May
14
What a treat it was to photograph the NACE event last week! It is always wonderful to get together with our peers in the events industry and even more fun to photograph them. You can bet this crowd knows how to have a good time.
Our May meeting took place at the hip new W Hotel in downtown Boston. (By the way, I have heard amazing things about the Jean Georges restaurant on the ground floor- definitely worth checking out.) For our meeting we started in the prefunction lobby and then entered the great room. I love the feel of the lobby; it has floor to ceiling windows with fun funky views of the theater district.
Plus the entrance is decked out with stone textured walls and light art, which bring you into a grand space with drapey lights.
We can’t help but eat well at an event by and for catering executives.
Mingling fun.
The floral design was created by Tangerine Creations. I loved the varied shapes and colors- deep pinks were a great match for the grays of the hotel.
CORT Event Furnishings brought along some fabulous furniture, including a purple lit table and leather couches. Felt like we had entered a swank nightclub.
The program for the evening was a guest panel of some very talented event industry pros.
Joe Toto of Groove Entertainment lead the discusion.
Kupah James of Klass Universal Entertainment shared his story and thoughts on getting the party going. We saw him in action at Heather and Christian‘s wedding; I can’t speak highly enough about him. He was amazing!
Amy Kimball of Amy Kimball Events spoke about how each client inspires her to bring something new to the table when designing an event. I absolutely connected with her on this; her words reflected how I feel about the uniqueness of our clients. How could we get bored or stale when each person we photograph brings us something new and fresh to consider?
John LaRoche of Blue Guava shared how he invites his clients to think outside the box when creating their floral design, offering them flower ideas they may not have considered. He even told us about a Living Table he created for one wedding at Boston’s InterContinental Hotel. Sounded out of this world!
Many thanks to the speakers for sharing their thoughts on our industry and to all of the sponsors who offered their services for this event.
Videography: Generations Cinemastories
Floral Design: Tangerine Creations
Rental furniture: CORT
Furniture sign design: MB Graphics
Music and Entertainment: DJ Raffi
Linens: Table Toppers
Food and event space: Amy Kern from The W Hotel
Dec
24
This year, I joined the Junior League. Didn’t know much about it, but liked the idea of getting to meet new people in the Boston area along with having an outlet to do community service. Turns out it was an excellent decision. My project allows me to work with a great group of young ladies. We meet up a couple times a month and do all sorts of activities geared towards building self-esteem and self-awareness in the girls.
Recently, we had a bit of a holiday celebration, complete with holidays songs, gingerbread house building and decorating, cookie decorating, and games. The sugar highs were fun and the kids were at their silly and serious best. So here’s a few pix from our party!
And I had to put up a special PicFlick of my favorite girls!
Jul
11
This past year we joined the New England Chapter of NACE, National Association of Catering Executives, and it has been such a fabulous way to meet other professionals in the events industry. Each month we get together at one of the member venues and enjoy a time to connect and network. We eat, we drink, we talk.
Typcially we get to enjoy good music and great company. Sometimes there is a special program.
We started our evening in the Huntington Room.
The Westin put together an amazing spread. Salmon eggs with passion fruit juice below.
Melon and mint soup/cocktail. Refreshing.
Jeri created some beautiful floral centerpieces. I love the wheat grass at the base of these gerbera daisies.
I had never been in the Huntington Room and it was a great space for this type of cocktail party. Of course, Dave and I loved the natural light from all of the windows (to the right).
Teal from Art of the Event enjoying herself.
Whit Wales captured the video for the event. So we had to capture Whit’s signature bowtie.
Abby of Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Peaches by Plums fame. You may recall that Abby did the flowers for one of our opening celebrations. She is amazingly talented.
Naomi from Generations Cinemastories chats with Ashley of the Fairmont Battery Wharf.
Teresa, left, with her partner in crime, created the amazing floral designs from Lisa and Scott’s wedding (read the floral story). It was great to catch up with the Mimosa team again.
As members, we also have the opportunity to sponsor an event. Dave and I did so for the June event at the Westin in Copley Place. This was a great opportunity to capture what a NACE event is like. And this particular month was focused on green initiatives. A matter near and dear to my heart. So I share with you a few of my favorite images from meeting portion of the event….
Lyndsay from the Fairmont Copley Plaza makes introductions.
We hear a bit from the engineering team of the Westin. They have won all kinds of awards for their green practices.
And then Gayle from Art of the Event shares about green trends in event planning.
When the program is over, we are treated to an absolutely phenomenal chocolate dessert bar. Let’s just say I had more than one.
A special thanks to all of the sponsors who helped make it a wonderful evening:
Venue and Catering: Will Krupp and his crew at the Westin
Flowers: Jeri Solomon Floral Design
Videography: Whit Wales
Entertainment: Ahronian Productions
Table cloths: Festive Occasions
Bar and podium rentals: Art of the Event
If you want to see more, check out the video Whit created.
Aug
16
We are thrilled to announce that we received First Place in the Readers’ Choice Awards for the third consecutive year. Each year the J Weekly offers this contest to showcase those companies that provide excellent quality and service. We are honored to be in the esteemed company of arts organizations like The San Francisco Symphony, The George Krevsky Gallery, and Berkeley Rep. And of course, some of our favorite Bay Area venues are listed as well including The Fairmont, The Oakland Museum of California, and Hakone Gardens.
A huge thank you to all our friends, family and clients who voted for us. We are so grateful for your support. We feel unbelievably lucky!
Jul
13
Great news! The anniversary celebration I shot for Lick-Wilmerding High School was published in The San Francisco Chronicle. While shooting, I worked along-side a LWHS parent and fellow photographer, Gene Cohn, in UCSF’s Mission Bay Conference Center. The event was MC-ed by Cynthia Marcucci and included speeches (including one on behalf of Mayor Gavin Newsom), a skit, and a cheer by Coach Eliot Smith.
This fabulous event not only celebrated their esteemed Head of School Al Adams; it also raised $1 million dollars for tuition assistance. That means more great kids get to go to this amazing school. I was thrilled to be a part of it.
You can check out my initial post here or check out all of the pix here.
