Blog

Dear Readers:

I love hearing each person’s story. When did you discover that working in events was your passion?

My grandfather was a wedding and studio photographer. He passed away about 8 months prior to my birth, but I always remember looking at old photographs as a teen and immediately being drawn to wanting to capture as powerful moments for family and friends. As the years progressed, I realized that I have musically and visually artistic talents and deeply enjoyed learning how the businesses operated. This passion always translated into working many jobs throughout school – always with a camera in hand.

What did you do beforehand?

I have been photographing forever, but I did not always know that it was my true passion and would be my profession one day. I started my career out on Wall Street on the sell side trading floors. Throughout all of it, however, photography was always present in my life and I continued to capture anything and everything that I could.

Tell us about your biggest event success.

A key personal success that I require for every shoot is to give 100% to my subjects and to ensure that my energy has provided optimum customer satisfaction. Working with non-profit organizations and charities has been an extremely rewarding experience; I particularly enjoy working with the Orphaned Starfish Foundation. Covering their annual gala at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City has nationalized some of my images in well known magazines and media and provided invaluable recognition, new clientele and personal satisfaction to my own success criteria.

I believe that each of us have something unique and special to offer clients. What do you feel sets you apart from everyone else?

I believe having business and technology background, an entrepreneurial mindset and a photojournalistic eye are qualities I enjoy having in my arsenal. My dedication and motivation to utilize all of my skill-sets collectively creates an inner desire that ensures I can be present throughout the entire event. I pride myself on these values that results in repeat clientele yearly. A satisfied customer, many of whom become my friends, is the utmost gratification I can ask for.

Working in events is often a full time job, especially when you are committed to your clients. How do you find that balance between your personal and professional life?

A common rule of thumb is to work as hard as you play and play as hard as you work. For me, that means staying close with friends and family, as well as maintaining a healthy life by eating and exercising regularly. I enjoy taking advantage of the non-prototypical workday by having the ability to take my 5 year old daughter to school and activities, going to the gym frequently, sunning, playing baseball and socializing with friends. In between these activities I am always working, which often results in editing photos later in evenings, shooting all day or answering emails early morning and sporadically throughout the day.  I love the mystery of what each day will bring and the stress free flexibility works for me!

Finally, describe the event of your dreams.  What is the budget, theme and location?

I know that my time in this life is geared towards helping people experience and document their unforgettable milestones. Bigger events with more moving pieces and uncertainty certainly challenges and excites me, especially when the event is one that incorporates New York City. The Big Apple, my hometown, allows me to showcase the many elements of vintage, retro styled weddings and events with breathtaking settings!

(Photography courtesy of Dan Marino Photography.)