As promised, the Craigslist tale…
Early in 2006, I answered an ad for a portrait photographer placed by one Haunani Kekuna. Um. I didn’t know if that was a man or a woman, to be perfectly honest. But I knew I WAS TOTALLY INTERESTED AND WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO BE HIRED.
To my surprise, Haunani called me back. (She called everyone back, because that’s how she rolls, but I didn’t know that at the time.) So, I gathered my ‘portfolio’ — 10 4×6’s printed at the Target 1-hour-photo — and headed to the interview.
During the hour I spent begging for a job in the wittiest and most charming way humanly possible, I discovered that Haunani is the kindest person you will ever meet. Ever.
I know this because she hired me. What’s that, Kristen? Weren’t you an English teacher before? Weren’t you completely untrained in the arts? Didn’t you avoid any job that involved the exchange of $$ like the plague?
Yes, yes, and yes. With only the ability to aim a point & shoot camera and a really, really, really big desire to learn, Haunani added me to the payroll. Craigslist provided the means for me to stumble upon my dream, and Haunani made it happen. If you see her, say Aloha, and thank her for freeing my creative soul.