I am so touched by the yelp review we received by one of my favorite Bar mitzvah clients- i just had to share.  Thank you linda for your kind words:

Beautiful photography that reflected all the special and unique elements of our bar mitzvah. They were creative from start to finish in planning the timing of the photos, to incorporating a range of pictures including our family trip to Israel a week prior, to the painstaking work of perfecting the book. The book has all of the most current benefits of digital photography with the quality of the finest leather bound traditional bar mitzvah albums, the attention from start to finish was personalized and Elizabeth, the owner became a friend by the time we were done!! Don’t hesitate or spend your time scouring the city, this was my 3 rd child and we used top photographers for all but no one gives the personalized attention to detail that you get from elizabeth, her photographers, and staff!

Last week we had the pleasure of working on the annual fundraising event for the Jewish Enrichment Center (JEC), along with the amazing folks at Global Events, Gotham Hall, Bentley Meeker and Foremost Caterers – plus the former president’s staff and Secret Service detail.

These grip-and-grin photos don’t just happen spontaneously; they are fully staged, with plenty of pre-planning.  This was by far our most carefully produced step and repeat session.  Happily, all the advance work paid off, because the results are spectacular.  We were able to take 150 images of the President with the VIP supporters of the JEC.  After the portrait session with President Bush, the photos were printed onsite and placed into engraved silver frames for the special guests to take home after the program.

What made this photo session unusual for us was the black curtain blocking all the guests from the portrait station, so no one saw President Bush until their turn for the photo.  There was also a Disneyland-worthy line that snaked around as people waited for their private time with the former president.  These parameters were arranged through Bush’s secretary of special projects.  She had the final word on where the president would stand, how big the line needed to be and how to quickly distribute the prints.

When the moment came for the president to enter the room, there was a palpable excitement running through the crowd.  I was on hand to make sure the photo areas remained clear and the line kept moving.  It was me and three Secret Service men and one very large security guard, along with a very small sweet handler named Russ.  This positioning gave me an opportunity to witness the animated chitchat that took place between the president and everyone who was photographed with him.  It generally went something like this:
“I met you last year at the (insert prestigious organization’s name here)….great organization.”

“You bet.  How about those Texas Rangers,” if the VIP was a man.  If it was a woman, the comments went something like, “You’re pretty cute.”  “Thanks, you’re not bad yourself!”  And I heard a lot of “Thank you for supporting Israel,” which was certainly appropriate.

Whatever your politics are, there is something exciting about being in Presidents Bush’s presence. Now that the political Kennedys are almost extinct, the Bush dynasty (for better or worse) is part of our American royalty.  George W displayed a self deprecating manner on stage, especially during his carefree question and answer session, when he relayed his thoughts on the Middle East and his position on Israel.  That, and his joking about how no one ever gave him much credit for reading let alone writing a book, made him quite likable.  There, I said it!

It’s not just the Harvard program itself bouncing around my brain, but the realization that this program corresponded with one of the world’s worst financial crises since the Great Depression.  I’ll never forget that first year in October 2007, watching the large screens in the communal room as the market fell before our eyes and business as we know it changed.

At that time, I had recently separated my corporate photography business from my original business, so my revenue source was mostly from corporations, and two of my largest clients were Lehman brothers and AIG.  If any of you own a small business, you can imagine what this economic news did to my peace of mind.

At Harvard that first year, I learned about finding opportunities in turmoil.  And there was certainly a lot of turmoil.

I also learned about economics.  This was one of my husband’s favorite things about my program.  After 25 years together, we can now have a conversation about mortgage rates, GDP, and lots of other nifty financial principles that eluded me until now.

There were far more important things to learn while I was in the program that did not come from the classroom.  The other participants were from all over the world; only 30 % were from the US.  Many of these people from other countries have learned how to grow their businesses in uncertain, volatile economies.  The biggest lesson I learned from them that first year was that business could be built without access to credit!

It certainly isn’t easy, but they taught me it was achievable.

Year Two was about sustainability and putting processes in place for growth.  This was the year I learned about how to build a board of advisors, how to value my yet-to-be-profitable company, and how to go for financing and use the right language to do so.

I learned so much from my other classmates and built rich relationships that will continue for life.  One of the most thrilling nights was when we all told each other about the philanthropy we do in our countries.  I was so inspired hearing about the work being done in India, Brazil, South Africa, Nigeria, Mexico and the US.  I now know so many accomplished entrepreneurs who give back to the homelands that have given them so much.

This year, my third and last, was the most exciting for me.  This was the year that we each looked at our own strategy.  We worked on our business plans before convening at Harvard in October, and we continued to work on them in our study groups, with our professors and certainly on our own.  How could we create a business that had impact?  What could we do in our lives to make a difference, both in our own spheres and in the world?

We learned about companies who were able to do well by doing good.  We also got to learn even more about each other and the fascinating things we all had in store for our lives.

A highlight for me was feeling confident to raise my hand and contribute in economics class.  And a particular high for me was in negotiating class when, for the first time in three years, I negotiated a really great deal.  I finally understood the type of negotiator I am and the type of negotiations I am successful doing.  This lesson will live on with me.

Another highlight was our graduation event, where I had the opportunity to meet everyone’s families from all over the globe.  I was able to see the source of all the loving support that allowed my wonderful Harvard colleagues to be in my life for one month a year for the past three years.

I have just touched on my many lessons, and on the students and professors that have made such a huge impression in my life.  I’m sure these lessons will be evident in everything I do now.

Next year I am hoping to join my classmates in India for the first reunion.  I look forward to seeing all my new friends again and to sharing our stories.

The Harvard OPM program was the most self-indulgent thing I’ve ever done, in that it wasn’t without some hardship on my family and employees.  I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to go through the worst economic disaster in decades with a few extra tools in my back pocket!

If you or anyone you know would like information on the Harvard OPM program, feel free to ask me.

Because nothing is the same as it was ten years ago…

Ever since the internet came to be, information is on overload.  There is so much easy access to information from blogs, wedding websites and directories of vendors, most consumers find the choices overwhelming.

I started my career in the photography industry, where brides first started to purchase their wedding services online.  I saw photographers shoot one wedding with their inexpensive cameras, create quickie websites and – voila! – they suddenly became experienced wedding photographers.  Most people couldn’t detect these photographers’ lack of real experience or artistry from their websites.

As an entrepreneur, I noticed that these brides still wanted heirloom albums.  I created Album Boutique to fill that hole in the market and give all brides a chance get a high quality bound album for a reasonable price.

In the course of responding to the changes in the marketplace and creating Album Boutique, I saw a downside in online retail.  It’s that, online, you don’t get a chance to meet the person you’re dealing with face-to-face, or to discover what’s unique about the people you may choose to orchestrate your perfect wedding day.  Everyone’s personality and individual style is reflected in their work, but shopping online you usually miss that.

As the launch approached for Album Boutique, I began to search for a place where brides and grooms could touch the products and learn about the Album Boutique options.  I visited a number of bridal shows but quickly became disillusioned.  The shows I visited were more like cattle calls, and as I wandered around the vibe felt like something right out of reality TV.  I couldn’t find a venue or format that enabled me to present my brand in a warm and civilized manner.

One evening  last year, while I ventured into another so-called ”luxury” bridal event with Maya Kalman from Swank Productions in tow, we looked at each other and knew there had to be a better way.  We could see each other’s creative wheels in motion.

Maya is a wonderful producer of corporate events and beautiful high end weddings. She approached the concept from a producer’s point of view, so her insights were vital to determining its viability.  Over the next few weeks, we continued refining the idea until we recognized that we’d discovered a hole in the market we were uniquely qualified to fill. Together, we knew we had what it took to create something truly exciting.

Maya and I share the same ultimate objective as our many colleagues in the industry: to grow our respective businesses.  We knew if our event could meet this objective for us, it would also be successful for the other vendors involved.  With the support of many friends and colleagues we have worked with over our collective years in the industry, this event is sure to make an impact!

The Ultimate Engagement was created to be everything an upscale bride wants as she prepares for her wedding: a place for ideas, for fashion, for education, and for meeting with the Masters of the New York wedding industry.

This is an event where brides get to make pre-scheduled appointments with some of the masters in our industry.  In addition to showcasing our albums, 5^th Avenue Digital will be at the Ultimate Engagement event, representing the work of Robert Evans and Julie Skarratt.  If you have not met either one, I’d love to offer you the chance to come by.  Please contact me if you are interested.

I hope you’ll join us for the first bridal event to revolutionize the way brides talk to vendors face-to-face, on March 14th at Gotham Hall.