Noteworthy
“There’s a reason we don’t see the world in black and white”
Collaborations seem to be a big thing nowadays, so I was lucky enough to get to work with two great brands at the same time. Lele Sadoughi is known for its fabulous headbands and now you can pair them with your favorite Lilly Pulitzer dresses. I photographed Lele founder, Lisa, and her cute-as-a-button daughter for this campaign and we had a blast. Sadly, I don’t look good in headbands….
“Luxury is anything that feels special.”
Loved getting a chance to photograph Aerin Lauder at my favorite hotel (The Colony) for my favorite magazine. Check it out in print and online now!
“Think pink. A better way of life.”
Maggie Wetenhall channeling Eloise at the Plaza
While the Wetenhall family is stuck quarantining at home like everyone else, their home just so happens to be a historic Palm Beach hotel. When the pandemic hit earlier this year, the Colony Hotel shuttered its doors in compliance with the nationwide shelter in place order and found themselves living by themselves in an empty 87 room luxury hotel. They asked me to come and bring a little bit of my A Social Life flavor to their family and the unprecedented situation they found themselves in. It was a fun experiment to try this style of photography on a family other than my own and it only worked because the Wetenhalls have a great sense of humor. Hopefully the series can bring a little bit of distraction to people during a very strange time. Check out the full story and all of the images on the Veranda Magazine website here
Bicycle races through the hotel lobby
Andrew Wetenhall playing valet to his children
Hide and seek in the ballroom
Andrew and Sarah Wetenhall enjoying their morning coffee
“If they made films in Palm Beach, actors and actresses would be much better dressed”
Avenue Magazine was recently relaunched under the leadership of new owner Charles Cohen. The 44 year old magazine took nearly a year hiatus as it underwent a full overhaul, including a brand new Editor-in-Chief. Having photographed several articles for Avenue in its previous incarnation, I was beyond flattered when the new EIC, Kristen Stewart Ward, asked if she could run a feature on me and my family and our instagram photo project, A.Social.Life, in her debut issue. Hopefully you’re already following our adventures online, but if not, then this is a good jumping on point to see the tortures I put my family through in the name of art and social media fame. You can find the full article online here
“I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes.”
My first billboard on La Cienega and Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood
Its rare that I find a brand that aligns with my own creative style and sensibilities as well as Sam Edelman. The brand has an “irreverent and whimsical style, inspired by timeless American elegance that bridges the gap between aspiration and attainability to define modern luxury.” That’s very similar to how I would describe myself. I feel very lucky that we found each other. Not only is Sam an amazing brand that I am honored to be associated with, but the confidence they have shown in my abilities has really allowed me to explore commercial photography in ways I never thought I’d get the chance to. Their desire to have me lean into my own photographic instincts has really pushed me to grow artistically. We tried to capture something that was at the same time effortless, elegant and timeless. I am super proud of this campaign and I hope you’ll look out for it on billboards, magazines, taxi cabs and, of course, your local Sam Edelman store.
“Life is a party. Dress for it.”
Click on the picture above to read the full article
I’m always thrilled to contribute to Vogue’s party coverage, especially when it comes to events in Newport. There is a classic elegance to the parties there, especially when they are hosted at one of the town’s historic mansions on Bellevue Avenue. As someone who grew up coming to Newport every summer, I am in the unique position to both be an observer and a participant in these grand events. I think it allows me to have an insider’s viewpoint that not many others can achieve and it certainly helps me put my subjects at ease. Another side effect (and I’ll let you guys decide if its positive or negative) is I am often included in my own coverage. Luckily, I know how to dress the part.
“The only thing I like about air travel is it gives me time to read.”
If you’re flying American Airlines this summer, pick up a copy of their in flight magazine to find the story I photographed on my favorite summer resort. I like it. You will too.
“It’s a family affair”
Ralph Lauren hired me to shoot their new spring line of kids bathing suits. And thanks to the power of Instagram and @a.social.life they wanted to use my son Johnny as one of the models! We had so much fun shooting at The Colony Hotel and all around Palm Beach. I think Johnny and I make a pretty good team ;)
Shot on location at the Colony Hotel
“Everything is designed. Few things are designed well.”
This year’s Kips Bay Decorator Show House was amazing! Each year, celebrated interior designers transform a magnificent estate into an elegant exhibition of fine furnishings, art and technology. All proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Club. This was its second year in Palm Beach (its been going on in New York since 1973) and once again one of the decorators chose to use some of my work to adorn his walls. Billy Ceglia chose a whopping 48 images from my @a.social.life series and framed them up and down the hallways he was tasked with designing. In addition, I was given free reign to explore the house and take pictures of the designers and shoot more photos for my @a.social.life. Many of the designers hired me to shoot the rooms and my photos were featured by Veranda and Architectural Digest.
Bodhi and Johnny at the Dog Bar from @a.social.life on the walls of Billy Ceglia’s hallway at Kips Bay
Danielle Rollins in her room at Kips Bay
Meg Braff in her room at Kips Bay
My son Johnny for @a.social.life in Krista + Home’s bathroom at Kips Bay
“...the cognoscenti are calling him a modern day Slim Aarons ”
I often get compared to Slim Aarons (what a compliment!), but when a publication as esteemed as Veranda starts throwing it around I can’t help but be flattered…and honored…and grateful. Hopefully I can live up to the compliment. Check it out below.
Pg. 24 Veranda Feb 2019
“Newport is a town that refuses to forget its history”
I teamed up with the fabulous Bettie Pardee of Private Newport again; this time to write a story for Town & Country. Even better, the story was about me. My favorite subject. Kidding. Kind of.... Anyway, much like with @A.Social.Life, my family and I put ourselves center stage to show off our lives, celebrate our history and talk about how we like to entertain. Click here to read the full story.
“If bad decorating was a hanging offense, there’d be bodies hanging from every tree”
Luckily, I know some pretty talented interior designers!
“As my artist’s statement explains, my work is utterly incomprehensible and is therefore full of deep significance”
The family came to support....and climb on the art
My mother and I had a photo show in Palm Beach. Did I mention she's a bad ass photographer in her own right? Victoria Mele, go check here out. She does large scale prints of flowers close up. Anyway, we had a show at EMKO in Palm Beach. Remember them? I did a fashion shoot there awhile back. Man, I keep going of on these side tangents.... One more time from the beginning. My mom and I had a photography show and it went awesome. Lots of people showed up, we sold a ton of work and both the Palm Beach Daily News and The Palm Beach Post wrote stories on it! Cool, right?
Front page of the Shiny Sheet
“I am spoiled, it’s true. I don’t even know how to use that thing in the kitchen with the burners.”
This past Sunday, July 19th The New York Times had a one page article in its Sunday style mag - T Magazine - about me. All about me! Ok, that's a lie. But it did prominently feature my photo series on kitchens in Newport, RI. The general gist of the photos (and I presume the article - I only looked at my pictures) is that the grand houses in Newport still contain kitchens that haven't been renovated for modern use. They are functional. They are used to cook food for house guests, not to show off. Its interesting. Trust me. Go check it out at: T Summer Entertainment Issueissuu.com or just look below (I make this too easy for you)
T Magazine, July 19th 2015
T Magazine, July 19th, pg. 23. Hey, 23 is my lucky number! What a coink-e-dink....
Below are the images on their own. They are just four from a much larger series that I did with the wonderful interior designer Ruthie Sommers (Check her out - she's awesome). Hopefully we will find somewhere to print the whole thing. I'll keep you posted.
Beachwood
Beaulieu
The Whim
“Give a Shit”
Check out this month's Town & Country for my photo of John Kluge Jr., founder of Toilet Hackers and one of Town & Country's Top 50 Philanthropists. Definitely take the time to check out Toilet Hackers and the "epic shit" they do. It's an awesome cause.