Shalom Hartman Institute | Full Day Conference - January 27, 2020

On Monday, I photographed another full day conference for Shalom Hartman Institute at their Morningside Heights Manhattan, NY office. Most of the photos were candids and some were a bit more staged. The staged photos aimed to show “engagement” and a “shared learning experience”, all of the keywords I often hear in Higher Education Photography. During this conference, I had more time and flexibility to photograph the conference participants in posed groups.

Event Photographers play a large part in helping an organizations marketing/advertising messaging hit home.

As a NYC event photographer, I always strive to photograph the “5 Ws”; Who, What, Where, When, and Why. I want to photograph who attended the event, where was the event, what was the event’s purpose, when was the event, and why was there an event and not a zoom meeting. For an event photographer, their schedule can be jammed packed with assignments, especially at full day conferences. Other times, the event he/she is photographing can be slow. None the less, it is my job to tell the story of the event and show the event in its best light.

Joseph Lieberman | Yale Club NYC

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, who represented Connecticut in the Senate from 1989 to 2013 and was chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, spoke to Yale alumni at the Yale Club in New York City. I photographed the event from the sides of the room and from several empty seats in the back of the room.

As an event photographer my job is to discreetly photograph the event as it happens and not to be distracting.

Playing the role of the Yale Club NYC Event Photographer for the evening I really tried to photograph all angles and perspectives. I photograph from the sides of the event, behind the speakers (remote camera), above the audience and through the audience, to make it feel like you too were sitting in the audience as you view my photos.

Link to the full story

Downtown Minyan New Torah Completion

The Downtown Minyan celebrated the completion of their new Sephardic Torah at their NYU Bronfman Center location. The group welcomed both members of their congregation, as well as the community to take part in the prayer scrolls completion. For me, it was a real honor to have photographed this event. This was the second torah completion ceremony I was able to photograph for the Downtown Minyan and the third torah completion I had the privilege of photographing in 2019.

Event photography is more than photographing great photos. A good event photographer photographs emotion and memories.

After the group finished the last few characters they celebrated and paraded their new torah through Washington Square Park. Knowing my photos will be used in 5, 10, 50, or even 100 years to tell future generations about this moment is what makes my job as an Event Photographer in New York City so great.

Hamlisch Awards - The First Annual | NYC Event Concert Photographer

The Hamlisch Awards were hosted and cosponsored by Queens College. The awards celebrate young emerging composers from around the world and were created to honor the late Marvin Hamlisch, paying tribute to his legacy as both an artist and an advocate for emerging musicians.

NYC Event Photography - Event Photographer is one of the best jobs.

My goal as a NYC based Event Photographer is to photograph the moments that matter. In doing so, I want to photograph the Who, What, Where, When, and Why of the event. My photos, in order to be successful, must show excitement, energy, and purpose throughout the event. These are the characteristics of great photos. Event photographers are hired to produce images that can be used in marketing and advertising materials. NYC’s best event photographs are hired because their images tell an interesting and engaging story, and get people interested in an event.

A History of the Hamlisch Awards

Started in 2013, the awards began as the Marvin Hamlisch Film Scoring Contest, presented by the Washington, DC-based nonprofit CINE. Hundreds of composers from around the world submitted their work to be selected as an emerging media composer. In 2019, the Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards expanded their contest’s impact, adding three additional categories. Emerging composers can now apply for the following three categories: composition for musical theatre, film scoring, classical composition and jazz composition.

The evening included celebrities from across the media landscape. Stars such as the former New York Yankees Manager Joe Torre, home decor star and tv host Martha Stuart, Paul Schaffer, Robert Klein, and several others.

Venue: Queens College Lefrak Concert Hall

STG Casino Royale for SuitUp

The STG Casino Royale evening, hosted at Morton’s Steakhouse, benefitted SuitUp. SuitUp helps disadvantaged young people learn about and experience real world business. Students visit and compete at real NYC companies in a SharkTank like business presentations.

Upon entry guests received a complimentary starter casino chip. Throughout the evening, guests playedBlackjack, Roulette, Craps and Poker in a purposefully built casino for the evening. At the end of the evening, guest cashed out there their winnings to win terrific prizes; televisions, computers, home wear, and gift cards.

Venue: Morton’s Steak House (Downtown Manhattan)

Sarah Hurwitz - Former Michelle Obama Speech Writer

Sarah Hurwitz, head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama and author of the new book "Here All Along” joins Columbia-Barnard students at the Kraft Center. Besides discussing her new book, Sarah also discussed her experience as Mrs. Obama’s speechwriter, the challenges of writing for someone else while maintaining their voice, and her non-linear career path.