San Diego Blog Stories
Within this blog you will find everything from Funeral planning for Veterans to Newborn photography. While we capture many events and share as much information as possible, our main goal is to serve others. We currently do that by providing information and curating things that are needed, primarily for our Military community in Southern California.
Quick Jump To…
Honoring Lieutenant Junior Grade Kent Campbell Smith | 13 Year Navy Veteran | Miramar National Cemetery
LTJG Kent Campbell Smith
September 11, 1945 - September 6, 2022 VIETNAM | US 1968-1981Kent Campbell Smith was a proud veteran and patriotic individual who dedicated his life to serving his country and community. Despite being injured during his time in the Navy, he went on to lead a fulfilling career in public service, where he served as an Executive Director of a non-profit organization, a management consultant, chaplain, and Protestant minister. He will be remembered as a devoted family man, who loved spending time in the outdoors and was actively involved in various organizations and churches. He lived a full and meaningful life and will be deeply missed by friends and family.
Please read about the history of his ship, USS Enterprise
Navy Hospital Corpsman (HM) HCB A School Graduation | Fort Sam Huston | San Antonio, TX
Navy Hospital Corpsman Basic (HCB) Graduation Class 200 October 27, 2022
Hospital Corpsman Basic (HCB) program courses are group lockstep. The program provides Navy enlisted personnel with a basic medical knowledge of pre-hospital, inpatient and outpatient medical care within the scope of the Hospital Corpsman. Subjects include Basic Life Support (BLS), medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, pre-hospital care, and inpatient and outpatient aspects of each body system. Outcome-based practice and safety techniques are emphasized throughout the program. The program consists of lectures, group activities, demonstrations, hands-on instruction and clinical practice.
I saw a Facebook post on Monday night - and it changed the rest of my week! My little sister wasn’t going to have anyone at her A School Graduation … Just like when she graduated from Navy Boot Camp in Great Lakes. You may not know but, a decade ago, no one came to my Navy Bootcamp Graduation or A School and I STILL hold bitterness over it - I could NOT let her feel the same way. So, I got a cheap flight and made the trek out to San Antonio to the Fort Sam Huston joint base and got to spend 24 hours with her. I am currently typing this post as I sit in the Denver airport’s USO on their free Wifi to share this amazing memory.
Reenlistment of Drill Instructor | MCRD San Diego, CA | 2020
Just sharing some images from a Marine Reenlistment while he was stationed at MCRD San Diego, CA. How many people do you know who reenlisted while a drill instructor?!
Military Headshots | NJROTC Temecula Cadet Matheson | San Diego, CA
In 8 years of military service, my only "headshot" was during boot camp - my silly self never purchased it! Why is that? Especially in a military-heavy city like San Diego, why don't more photographers offer posed studio portraits with flags in the background? How does a service member get ahold of new portraits, anyways? PAO? Fleet and Family? MCCS? MWR?
I am on a mission to make these more common and to -eventually- get my uniform back on for one last official photo. In the meantime, let's normalize these portraiture opportunities to capture your military career before it's only a memory and you want to grow a retirement beard.
In honor of my mission, I am sharing some images that Cadet Matheson picked out from his recent portrait session. This Junior at Chaparral High School NJROTC in Temecula is on his way to a fantastic career in the Navy.
Lt. Kristen Boye has earned the qualification of U.S. Naval Helicopter Aircraft Commander
Lt. Kristen Boye, part of a multigenerational military legacy, knew in seventh grade she wanted to fly planes.
“I grew up meeting my grandpa’s fellow wingmen during reunions and going to airshows with my dad,” Boye said. “I know I don’t want a regular desk job. I want to fly.” (Kentwired.com)
Boye applied for AOCS, like her father, and hopes to get into the program. She aspires to one day fly an off-carrier so she can contribute to her country like her other family members.
“I’m very excited to see what the future holds,” Boye said in her 2015 interview.
Fast forward to 2022, stationed in San Diego, CA, achieving her dreams! After years of dedication and hard work, Boye is holds an impressive track record of qualifications and is commercialy-rated in both fixed wing and rotary wing. She is qualified to fly search and rescue, special operations support, surface warfare, anti-surface warfare, electronic warfare, torpedo employment, missile employment, rocket employment, night vision goggles and combat formation.
5 Reasons why you should get an airport homecoming photographer
Do you feel robbed of a typical post deployment homecoming experience because your spouse or significant other was selected to fly off the ship early?? Did you have a difficult birth or high risk pregnancy and need your SO home? Perhaps they were injured or came home due to unfortunate circumstances? Don’t worry! You, too, can have a beautiful homecoming experience that can be even more special than meeting on the flight line or deck of the ship.
Here are 5 reasons you should consider hiring a photographer for your airport homecoming.