Southern California Photographer – Part 2
On to Part 2 of our California Trip!
Santa Barbara
In Santa Barbara I only photographed the Chromatic Gate. For some reason I just wasnt feeling up to walking around and taking photos here! We didnt spend a lot of time in this area so maybe thats why? I think we were in in SB for like 2 hours total.
Winchester Mystery House
I had been DREAMING of visiting the Winchester Mystery House since I was a kid! Its always on haunted places shows and stuff and quite honestly it just has a really fucking interesting story.
It was cool to see rooms I’d seen on ghost shows in person and also rooms I’d never seen before!
Santa Cruz Boardwalk
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk was one of my favorite places we explored in California – it was so colorful! We only rode 1 ride: The Giant Dipper Coaster which is one of the oldest roller coasters in the country, built in 1924! I actually rode its cousin, also the Giant Dipper (built a year later), in San Diego back in 2006!
Venice Beach + Santa Monica Pier
I wanted to stab my ear drums out when we were at Venice Beach. Jay was photographing the skateboarders and they all spoke that stereotypical Cali surfer/skater lingo which I HATE. Its to me what the New York accent is to Jay lol I do have very distinct memories of hanging out by muscle beach & the skate park when I was younger with my cousins when they lived in LA.
Venice Beach & the Santa Monica Pier are connected by a walkway so we walked to the Pier for sunset and a ride on the ferris wheel!
Hollywood CA
We stayed in West Hollywood for 5 days, so that was definitely the longest we stayed in one place during the California part! I didnt take a lot of photos because I didnt really see anything I wanted to remember. On our first day we walked around for a bit, looking at the Stars (Jay was determined to find Jerry Seinfield’s…we didnt find it) and I would point out old school Hollywood people like Lilian Gish and he had no idea who I was talking about. Before we started the Star walk, I ran into a Starbucks for some coffee and before I could even order, the Barista asked me if anyone’s ever told me I looked like Taylor Swift. I DONT SEE IT but I get that ALL THE TIME lol We have totally different facial structures!
We toured the Max Factor Museum which was AWESOME. I love that kind of history. I think we explored that museum for 2 hours.
On another day, we hiked up to the Hollywood sign with Jay’s old friend Gordon from Tampa who now lives in LA. Y’all, I thought I was going to DIE. How the fuck do people RUN up that thing?! I could barely walk up it! Then again, I dont ever leave the house so I dont get exercise haha The view was great and we got to see the old school Bat Cave thanks to Gordon pointing it out for us!
One morning I met up with my talented photographer friend Anya who I met at a workshop 2 years ago here in Charleston. We ate a super yummy breakfast and then walked around one of her favorite shopping areas. Then we sat in her car outside my hotel for a long long time talking and Jay came out to make sure I wasnt being chloroformed by a stranger because I’d been gone for too long.
Katie + Jay of Catherine Ann Photography are Top Destination Wedding Photographers based in Charleston SC specializing in colorful, fun & candid weddings at outdoor and historic venues near and far!
