Dimple & Previn’s Indian wedding at the Brooklyn Museum was incredible! Craig and his team did a great job with their wedding video.
About fifteen years ago I moved from Charlottesville, VA to New York to become a photographer. I was 26. About all I knew about photography was some f-stop, shutter speed and darkroom basics from Photo 1 in highschool and that I wanted to get out and go. Much to see and much to do. Initially I had my sights on fashion and celebrity photography and I quickly found myself on those sets as an assistant but I also found myself around chefs and food shoots too. One of the first photographers I assisted was Tom Kirkman who specialized in food photography. Tom was a riot. Certifiably insane. Fortunately, I guess, he happened to live on the fifth floor of a five floor, rent controlled, walk up building on the upper west side. Tom had done a stint working at B&H, probably for the discount, and could not leave for a shoot with less than 5 MASSIVE cases carried by yours truly. The blessing I guess is that I had little technical knowledge but I could haul cases all day with a smile on my face. I am not talking about 5 camera cases. I am talking about cases with every photo still life accessory ever created. Like every glass filter ever made. I’m also not talking about portable flashes. I am talking fresnel lights–large metal housings with very breakable glass diffusion faces. Stands circa WWII, etc. We had a blast. I helped him on one of Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s cookbooks at his newly opened restaurant Jean Georges in the Trump Tower building. Tom also used to shoot the dinners at the James Beard House. Eventually he asked me to sub for him and I did so gladly! Each week there was a new guest chef busting out incredible fare for the members and I was responsible for capturing each dish, at my own table, before devouring them. I mention all of this because what initially was an interest in fashion photography evolved into a passion for portraiture and event photography. I have been extremely fortunate to travel extensively and shoot incredible individuals and locations. None more so than Jacques Pépin and The Pebble Beach Food and Wine. Jacques Pépin is a culinary legend and I was honored to get to shoot his tribute dinner last year at The Pebble Beach Food and Wine(PBFW). Our studio, Barnaby Draper Studios, has covered PBFW for the past four years. This is one of my favorite shots:
Jacques Pépin, Thomas Keller, Roland Passot, Michel Richard & Claudine Pépin Tribute Dinner, PBFW 2010. Photo Barnaby Draper
Ming Tsai, Jacques Pépin, Thomas Keller, Roland Passot, Michel Richard & Claudine Pépin Tribute Dinner, PBFW 2010. Photo Barnaby Draper
Katie & Wakey’s stunning Santa Barbara wedding featured on June Bug Weddings! Colette & Kaitlin of La Fete Weddings transformed Katie’s family’s already beautiful Montecito home and yard into a sprawling paradise. Colette also had the brilliant idea of asking us to do a time lapse video of the three day setup allowing you to witness the transformation in less than two minutes.
Wedding Photography, Photobooth & Time Lapse Video: Barnaby Draper Studios
Planning & Event Design: La Fete Weddings
Catering: Duo Catering & Events
Flowers: Cody Floral
Cake: My Sweet and Saucy
Invitations: Lazaro Press
Music: Dwight Kennedy Band
Shuttles: Limousine Link
Wedding Dress Designer: Monique Lhuiller
Wedding Dress Shop: Bridal Galleria
Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale
Hair & Makeup: Mishay Salon & Spa
Favors: MMM…Cake
This last season we shot Fashion Week in New York City for Your Wedding Day magazine. The Spring Collection is usually smaller than the fall, there were some really beautiful collections. Below are some of my favorite dresses from the following designers:
Romona Keveza had one of the only two full runway shows. This season her collection was amazing!
Getmarried.com was very kind to invite us to a Green Party on Tuesday at The New York Academy of Sciences featuring Preston Bailey as the guest speaker. The Academy is located on the 40th floor of 7 World Trade Center or 250 Greenwich St. I had not been down to that area for quite a while. The new building at 7 World Trade is amazing. 
It is the only Platinum LEED (The Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) building in New York City with meeting and event space available to the public. The New York Academy of Sciences space is gorgeous. Very modern and clean design but the views are breathtaking. Floor to ceiling windows throughout offer you incredible views of lower Manhattan!!! A sunset event here would be insane. We were very pleased to see Jill Meister (one of our brides) who has just been named Editor in Chief for Getmarried! Congratulations Jill!
The event featured several vendors who are offering eco-friendly products or services.
Gardenia Organic–” As New York’s first eco-florist Gardenia Organic is leading the way for sustainable luxury floral design (Best Florist 2008 New York Magazine).”
Yoko Chapman–Vert “The First Zero Carbon Wedding Invitation Line”
Jessica Iverson–Beautiful designs. Dresses made from natural silks and hempsilks. Jessica is from Santa Barbara, CA where we recently opened a studio! She also offers Maternity Bridal and Maternity Formal. The first time saw maternity bridal was in Suzanne Ermann’s studio in Paris. The show was styled by Ilana Izak from Designer Loft NYC.
Taylor Creative Inc.–Furniture Rental and Event Design. New York. Las Vegas. Palm Beach.
My friends tell me I don’t watch enough Oprah because I had never seen Preston Bailey and apparently he is featured regularly. I certainly knew he was the legendary floral designer but I had never looked him up. What a surprise and what an amazing talent! I am sure God is a black woman but I was shocked that Preston Bailey is a black man from Panama!? Not what I had imagined. He was incredibly cool. He didn’t use the stage or the podium–he walked right out in front of the crowd. Very accessible, open and funny! The biggest shock for sure was when he shared his age. Preston Bailey is tall, clean shaven head, VERY fit and 60!?!?! Unbelievable. I think he attributes this to his wild days at Studio 54. Maybe he is on to something. The Stones are still touring right? Preston was very humble and funny about how un-green he has been (shipping flowers from New Zealand all over the world) in the past. No arrogance or ego at all in his delivery of his story and the projects he has worked on– I loved it. He showed examples of his ungreenness (if you will). Spaces transformed with thousands of roses. One Russian wonderland (I believe) with hundreds of trees that had been cut down and brought in for the party. Incredible event it seemed. Before long though he explained how he had begun to change his view on Eco-Friendly events and new images appeared with his creations (centerpieces & structures!!, you name it) made from recycled paper and natural silk. So creative. He is all that and more. Andy Goldsworthy would be impressed. A true talent. It was really a pleasure to meet Preston Bailey and hear his story. Photography is much more green today than in the film era. As much as I enjoyed the hands on wet paper processes those chemicals were/are pretty toxic. Our computers require more electricity but I would imagine that digital photography is better for the planet in the long run. Go Green!
This year we shot the 2nd annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine event in April! It was presented by American Express Publishing, and we had the opportunity to shoot for Lexus and Entertainment Tonight. We were hired by Coastal Luxury Management to shoot for the founders of Pebble Beach Food & Wine, Dave Bernahl and Rob Weakley. This amazing four day event celebrates the best chefs and wineries by creating a series of luncheons, dinners, cooking demonstrations, and wine tastings. Here is one of the founders of the event, David Bernahl.
Pebble Beach is a historical oceanside paradise bordered by pristine forest. Pebble Beach Golf has the reputation for being one of the world’s most challenging courses.
Thomas Arvid was the official artist at the 2009 Pebble Beach Food & Wine. Thomas Arvid’s paintings entice all of the viewer’s senses with his astonishing ability to capture and refine a moment.
Pastry Chef Bill Corbett
A cooking demo by Rick Tramonto, an accomplished chef and cookbook author. Rick has been widely recognized as one of the top chefs in America. His restaurant, Tru, was named the most popular Chicago restaurant by the Zagat Survey.
Thomas Keller is the #1 chef in America, and the only chef in the United States to have two simultaneous three-star restaurants. The French Laundry is located in Yountville, CA, which is north of San Francisco in the Napa Valley. This is a uniquely American restaurant whose inspiration lies in the countryside of France. Bouchon is Thomas Keller’s more casual version of The French Laundry while Per Se is the urban interpretation of The French Laundry. His latest restaurant, ad hoc, serves family style comfort food with a different menu each night.
Chef Douglas Keane on right
Award-winning chef Nancy Silverton is known for her breads and pastries. Her love of baking led her to open what would become the nation’s top artisan bakery,La Brea Bakery. In November of 2006 she opened Pizzeria Mozza with Mario Batali and Joseph Bastianich. Osteria Mozza, quickly followed in July of 2007, and was nominated as Best New Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation for that year.
The Grand Sommeliers at the 2009 Pebble Beach Food & Wine
Jacques Pépin is one of America’s best-known chefs, cookbook authors and cooking teachers. He has published 26 books, numerous articles and hosted 10 acclaimed public television cooking series. Here Jacques is giving his demo “Fast Food My Way” with his daughter Claudine Pépin.
Emmy Award winner Ted Allen was the Food and Wine Specialist from “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” Ted is now the host of “Chopped” and “Food Detectives,” two primetime series on Food Network. He is also the author of “The Food You Want to Eat: 100 Smart, Simple Recipes” (Clarkson-Potter), a cookbook that features easy, all-natural recipes.
Hubert Keller is one of America’s most acclaimed chefs. His world renowned restaurants include Fleur de Lys, the Burger Bar, and SleeK Steakhouse and Ultra Lounge.
Jacques Pépin and Tom Collichio with Co-Founder Dave Bernahl
Erin and Josh from the Calistoga Ranch in Napa Valley
Larry Maguire, Partner and President of Napa Valley’s Far Niente Winery.
Erin of Calistoga Ranch and Nicole Steakley of Barnaby Draper Studios
Top Chef contestant Stefan Richter
Top Chef contestant Jamie Lauren
We are so excited to be shooting Ashley & Nigels Wedding this August in Bora Bora!!
They are getting married at the Four Seasons. The Decor is awesome! It will be a beautiful wedding!
This season we are published in, “The Knot Magazine New York,” for Jackie & Michael’s wedding Jackie is a fashion account executive & Michael is in financial sales. They met in college, when Jackie was working at the front desk of the dorms, and Michael showed up wearing only a towel, begging for a spare key. His roomate had locked him out of their room, mid-shower. A while later, when a tornado hit the campus, destroying Michael’s college apartment, they met again that night at a local watering hole. Since then, they have never looked back. Michael proposed to her in Central Park & they wed at VIP Country Club in New Rochelle, NY. Jackie’s dress is a Monique Lhuillier, her shoes Valentino. Her make-up was done by Ilise Harris
Here is the newest video highlight clip from Jessica Macaluso’s wedding! This was shot in Super8 and digital film. Click HERE to view.
Barnaby Draper Studios