Archive for the ‘Special Events’ Category

Bastille Day – Alliance Francaise d’Atlanta

July 12, 2010

bastilleday071010_0001“J’mapplle Shari”!

is what I should have had a name tag reading!  That’s what all the volunteers and staff of the Alliance Francaise d’Atlanta were wearing on Saturday when I was shooting their annual Bastille Day celebration at Atlantic Station!  The celebration was held on the 17th & 18th floors of 201 Atlantic Station, otherwise known as the Nelson-Mullins offices.  I get to shoot here quite frequently now for Mogul PR and the view of downtown Atlanta is spectacular on the terrace.  Here was our beautiful view on Saturday…bastilleday071010_0005

Steven and I even had a friend take a rare photo of us together on the terrace. ;o)  bastilleday071010_0115

As with all things French, the food was magnifique!  Plenty of wine, h’ordourves and of course beautiful flowers.  Love the sunflowers and peacock feathers that gave an exotic but French country feeling to the affair..bastillev5bastillev6bastillev7bastilleday071010_0023bastilleday071010_0021

And no self-respecting French celebration would be complete without DESSERT!  OMG, I had to try so hard not to partake – I only had the creme brulee, ok?  And some mixed fruit that was put out for the crepe station! Agggghhhh!  Formidable!batillev4bastilleday071010_0049

This event is held every year to raise money for the Alliance Francaise d’Atlanta.  The monies raised go towards education and resources to foster intellectual and artistic exchanges between the French-speaking world and local communities.  The foundation offers classes in language and cooking and sponsors several trips to France each year.  In order to raise money, the Bastille Day tickets include the array of food and drink as well as entertainment and both silent and live auctions for bidding on fine art, dining, and luxury items like destination villas and fine jewelry!  I wish I had some money to donate!  Some of the items up for bidding were amaaaaaaazing. Really wanted that week in the Tuscan villa…

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My favorite items though had to be the jewelry from Baccarrat!  I had no idea that they made such beautiful pieces.  One set was auctioned off for $800 and retailed at over $2,000!  I loved it!bastilleday071010_0075

There was also a magician, Rick Silver, performing astounding tricks (awesome slight of hand Rick, you amazed me and Steven!) and my favorite caricature artist, Tony Smith, was on hand whipping out lightning fast likenesses of the guests!bastillev2Daniel Wolff, President speaking before the crowd prior to the live auction event.bastilleday071010_0190

And the auction begins!

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At night after the auction, the crowd boogied down to some great music and the beautiful view of the city got even more breathtaking at night.bastilleday071010_0253bastilleday071010_0246bastilleday071010_0270

Here’s all the lovely ladies of the Alliance Francaise d’Atlanta!  Your hard work made for a spectacular and successful event!  Vive La France!bastilleday071010_0286

To see all the images of this event and order prints, please visit the online gallery here: http://pictage.com/871404

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Dream Ride 2010 – Fast, Fabulous Fun!

June 8, 2010

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Well, what an amazing event and definitely worth getting up early on a Saturday morning for this night owl!  For the first time, I was invited to shoot the “Dream Ride for Kids” hosted each year by Ferrari-Maserati of Atlanta and sponsored by several local Atlanta businesses to benefit Camp Sunshine, CURE, and the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House.  The owners of fine and exotic vehicles from all over the country give rides to children from these organizations for the ride of their dreams!  From Season’s 52 at Perimeter Mall to the dealership in Alpharetta, these cars traveled up 400 via a HUGE police escort – officers from Roswell, Marietta, Alpharetta, and Dunwoody provided smooth sailing and well, er, very very speedy deliveries!  dreamride02

The children had fun walking around, looking at the cars and talking to the owners before everyone was matched up with a driver and car.dreamride01

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One lucky little lady even got a Ferrari Teddy Bear from her driver!  As if riding in his baby blue Ferrari convertible wasn’t enough – that grin is going to last for a long, long time.

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Then it was time to load up and peel out!dreamride060510_0162

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So, I drove up 400 with them, about a third of the way into the group of 70+ cars – slowing down to get some side shots out my window of the kids giving me the thumbs up and waving. NEXT year, I think I’ll shoot from the back of our pick up and have Steven drive me! That was TOUGH!  I was steering with one hand, shooting with the other – not easy and very dangerous but I survived!dreamride060510_0187dreamride060510_0184dreamride060510_0185dreamride060510_0189dreamride060510_0195

We arrived at the dealership and I jumped out to get cars pulling in and all the fun stuff they had waiting for the kids.  An Army helicopter, miniature ponies and a cook out in the service bay! The line up of cars around the dealership was impressive.  These folks love doing this every year for the kids and it shows – they come from all over the US!

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dreamride060510_0263There was also a silent auction (some really great items!) and the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders were on hand to take votes for the People’s Choice Award for best car/driver!dreamride04dreamride03dreamride06

When it was time for the helicopter to take off and return to base, the drivers moved their cars and everyone gathered for the “show”….dreamride060510_0392dreamride07

This event was sooooo much fun that I’m marking it on my calendar for next year!  Hopefully, I can shoot a wedding in the evening afterwards! ;o)

Take a look at even more of the fun in this slideshow below, then click through to see the gallery on Facebook!

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200 Peachtree – A Vision From the Past, A Peek Into the Future!

April 3, 2010

Picture 1I am a native Atlantan, so visiting 200 Peachtree this week on Tuesday was not just a job, it was like stepping into a time machine for me.

When Allison Schultz, the Social Sales Manager of the new 200 Peachtree, contacted me for a photo opportunity, she told me they would be giving tours to the local Atlanta FROG chapter (Facility Rental Operators Group) of the site, I was there in a heartbeat. What I didn’t know was where the construction was in the process!  I arrived on Tuesday with my gear, as always prepared to shoot whatever, and Allison had me don a hard hat for my personal tour.  OH!  It’s still under construction!

My first view of the soon to be Grand Atrium:200ptree033010_0002

Oh wow!  Still under construction and at a mind-boggling pace, the first event is to be held here on June 5th!  Allison showed me all around and explained the enhancements and preservation going on here simultaneously.  They are preserving the marble floor and filling in damaged areas and patching areas that used to have counters for products.  The plywood on the floor is to help preserve what is not damaged while construction continues.

To be able to see the progress of this space and soon-to-be-venue was an incredible opportunity.  Here I was standing in a very historical place – a building 83 years old this year, it used to be the old “Macy’s” department store of Atlanta and many “firsts” were noted in between it’s walls.  Macy’s finally closed their doors here in 2003 and it has been waiting since then for new life.  The “deconstruction” began just over a year ago, January of 2009, and now the reconstruction is at a blindly rapid pace as the crews work overtime to meet their deadlines.

As the focal points of the Grand Atrium, the 14 foot chandeliers will lend a regal sophistication to this space usually reserved for palaces!  The chandeliers originally hung in the Herald Square Macy’s in New York. They were removed and stored during WWII to conserve energy and then restored and hung in the Atlanta Macy’s store in 1985.  I cannot WAIT to see these beauties lit up!  I’m imagining all sorts of shots by the twinkle of their crystal light…vertgrand

Of course, I quickly became obsessed with the golden stained glass windows.  I am hoping that there will be SOME access to getting up close to them since I’ve already envisioned amazing silhouettes in front of them.

And then we ascended to the second level.  The escalators -which were the first ever escalators in a retail building – are not functioning while construction is going on so it was quite eerie (and VERY dusty) holding on to a still escalator covered in plastic (and dust). vertcolumns As we climbed levels, Allison tells about the restoration and duplication of the signature balcony railing.  They will keep the original railing and have it recreated to contain the other two sides of the balcony as well.  While shooting this section, I began to feel a deja vu…200ptree033010_0012

It’s not like I’ve actually been on the Titanic of course, but remembering the scene from the James Cameron movie where you see the railing of the ship in “life” and then the frame morphs into the shot of the railing under water, I felt sort of like that was what I was looking at – a land version of the Titanic being raised from the depths of history.   Here is one of the signature medallions up close.  Perhaps the last time I will see it before it undergoes restoration.200ptree033010_0014

This is the [restricted] view from the side balcony where the signature railing will be replicated and added.200ptree033010_0063

Now it was time for the tours to begin!  Put on your hard hats!200ptree033010_0028200ptree033010_0071

I toured several more times that day – so that I could even answer questions from the group!  vertbw200ptree033010_0072200ptree033010_0048200ptree033010_0057

It was also fun looking at all the interior design boards that mocked up the look and texture of the new spaces. This venue will have a bridal suite that is to die for!200ptree033010_0024

This will be THE premier venue of Atlanta and a shining star of sustainability, too.  They will be able to host a 1,000 person seated dinner!  It is HUGE – with three spaces and thousands of square feet to accommodate the largest of events, I’m sure I’ll be recommending 200 Peachtree to many of my clients and friends looking for an event space on a grand scale.  Definitely contact Allison Schultz for more information.  I can’t wait until my next visit to see what progress has been made!

You can click HERE to see my whole album from the tours that day!

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Anna & Eva: Dual Baptism and One Year Party!

January 8, 2010

I am so blessed and honored to still be a part of the Burton-Kallis family!  After photographing Stephanie and Nicolas’s wedding in 2004, I never would have dreamed that 5 years later, I would be documenting the first year of their adorable twins, Anna & Eva.  I truly love all of them and so happy to be a part of their growing family!

November and December were a busy celebration time for the family! The girls were baptized at the Greek Orthodox church on November 14th.  This is one of my favorite churches in Atlanta -not only because it offers beautiful natural light in a round sanctuary, but because I am also given quite a bit of freedom to shoot.  Usually the church rules about photography are something like, “Don’t get in the priests’ way.”  I can handle that!  I don’t want to get in anybody’s way or block the view of the guests either!

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I also enjoy all the traditions of the Greek Church. ( I once traveled to Greece for a month and felt like I’d been there before -a  total deja vu!)  Now, as I captured the girls’ baptism, I was learning and seeing new traditions I had not known of before.  They start the ceremony before they even enter the sanctuary.kallis111409_0236kallis11

After the girls are welcomed into the church, they proceeded to the altar with their proud parents bringing up the rear.  I’m not sure if they’ve ever had a double baptism here before but it was eventful – double your fun!kallis111409_0277kallis111409_0272

The babies are adorned with olive oil on certain parts of their little bodies – to make them too slippery for evil spirits to grab hold of them.kallis10

After drying off, a quick snip of their hair is an offering to God as a gift for receiving His blessings.

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After circling the baptismal font, the girls are given their first Eucharist.kallis12kallis111409_0401

When the girls had been blessed and accepted as members of the church, it was time to go celebrate – GREEK STYLE! – at Kyma, one of my favorite restuarants!kallis09kallis111409_0456kallis07

Anna & Eva had several guests at their reception that were also twins!  There were three sets of twins in the house!  I love these twin boys peering into the girls’ strollers to say hi.kallis06kallis111409_0485kallis111409_0492

Stephanie’s dad, the girls’ grandfather, gave a touching toast to the families.kallis111409_0516

It was such a fun event and you can see more photos of the day in this cool slideshow below!

One Year Birthday Party!

kallis122009_0767I was invited back to join the family to celebrate Anna & Eva’s one year birthday party.  I cannot believe how time has flown by!  I KNOW it’s cliche, but seriously, one year?  I remember sitting at my desk and getting the email that they had been born – Christmas Eve Eve last year.  I was so happy for Stephanie and Nicolas!  TWO beautiful girls and each one looked like mom and dad. ;o)  Here you go – two of everything from now on! kallis03 I took a few portraits of the girls with their adorable birthday outfits in front of the Christamas tree.  Custom purple and pink tutus that Stephanie ordered and how about those plushy crowns!  So freakin’ cute!!!!kallis04kallis02kallis122009_0632kallis122009_0632When the guests started arriving, the girls scrambled to see who had shown up ;o): kallis122009_0679kallis122009_0655 Then it was time for cake and gifts!  Each girl had their own one-year cupcake and candle to blow out. But surprisingly, they didn’t make too much of a mess!kallis122009_0732kallis122009_0808kallis122009_0830 I don’t know who had more fun with this great gift – the girls or Stephanie! ;o)kallis05 Thanks so much for letting me capture the girls’ special moments this year!  I’m so proud and honored to be a part of your lives!  Check out more fun from the birthday celebration in the slideshow below!

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Ferrari Atlanta Holiday Event

December 23, 2009

ferrariatl121609__0015Last month I was asked to cover the Ferrari Atlanta Holiday Event this year!  Even for a gal like me (I only know enough about cars to get me in trouble ;o), it was an exciting opportunity.  The PR host I was working for was Mogul PR and other sponsors included Luciano’s, Roche Bobois, Brown & C0., & Grey Goose Vodka – who offered an open bar all evening and served up [what looked like] luscious holiday spirits. Here are some of the shots from last Wednesday night.

Yes, the Enzo was the “star” of the evening – with only 72 in North America, it was definitely making the guests put it on their mental Christmas list for Santa!ferrariatl121609__0122ferrariatl121609__0053ferrariatl121609__0134

Christmas list in the making…ferrariatl121609__0183

Roche Bobois supplied several seating vignettes for the guests. I wanted to take home the swirl occasional table…ok, the red and white chairs, too.ferrari02ferrariatl121609__0058ferrariatl121609__0055

Bright bling and exquisite time pieces were on display from Brown & Co.  One of the watches was $97,000.  I think they came with their own police officer to the event!ferrariatl121609__0065ferrari04ferrariatl121609__0085ferrari01ferrari03ferrariatl121609__0032ferrariatl121609__0127

OK, I get that they didn’t hand out Ferrari’s for party favors but why couldn’t they give me one of the cute Ferrari bears?ferrari06ferrariatl121609__0009ferrariatl121609__0024ferrari05

Sean Clinkscales of Seven Creative Media Group, Shafiqul Hai of Scottish Tobacco Fine Cigars were selling and handing out some cigars. So, I got at least one party favor!ferrariatl121609__0143

Stephanie Fleitas, Ralph Herrera of Lanza Group, Karina Gilpin, and Ines Bonell

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Nima Bagheri, Ken Wingerter, Mike Johnson, Mac Maritir Ossianferrariatl121609__0185

What a great evening with some cool cars, amazing people and contacts in the PR industry!  You can see more images from this event and other Mogul PR events by clicking HERE.

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Liquid: A Networking Event

October 13, 2009

liquid100809_0002Last month, I was called on by The Atlantan magazine to cover a weeknight corporate networking function. When I arrived, I was surprised that there were three other photographers there covering the same [small] event! We were all shooting for different companies but it was quite funny to me as we were shooting the same things- and people.
I turned my images into Atlantan and was surprised to hear from the CEO of Mogul PR, Ryan Hattaway. He wanted me to cover more events for him. ;o) This is “Liquid”, held on the rooftop terrace of the Pinnacle building in Buckhead. What a veiw!liquid100809_0082liquid2

Ryan and his company host and coordinate a series of corporate networking functions for different groups of companies. Each event is sponsored by several groups and there are speakers who give a short, motivational speech about their company and what they’re doing to survive this current economy.  This month’s speakers included Will Campbell, General Manager of Maserati Atlanta and Hall of Famer, Dominique Wilkin’s of the Atlanta Hawks!liquid100809_0164liquid100809_0190liquid4

I also covered the “Type A” event at Dolce last month where I met some folks from “eco” companies.  I’ll be blogging about some great discoveries I made at that event, too!  Here are some more images from October’s “Liquid”.  This is Ken Wingerter of the Wingerter Group, UBS – a wedding client of mine. liquid3liquid100809_0176liquid100809_0094liquid100809_0016liquid1liquid100809_0219liquid100809_0223

For more information about Mogul PR and their services, check out their web site HERE.

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Brand New Site, Brand New Blog – Again!!!!

October 10, 2009

Once again, I have a new blog.  New technology and information has always been something that I don’t immediately embrace.  Not because I don’t think it’s cool or fun but rather, it’s daunting to me!  But when I put my mind to it, I try to catch up!  This new blog like my new site has HUGE photos!  I’m lovin’ that!   I want to thank my good friend, Hilarye Schoyt of Fotographa, for giving me the encouragement I needed (and a teeny bit of hand holding) to get this new blog GOING!  So, a new post!

Atlantan Brides: An Evening of Bridal Luxury

What an amazing opportunity!  The magazine, Atlantan Brides, offers a unique event for brides every year – The Evening of Bridal Luxury.  This is not your typical bridal show!  I was so honored to be asked to participate and to my surprise, it’s a team effort!   We were assigned to teams to display your services to the brides in the form of a table-scape in the ballroom of the chic Hotel Palomar.  My teammates were some wonderful people (LADIES;) – some I have worked with and some I had not.  Our team was assigned the theme of “Contemporary Elegance”.  For our consultant, we had the lovely Jeannine Kennedy of Favor Events.  Our AMAZING florist was my friend, Monique Escudie, of Blossoms Atlanta.  The stationary & menu cards for our settings were by Stephanie Wilson of Signatures by Stephanie.  And of course, I was the team’s photographer – providing a framed image of our “bride” and for the favors on the table, I supplied a set of tiny, black satin photo albums that also served as our escort cards!

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Monique gave us a stunning style sheet and we immediately agreed to use her ideas.  Our team was the first to put in their linen order!  This design was really very much “me”. I loved the black, white, and silver with a punch of color in only the flowers.  It made an enormous impact and we had tons of compliments!  At one point, I think five brides were taking photos of our table at the same time!  The details were so unique, right down to these glass globe ornaments inside of which she floated individual blossoms of different flowers.luxedouble1

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Ahhh, and the bling of course.  Our table definitely had the bling goin’ on.  From the brooch on the satin chair ties to the rhinestone buckle belly bands on the invitations, our table certainly glittered magically!atlantaneol092709_0023luxe2

There were other amazing table-scapes there, too of course.  Another stunning table by JWilbur of EventScapes Atlanta.atlantaneol092709_0089luxewinter

A dramatic and gothic, yet shabby-chic look by Michelle Gainey of Lemiga Events and her team.luxecobaltatlantaneol092709_0163

The “Eco” table was by Ashley Baber’s team.atlantaneol092709_0116luxeeco

This vision in high key whites and plum was reaching for the sky!atlantaneol092709_0147luxeyplum

Last but not least, the colorful, whimsical table – fun!atlantaneol092709_0132atlantaneol092709_0145atlantaneol092709_0142The Event Design Group really went all out decking the halls of the Hotel Palomar.  The food was beautifully displayed on buffets lit from within.luxetreesatlantaneol092709_0214luxfood1

Finally, a fashion show! These were my two favorite dresses – yah, I know – night and day from each other!  I just thought the pink dress was magnificent since you don’t often see real couture at bridal shows.  The black and white dress just really caught my eye with the cute detail “flounce” at the back.  fash2fash1

It was a wonderful event and I am really looking forward to next year!!!!

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Posted in Shows, Special Events, Weddings | 3 Comments »