5th Avenue Digital’s Social Media Portal

June 28th, 2012 by Beth Baynum | Share Blog

Last night, 5^th Avenue Digital was awarded a Big Apple Award from the New York Metro chapter of ISES (the International Special Events Society), for Best New Product.  We couldn’t be prouder!  Our new product is the Social Media Portal, and since winning the award lots of people have been asking us: what IS the Social Media Portal?  For all those inquiring minds, here’s the answer.

At events where we provide photography, the Social Media Portal enables everyone to select their favorite photos and email them, or post them on Facebook and Twitter.  This works for portraits, with green screen photography, or even with general photography coverage.  Photos are sent to our Portals almost immediately, where they can be viewed and selected.  Here’s a screen shot of the selection page, which can also be branded with a logo in the upper right corner.

The images are ready to select almost instantly after they’re taken. Selecting and posting images is super-easy, and we provide a Host to assist anyone with questions.  We provide three types of stands: a clamp that attaches to a counter or table, a stand for high-boy tables and a floor stand.

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A Same-Sex Wedding to Warm the Heart

June 26th, 2012 by Beth Baynum | Share Blog

When we see a couple like John and Scott get married, we are reminded of the importance of the New York legislation enacted last year allowing same-sex unions.  Theirs is a heart-warming story, similar to the stories of so many gay and lesbian couples in the state.  John and Scott have been together 27 years, an amazing feat for any couple, no matter what their sexual orientation.  They have been waiting for many (too many!) years to be legally married to each other.

Here at 5^th Avenue Digital, we feel it’s a great privilege to document the weddings of couples who have loved, struggled, cried and laughed together for many years and are so happy and ready to be married.  For the same-sex couples we photograph, this sentiment is even stronger.  The companionship and love they share emanates from their photos.  It warms the heart!  Take a look and see if your heart is lifted, too.

Event Focus Friday with Photographer Jen DelCastillo

June 22nd, 2012 by Elizabeth Beskin | Share Blog

The best photographers combine intuition with supreme technical skill, and when you add the ability to connect with people and make everyone feel special, Jen DelCastillo takes the wedding cake.  All those early years studying for her BFA and working in the more technical areas of photography helped Jen Del Castillo hone her craft and focus on what’s really important: capturing moments!  Jen shares her unique perspective on the art of event photography and more.

What makes a great event photographer?

Good genes and a combination of other traits, including creativity, sensitivity, technical know-how—and experience, experience, experience!  You also need to be equal parts psychic, artist and psychologist…and a bit of a nerd. You need to have a sense of humor, a calm demeanor and pride in your work, and the ability to emotionally invest in clients—to have the experience they are having and to have an experience with them. Finally, you need a strong back and to feel a bit of adrenaline that comes from the intensity of shooting an event. Read the rest of this entry »

Wedding Wednesday Wisdom with Amanda Allen of NewlyWish

June 20th, 2012 by Elizabeth Beskin | Share Blog

Want to know where to find chic wedding gifts that break out of the traditional mold?  Amanda Allen can tell you exactly where to find to them—because it took planning her own wedding to ferret out the eclectic mix of stores and service providers she was looking for. NewlyWish is the child of Amanda’s and Robard Williams’s experience and their desire to create an online registry where others could easily find and share ideas and gifts from the sophisticated to the hip, and from place settings to artwork and fitness training sessions. We love that Amanda’s registry also features eco-friendly gift ideas. Amanda talks about trends in the wedding registry and what inspires her work.

 

What are the top trends in registry for 2012?

Of all parts of the wedding planning process, registry is the one that best lends itself to being done online from start to finish, so I think we’ll be seeing even greater use of existing online technologies and platforms as well as the development of new ones to help make the registry creation process simpler and even more attuned to couples’ needs.  One technological “advance” that we’ve seen over the past few of years is the growth of cash registries. Going forward, though, I think couples are going to increasingly focus on products and services for their registries (guests can always give cash or a check in card), drawing on improvements in ecommerce, generally, and registry-specific developments that allow couples to quickly reduce the world of available products down to just those that they want. Read the rest of this entry »

The Fabulous YouBooth Photo Booth Can Rock Any Event!

June 18th, 2012 by Elizabeth Beskin | Share Blog

This past week the versatile YouBooth was all over town, getting parties started for a first communion celebration, a graduation party, and a surprise 50^th birthday party.  We had the pleasure of working with both kids and adults, who had a blast using props and different backgrounds. With its sleek and open structure (no squeezing into a tiny dark booth), the YouBooth gave guests the room to be themselves and have loads of fun.

Perfect for any event— from weddings to product launches, summer outings and reunions to nonprofit celebrations and fundraisers—YouBooth can be used with customizable backgrounds in just about any configuration you can think of.  This shot of the New York Public Library that FeteNY used as its step-and-repeat backdrop for a graduation party made for gorgeous photos.

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A Look at Why June Weddings Are So Popular

June 15th, 2012 by Elizabeth Beskin | Share Blog

Ah, June: the most popular month for weddings…or is it? Ever wonder why this came to be? Apparently, we can thank the Romans, Celts, and medieval Europeans. Historians tell us that brides-to-be in ancient Rome planned their weddings for June in honor of Juno, the goddess of marriage, to secure her favor and protection for a good union. Druids likewise scheduled their wedding day in June so as not to compete with the rites of Beltane, in which the gods and goddesses celebrated the spring with fertility rituals and mating (good for the gods, but unlucky for mere mortals). Theories also persist as to people in medieval times taking an “annual bath” in May and so marrying in June while still “relatively fresh,” but this does not appear to be rooted in fact, as soap was readily available and going without washing for a month was considered a penance. Read the rest of this entry »

Wedding Wednesday Wisdom with Shawn Rabideau

June 13th, 2012 by Elizabeth Beskin | Share Blog

Talk about a turn of events!  This week’s featured expert was on his way to a career in journalism, when he decided it wasn’t for him.  During a short stint as a merchandiser at Pottery Barn, Shawn Rabideau found he had a knack for table decor and room design.  Soon, his talents were recognized and he jumped at an offer to do just that, full-time, in an event planning role.  It developed into such a passion that in 2004, Shawn decided to strike out on his own, founding New York-based Shawn Rabideau Events & Design, a full-service event production, floral design and lifestyle company.  With a long list of celebrity, corporate and charitable clients, Shawn’s had such success that he is considered one of today’s leaders in the event planning industry.  We couldn’t wait to wrangle a few precious minutes to sit down and chat about his experiences!

How has the industry changed since you started?

The internet, reality television and the economy have changed the industry.  There is more competition than there was before, brides believe what they see on TV and they are spending less and planning more on their futures than they are on the occasion.  I think we have to work a bit harder than we did a few years ago.  But I think it’s also super-rewarding! Read the rest of this entry »

Real Weddings: Illene and Brian get married at Bridgewaters

June 11th, 2012 by Beth Baynum | Share Blog

5^th Avenue Digital recently photographed the Marks-Aruti wedding at Bridgewaters, featuring all the traditional elements with some modern twists to make it their own.  There’s no better wedding location than Bridgewaters to capture all the character and magic of New York City.

 Bridgewaters provided all the Food & Beverage, including the cake by Lidiya Zdrok, their talented Pastry Chef, and onsite coordination by Bridgewater’s ever-organized Evania Taveras.  Flowers are by Maria Christina Nino from MC Nino Designs.  The DJ was from Hank Lane’s More Than Music.  Jesse Anders  was the wedding photographer for 5th Avenue Digital.  Here are a few more of our favorites:

 

 

Event Focus Friday with Alexis Fine DeAngelis

June 8th, 2012 by Elizabeth Beskin | Share Blog

What a year for Alexis Fine DeAngelis. She recently had her second baby and was named Director for The Glazier Group, where she’s worked for the past seven years managing special events and catering for the New York properties. Alexis has literally grown up in the business, working in the family business of Fine and Shapiro on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, followed by years with a kosher caterer where she learned from the bottom up in the industry, from waitress, to captain, to working in the kitchen prepping food. Alexis shares her winning approach and survival tips.

 

When you walk a venue, what are the top three things you look for?  

Coming from a catering/operations background, I look for the kitchen, load in and the space.  I have a pretty good eye to know what can and cannot fit into an area and what can be produced with that venue.  Sometimes, with limited kitchens or when you have to create a kitchen out of a room from nothing, you need to be creative with your menus and honest with your clients.

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Wedding Wednesday Wisdom with JoAnn Gregoli

June 6th, 2012 by Elizabeth Beskin | Share Blog

The accomplished wedding planner is a special breed, requiring a creative eye, stamina for the long haul, and the ability to remain calm during a crisis.  JoAnn Gregoli is a perfect example.  She started her event company, Elegant Occasions, in 1985, organizing dinners for Governor Thomas Kean and fundraisers like the one to build Liberty State Park Science Center.  Her business has evolved over the past 25 years, with Elegant Occasions now focusing mainly on planning weddings that reflect each client’s particular style, taste and personality.  She offers her insights in this week’s Wedding Wisdom.

 

What event that you either attended or planned has had the greatest influence on your career?

The greatest influence in my career, was Rupert Murdochs daughter’s wedding at his Beverly Hills estate. It was a surreal experience that took me from a simple Jersey Girl to someone to someone who now travels and plans weddings all over the world.

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