10/30/09 Anna’s Halloween Eve II at Maté in Georgetown.

10/30/09 Niece Ella demonstrates Batgirl’s combat moves.

10/29/09 The “Boo Bus,” Metro’s annual haunted bus made its return to the Anacostia Station for Halloween after a two year hiatus through the support of Metro employees with funds they donated.

[Volunteer from the audience gets a makeover by Madeline Wade.]

10/28/09 Today I photographed an event for women at the (brand new) Embassy of the People’s Republic of China entitled “Tips on Western-Style Hospitality, Etiquette and Protocol with Coach Kathy Kemper.” Topics included: appropriate dress for different social scenarios; dos and don’ts for small talk at cocktail parties (avoid religion and politics but ask about business) and the importance of wearing flip flops right up until the last second before you have to put on the high heels.

[Guest of honor.]

[The main speaker, Coach Kathy Kemper, gave the audience tips on fashion and the customs of DC social life.]

[Volunteer from the audience gets a makeover by Madeline Wade.]

[Susie from Heavenly Hydrangeas did a presentation on floral arrangements]

[Volunteer from the audience gets a makeover by Madeline Wade.]

[Handing out gifts at the end of the program.]

[Volunteer from the audience gets a makeover by Madeline Wade.]

10/27/09 StreetWise Partners hosts its second annual “Taste of Success” cocktail reception to celebrate “emerging leaders who are giving people the opportunity to work their way out of poverty. The party was held at the brand new offices of Jones Day with an amazing view of the Capitol.

10/19/09 Possibly the most stunning model I met at Bridal Week was was doing showroom for Liz Fields. Her name is Jenna Kelly and she’s with Images Model Management.

10/19/09 Monday was not as crazy as all of the other days of Bridal Week. I shot a lot of showroom – Justin Alexander, Eco Couture, Katerina Bocci, Watters & Watters, Nicole Miller, Liz Fields, Judd Waddell – but only one show. My final event of Bridal Week was an elegant show by Jenny Yoo . . .

10/18/09 Sunday morning started entirely too early with the Trendspot show at 8 a.m. at the Waldorf Astoria. Fashion shows at 8 o’clock on a cold and rainy Sunday morning are not a good idea. Ask anyone. I’m not including any photos from that show here as a form of protest. Stop the insanity. The Trendspot show was followed closely by the 9 a.m. Ines Di Santo show at the Essex House . . .

[Ines Di Santo]

[Ines Di Santo]

[Ines Di Santo]

[Ines Di Santo]

By 11 am I was at my 3rd huge production of the day – the Monique L’huillier show which was held at a funky arts space called Eyebeam Atelier. This was one of the most anticipated events of Bridal Week. I heard people buzzing about this show days earlier.

[Monique L'huillier]

[Monique L'huillier]

Another highly anticipated show was Badgley Mischka‘s in the afternoon. It was a full house in his not-very-big showroom. I was in a rugby scrum with the other photographers.  Close at hand were tiny cans of champagne – with short straws attached – from the Coppola vineyard.

[Badgley Mischka]

[Badgley Mischka]

[Badgley Mischka - detail]

The last show of the day had me right back where I started in the Starlight Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria for the Kirstie Kelly show. Kirstie Kelly is the designer for Disney Fairy Tale Weddings – there was an ad in the middle of the program for Disney’s new movie The Princess and The Frog.

[Kirstie Kelly]

[Kirstie Kelly]

[Kirstie Kelly]

[Kirstie Kelly]

10/17/09 NYC Bridal Week is a where the owners of bridal boutiques from around the country decide which gowns they will show their customers. They go to the big elaborate fashion shows but they actually meet the designers and get one on one showings in the hotels which have converted several floors to mini showrooms. I went to several showrooms today. Here are two pix from the  Eugenia Couture showroom.

[Eugenia Couture]

The show which elicited the most emotional response had to be the one produced by Romona Keveza Couture. Several women around me were weeping copiously at the conclusion of her event.

[Ramona Keveza Couture]

[Ramona Keveza Couture]

[Ramona Keveza Couture]

[Ramona Keveza Couture]

The final event of the day was a slick, highly produced show by Priscilla of Boston held at a huge venue at 583 Park Avenue which must have been a church or a temple at some point . . .

[Priscilla Of Boston]

[Priscilla Of Boston]

[Priscilla Of Boston]

[Priscilla Of Boston]

[Detail of gown by Moonlight Bridal]

10/16/09 And now for something completely different – I’m in NYC for Bridal Week shooting for several wedding publications. I’ve got a very full schedule lined up taking pix at numerous fashion shows and private showroom viewings.  My first assignment was an an interview with the two sisters – Stephanie and Valerie Chin – who make up Moonlight Bridal.

[Moonlight Bridal Spring 2010]

Later in the afternoon,  I photographed a show by designer Alfred Angelo who says his Spring 2010 line was inspired by the documentary film “Jazz On A Summer’s Day” about the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival directed by the famous fashion photographer Bert Stern.