Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting
A Ribbon Cutting Like No Other in Pacific Grove
This was for sure the biggest event I have attended of its kind since I started being an ambassador for the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce in June 2024. The grand opening and ribbon cutting for Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove seemed to have everyone I know from the local business community and city hall there! It was shoulder room only trying to get a photo of the actual ribbon cutting for the PG Chamber. No chance for a posed photo beforehand like usual either. Given all that, I was very glad to capture this wonderful candid of the ribbon being cut to this unique hotel and the newest addition to downtown Pacific Grove. After the ribbon cutting, I enjoyed my first tour of the hotel from entrance and lobby, to the expansive inner courtyard, and then actually getting to see inside a couple of guest rooms themselves. I finished with a sneak peak at the attached restaurant. I definitely look forward to photographing events at this stunning new hotel!
Professional Event Photography for Pacific Grove and Monterey Peninsula Businesses
High-profile events like the Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove grand opening deserve to be photographed with experience, awareness, and a deep understanding of the local community. As a Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, Rotarian, and Traffic Safety Commission member for the City of Pacific Grove, I am regularly trusted to photograph civic events, ribbon cuttings, grand openings, and business milestones where moments unfold quickly and there is no opportunity for second takes.
With more than 17 years of professional photography experience, I focus on capturing candid, story-driven images that reflect the energy, scale, and significance of an event—while still delivering polished, publication-ready photos for marketing, press, and long-term brand use. If your business, organization, or venue is hosting an important event in Pacific Grove, Monterey, Carmel, or anywhere on the Monterey Peninsula, I would love to help document it in a way that truly represents its impact.
Ribbon Cutting & Community Celebration at Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove leaders, Chamber members, and community partners marking a major new chapter
A Landmark Moment for Pacific Grove
The ribbon cutting and grand opening of the Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove was more than a ceremonial moment — it was a genuine community gathering. City leadership, Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce members, local business owners, and neighbors all came together to officially welcome one of the most anticipated new hotels in town.
These moments matter. Ribbon cuttings are visual milestones that become part of a city’s history, and capturing them well means preserving not just who was there, but the energy, pride, and momentum surrounding the occasion. From the mayor’s participation to the reactions of those in attendance, this gallery shows what it looks like when a community shows up to support something new.
Event Photography That Honors People and Place
As an ambassador for the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce, I approach events like this with both responsibility and care. My goal is to document the event clearly and professionally while also paying attention to the human moments — the smiles, applause, handshakes, and shared excitement that often matter just as much as the official ribbon cut.For hotels, businesses, nonprofits, and organizations, professional event photography creates lasting value. These images are used for press coverage, social media, websites, marketing materials, and internal storytelling long after the event itself has passed. Done well, they communicate credibility, connection, and community involvement in a single frame.
A Packed House for a Landmark Pacific Grove Opening
Front entrance and courtyard scenes from the Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove grand opening
The Energy of the Day
One of the first things that stood out at the Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove grand opening was just how well attended it was. From the front entrance to the inner courtyard, the hotel was filled with familiar faces from the Pacific Grove business community, city leadership, and a wide range of local vendors who helped bring the event together. These wide, contextual images show not just the architecture of the property, but the scale of the turnout and the genuine excitement surrounding the opening.
Why These Moments Matter
Photographing an event like this is about more than capturing a ribbon cutting—it is about documenting momentum. Images of a full courtyard, engaged conversations, and a busy entrance communicate success, community support, and credibility in a way words alone cannot. For businesses, organizations, and venues, these kinds of photographs become valuable assets for press coverage, social media, marketing, and future promotions, long after the event itself has passed.
Speeches & Local Leadership
Moments with the Mayor and City Manager at the Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove opening
Local Leadership Welcomes Kimpton Mirador to Pacific Grove
It was great to have Pacific Grove Mayor Nick Smith and City Manager Matthew Mogensen attend and speak at the grand opening, and to see so many local community leaders and neighbors show up to welcome the Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove to town.
Professional Event Photography for Public and Community Leaders
If you are planning a ribbon cutting, grand opening, fundraiser, or public-facing community event in Pacific Grove, Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, or anywhere on the Monterey Peninsula, I would love to help you document it with professional, publication-ready coverage. I regularly photograph local leaders and public-facing moments, and I bring the same calm direction, awareness, and efficiency whether I am photographing a mayor speaking, a crowd-filled courtyard, or the key “ribbon cutting” moment that ends up in the news and on social media.
Trusted Event Photography for Pacific Grove and the Monterey Peninsula
Photographing events like the grand opening of the Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove is exactly where experience, community involvement, and creative storytelling come together. In addition to more than 17 years as a professional photographer, I actively serve Pacific Grove as a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, Rotarian, and member of the City of Pacific Grove Traffic Safety Commission. That perspective matters. It means I understand the importance of public-facing events, the people involved, and the responsibility of documenting them with professionalism, discretion, and care.
I am known for capturing candid, unscripted moments that tell the full story of an event — from key leadership moments to the energy of the crowd and the details that make each gathering unique. If you are planning a ribbon cutting, grand opening, civic event, or community celebration anywhere in Pacific Grove or across the Monterey Peninsula, I would be honored to photograph it and help preserve the moments that matter most.