Michael Lopez Photography

Looking. Towards. Future.

2011 has been a great year for me. Not only on a personal level, but also on a professional level. I have been able to do what I love doing. Each day has brought it’s challenges, but, I have been able to find solutions to each.

As I reflect back on this past year I am thankful for God’s grace on my life. He has brought me through the fire. I have found the most peace in my life this year. I am thankful for my family and friends.

I know what I want the future to be, but, I also know that I want to enjoy each moment that I am alive. I want to feel the wind blow through my hair, I want to smell In-N-Out as I pass by on the freeway, and I want to feel the touch of my loved ones as I hug them and tell them that I love them.

I want to look at each and everyone of you in the eyes and dig deep into your soul. I want to know what makes you happy and what makes you sad. I want to connect on a deeper level. I want to continue to let my light shine in the dark.

I pray that all of you dream big and may this new year bring you all that you want. May you find your voice in the world and share it with all of us.

God bless you,

Michael Lopez

You. Friends. Future.

I always tell every young person that I meet, “Show me your friends, and I will show you your future.” Today, that statement spoke louder to me than every before. Today, I asked my inner circle of friends for help.

Now, 99% of the time, I do not ask for help when it comes to money. I never like to put pressure on people. Either you can help, or you can’t. It does not change my perception of you at all. I understand that I give differently than most people. So my own personal expectations are never placed on others. What I do as person, is what I do, and what you do as a person, is what you do for yourself.

Today was so much different. Today I asked my friends to donate money to a young man that they had never met. They only knew of him because of me. I have had the pleasure of photographing this young man over the last couple of months for San Joaquin Community Hospital. He is currently being treated for burns to his body. The procedure to fix his skin is painful and I have seen him stand strong through it all.

Today, this young man turned 13 years old. My own son is 12 and I could not imagine him enduring through this pain. Not just physically, but also emotionally. I had talked to him and his mother a few weeks ago about how he wanted an Xbox 360. I thought to myself I would like to get him one. So, when I attended his birthday party today at the Grossman Burn Center, I learned that they started a small fund for him to buy an Xbox 360. That is when I decided that I was going to call on my inner circle of friends.

I stopped by their offices, called or texted them on phone, and asked if they would help by giving a donation to this young man. Without hesitation, each gave generously to this gift. They never hesitated. They did not blow me off and say sure and then could not be reached again. They made it happen. One even brought in his own friend who I have never met and gave towards the gift. 

Show me your friends, and I will show you your future. My friends believed me and saw that I cared about this. They believed in my idea. I am grateful that each one of them is in my life. I want to thank each of them for their commitment. I know that they do not want any recognition for this service other than me telling them that he greatly enjoyed the gift. But, I want to recognize each of them here.

• Monte C. Wilson
• Chris Clayton
• Greg McCall
• Jeff Thorn
• Brad Peters
• Erin Henderson
• Chashere Esquiano (sister)
• Gina Lopez (wife)

You know when people believe in you, when they just respond on the spot and make it happen. I am not trying to brag about myself. But, I would like for you to look at your inner circle of friends and ask yourself, “What would my friends do?” If your friends do not make you a better person, then you need rethink who you are hanging out with.

My friends brought serious joy to this young man. He couldn’t hold it in. :)

May God bless each and everyone of you.

Peace.

Bakersfield. Homeless. Center.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a passionate person. I put my heart and soul into everything that I do. I was recently hired to not only build a new web site, but to also photograph and create small video vignettes for the Bakersfield Homeless Center.

Last December I created a short vignette that showed the children of BHC receiving gifts from Santa Clause. It was on this assignment that I took a tour of the facility. At the end of this tour, I was in tears.

The tour changed my perception of homelessness. When I thought of homeless people, I always envisioned drunk old men. What I found was completely different. I found families. Men with children that did not have shelter or the means to feed them.

It’s always easy for us to look at adults and say, “They had their chance.” But, when you see kids that did not have a choice, it quickly changes your perception and makes you want to help.

The old web site was a little outdated and lacked the content that would help someone learn more about BHC. More importantly, the site was not compelling enough to encourage someone to donate online. Also, the site did not convey the love of the organization and the people who serve there.

Please take a look at the new site and view all of the work that I have put into it. The Bakersfield Homeless Center is really doing some great work in our community.

Visit the new site here. http://www.bakhc.org

Thank you.