The Fashiontographer launch event raised $2,800 for the Shoot for Change Scholarship at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre.

60x40 canvas photos on display during the launch.

Handmade Fashion week greeting cards and ABT brochures.

Taking photos of the guests for the fashion editorial.

Susannah and Emily helped me at the front desk by checking people in and taking payments.

Jessica, one of Fashiontographer's correspondents.  She was also the first person who interviewed me in DC when she was writing for NBC Washington.

Micky and Shahab - always great supporters.

Stephanie, Micky, and Angie.  Always supportive!

Naiffer, Anastasia, and David helped me take photos of the guests.

Jacket: HUGO BOSS, Slim Fit Amaro/Heise Suit
;  Shirt: Banana Republic Slim fit non-iron textured
;  Tie: Ben Sherman skinny tie
;  Tie clip: Banana Republic; 
Pants: ZARA, Basic Slim Jeans; 
Shoes: Aldo

Check out all the photos here:  http://fashiontographers.com/dof/

(27 seconds):  Lacoste's show started out with this light show with a snow globe apparatus thing in the middle.  It's funny how I pull out my iPhone just before the show starts to take this video.  I almost forget to take pictures.

(22 seconds): Lacoste finale.

(17 seconds)  Carlos Miele's show. I only got the first part since I had to take photos, but the rest of the show was just like a party.  There were 2 DJs up front and it was probably one of the most fun shows/music I've seen in a fashion runway show.  Wish I had more video footage because the song was awesome.

Unlike the previous fashion weeks in New York, this time, I had a few friends come along - Jennifer Harlow, Lais Lacher, Lisa Klein, Anastasia Lambrou, Jennifer Field, and Kristin Lyle.  It was great to have someone to talk to while waiting in line for the shows and also for someone to hang out with afterwards.  I actually went to an after party at a rooftop bar, lunch with Debra Messing (she was there so that counts, right?), met a friend who lives in London and had lunch with her, brunch at the Mercer Kitchen in Soho, a private tour of the American Ballet Theatre studio, and of course photographing the latest collections from some of the top designers around the world.

Of course this sounds awesome, which it was, but I probably would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't so sick! I started to feel sick before I left for NY, and by Friday night, I had completely lost my voice.  I couldn't talk and when we were at dinner, I had to type on my phone to show what I was saying.  I'm not sure what I had, but fortunately, I didn't have a fever or anything else worse.  A runny nose, major unfashionable phlegm, and no voice for two days.

I almost got in a throwdown with this photographer from Elle magazine.  He was so arrogant and stood in front of me while standing on a box.    This eliminated any chance of me getting any sort of shot.  I told him he couldn't do that.  And all he said was "Oh yes, I can."  I was screaming but nothing was coming out.  It was comedy.  In the end, I prevailed and he let me switch with him.  These photographers think they're so entitled.  Let's face it - it's great to be shooting runway, but we're not exactly shooting a cover for Vogue Italia.  So don't act all Mario Testino on me.  On the other hand, I have met some nice and friendly folks in the pit (CNN and Getty Images photographers).

Afterwards, everyone was so stoked and wants to take Fashiontographer to another level - mainly so that they can get invited to more shows - and actually have seats, instead of standing.  The more important they think you are, the better your seats.

I'm totally all for it so hopefully next time, the Fashiontographer name will mean something more to PR folks and designers.  I'm pretty pleased considering that 7 people came with Fashiontographer.  We even got invited to the Christian Siriano fashion show and I didn't even request for a ticket.  I'm assuming they got my name through the Press list at MBFW, but since Siriano was showing offsite, I couldn't go to the show with my press badge.  So it was great that we were invited without even requesting one.  Kristin ended up going to the show and she said it was awesome.

Regardless, it was definitely fun and I can't wait to bring even more people to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York.

Shows I photographed this season, in order.

1. Nicole Miller
2. Charlotte Ronson
3. Ruffian
4. Lacoste
5. Jill Stuart
6. Mara Hoffman
7. Hervé Léger by Max Azria
8. Vantan Tokyo
9. Monique Lhuillier
10. Venexiana
11. Tracy Reese
12. Custo Barcelona
13. Diane Von Furstenberg
14. Falguni & Shane Peacock
15. Carolina Herrera
16. Carlos Miele
17. Reem Acra
18. Norisol Ferrari
19. Badgley Mischka
20. Vera Wang

Anna Wintour spotted at Carolina Herrera's show.  I hope I never take this shot for granted.

In line for the Vantan Tokyo show.  The lady is asking if we're on the "priority" list.  Typically, I'm not on any list, but for some reason, I was on the list for this show.  So I got to go inside before the other photographers.  Anastasia is trying to convince the person she's on the list too.  She was not.  Oh yeah, the lady in the black frames behind us is also a turd.  One time, I beat her to her spot (it's anybody's spot) and she started making excuses and making up stuff like the spot is just for people with tripods and I had a monopod.  She then had another friend asking me if I was "shooting".  I said, yes, I'm taking pictures.  Wait, you're NOT shooting?  WTF did I just tell you?  That was so hilarious, but I was so sick I almost threw up on her face.

Hanging out at the Plunge Rooftop Bar @ Hotel Gansevoort with Anastasia and Lais.

Plunge Rooftop Bar @ Hotel Gansevoort.  Not sure why they gave me a bottle of soysauce (I think).  But whatever.

Lunch at EATALY with Tia and Jen.  Tia used to work at BoConcept but moved to London.  She travels all the time with her husband.  She happened to be in NY during the same weekend so when she saw my Facebook post about me being in NY, she told me we should have lunch.  This was on the SAME day as my post.  When she found out Jen was there too, she was ecstatic, and Jen herself couldn't wait to get on her flight.  We all ended up meeting at EATALY with Jen coming straight from the airport - luggage and all.

Lots of photographers are outside taking photos of people going in and out of shows.

I like train tickets that say New York.

Flowers in front of Rachel Zoe's fashion presentation.  I wasn't invited to the show, but I did see Rachel Zoe while I was sitting at a bar eating a cheeseburger.  I decided not to put down the cheeseburger just to take her picture.  Priorities.  It's not like it was Valentino.

Before the Carolina Herrera show.

Lais waiting at the photographer's pit.

Anastasia is blogging while waiting in line.

Tour of American Ballet Theatre studio.  It was insane and felt like I was in a movie.  It's ABT!  Baryshnikov!

Dinner at Blue Ribbon Sushi on the first night.

Photos from The Gift of Life Project launch party at Hela Salon & Spa (January 25, 2012).  The launch party was actually a few days after I got back from Berlin Fashion Week.

The Gift of Life Project is a collaborative program that encourages women in the Washington, DC area to be proactive about their breast health.  Every person who visits Capital Breast Care Center for their mammogram will be entered into a monthly raffle for a chance to win a portrait session and several spa and salon services from Hela.  

Pretty cool!  Also, we ended up raising close to $500 that night by selling scarves and boxed cards ($40 each for the box cards).

Why go to Capital Breast Care Center? They provide comprehensive, culturally appropriate breast cancer screening services and health education to women in the DC metropolitan area, regardless of their ability to pay.  Every insured woman who receives her mammogram at CBCC helps enable an uninsured woman to receive access to breast health care services.

Delicious Parisian macarons.

The designer chocolates on the top are from Artisan Confections, which is in my apartment building.  He has a deal with the macarons guy so the macarons are delivered at Artisan Confections.  Dangerous.

Provided by Hela.

Goody bags from Hela for those who made a donation or bought a card.

This is the card that will be given to the monthly winner.  Made by an awesome sister who also moonlights as a card maker.

Lee from LLDH Home (which is next to Hela).

Susannah Fox showing off a CBCC scarf.  Susannah is the Director of Development for CBCC and has been a pretty cool friend.

Motylik and Brandii stopped by.   They work at an expensive sunglasses boutique next door.

Stephanie and Stef.  Stef is a breast cancer survivor.

In case you're wondering, I'm wearing all Hugo Boss.  And for the record, I now dress for my 7 yr old niece who thinks I'm fashionable.  Cora says: "It means you're stylish, fancy clothes, and he looks cool."

Video from the Romanian Designers show.  This, quite honestly, would never fly in NY.  The fact that his entire show was to this music was just way too much and too long.  Worse, the "fashion" was exactly the same over and over again.  I got so bored, I pulled out my iPhone to take this video.  I have NEVER stopped taking photos during a show - until this one.

From the outside.  One tent only.

Proof that I was there.  Kinda.

Fashion presentation.

Currywurst!  Only in Germany would they serve this during a fashion show.

This guy painted with his iPad, but why does he have paint on him?

Random artwork in the hallway.  Cool.

There is no doubt that the Lisner-Louise-Dickson-Hurt home is one of my favorites places to shoot. The room has just the ideal lighting conditions and with the way that it's shaped, the light bounces perfectly. This couldn't be more evident than the photo above, as we were simply trying to figure out where KMG should stand. When I noticed that she looked down while I was testing some settings, I asked her to do it again. But as many shots as we tried, it was still that first one that worked.

As a photographer, I am always trying to get that perfect shot. It's a lot like fishing, I think. I don't fish, but it has to be the same feeling. And even though you think you might have caught the perfect shot, you know deep down that there's one even better. But for me, this photograph comes as close as I could come to getting the shot that matched what was in my head.  And believe it or not, that doesn't happen as often as you think.

When I started this project, I knew that there would be so many variables. To have 30 different people agree to a schedule was a miracle in and of itself. But to have everything line up and for everyone to have the same vision in art and execution, is a testament to everyone involved.

I am so proud of what we have accomplished in such a short amount of time. I have never been more honored to work with such a great group of people. To everyone who participated in this project - the participants and the artists - I am grateful for your time, generosity, creativity, and passion. You are truly an inspiration.

In the last 6 months, these are the runway shows that I've photographed at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York and Miami.  I think these might double in September alone.

• A.Ché
• Aqua di Lara
• BCBGMAXAZRIA
• Binetti
• Caffe Swimwear
• Carolina Herrera
• Christian Siriano
• Crystal Jin
• Cynthia Rowley
• Derek Lam
• Diane von Furstenberg
• Dolores Cortés
• Farah Angsana
• G-Star Raw
• L*Space by Monica Wise
• Lela Rose
• Luca Luca
• Monique Lhuillier
• Nicholas K
• Nicole Miller
• Norman Ambrose
• Perry Ellis
• Poko Pano
• Rebecca Minkoff
• Ruffian
• Vivienne Tam
• White Sands Australia

In two months time, eleven 60x40 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week canvas pieces were purchased by the fantastic and fashionably educated crowd of the Peacock Cafe customers in Georgetown. The first time around, three pieces were sold before I could even hang them up.

Since I live in Clarendon, I thought I could also hang them up here. This time, they were on display at the dry cleaners located near my building. I thought it would be a good experiment. And it's a nice place actually and the wall was perfect for a single 60x40 piece. So I started off with the Lhuillier piece (top seller along with Anna Wintour). Their customers were excited to see the piece, but it did not sell. After a few weeks, we switched it with the Anna Wintour piece. The customers recognized the person, but again, it did not sell. The Siriano piece followed and nobody said anything. This weekend, I switched it to the DVF piece to see if anyone would recognize it. The first customer actually chatted with me because ironically enough, she was just picking up one of her DVF dresses from the cleaners. This led me to believe that the customers are pretty knowledgeable of the designers I was displaying and that they just weren't interested in buying a 60x40 canvas piece.

The owners of the dry cleaning place are very excited about my work and they love seeing it in their place of business. But they also mentioned that their women customers are less luxurious in their clothes than the men. They have about 2 or 3 women that bring in the high-dollar clothes, but for the most part, their women customers are of the Banana Republic/Ann Taylor types. There's nothing wrong with that, but I did find it a little odd that Clarendon did not have the Lhuillier/DVF crowd. I thought for sure by now that this young neighborhood would have reacted more positively to the pieces and that eventually, I would have gotten at least an email.

Could it be that they're displayed in a dry cleaner place or that the dry cleaner place is in Clarendon?  And who would have thought the men in Clarendon would have higher priced clothes than the women?

On a side note, these are the current top sellers. And for the upcoming S/S 2012 collection, I'm going to see if Michael Kors, Tory Burch, or Vera Wang can sell in Clarendon. =)

1. Anna Wintour/Herrera - 3;  Lhuillier - 3
2. Legs/NY Fashion Week - 2;  Siriano - 2
3. DVF - 1

Like the first day, our second day for the Project Inspiration photoshoot went very well. I am completely amazed by how these types of projects go without a hitch. And the one common theme when it comes to successful projects is that you have an amazing group of people who share their talents and time to make it all work. It is a humbling and amazing experience to work with such an A-List group of people.

The second day of shooting happened at L2 Lounge in Georgetown and I couldn't be more pleased that they would let us use their space. I'm extremely excited as well that the exhibit on November 16th will actually also take place there. There are a total of 17 individuals that are being photographed, styled, and made up. The fact that we haven't had any problems yet is nothing short of amazing. It's one thing to be able to plan a project, but to be successful, you need people to execute on the plan. The opportunity to work with people like Christophe Jouenne, Violetta Markelou, Tray Rogers, Brittney Tiarra, and Elaine Mensah is an incredible treat.

Additionally, I was happy when one of the participants bought the trench coat we used on her. It saved me a trip back to Banana Republic.

Trying to schedule twenty people to meet you on any day is already a daunting task, let alone when it's a Saturday and it involves stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists, and directors of several nonprofit organizations.  So the fact that we were able to photograph seven individuals in a full blown old hollywood glamour photoshoot without a single problem or issue was a testament to everyone involved.

What made it even challenging is that The Kreeger Museum was quite full of visitors for a summer day.  I'm grateful for the museum staff for keeping the traffic clear and for letting us work without any interruption.  And as always, a successful photoshoot would not be possible without a talented team behind it.  Special thanks to the wonderful team of Laura Bateman, Tray Rogers, Anastasia Lambrou, Neven Radovic, Isabel Azocar, Kenyetta Kemy Greene, and Maritza Savage. So lucky to work with so many talented people!  And to the leaders of the 7 nonprofit organizations who came out today - you were fantastic.  Can't wait for Day 2!

HAIR STYLISTS

Christophe Jouenne, Neven Radovic, Isabel Azocar,
Brittney Tiarra, Maritza Savage

MAKEUP ARTISTS

Laura Bateman, Kenyetta Greene,
Tray Rogers, Violetta Markelou

STYLISTS

Anastasia Lambrou, Elaine Mensah

PHOTOGRAPHER

Walter Grio

http://shootforchange.com/pi

During fashion week in New York, they hand out free Diet Cokes. For swimsuit fashion week in Miami, they have a free Skyy Vodka bar. Need I say more?

This was my first time in Miami, ever, and I can honestly now understand why LeBron would take his talents to South Beach. In a heartbeat, I would totally do the same. And I’d probably do a three hour special on ESPN and then give all the proceeds to charity.

The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week SWIM 2012 Miami event was held at the Raleigh Hotel on South Beach and there were two tents where the shows were held called CABAÑA GRANDE and OASIS. In between these two tents was a large resort type swimming pool with palm trees and several outdoor bars. There was no shortage of adult beverages. Lounging around this swimming pool were some of the most beautiful people you’ve ever seen. And we’re not even talking about the models.


With the beach all around you and beautiful people on your sights, one would think this would be paradise. And it is. But when you’re photographing a major fashion production such as the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, it is not all paradise. Just as in New York, there is plenty of waiting. I do have to admit that the free Skyy Vodka bar helped alleviate some of the waiting. But at the same time, I’m quite surprised I didn’t pass out in between shows. =)

Unlike New York, when you’re waiting to get in a show in Miami, you’re actually standing on a sandy beach with all of your photography gear. And when you’re carrying a ton of gear, the beach starts to feel like a desert. After a while, you can hear other media folks screaming “Just let us in!” and “Oh my God, I’m gonna die out here.” At first you laugh at them because how silly can you be when you’re out here photographing fashion week featuring swimsuit models and there’s a free Skyy Vodka bar? But I do know what they mean. I would have preferred to be mingling with the pretty people rather than wait in line with other photographers to save my spot only to stand tightly next to them on the media riser like sweaty sardines.


In some ways, they are correct. It is a ton of work and you do have to wait an awfully long time to get in the air-conditioned tents. And of course, once you get in the air-conditioned tents, you have to wait some more. It is quite inevitable that there’s waiting involved when it comes to a fashion show.

Considering that this was only my second Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week event, I was pretty pleased with all of my shots. I learned a lot while shooting the one in New York so I applied those lessons in this one. The first one was to bring my wheeled Gator hard case so that I didn’t have to carry my gear. I could wheel them around like a suitcase. Unfortunately, this lesson also generated another lesson - you can’t wheel things around when you’re on a beach. When you’re in Miami, bring a backpack.

However, I was able to use my hard case while I was on the media-riser. I could stand on it and give me an extra foot or two to be higher and shoot over the other photographers. Brilliant. The other lesson I learned was to have a monopod. This is similar to a tripod except it has one leg and it is quite helpful to get steady shots. But more importantly, when you’re shooting six shows back to back to back, it can definitely help lighten the load.

Overall, it was a great trip. I didn’t think I would notice the difference between the swimsuits. By the end of each night, I could actually tell which were better and how they were different from each other. Then again, maybe it was because I was stopping by the free Skyy Vodka bar every single time after each show.

You can view the SWIM 2012 photos here:
http://shootforchange.smugmug.com/MBFW/MBFW-Miami-SWIM-2012