Boston -> DC

I flew up to Boston from New York on Tuesday to do an engagement shoot for this fabulous and super nice couple.

They rented a bunch of dresses (including a wedding dress) for the shoot. It was pretty awesome. Kind of exhausting. But I would loooove to shoot their epic wedding in Beijing next year so I'm doing my best to make them happy happy happy.

While in Boston I stayed with Danald and CaseyCarson who is preggo and having their baby soon!

Wednesday I had lunch with JoeMorone...

Then we met with our app developer friend who is going to be designing the simple but brilliant iPhone app I came up with that is going to turn us into hundred-millionaires.

After our meeting I flew down to DC where I'm shooting some products for Smathers & Branson today and tomorrow.

It's always great to see the boys.

Peter (and Michelle) just sold their house in Georgetown and are moving out to San Francisco in 20 days where they are finishing renovations on the epic new home in Seacliff that they secretly purchased several months ago. (AC, I'm going to intro you guys so you can all be besties. #worlddomination)

They're also expanding S&B into a new office space which we used for the shoot today.

So many exciting things happening!

OK I will post about the epic week that was Engage14 while I'm on an airplane one of these days.

Flying back to New York tomorrow. Wedding in the Hamptons on Saturday. Wedding in New Jersey on Sunday. Flying to Barbados on Wednesday.

DC / Pittsburgh

A week ago I drove down to DC to shoot an event for my friend Thor, founder of the Oslo Freedom Forum.

His mom was being honored by National Geographic at the Travelers of the Year Awards. (The awards aren't really for travelling but for doing great things for people abroad. Thor's mom and stepdad own the Pacuare Nature Preserve in Costa Rica dedicated to the preservation of the critically-endangered Giant Leatherback Turtle.)

Thor threw them a luncheon at the Jefferson Hotel before the award ceremony.

We had a private dining room at Plume, one of the yummiest restaurants I've ever been to in DC.

Loves some champagnes before noon!

This tomato soup was to die for.

And we got cute little turtle figurines with our place settings!

I had this amazing mushroom chicken which didn't photograph that well. But my chocolate souffle thing sure did...HEAVEN.

Then in the evening we got to go to National Geographic's auditorium for the awards presentation. It was lovely. And there was a big reception afterwards with delicious foods and drinks. Yum yum yummyfun.

Thor's mom is literally one of the kindest people on the planet.

It's so awful to think someone actually once SHOT HER in the back.

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While in DC I was crashing with Michelle and PeterSmathers.

Upon mentioning that I would be attending Watch What Happens Live this week, we thought, ooooh we should give Andy Cohen some Smathers & Branson swag (since he already has a beloved flask from them with his likeness on it.)

So we went through the storeroom and picked out items for Andy and his new puppy.

FYI Smathers & Branson now makes an awesome line of dog collars.

Poor Petey just had wrist surgery. He's feeling great though!

Good thing he doesn't have to stitch these belts himself!

Did I mention before that S&B also makes a bunch of hats now too? There's really no end to what they can expand their line to...

After picking out goodies for Andy we had some incredible Lebanese foods.

The food was SO good...we were moaning in ecstasy...

And then (NO "AND THEN"!!!) I hopped in my car and drove 4 hours to Pittsburgh where I had a shoot the next day in 10 degree weather for a bunch of actor students.

These kids were all so lovely. Some of them have very bright futures.

Luke here was just signed by Sony Records and made it to the top 20 of American Idol a few years back... keep an eye on this one!

As soon as I finished shooting I booked it back to NYC. It was an exhausting 6 1/2 hour drive. UGHHHHH... was so happy to be home in relatively warm 26 degree weather (vs. Pittsburgh's 10 degree weather)...

DC Sleep Study / Smathers & Brannnnson

So a couple of weeks ago when I was down in DC I had an informal sleep study done.

Turns out I have a slapnea.

(AKA Sleep Apnea.)

Basically what that means is my throat collapses when I sleep and often I stop breathing for minutes at a time until I wake up (usually without knowing it) gasping for air. Sexy, right?

This deprives my body of oxygen and as you can probably imagine in the long-term is not good for the heart and can be life-threatening.

So I came back down to DC for a more official sleep study. This time in the lab.

I would've done it in NYC, but Arj's sister Sharm happens to be one of the best sleep doctors in the country and my insurance doesn't cover a sleep study (they usually run thousands of dollars) and it just so happens Sharm's practice just moved into a brand new space and her boss agreed to do my sleep study in exchange for some pictures of their staff and new setup. Woo!

I arrived at 8pm last night and they hooked me up to a million wires to monitor everything from my breathing to my eye movements to my brain activity...




Then they attached a mask and I was told to go to sleep.



It was really hard.

I think I may have gotten two hours of sleep. But hopefully that was enough for them to get some kind of results.

In the end I will probably need a CPAP machine to help me breathe at night. But because the idea of sleeping with a big mask on my face sounds like the worst. EVER. I may explore the option of having surgery to remove my monstrous tonsils and other superfluous organs that are obstructing my throat so that I can breathe easier...

EEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKK!!!!

Will let you know what happens!

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Anyway, while I'm in DC I'm crashing with Peter & Michelle.

And it works out that they needed me to come down to take some new pictures of some of Smathers & Branson's newest products.

We swung by headquarters...



And picked some items out of their giant stockroom.



The business is REALLY blowing up. (Each little plastic baggie in the shot below represents an order waiting to be filled.)



Here are some of their newest offerings...

Hats!



Cufflinks!



Christmas ornaments!



Pillows!



And totebags!



It's amazing because the possibilities for expansion are endless.

World domination is imminent!

DC Family Dinner

Also while in DC last week, I saw cousin Charmaine, Hery, Gooma and Uncle Steve for dinner on Thursday night to wish Charmaine well in the removal of breast cancers from her body the next day (she would be undergoing a double-mastectomy Friday morning).



We went to Harth, a highly-rated restaurant at the McLean Hilton.

The Crab Mac & Cheese was EPIC. Probably one of the top 5 Mac & Cheese's I've ever had.



The Shrimp & Grits was tasty as well.



Mushroom truffle flatbread was ok.



Steak was ok...



Lobster tagliatelle - EPIC.



As were the lamb chops.




Overall, Charmaine's pre-surgery dinner was delicious. And the next morning she went to the hospital at 5am for her surgery. Everything went fine and she went home the same day.

Scary that someone as close and as young as Charmaine could be diagnosed with cancer. Yet another reminder to me about how important it is to live in the moment and appreciate what you have at present. Charmaine has gone through life giving to others and expecting little in return. She has so much good karma stockpiled, I have no doubt she'll be perfectly fine.

But if you do have a moment, please send some positive thoughts her way as she recovers from her surgery.

DC / Smathers & Branson Update

I've been in DC for the past few days getting a sleep study done for my possible slapnea (sleep apnea) and staying with Peter & Michelle in their gorgeous George-townhouse.



Peter's company, Smathers & Branson, has been BLOWING UP over the past couple years, this year especially.

Today President Clinton rocked one of his belts!



And you can find their stuff now at many Brooks Brothers stores.

So awesome!

Their current website is somewhat terrible and their long overdue NEW website featuring all my photos from the Spring Island shoot has been in development for almost two years now. (Their web developer is THE WORST.)

But here's a sneak peek!






The link you see there above isn't live yet. I just registered it and will be launching a product photography website soon because, well, as a photographer (and a human) there's no such thing as too many streams of income!