Event
On the first Friday of each month downtown Albuquerque becomes an outdoor art exhibit and market, but actually much more than that. You can walk through an interactive light art experience, decorate the streets in chalk, and dance like you are trying to win a contest! Those are just some of the things I witnessed the first Friday in May 2019 in downtown Albuquerque.
Read MoreWhile wondering around downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico as part of the First Friday Art Walk event, a curious looking space had its door open allowing views of swirling color. To my surprise this visual art event was dog friendly so in we went! As you walk on the floor, color moves. How does it to that? Seemed like magic! Tables flow with changing patterns that react to hand movements, also seemingly by magic! People really loved interacting with light and color and art. This was a fantastic stumble upon experience!
Read MoreOn a Sunday afternoon in I was walking into the Santa Fe Convention Center to photograph an event for ACOMS and to my great surprise I learned I was photographing the actual U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams! I was told I would only be photographing a presenter and then some candids of the vendor area. This was not my first time photographing a prominent political figure. In Florida in 2011 I had the chance to spend a day photographing then U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. I have also photographed three governors, a U.S. Senator, U.S Representatives, and at least 3 mayors.
Read MoreNetworking events seem to be dreaded. Something a business owner needs to do. However, not all networking events are created equally. I always bring my camera with me to Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce events, and this Biz Crafty networking event was no exception. I love to get candid photos at events, which is helped by people really enjoying themselves. Look at these candids, and you will see a lot of people having a very good time, yet this is still networking! Candid event photography is my speciality as I find the reactions that will be remembered for years.
Read MoreI 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.
Read MoreIf that background above looks familiar, it’s because I just photographed another conference in the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque three months ago. This time it was the NACWA Winter Conference 2019. The conference was focused on clean and safe drinking water. I was hired to photograph the awards ceremony and a few other tangential events like 1-on-1 networking, and a reception after the awards, I liked how the organizers had me photograph the award recipients before the actual ceremony, so we could take our time and get the best shots possible, not trying to keep everyone together and looking at the camera in the split second on stage after receiving the award. You can see the lighting setup this allowed me to use below.
Read MoreWhat 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.
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