Dr. Singh wanted new commercial portrait photos for his website so we met in downtown Albuquerque at the Albuquerque Convention Center. I thought we would mostly be using the Civic Plaza area as I had for another portrait shoot, but that was taken over by setting up for an outdoor concert. Part of being a professional photographer is being able to improvise right on the spot, so instead of starting outside, we went inside to the convention center. Having photography many events there, I knew a few spots that would work well. No one told us we could not make photographs inside, so we just went about it!
I got a phone call yesterday afternoon from Tracy Stuckrath about photographing her presentation at the Albuquerque Convention Center for today! Due to cloudy skies in El Morro, New Mexico, I was available and I am very glad I was because her presentation on food served at events, meetings, hotels, and conferences was very interesting and very relevant to me. Being a combo of vegan and vegetarian since 1996, and being a professional photographer since 2009, I am often shooting events, but not often being offered a great veggie meal at them. Tracy advocates for not just vegetarian meals, but more awareness in general to accommodating various food needs by attendees and guests that include allergens, religious preferences, and even having non-alcoholic cocktails for people (like myself) that do not drink.
A Gala with the Governor, Mayor, and Chevel Shepherd!
What is the La Noche Encantada - Calavera? It is a gala and the biggest event of the year for the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce. 2019 featured no less than Chevel Shepherd winner of The Voice in December 2018. Newly elected governor of New Mexico, Michelle Lujan Grisham spoke, as did Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. I am a chamber member, but was at the event in an official capacity as a photographer, along with Jessica assisting. My job was to first make 200+ red carpet photos of people arriving! Then on to the dinner banquet, and finally to the Kiva Auditorium for the musical performances. Not many nights have I had such a diverse range of photography assignments! It was a very exciting event to photograph and experience through the lens.
What a great time at the Albuquerque Convention Center photographing the WEEF-GEDC 2018conference for Airbus! They hired me to photograph happenings at their booth in the vendor space focusing on their hashtag of #embracediversity and their chief engineer Jean Brice speaking at a panel and lastly their big awards dinner! This was one of the most fun events I have ever photographed. Who ever says engineers do not know how to have fun?? Thank you so much to Alina and the rest of the Airbus team for letting me be a part of this!
At the 2018 New Mexico International Auto Show, there really was only one star, and there was not even a close second -- it was the 2017 Ford GT. Placed right inside the main entrance to the entire exhibit space in the Albuquerque Convention Center, there was the Ford GT in a beautiful silver-gray color. I had not seen it in person before of course, as it is a very rare car and the limited run is still being produced. In photos I had not cared for the frog-like appearance of the front fascia on this supercar. It looks much better in person, and the 3/4 view, as pictured above, revealing the extreme aero and duct work make for a truly stunning appearance. If you dare park a Ford GT on the street, it will attract massive amounts of attention!
One of my favorite things about being a professional photographer is getting to learn about things I never would otherwise. One of the ways I experience this is from photographing international conferences like the American Art Therapy Association 48th Annual Conference. Just a month earlier I got to spend four days shooting the ABSA Conference, and for AATA 2017 three more days at the Albuquerque Convention Center learning about the important work art therapists do with their patients, and especially veterans.
ABSA is the American Biological Safety Association. You have probably never heard of them unless you are in the biology field, but after four days photographing their 60th Annual Biological Safety Conference, I learned just how important the work they do is! I think I also finally figured out how to get around the maze that is the Albuquerque Convention Center!
