After nearly 12 years of shows covered, 90+ feature shoots and many other events, I’ve met so many people throughout the world. It’s always difficult to say goodbye to someone especially when they had a real significance in the growth of SoCalCustoms.com
Kendra Kennedy was the first SoCalCustoms.com Feature Model. I had previously done a feature shoot or two and included a model in the article but had never planned to use models for every shoot until the shoot for Steel Flame came along. Kendra was experienced, gracious and had the perfect personality to launch me into a whole new avenue for the website. I had nearly zero experience directing models through shoots but she never made me feel like I was an amateur during that shoot. I was very new to taking pictures of models with vehicles instead of vehicles by themselves. Telling a model where to be, what to do and how you want it to look is not as easy as it sounds. It’s downright awkward at first. Since that day, Kendra and I had kept in touch like I do with many of the dozens of models I have shot with since. Some have become friends and all of them have a place in the SoCalCustoms.com family. Kendra often asked about my family, how they are doing, what I have been up to lately and genuinely just wanted to know what was going on in my life. She even invited me to do a Helicopter Tour through her work in Las Vegas when I was in town for a show last year. I couldn’t go that day but I wish I had just to see her and say hello.
- Steel Flame Feature with Model Kendra Kennedy – RIP
It’s no secret that I have already had my own personal loss from Cancer. My Mother lost her battle in August of 2009. On Saturday, Kendra succumbed to this awful disease as well. She remained upbeat the entire time. From the phone call I received when she found out, all the way until last week when she commented on a photo of my Daughters that I had uploaded to Facebook. She was as strong as someone could be, knowing that there was no cure.
Sean Murphy was the producer of two custom truck DVD’s I Filmed and Directed for distribution in major stores between 2003 – 2005. While they were mildly successful monetarily, the real benefit to me personally from the videos was my long-term relationships with people I met or worked with in the process. I had lost contact with Sean Murphy over recent years after we were done doing the second video but no doubt about it, after being introduced to him through a friend, he gave me an opportunity to do something fun, grow my own website through another avenue and make some much needed money when I realized (due to a back injury) that I’d never be able to work a normal job again.
This photo was taken at my wedding of Sean with (by far) the most influential non-family member in my adult life, Courtney Halowell. I sorted it into a special folder when Courtney passed away in July and that was the last time I tried to track down Sean. I didn’t have any luck at that time and Sean suffered a Heart Attack in November 2011. I was informed by a mutual friend on Saturday just hours before I learned of Kendra’s passing earlier that day.
It was a difficult weekend after that. I have been thinking about it on-and-on since wondering if I had given each of those business relationships the personal attention they deserved as well. It becomes a lose-lose situation to look back like that. The guilt I feel for not seeing either of them in person during recent years cannot be helped now but at one time, they made their mark on my life.
I will remember both of them fondly and I am glad to have known them. Both have left behind Children and my thoughts go out their their family at this difficult time.
Thank You Kendra and Sean,
Bryan Fross
Editor - SoCalCustoms.com
