The baby got a new hat.

I am lucky enough to live with my goddaughter Esme. She is 10 months old. She is super cute, and either happy or screaming, there is very little in between with her. Her aunties, Helen and Lib, came over and brought tons of stuff for her, including this new hat. I just love how dramatic she is being in this shot. And her head looks GIANT. She is a cute one.

I love these, and I totally forgot about them.

I was in the health food store yesterday and I saw these and remembered that I LOVE the pumpkin seeds. The are made by Go Raw. They are raw pumpkin seeds that are sprouted, dried and salted. There is something about them that makes them addictive. They are the most simple things but the flavor is complex. Oh, and they are supposed to be good for you. The are "live" so I guess all the enzymes are in tact, or whatever all this raw and live stuff is about. The healthiness aside, they taste great and are easy to carry around.

Enjoy!

PS The sesame seeds are good to but nowhere near the pumpkin.

Year in Review

I don't know about you, but I had a great time in 2007. I decided to take a look back at what I had done. A couple of these shots are already in other posts, but most are new. I threw together a quick greatest hits from this past year. I forgot I had shot a bunch of these events and people. Let's take a walk down memory lane and see if anything jogs my memory further.


Oh the Mayor. The first billionaire in this recap. Once he told me that he used to be a WWD subscriber. I was kinda surprised and impressed. I shoot for the paper and I don't read it that much.

Vera got down. I was surprised at this as well. It was early in the night and there weren't many people on the dance floor. Didn't stop her from going for it. It have a new found respect for her.

When I grow up I want to have James Turrell design a pool for the basement of my guest house. The hosts admitted that they keep their workout equipment here normally and moved it out for the party. The strips of light are all over that floor and slowly cycle through different colors. It was amazing.

Cynthia Steffe is a sweetheart.

I had to put in this head to toe of Michelle Williams. Are those pants or culottes? Who can tell? Whatever they are she was working them.

Later that night at the BCBG Max Azria party Michelle sat next to Tinsley.

Thom Browne, also in culottes. Kidding. He was wearing some of his trademark high-waters.

Newlyweds John Dempsey and Verushka. I just love that her name is Verushka. There is something so big white fur hat, and vodka about that name.

I can see why Iman is a super model. She glows. She is a total pro as well. I could tell that she knew where the cameras were while carrying on her conversation, and her companion was none the wiser. An amazingly elegant woman.

Below is a little eye candy to cleanse the pallet. This trip down memory lane has had a bunch of rich and famous people. It can be exhausting looking at all of them at once, so now we are going to chill at the rest stop that is cute boy for a moment. This is Jarred Sper one of the principals in NYC's best event staffing company Choice Productions.

Thanks for the bubbly Jarred, now back to the work at hand.

Rachel Weisz at the Narciso Rodriguez after party.

Rachel and Claire Danes. Other photographers are kinda scared of Claire. I gather that she doesn't love to get her photo take while she is out, and the press photographers are cognisant of that. She has always been fine to me.

Narciso and Jessica Seinfeld.

Andre Leon Talley

Boy Break! I would LOVE some merlot please.

Just a quick shout to David Beahm and Christina Mettucci. These kids were having an 80's moment at the Tunnel on Halloween.

50 Cent (see October for more)

By far the best party of the year for me (and anyone else who was there) was the God's Love We Deliver volunteer party. God's Love is an agency that was started in the 1980's to deliver meals to people living with AIDS. They have expanded to people with other health needs. I have been volunteering for almost a year there. I get to work in the kitchens on Monday afternoon. It is lots of fun. We get alot done and have a laugh while doing it.

The volunteers are good people, open and giving. There was a dinner, and a raffle. The real fun started after though, when the DJ began to spin house classics. I have never seen a party start like this. The music began and everyone was on the dance floor going full tilt.

It was 7:30 on a Tuesday and everyone was dancing.

There was some carrying-on as well.

I was on a high after this party for days. It was one of those events that made me understand why I love this job. I am so blessed that I have the change to work at an organization like God's Love. Not only was the party a blast, but I got surprised with a box of Chuck's famous brownies . Chuck is a baker at God's Love and his brownies are legendary.

I shot a job for Choice Productions. I love this shot. I think it shows the level service that they provide.

OK, back to celebs. The funny thing about shooting an Olsen twin is knowing which one it is. This is Mary-Kate. You kind of have to ask around cause you don't want to say "So, which one are you hon?" They are hounded by the paparazzi. I felt kinda bad taking her picture. She was at a friend's party supporting him, like any normal person, except she was getting photographed going into the party, at the party, and again on her way out. I took some shots and she was gracious about it.

Leah and Jason; talk about a cute couple (see September for full details). Those kids are so in love after like 7 years together. I joked with them that their house is just a bunch of sofas and that all they do is pick which one to make out on, and then make out. "Hey sweetie, do you want to make out on the Crate and Barrel ultra suede sofa or the Mies daybed?" "The daybed." "OK" Smooch.

We all should be so fortunate.

Here is a great glowing bar that Carolyn Bender did at a birthday party in Westchester. It was beautiful and a perfect night to have a drink by the pool.

This was a great event, an 80's themed anniversary party with special musical guest The B-52's. The band was great and the clients were super sweet. For more pictures see November.

Shooting the former president was kind of a trip. There is something about a president that is special. For more see October.

OK, another boy break. This time it is a bunch of the guys from Choice. This picture ran in the NY Observer (the other peach one). They did a big spread on Choice and ran this shot spanning the bottom of the page.

The star studded CFDA party at Bergdorf brought many top designers to the store during the height of fashion week. Jim Gold chats with Diane Von Furstenberg (above), Carolina Herrera and Michael Kors were also in attendance.


There is nothing like shooting a diva-if she will let you (I'm looking at you Gladys Knight). Lauren Bacall was no exception. She was not happy with something my editor had said and I could tell that it was going to be a delicate situation. I somehow managed to lend a sympathetic ear and she was OK with me shooting her. She looks great, and now anytime someone warns me that their step father is a problem or that aunt Susan doesn't like anyone I smile and think "If I can handle Lauren Bacall...."

Anderson Cooper is even more of a puppy in person. He is one of those people that photograph differently then they look in person. Anderson's features are more rounded in person. America's boyfriend looks angular through the lens, but in person, not so much. Total puppy dog.
Finally I leave you with a cute boy, this time sans shirt. So many times I am around male models and they insist on wearing their shirt. Useless. Here is a little shirtless eye candy to finish off the year. It was a birthday party and someone decided that their gift would be a lap dance. My birthday is coming up real soon!


Thanks for stopping by. I am looking forward to an even better 2008 and I wish you the same.

Recipe Alert!!!!

This just came in from Alysia Reiner. She says that she melts truffle butter and puts it on popcorn with parmesan and parsley. I can't wait to try it.

Thanks Alysia.

Best Sunscreen

I know many of you are going out of town to somewhere warm now that the holidays are over. I wanted to share my favorite brand of sunscreen.
I first heard about this from a friend. One of the active ingredients (Mexorly) was only recently approved for use in the US, despite years of use in Europe. It is great at blocking UVA radiation. I got my hands on some when it was illegal and got hooked. I got people to bring it back for me from France any time they went.

Although the key ingredient is now available in the US, I have tried a couple of different brands, and this is still the best. The amazing thing about it is the super light texture.

I suggest the SPF 100 Milk, or SPF 50+.

Enjoy.

If you are on my Christmas list, do not read this!

"Why buy one, when you can have two at twice the price."

When I find something I love I get obsessed with it. If this happens around the holidays I end up giving everyone that thing so that they can start loving it as much as I do.

This year is no exception. I am head over heals, and it's with truffle butter.


I was chatting with Marissa Drago from Balducci's and she told me about it. I tried it and that was it. This is the perfect gift; too decadent to buy for oneself, but something that the recipient will use and think of you fondly.

Two small pucks of the stuff (one with white and the other black truffle) come in a pack. And costing less then a lap dance (or martini) this gift is a great value, especially considering that people will think you are posh for even knowing where to get anything with truffles in it.

If you are on my list, I am sorry I ruined the surprise, I suspect that once you have a taste you will be willing to forgive a multitude of my sins.

Mitzvah Set Up

I shot the set up for a mitzvah yesterday. The event was produced by my favorite planner/caterer Carolyn Bender. David Beahm did the design. The party was at a country club in Westchester. The kids area had what can only be described as monoliths of chocolate on the table. That room smelled amazing. It was like shooting in Willy Wonka's factory. I think David hired some oompa loompas to work on this one. I kept looking over my shoulder expecting to see Johnny Depp with those big glasses and even bigger teeth walking around.

The table when you first came in was made of hay bales. I was just up on the farm the day before for Thanksgiving and had helped my father move the hay elevator in to the barn. I had a bit of a flashback.


David's team did a much prettier job stacking hay then I did as a kid. The whole thing was beautiful.


Inside the dining room was great as well.


The tablecloths were gray flannel and to tie it all together there were, what else, more hay bales! They killed me because I had to cut and put up hay with my family every summer. I moved to the city to get away from the stuff and now it is following me.


Carolyn always does a great candy table for the end of a mitzvah, and this one was no exception.

Barbie Party at Pat Field's

The Boys from MAO PR threw a party last night with Mattel and Pat Field to launch a new line of clothing and accessories that Pat has designed for Barbie.

The clothes are cheeky (like this black tee with silver sparkle font).

The colors for the party were pink and (oh what was the other one)? Oh yeah, PINK. Pink balloons, the walls were pink, pink gels on the lights, and the food; pink.

It is hard to see past the pink coconut shavings, but those are slices of strawberry with cream cheese piped on top and finished with pink sprinkles.

Ken was there too. At least in spirit. They got model/waiters and made them up to look like dolls.

At these event celebs often RSVP and then don't show, and some one else that you weren't told would be there shows up. This was no different, I was on the look out for any of the Sex and the City girls, a natural since Pat did the costumes and they are in NY shooting. None of them showed, however Jorja Fox from CSI was there. I chatted with her and snapped a couple of shots. She said that she is in town for the strike and would be on the picket line here in the city. She was one of the most humble people I have ever met. I was amazed.