When I pitched a "Mad Men" inspired event to be held at the Peacock Cafe, Chef Maziar instantly thought of some food ideas to serve. They will offer a prix fixe menu that will include Beef Ellington, Classic Iceberg Wedge salad, and a few others. This led to a photoshoot of some of the menu items that will be available that night. The best part was eating everything afterwards. Tough job.
Be sure to click on each photo to see the full effect. Hope you're not hungry when you're looking at this though.
Tomato and Mozzarella with basil olive oil and sea-salt.
Tomato and Mozzarella with basil olive oil and sea-salt.
Classic Iceberg Wedge salad, bleu cheese dressing, and bacon.
Classic Iceberg Wedge salad, bleu cheese dressing, and bacon.
Beef Ellington.
Beef Ellington.
Beef Ellington.
Beef Ellington.
Jambalaya is my current favorite. This was on my birthday dinner menu.
Grilled flank steak with brandy peppercorn sauce.
Grilled flank steak with brandy peppercorn sauce.
Steamed mussels and fries are a popular combination in Belgium.
Steamed mussels.
To take photos of food, you must really get to know them and taste them. Again and again.
Fashiontographer had a second "District of Fashion" event at L2 Lounge on March 14th to benefit the fundraising efforts of Laura Reece and Ava Deylami as they try to raise money for Fashion for Paws. The event generated $610 for their efforts. It wasn't as big as the last one, since there were so many competing events that night. But we did get some great photos.
In some ways, I'm glad that it wasn't so busy that night. It was really stressful times with our friend Angie going to the hospital for open heart surgery the day before. A few of us saw her right after the surgery and even though she was still asleep, we all took a huge sigh of relief as the surgery was successful - even better than they expected. She did great and was actually walking on her own just three days after the surgery. And she was able to go home after the 4th day. She actually just texted me wanting to do a photoshoot with her scar - as a possible awareness for people to check their hearts. She's going to contact the American Heart Association to see if her story is in line with some of their projects or campaigns. I can't believe she's already thinking of all this, but at the same time, I'm not surprised. She's pretty amazing.
Me and Anastasia. She's been helping document everyone's clothes and typing it up on her laptop. Once I'm ready to upload the photos, then all I have to do is copy and paste. Photo taken by Sophie Pyle from "Guest of a Guest DC".
The Fashiontographer launch event raised $2,800 for the Shoot for Change Scholarship at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre.
60x40 canvas photos on display during the launch.
Handmade Fashion week greeting cards and ABT brochures.
Taking photos of the guests for the fashion editorial.
Susannah and Emily helped me at the front desk by checking people in and taking payments.
Jessica, one of Fashiontographer's correspondents. She was also the first person who interviewed me in DC when she was writing for NBC Washington.
Micky and Shahab - always great supporters.
Stephanie, Micky, and Angie. Always supportive!
Naiffer, Anastasia, and David helped me take photos of the guests.
Jacket: HUGO BOSS, Slim Fit Amaro/Heise Suit ; Shirt: Banana Republic Slim fit non-iron textured ; Tie: Ben Sherman skinny tie ; Tie clip: Banana Republic; Pants: ZARA, Basic Slim Jeans; Shoes: Aldo
(27 seconds): Lacoste's show started out with this light show with a snow globe apparatus thing in the middle. It's funny how I pull out my iPhone just before the show starts to take this video. I almost forget to take pictures.
(22 seconds): Lacoste finale.
(17 seconds) Carlos Miele's show. I only got the first part since I had to take photos, but the rest of the show was just like a party. There were 2 DJs up front and it was probably one of the most fun shows/music I've seen in a fashion runway show. Wish I had more video footage because the song was awesome.
Unlike the previous fashion weeks in New York, this time, I had a few friends come along - Jennifer Harlow, Lais Lacher, Lisa Klein, Anastasia Lambrou, Jennifer Field, and Kristin Lyle. It was great to have someone to talk to while waiting in line for the shows and also for someone to hang out with afterwards. I actually went to an after party at a rooftop bar, lunch with Debra Messing (she was there so that counts, right?), met a friend who lives in London and had lunch with her, brunch at the Mercer Kitchen in Soho, a private tour of the American Ballet Theatre studio, and of course photographing the latest collections from some of the top designers around the world.
Of course this sounds awesome, which it was, but I probably would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't so sick! I started to feel sick before I left for NY, and by Friday night, I had completely lost my voice. I couldn't talk and when we were at dinner, I had to type on my phone to show what I was saying. I'm not sure what I had, but fortunately, I didn't have a fever or anything else worse. A runny nose, major unfashionable phlegm, and no voice for two days.
I almost got in a throwdown with this photographer from Elle magazine. He was so arrogant and stood in front of me while standing on a box. This eliminated any chance of me getting any sort of shot. I told him he couldn't do that. And all he said was "Oh yes, I can." I was screaming but nothing was coming out. It was comedy. In the end, I prevailed and he let me switch with him. These photographers think they're so entitled. Let's face it - it's great to be shooting runway, but we're not exactly shooting a cover for Vogue Italia. So don't act all Mario Testino on me. On the other hand, I have met some nice and friendly folks in the pit (CNN and Getty Images photographers).
Afterwards, everyone was so stoked and wants to take Fashiontographer to another level - mainly so that they can get invited to more shows - and actually have seats, instead of standing. The more important they think you are, the better your seats.
I'm totally all for it so hopefully next time, the Fashiontographer name will mean something more to PR folks and designers. I'm pretty pleased considering that 7 people came with Fashiontographer. We even got invited to the Christian Siriano fashion show and I didn't even request for a ticket. I'm assuming they got my name through the Press list at MBFW, but since Siriano was showing offsite, I couldn't go to the show with my press badge. So it was great that we were invited without even requesting one. Kristin ended up going to the show and she said it was awesome.
Regardless, it was definitely fun and I can't wait to bring even more people to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York.
Shows I photographed this season, in order.
Nicole Miller
Charlotte Ronson
Ruffian
Lacoste
Jill Stuart
Mara Hoffman
Hervé Léger by Max Azria
Vantan Tokyo
Monique Lhuillier
Venexiana
Tracy Reese
Custo Barcelona
Diane Von Furstenberg
Falguni & Shane Peacock
Carolina Herrera
Carlos Miele
Reem Acra
Norisol Ferrari
Badgley Mischka
Vera Wang
Anna Wintour spotted at Carolina Herrera's show. I hope I never take this shot for granted.
In line for the Vantan Tokyo show. The lady is asking if we're on the "priority" list. Typically, I'm not on any list, but for some reason, I was on the list for this show. So I got to go inside before the other photographers. Anastasia is trying to convince the person she's on the list too. She was not. Oh yeah, the lady in the black frames behind us is also a turd. One time, I beat her to her spot (it's anybody's spot) and she started making excuses and making up stuff like the spot is just for people with tripods and I had a monopod. She then had another friend asking me if I was "shooting". I said, yes, I'm taking pictures. Wait, you're NOT shooting? WTF did I just tell you? That was so hilarious, but I was so sick I almost threw up on her face.
Hanging out at the Plunge Rooftop Bar @ Hotel Gansevoort with Anastasia and Lais.
Plunge Rooftop Bar @ Hotel Gansevoort. Not sure why they gave me a bottle of soysauce (I think). But whatever.
Lunch at EATALY with Tia and Jen. Tia used to work at BoConcept but moved to London. She travels all the time with her husband. She happened to be in NY during the same weekend so when she saw my Facebook post about me being in NY, she told me we should have lunch. This was on the SAME day as my post. When she found out Jen was there too, she was ecstatic, and Jen herself couldn't wait to get on her flight. We all ended up meeting at EATALY with Jen coming straight from the airport - luggage and all.
Lots of photographers are outside taking photos of people going in and out of shows.
I like train tickets that say New York.
Flowers in front of Rachel Zoe's fashion presentation. I wasn't invited to the show, but I did see Rachel Zoe while I was sitting at a bar eating a cheeseburger. I decided not to put down the cheeseburger just to take her picture. Priorities. It's not like it was Valentino.
Before the Carolina Herrera show.
Lais waiting at the photographer's pit.
Anastasia is blogging while waiting in line.
Tour of American Ballet Theatre studio. It was insane and felt like I was in a movie. It's ABT! Baryshnikov!
Photos from The Gift of Life Project launch party at Hela Salon & Spa (January 25, 2012). The launch party was actually a few days after I got back from Berlin Fashion Week.
The Gift of Life Project is a collaborative program that encourages women in the Washington, DC area to be proactive about their breast health. Every person who visits Capital Breast Care Center for their mammogram will be entered into a monthly raffle for a chance to win a portrait session and several spa and salon services from Hela.
Pretty cool! Also, we ended up raising close to $500 that night by selling scarves and boxed cards ($40 each for the box cards).
Why go to Capital Breast Care Center? They provide comprehensive, culturally appropriate breast cancer screening services and health education to women in the DC metropolitan area, regardless of their ability to pay. Every insured woman who receives her mammogram at CBCC helps enable an uninsured woman to receive access to breast health care services.
Delicious Parisian macarons.
The designer chocolates on the top are from Artisan Confections, which is in my apartment building. He has a deal with the macarons guy so the macarons are delivered at Artisan Confections. Dangerous.
Provided by Hela.
Goody bags from Hela for those who made a donation or bought a card.
This is the card that will be given to the monthly winner. Made by an awesome sister who also moonlights as a card maker.
Lee from LLDH Home (which is next to Hela).
Susannah Fox showing off a CBCC scarf. Susannah is the Director of Development for CBCC and has been a pretty cool friend.
Motylik and Brandii stopped by. They work at an expensive sunglasses boutique next door.
Stephanie and Stef. Stef is a breast cancer survivor.
In case you're wondering, I'm wearing all Hugo Boss. And for the record, I now dress for my 7 yr old niece who thinks I'm fashionable. Cora says: "It means you're stylish, fancy clothes, and he looks cool."
