Welcome to Long Beach Optix's Blog: Speaks! We are so excited to have you!
Here we will be talking about anything about cameras, camera repair, life and lifestyles, and so much more. We have big things in store, literally and figuratively, and we are hoping you'll join along with us as we begin to start breaking down the camera industry into its smaller parts, and share life with you!
To start, we should probably introduce ourselves. My name, the person with the fast typing skills, is Gabrielle. I am relatively new to the camera industry, in general... but I met Andrew a bit ago, and he is the brains (and the brawns) behind our whole operation.
Our first selfie outside the airport after we couldn't find the car for a really long time.
Andrew picked up a camera years ago, and learned how to open it up, messing with gears, electronics, and all the little parts of the camera after it was broken... and got it up and running again. He then started fiddling with other cameras, and began learning the basic ins-and-outs of camera repair, all on his own. Once he was proficient in working out basic repairs, be began learning more and more of the components inside each camera he's touched, and has become a self-taught savant of camera repairs.
Born on Long Island, NY but having lived internationally, Andrew always knew he wanted to be in one place for the long haul: Southern California. From the weather, the beaches, and the nature that Southern California boasts... he was sold. Long Beach Optix was born in one of the most beautiful places in the United States, and he worked diligently to begin building the business.
Then... Came Gabrielle. Shall we insert some scary music here?
Yes... I am a cheap Queen... Howdy!
No, honestly, I specialize more in marketing, design, and our lovely administrative skills. Though, there is a catch. I live on the East Coast, in Maryland, and so I am a solid 3,000 miles away. I was an ICU nurse, but after being burnt out, I decided to focus on joining Andrew on this wonderful business venture. We have recently decided it's time for me to move across the country, and I'll be joining Andrew in LBO's headquarters here in the coming months.
Camera sales and refurbishing these gems has become more than "just" a job... It's become a passion. Realizing how advanced technology has become has made us realize that we crave the simpler things in life. A photograph, a moment, a memory... Existing in that second when we take a shot, when we capture a sliver of our lives to hold onto... we don't stare at a photo and go over the way we look as the main focus... we don't notice a wrinkle, a stray hair, an unsightly fat roll... we are looking at the moment. We are noticing how our smile lines are highlighted in the sunset. We notice how our hands were moving because we were grabbing our stomachs from laughing so hard. We notice the butterfly in the background that graced us with its presence.
We got a little Instax for our first week, along with other Point & Shoots, Rangefinders (Our favorite: The Canonet), and SLRs to capture our memories.
Photography is just one of the ways we hang on dearly to simpler moments... Though, as any camera enthusiast would understand and be quick to remind us beginners... Photography is so much more challenging than just a quick shot of a memory. It can be the most simple photograph and yet every single checklist item had to be ticked for the shot to be perfect. This is what makes photographers so amazing and important... We don't rely on a photographer to give us a pretty shot... We rely on photographers to produce breathtaking images of our most important events (whether you are the photographer or you hired someone... it doesn't matter).
We are so very excited for the opportunity to grow and enhance our community. To showcase our own memories with you, to share our photos, and to see all your photos (this is what we are most excited about!).
Thank you for reading our first LBO: Speaks blog post...
Happy snapping,
Andrew & Gabrielle
Long Beach Optix
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