Epson: Imagine!

There's one client that never fails to excite me when they reach out for event coverage, and that client is Epson. Whether working with the USA women's synchronized swim team or on holiday festivities, they always have creative and exciting ways to engage with their customers and always have events that highlight that inspired ingenuity. No less can be said about the most recent event I worked with them on, "Imagine," promoting some amazing new technologies that will undoubtedly revolutionize the industries they exist within. Whether creating new methods to print textiles in the fashion world or putting out the latest drone technology on the market, the event certainly lived up to its namesake, and in amazing technicolor fashion. And as a photographer, I certainly appreciated the chance to see what they've been cooking up in regards to the high-quality printers they've been developing (and I may have added one or two of them to my wish-list!). Here are some of my favorite shots from the event, and already looking forward to my next collaboration with the Epsonite crew!

Summer Sendoff: Musikfest 2016!

With summer's end comes one of my favorite bittersweet events - I love it as it's always a wonderful time full of fabulous food, great music, and unforgettable atmosphere, but with it comes a gentle sadness because it means fall is right around the corner, the last hurrah for warmer weather.

 I could only be referring to Musikfest, a 10-day festival in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania that never fails to bring a wealth of free musical performances to the Lehigh Valley, and in my 27 years of enjoying life, I have yet to miss a single one (which is a record I fully intend to maintain as long as I can). There is always a plethora of unique and delicious food, not to mention some of the coolest cultural creations around (such as the stilt-walking street performer group Saurus, who dresses up like giant dinosaurs and gently terrorize festival-goers!). And of course we can't forget the amazing artisanal community that comes to sell their wares at the fest, from handmade soaps and looseleaf teas to homemade salsas and bonsai trees - you never know what cool gifts or souvenirs you might find!

This year I had the unique pleasure of working as a photographer for the festival, a goal I'd been working towards for several years, and an opportunity I was excited to finally take hold of. Not only did I get to photograph one of my favorite bands from the years of teenager-dom ( shoutout to Chevelle for being just as great live as they are in studio!), but I also was granted backstage access to shoot some of the festival's musical regulars like Scythian and March Fourth (who happen to be two of my personal favorites). 

These are some of my favorites that I think best encompass the vibe of this fabulous summer festival, & hope to see you there next year - I'm already counting down the days! 

Not Our Living Room: Now Online!

I'm very excited to share with you all that one of the films I worked on a few years ago is now streaming online! Not Our Living Room, a short film directed by Christina Raia of CongestedCat Productions, is as suspenseful as it was fun to work on, and I love how the final film turned out. Not only was the cast and crew fabulous, but I also got to reunite with one of my fellow Penn State Alums, Adam Jepsen, who I photographed back in our college days! His costar is played by the talented Rob Ceriello, another stellar actor I've worked with over the last few years (and who has been a wonderful test model for me!). Not Our Living Room's screened at a variety of festivals, but will also be showing at the Macabre Faire Film Festival in January if you want to see it on a bigger screen!

But for those of you who can't wait until January to see it, Not Our Living Room is now available on vimeo here - check it out!

And in case you missed it, here are some of my favorite behind-the-scenes moments from on set; what an amazing and talented group of people to work with!

Drama League Centennial Gala: Bernadette Peters

A few months ago I had the distinct pleasure of working with The Drama League again at their annual Gala, also a night in honor of the Broadway star and immense talent, Bernadette Peters. This year’s Gala was also especially monumental, as it was the Drama League Centennial Gala, a huge achievement to mark in the world of non-profits, which is one of the reasons I love to help support them. 

As always, it was a night of lights and music, grand choruses and many smiles, a true testament to the life and vibrancy that can only come from live theatre. Not only did the likes of Michael Douglas, Joey Grey, and Gloria Estefan came out to support Ms. Peters lifetime of achievements, but the fabulously gifted (and one of my personal favorites) Annaleigh Ashford also sang with an adorable pup in tow; what more could you ask of a show?!

It was without a doubt a moving night for Ms. Peters, who may have shed a tear or two while giving her thanks at the end of the evening. Many words of praise were said that night for her, and every one was without a doubt deserved. Congratulations Bernadette, and thanks for the worlds you brought to life, both on stage and on screen.

Epson Campaign: #SwimmingInInk !

Back in September, I had the wonderful pleasure of working with Epson America and the Women's U.S. Synchronized Swim team on the campaign for their new line of EcoTank printers, and it was easily one of my favorite jobs to date. From start to finish it was a grand production, as Epson built a giant swimming pool  in the middle of Times Square overnight for the swim team to perform several routines in, as well as a large step & repeat to have your photograph taken with the team. I was fortunate enough to be contracted as their step & repeat photographer, and while it was a very intense day, it was an amazing blast and I had such a wonderful group of people to work with. If you want to see a little bit more of what the day was like, you can check it out in this awesome behind-the-scenes video!

The swimmers were so sweet from start to finish, I don't know where they found their immense stamina and energy to keep swimming and posing all day long! Below are some of my favorites from the shoot, I love how much personality everyone brought and how much fun we all had. From Broadway performers to Comic Book Superheroes to Disney Princesses, we had a great turnout and many memories to keep after. And good luck to the synchronized swim team on their upcoming olympic trials!

NYFW: Verge

Last month, I had the pleasure of working with Posture Magazine, DapperQ, Bklyn Boihood, DYDH productions, and Fascinate Media for their New York Fashion Week show, which was the largest exhibition of queer fashion designers during NYFW 2015. I can't even begin to convey how ecstatic I am that I was able to be part of such a progressive and culturally-necessary show, and I think their unique edge definitely shows in the photos.

Not only was it a huge night for the LGBTQ community, but also an amazing night of spectacular fashion, whether it was found on the runway or in the audience. The show featured the amazing talents of Elliott Sailors, Rain Dove, Harmony Boucher, and Margaux Simms walking the runway in support of the event, and they looked absolutely spectacular. It was truly inspiring to see such a show take center stage, and am so proud of the attention it brought to such an underrepresented part of the community.

I had so much fun photographing all of the guests and models that night, and thought everyone had stunning outfits that were seriously on-point. Below are some of my favorites from the night, but the full selection of images can be found on my Facebook page. Hope you enjoy their looks as much as I do!

Music for Minors: JazzReach!

A few weeks ago I was approached in regards to photographing a concert for JazzReach, a non-profit that aims to promote, perform and teach jazz music to young audiences. As a flautist myself, and an avid supporter of the arts, I was thrilled to be asked to document one of their performances. Not only did they perform some pretty spectacular jazz for their young viewers, but the kids themselves were really enthusiastic and excited, so it was a blast to photograph! I don't get to do 'concert photography' as often as I'd like, so it was a welcome change of pace, and the performers were supremely professional, not to mention some of the sweetest musicians I've come to meet. While I may have committed my career to the visual arts, performing music was also an instrumental aspect of my development in my high school days, and I am proud and ecstatic to see such a program providing those same opportunities to children today. You can support their important work here, and I would encourage educators to look into this program for their young students!

The 2015 Drama League Awards

This past May I had the pleasure of rejoining the Drama League for their annual Drama League Awards ceremony, honoring the talented theatrical community members of Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. It's always such a pleasure to work with the Drama League and their amazing crew, so needless to say this was one of my favorite events to cover over the spring (I also got to meet Joel Grey, a personal favorite of mine, and it easily made my day - I'm so glad he received the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater Award). 

Not only did everyone share wonderful speeches and anecdotes about their peers and coworkers, but there were enough jokes all around to fill the room with humor and enthusiasm the whole time. My personal favorites were when Nathaniel Parker started reciting Herman's Hermits lyrics and when Kristin Chenoweth decided to stand atop her chair to make up for her petite size; she had the whole room doubled over in laughter. Every person there had a special story to share, and it was lovely to hear so many heartfelt words of appreciation and gratitude for the theatrical community and their fellow actors.

Here are some of the highlights and my favorite shots from the day, and can't wait to be back working with the Drama League again soon!

 

Marvel's Daredevil!

I'm so happy and proud to share with you all one of my most exciting jobs yet; working with Marvel & Netflix to promote the worldwide premiere of Daredevil! I was asked to document the installation of street art going up in Hell's Kitchen in NYC, and it was easily one of the most interesting jobs I've ever had. I've always wondered how the process worked for putting these large graphic elements on the sides of buildings, and loved getting so see how in a matter of minutes, a blank space turned into a giant work of art. It was so much fun to be a part of this project, as the same thing was happening simultaneously in 12 other cities, including London, Berlin, and Mexico City, and I couldn't wait to see what the other pieces of art looked like. I also was thrilled to be working for Marvel and Netflix, clients I only dreamed of having previously, and now having seen the show, I'm so proud I got to be a part of it, even if only in some small way. Here's to getting more jobs like this in the future!

IndieWorks: Best of Fest 2015!

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of photographing IndieWork's Best of Fest 2015, and it certainly did not disappoint. A great event that allows indie filmmakers an opportunity to have a more personal interaction with their audience, IndieWorks gives up-and-coming directors a safe and inviting space to share passion projects, personal creations, and indie films with the local community. It's a sure bet that you can find me there every month to see the beautiful films being shown, and I love every minute of it. Not only is it a fabulous professional network to branch into, but it has also afforded me the opportunity to make many wonderful friends which I am forever grateful for. 

I was elated when one of my personal favorites from the past year, Q.U.E.E.N., written and directed by Brittany Fennell, won the coveted Golden Whiskers Award this year, and it could not be more deserved. The  talented Hye Yun Park took home the Audience Choice Award for her wonderfully funny web series Hey Yun, and there's no question as to why the audience loved it. Here are some of my favorite moments from the night, and be sure to come join us at the next screening on June 10th!

The VelociPastor!

If you read my blog with any regularity, it's no secret that I work on film sets often, and that it's one of my favorite places to work. I love my film-family, it's such a large and supportive community that I am unbelievably blessed to be a part of, and so I try to return the favor as often as possible. That's why I'm so excited to share with you news on the newest project some of my best friends are working on, The VelociPastor! 

Illustration by Wyeth Yates

Illustration by Wyeth Yates

The film is written and (to-be) directed by my fabulous friend Brendan Steere, whose previous feature, Animosity, not only received global distribution, but was also well-received enough to show at many film festivals in the last year, including Fantasia, where it screened alongside Guardians of the Galaxy and Boyhood. It also won Best Picture and Best Actress at the Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival in 2013; As you can clearly see, he definitely knows how to make a good movie.

Originally a spoof trailer of epic comedic proportions, Brendan's finally ready to develop VelociPastor into a full-length feature of dark humor, and I for one could not be more excited about it. If you want to see the concept's origin, you can check it out below.

Not only is it retaining Matt Ziegel from the original short as the lead and VelociPastor, but it also will star Alyssa Kempinski as his college educated and provocative love interest. I've also had the pleasure of working with her several times, most recently on the set of Six Windows! They were also both cast in Animosity, and I'm so excited to see them work together again. Not only are they both immensely talented, but they are both joys to work with on set, which I can personally attest to.

Along with Steere, two of my closest friends, Brandon Taylor and Gabryal Rabinowitz, have joined the teams as respectively Producer and Associate Producer. Not only have I known them for years, but had the pleasure of working with them on many previous projects including Six Windows, The Remembrance, and They Hunger. With a killer crew such as this one, I have no doubts this film will go above and beyond in the realms of creativity and craftsmanship, with a touch of insanity-bordering brilliance.

If you believe in this project like I do (which, in all seriousness, you really should) please check it out on Facebook, Like/Share, and Donate to help make this project a reality!

Johnson & Johnson: Innovation!

Back in February, I was able to photograph one of my most interesting and fun jobs yet; Johnson & Johnson's Innovation Showcase, where their best and brightest have the opportunity to share what they've been developing with the rest of the J&J community. And let me tell you, they're working on some crazy cool things! Not only did I get to see all the creative new products that Johnson and Johnson's been putting to the test, but I was also blessed to meet some of the most friendly and inspiring individuals I've had the pleasure to work with. From scientific advancements in skincare and sunscreen to 3D printing and technology, it was easy to see how hard working and imaginative this community is. I do not say community lightly either, because from the first moment through the door, it was quite evident that this company does not treat its employees like faculty, but rather like family; it was immediately apparent that they love to create together and produce the best products possible for the world they serve. Never mind the fact that they all have got a killer sense of humor! While their symposium may have been work-oriented, they made a day of it with skits and shorts, contests and jokes, and by the end of the day everyone had some great laughs. I can't wait to do it again, and see what new things this innovative company is creating, because if there's one thing I learned, it's that they love INN-O-VATION!

A Night for James Earl Jones

Near the end of January (where has the past month gone!?) I had the immense pleasure of working with the Drama League photographing their annual Gala Fundraising event. Every year, the League honors someone with their Lifetime Achievement award, and they selected none other than EGOT winner, Mr. Darth Vader himself, the larger-than-life James Earl Jones. Not only was I honored to be part of such a prestigious event, but I also had the opportunity to meet and photograph many prominent members of the theatrical community, which was truly an amazing experience. From the star-studded list of guests, to the fantastic live performances, it was a night I'll never forget, and hope to have the opportunity to attend again. Everyone had only words of the utmost respect and admiration for Mr. Jones as an artist, peer, and human being; Kelsey Grammer's near outburst of tears stood as a testament to the genuine and heartfelt words he expressed about James, and he was not alone in that night full of emotion and support. The Drama League put on a flawless event, and I am so proud and happy to have helped support all the important work they do for aspiring actors and actresses, as it is both necessary and progressive. Congratulations to them for hosting such a successful fundraising event, and may they have many more in the years to come.


PDN's Photo of the Day!

I am so thrilled to share with you all that last week I was fortunate enough to be featured on PDN's Photo of the Day along with my fellow YPA mentees, which you can see here. It was truly amazing to not only have my work shown on such a prominent and reputable news source for photography, but to also have such a positive response to the work I submitted. While it may seem a small thing, this has always been a goal and dream of mine since I began pursuing photography professionally. I can't believe how far this organization has helped me come, and I have so much gratitude and respect for our mentors Andrew Hetherington and Steve Giralt, as well as the photo editor of PDN, Amy Wolff, for all of their encouragement, support, and enthusiasm about our work.

I got a wonderful little reminder of this step forward by seeing it in a weekly PDN newsletter email I received today. It's so surreal to see my photo on such a mainstream news source, but I am forever grateful for it, and couldn't help myself but instagram it. It's so validating to see how hard work pays off.

On-Camera Interview!

I'm so happy to share with you all this fabulous promo video my good friend Brandon Taylor directed and produced for my upcoming exhibition with the Young Photographer's Alliance. It was my first on-camera interview, so please forgive any awkwardness or long-windedness! I can't believe how wonderfully this turned out, given my nerves about making it, but making artwork is all about pushing boundaries, including our own comfort levels. I am so proud and excited to share my new artwork with all of you, and hope that you can join me on the 24th at the Art Director's Club to come support all of the artists showing in this sure-to-be-spectacular exhibition. You can buy (donation based!) tickets here. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Musikfest 2014!

There's nothing quite like Musikfest, one of the largest music festivals in the United States, which is easily the one of the best cultural aspects my hometown has to offer. A huge 10-day endeavor, with over 1 million visitors every year, it easily is one of the most inspiring events I've ever encountered, and always becomes a source of inspiration. Not only does it boast some of the best musical performances to be found, but it also pays beautiful tribute to this historic town with its commitment to protecting the Bethlehem Steel, as well as highlighting it as a backdrop for some of the largest stages. The food and craft vendors are just as fabulous as the music, there's never a shortage of amazing buskers, and this year's festival was no exception. As we've hit that mid-winter peak, full of cold and dreary days, I thought this would be an appropriate post for a wintry day and bring a little summer back into this snowy season. 

Halloweird: A Halloween Extravaganza!

This Halloween, I had the pleasure of photographing a fabulous party called Halloweird at the City Winery in Lower Manhattan, hosted by ML Presents. While the weather may have been a little cold and drizzly, that didn't stop attendees from coming out dressed to the nines in some of the most creative costumes I've ever seen. They also had a fabulous 80's tribute band called Jesse's Girl, which also plays every Saturday night at Le Poisson Rouge, and they most definitely rocked the house! Not only did they perform some awesome tunes, but they also pulled the crowd up on stage at the end of the night, making for some great photo opportunities. These are some of my favorites from the night, and looking forward to next year's!

Carri + Marie!

Last month I had the wonderful pleasure of photographing Carri + Marie taking their vows! One of the sweetest and most genuine couples I've ever met, I loved getting to spend the day with them and photograph such a momentous occasion for them. While they already had a destination wedding, they had yet to make it official in the states, and I was honored that they asked me to be their photographer. After flying in from Texas, they took their vows at the Marriage Bureau in NYC, and then spent the afternoon enjoying their newly formed nuptials exploring the city. I couldn't be happier for these two, and hope they're enjoying the southern sun with their 3 adorable puppies, and that married life is treating them well. Congratulations you two!