Today we have a very special episode with my friend and insanely talented wedding and portrait photographer Ann Hamilton. After months of bending her arm to be on the show, I finally got the elusive one. Ann is a San Francisco based photographer who frequently shoots with “American Photo” Top 10 photographer, Gene Higa (he’s the Clyde to her Bonnie). Ann is also a world class pet photographer, practicing on the true “man” in her life, her pet pug, Bogie. (She’s actually going to be speaking about dog portraits at the next WPPI).

Today we find out what Ann was like as a little girl; her move from New York (where she grew up) out to San Fran; how she transitioned from being a corporate communications writer at an insurance firm, to doing PR for a dot com, to professional photographer. (She’s self-taught and admits she started her career on disposable cameras). And we learn the origin of her famous/infamous collaboration with the aforementioned Mr. Higa. This is one of those interviews that will put a smile on your face. But it’s a bittersweet one, as Ann also opens up and shares with us about the death of her dad to cancer on August 1, 2007. The loss of someone so dear and close to her had a profound affect on her life. Your heart will be touched by what she shares.

Today’s uplifting outro song is “Every Single Moment” by Darius Lux, courtesy of Triple Scoop Music.