded our things onto the boat and then did some photography for the rest of the evening afterwards.

Not only was the whole "sleeping on a boat" experience wonderful, my Host completely outdid herself. She left us with a list of coffee shops, best restaurants and activities in the area!  She gave us great tips on what to see and do while we were in Galveston. 

 The next time you are planning a trip, whether it's a short overnight stay in Galveston or you're just feeling adventurous and want to experience living on a boat for a day. Check the link out below. 

Special Thanks to Amanda (owner of the sailboat)* for being an amazing host!*

 

Want to spend a night in a sailboat under stars in Galveston? You can book below!

 

And for those who are just here for the pics..... 

Photo Locations: Galveston Yacht Club, Abandoned building (9 story building on Avenue E and 22nd), Galveston Seawall, Holiday Inn Resort Galveston - On the Beach. 

 

 I am finding more and more that these experiences are quite often the BEST ones.  You know, the ones that your brain wouldn't even allow you to have.  The unplanned, spontaneous, DROP IN YOUR LAP magical moments that lead to amazing memories and thus I challenge you to try to do something a little outside of your comforts with those you love. Already have? Tell me about it below? Tell me about your most spontaneous outing? and please... share you favorite Texas Airbnb's.