Monterey Event Photography

Making Waves 2026 Event Photography at Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove

in
Making Waves 2026 Event Photography at Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove

A Hospitality Community Celebration in the Heart of Pacific Grove

Thanks to a recommendation from Alex Marin of Asilomar Conference Grounds, I was connected with Paige Viren, an executive director for a hospitality program at CSUMB to photograph the big Wave Makers fundraiser event!

The Making Waves 10-Year Celebration brought together leaders, students, alumni, faculty, chefs, hospitality professionals, and community supporters for an evening at Kimpton Mirador in Pacific Grove. The event celebrated ten years of the Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism Management program at Cal State Monterey Bay, with a courtyard full of conversation, local food, music, awards, auction items, hugs, laughter, and the unmistakable feeling of a community that genuinely supports one another. I photographed the evening as a participating local creative partner. It was a privilege to contribute professional event photography to a gathering that highlighted so much of what makes hospitality on the Monterey Peninsula feel personal, connected, and deeply local.

Thank you Alex for the recommendation and to Paige for choosing me as the photographer for this great fundraising event!

Read More

Pacific Grove Volunteer Appreciation Lunch and Awards Ceremony 2026

in
Pacific Grove Volunteer Appreciation Lunch and Awards Ceremony 2026

Honored to Be There, and Glad to Contribute

This was my first time to be invited to the Volunteer Appreciation Lunch & Awards Ceremony for the City of Pacific Grove because I just became a commissioner on the Traffic Safety Committee earlier this year. So the invitation came as a very nice surprise! It was an honor to be included in an event recognizing people who give their time and energy to the city. As always, I brought my camera even though I was just attending as a guest. Deputy City Manager, Joyce Halabi, is someone I often see at various city events getting photos too, so I asked her if it was ok to get some shots of the awards ceremony. She said yes, and helped coordinate the photo ops as well. Thank you to the whole team at City Hall that helped put this together for the volunteers. Being there as both a volunteer and a photographer felt especially meaningful, and I was glad to help document a small part of what makes Pacific Grove such a special community.

Read More

A Different Approach to Event Photography in Monterey, Carmel, and Pebble Beach

in
A Different Approach to Event Photography in Monterey, Carmel, and Pebble Beach

If you are planning an event, conference, or corporate gathering, photography is usually one of the last things to get locked in. And often, the decision is simple—go with someone familiar, someone who has done it before, someone who is easy to book. However, there is a noticeable difference between standard event coverage and a more modern, thoughtful approach to documenting an event. This is a look at how I approach event photography, and how that experience can feel different—for planners, for venues, and for the people attending.

Read More

PG P.R.I.D.E. The Great Taste of PG 2026 | Event Photography Pacific Grove

in
PG P.R.I.D.E. The Great Taste of PG 2026 | Event Photography Pacific Grove

An Evening That Brought the Community Together

This was my first time photographing an event for PG P.R.I.D.E. and also my first time photographing this large of a silent auction that ran the entire length of the event and was the main feature of the event itself. This brought about an energy and level of activity I had not experienced before in all my years of photographing events! Some time before the big day I met with Crystal and Brandy and other organizers here at my photo studio in downtown Pacific Grove to go over the shotlist and the photography plan for the evening. All this preparation on their part helped me get a wide variety of photos from the vendors, to guest portraits, to candid moments, to the full PG P.R.I.D.E. board members in a group photo!

Read More

Ribbon Cutting Photography in Pacific Grove – Dr. Jamie Klinefelter Grand Opening

in
Ribbon Cutting Photography in Pacific Grove – Dr. Jamie Klinefelter Grand Opening

An Energetic Grand Opening Celebration

I first met Dr. Jamie and her team two months ago, when they visited my photography studio here in downtown Pacific Grove, CA. The result of that shoot was one of the best group photos I ever made! So I was delighted when she asked me to photograph her grand opening ribbon cutting hosted by the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce. That meant I was there in an official capacity as a professional event photographer, and also as an ambassador for the PG Chamber. Dr. Jamie has personality and energy that cannot be contained! This makes getting great candids and other action shots both easy and a pleasure. I invite you to check out all the smiles below, no doubt made bigger and better both by the fun of the event and her skill as a dentist! Thank you Dr. Jamie for continuing to choose me as your photographer, I really appreciate it.

Read More

PG Meetinghouse Re-Opening Ribbon Cutting | Pacific Grove Chamber Event

in
PG Meetinghouse Re-Opening Ribbon Cutting | Pacific Grove Chamber Event

A Fresh Start for PG Meetinghouse

It was great to attend the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting celebrating the re-opening of PG Meetinghouse after a period of renovations and updates to the interior space. As a Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, I enjoy volunteering my photography to help document these community moments. The mayor, other local leaders, and loyal customers gathered to welcome the refreshed space back to Pacific Grove, with remarks from the mayor and a ceremonial ribbon cutting to mark the occasion. It was wonderful to see the community come together to celebrate the improvements and wish the team continued success.

Read More

Asilomar Conference Grounds Corporate Awards Event | Aramark Destinations 2026

in
Asilomar Conference Grounds Corporate Awards Event | Aramark Destinations 2026

Corporate Awards Event Photography at Asilomar Conference Grounds

It was a pleasure returning to Asilomar Conference Grounds this February to photograph another corporate event for Aramark Destinations. Last year’s multi-day assignment (see day: one, two, three) focused heavily on showcasing the event spaces and themed décor throughout the property. This time, the spotlight was on the people — the leaders, teams, and award recipients whose work earned recognition across multiple Aramark venues. As a valued repeat client, Asilomar continues to trust me to document both the energy of their conferences and the professionalism of their corporate gatherings. It is always rewarding to work again with organizations that understand the long-term value of strong visual storytelling. Thank you to Alex, Crystal, and the rest of the team at Asilomar for continuing to choose me as your photographer!

Read More