Douglas Gates of Gates Photography is both well known and respected throughout the San Diego photographic scene. The studio provides clients with over 20 years of experience and offers a variety of photographic services.

Greetings Everyone,
The best part of our lives is the mix of a profession we love with the one that we love. Our individual talents have given us the opportunity to balance each other's life. Our strengths and weaknesses seem to be in all the right places and make working together possible - whether that is on location, in the studio or behind the scenes. Working together on so many different levels is an opportunity of a lifetime. Not everyone can work with their spouse. But, we've found that our admiration and trust in each other's capabilities and successes are all we need. If it's a wedding - we are saying our vows once again. If it's a commercial shoot - we chase ideas back and forth and incorporate them to work together

Sharing these times often means we don't see eye-to-eye, but that is just another chance to grow and learn. It's a great feeling to know that at the end of any assignment we've once again been able to work with our best friend and we get to go home together, too. To be perfectly honest, they all made me happy. Hasselblad, Horseman, Nikon, Cannon, Mamaya, Roleflex, Wideluxe. They all intrigued me. I always knew what I wanted to do.

At the age of 13 my parents bought me my first 35mm camera. Learning how to use it was a dream; learning how it worked was a fascination. A camera in my hand was the key that would unlock countless doors for the rest of my life. The best part is that I still feel that way today. Photography is the most enjoyable profession I could have chosen.

Learning and working with fabulous portrait and wedding studios set me up for my opportunity to work with people. Working and learning from one of the best commercial / industrial studios sent me on another journey - that of a very technical nature. I now have the best of both worlds. I've been able to combine my studio to accommodate photography for both commercial and special events.

This has allowed me to balance my life professionally and personally. By nature, commercial work is extraordinarily technical and precise while the social events allow me to be more candid with people in capturing their emotions.

Douglas Gates