The word "shot" takes on an entirely different meaning when you're a photographer.

Instead of shooting messages to your friends, shooting a nerf gun, or even shooting down an idea, you're shooting people with your camera!

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I'm a photographer who does a handful of portrait shoots each week for clients in my area of Southern California.

This past week, I had one of the most enjoyable photo sessions I had ever done!

It was for a senior from Valley Center High school who had a passion for surfing, football, and baseball. He was such a fun and dynamic guy, it was easy to get some killer shots of him. As I told him during our shoot, work doesn't feel like work when you're playing on the beach with cool people.

Here are a few of the fun shots I captured while we were at the Oceanside Pier:

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I thought these photos turned out great, and this client was so great to work with.

But while we were under the pier, we heard what sounded like gunshots.

We stopped for a second, and looked over to where we heard the noise come from, but were too far away to notice anything significant happening.

However, when we were finished shooting our photos, and as we walked back to our cars, we noticed several police cars with their sirens on just 100 yards from the pier, where we were taking our photos.

Then we heard some of the homeless men running by saying that someone had been shot.

What a scary feeling!

We were so close to the shooting, I've never really experienced anything like that before.

Sure enough, when I googled what had happened, there was a man who had been shot 5 times and killed by gang members due to a gang related issue. I heard from my brother that he was shot right in front of his pregnant girlfriend.

Here is a link to see more information about the murder:

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/One-Patient-Transported-via-Helicopter-After-Shooting-at-Oceanside-pier-425837094.html

I know this murder was gang related, and that these were probably not the best of people, but I can only imagine seeing my husband shot right in front of me. I would be completely shattered to pieces.

Because of this experience, I have spent a little more time thinking about the longevity of life and to value every single day, because we truly don't know how long we have. I'm sure that this pregnant woman expected her boyfriend to meet their child in the near future, but now that's out of the question in this life.

I encourage you all to hug a little tighter, smile a little longer, and tell your loved ones that you love them because we never know how much time we have left with them.

Xoxo,

@sarahjanele