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Nick Abadilla Photography Blog bio picture

Welcome …

I'm Nick Abadilla, and I work as a professional photographer based in San Diego, California. Here's a quick snapshot (pun intended) of my life …

I've been happily married to my lovely wife Nance for over 18 years, and together we raise our beautiful and vibrant ten-year old daughter, Sophie who gives us reason to smile and laugh each day. We've traveled the world as a family, and are all the better for it. This year's destination – Anhui Province, China.

I started my business in 2002 following 20 intense but rewarding years in the graphic design industry. With corporate life behind me, I found myself doing a lot of really deep soul searching, ultimately realizing it was time to honor my long-time passion for photography. So with my wife's blessing, I wholeheartedly embraced it as a profession and haven't regretted it for a second. Working from a cozy 900 square foot artist studio in downtown San Diego's Little Italy section, I specialize in distinct wedding photojournalism, custom portraiture and assignment photography. My love for the craft will be evident once you step inside.

With this blog I give you a glimpse into my life behind the camera. I hope you find the posts interesting, entertaining, and maybe even inspiring from time to time. Your comments are most welcome and encouraged. And don't forget to check out my main site at abadillaphoto.com!

China Wrap-Up

I’ll close our China experience with this post as I’m way overdue on portrait, wedding and assignment updates. And it’s all fun stuff that I’m looking forward to sharing with you all!

Having at last re-established our San Diego routine, I still catch myself drifting back to countless vignettes from our trip, many of them textured with smiles and laughter. We solidified our friendship with the Tong family long ago, and after spending three weeks attached at the hip, remarkably we’re still buds. We were bonded by purpose from the beginning: to reconnect our daughters with their home country. This trip was originally for them, yet ultimately it turned out to be for all of us. Traveling together can be a testimony to friendship. Surely we’ll grow old together, recounting this adventure as we grow old and gray. Our San Diego/San Francisco separation is an artificial one, easily bridged with weekend jaunts to each other’s home to simply hang out. Backyard grilling, hours of easy conversation, good scotch.

Below are several images of us being, well, us. Goofball tourists. Parents. Kids. Friends still.

My girls pose at the renown 'Food Street' in Beijing.

Keep scrolling, and you'll see what's up with this ...

This is the typical reaction to seeing live scorpions-on-a-stick.

Paul felt compelled to discover his inner 'Son of China' self, so ...

CAHHH-RRRUNNNCHHH!!!

According to Paul, it was hard to chew because it was 'pokey.'

Deb being the supportive wife.

Hey, why not follow that up with some tasty starfish!

I don't think I bothered to kiss Sophie good night afterward.

A much-needed breather from ascending the steps of The Great Wall.

I asked the Tongs to give me the cheeziest, most touristy photo ever. I just about fell over laughing.

Our beautiful daughters. In China. Where it all began.

To the birth parents of Maddie and Sophie: our eternal thanks for these two treasures of China.

August 26, 2010 - 9:33 pm Seema - awesome photos! what a fun and wonderful time for all of you. welcome home!!

August 27, 2010 - 1:07 am Dwight Love - This is beautiful!!!!!!!!! Sifu Dwight

August 27, 2010 - 5:19 pm Cheryl Odell - What a wonderful story your photos tell! So glad you had such fun, learned so much and came away so happy . . .thank you for sharing ~ only wish we could have been there!

August 29, 2010 - 9:35 am Hali - she is sooo cute! and i would have the exact same reaction to eating scorpions! lol