Again, thanks to Caneil McDonald, I was able to attend and photograph a Ski Johnson event in downtown Washington, DC.  The real treat about this particular event was that the majority of it was held in a private suite at the W Hotel where Ski Johnson invited the media to meet, greet, and ask any questions they had about the three-time Grammy Nominated Jazz Musician.  How cool is that?!  I have come to personally know Ski is as talented as he is humble.  We shared a conversation during an impromptu, mini-photosession that was about what really matters to a man and an artist.  Ski explained that there was a time when he was very excited to meet the staple names in the music industry with such giants as “Diddy.”  He explained that he is now more concerned with the way he relates to the people of his world, his family, fan base, and friends.  As a new photographer on the scene, I can totally say that I understand and appreciate Ski’s stance.  In fact, the keyword we spoke of was – PERSPECTIVE.  It is, and always will be, about keeping perspective.

So how is this for perspective:

I met Ski Johnson at a CD Release Party earlier this year at the Georgetown Ritz-Carlton.  I was so nervous that I forgot my camera flash and my wife, Ashley, had to drive all the way from Manassas to Georgetown during rush hour(s) to help me out.  I met several local celebrities as well as Huey Lewis, Ginuwine, and Sole.  I hardly spoke two sentences to Ski before the night ended.  Now a few months later, I am among only two photographers photographing a private event for Ski Johnson.  Thanks to iPhone technology, I was able to show him the images I took from the previous event at the Ritz-Carlton.  Ski said he was impressed with my work and was very receptive to my request for a mini-session and escort to the show.  I was very thankful and appreciative!  That night, Ski performed at the POV at the top of the W Hotel in front of an enthusiastic crowd for the American Cancer Society.  Ski Johnson is very passionate about the cause of the American Cancer Society because he lost both of his parents to cancer.  He did his parents proud by performing for the crowd and speaking to the media as open and honest as possible.

Ski Johnson Performs for American Cancer Society Event

Ski Johnson at the W Hotel

Ski Johnson Laughs During the Interview

A special thank you to Jonise Johnson, Wide-A-Wake, for approving my images.  Other attendees included:  Caneil McDonald, Kate Michael, Todd Wiggins,

The POV at the W Hotel

Ski Johnson Performs for the Crowd

Ski Johnson Performing with his band.

To see all the images, please click here.  Also if you did attend or would like to make a comment on the event, please feel free to comment on this blog.  Thank you!

Thanks again to Caneil McDonald, I was invited to photograph the Embassy of Burkina Faso’s, “Siren of Sahel Shine II-an African Luxury Couture Exposé” presented by the authorities of African fashion and textiles: VLISCO, and multi Global Award winning designer Clara Lawson Ames of Burkina Faso on November 20th 2009 at Union Station’s “Eastern Hall” in Washington , DC.

So what happens when you take an international embassy, award-winning designer, and the interests of DC’s top lifestyle consultants… a spectacular event with an assortment of our local celebrities. Although I arrived a few minutes late, I was quickly engulfed in the life of the event. There were photographers, videographers, production crews, and interviews all around. This was my kind of event – artistic, social, and decadent. I was able to finally speak to a number of people I photographed at past events and others I met for the first time. The fashion of Clara Lawson Ames was absolutely amazing! The colors were vivid and the patterns were to be celebrated. Here are a few highlights from the event…

Behind the scenes the models were preparing to enter the catwalk.

The Powerful, Influential, and Gorgeous Women in Attendance

Ean Williams (left; Executive Director of DC Fashion Week) and Maggy Francois ( right; VP of Education & Training of Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce) pose for a quick picture.

Paul Wharton of Evolution Look poses after an interview

Clara Lawson Ames thanks the crowd.

Please  click here to view the entire collection of images posted on my Flickr page.  Feel free to use my images but be sure to credit as, “Photographs by BoldLifestyle.” Oh yeah, as always, I appreciate comments on my blog and flickr if you are motivated to do so.  Thanks!

Renowned designer, Mario De Armas, teamed with the talented, Don Patron, to host a private event for author, Leslie Sanchez, for her new release, “You’ve  Come A Long Way, Maybe.”  The event was warm and intimate; the decor was brilliant and tailored; the food/beverage was rich and decadent.  I was among the trendsetters and pathmakers in the world of arts and politics.  It was indeed a gorgeous evening externally and internally.  You could practically taste the energy in the air!  Here are a few highlights…

Mario De Armas and Leslie Sanchez

Smart and Colorful Designs

More Godiva Chocolate Please

Rich and Decadent

Everyone Enjoyed Meeting Mario De Armas

Like I Said EVERYONE

Mario De Armas and Don Patron

...And Leslie Sanchez Appreciates Mario De Armas!

More images from the event can be viewed here.  Please feel free to leave a comment.  I love comments, so people that leave them absolutely ROCK!

Click Image to View Entire Collection

Okay ladies, as promised, I would like to deliver a little bit of Essence Music Festival “Eye Candy.”  I present to you – none other than – IDRIS ELBA!  For those of you that do not know much about Idris, he is a British actor who became famous in the US due to his role in The Wire.  Afterwards, he was in Tyler Perry’s, “Daddy’s Little Girls” (one of my personal favorites) and later co-starred with Beyonce Knowles in the 2009 thriller, “Obsessed.”  After attending his interview at the Essence Music Festival, I can definitely say the women are serious about Idris.  I didn’t get knocked down completely due to overpowering, muscular strength BUT probably would’ve if it wasn’t for the stage in front of me:)!  I was able to snap a couple of shots.  Please click the image above to view more from my flickr page.

Click Image to View Entire Collection

The 2009 Essence Music Festival took place at its homesite in New Orleans, Louisiana from July 3 – July 5.  This is a powerful event in celebration of African-American music, community, and talent that has such headliners as: Beyonce, John Legend, Ne-Yo, and Maxwell.  The event was opened by a press conference that involved the speakers as pictured in the above image:

Mayor C. Ray Nagin (Mayor of New Orleans), Roland Martin (CNN), General William Kip Ward (US Army), Rosalind Brewer (Division President of the Southeast Operations of Wal-Mart), Crystal Worthem (Multicultural Marketing Manager of Ford), Neil Golden (Chief Marketing Officer of McDonald’s US), and Jonathan Rogers (President and CEO of TV One), Michelle Ebanks (President of Essence Communications), Angela Burt-Murray (Editor-in-Chief of Essence Magazine), Joy A. Collins (Essence Music Festival General Manager), Ingrid Saunders Jones (Senior Vice President of Coca-Cola), Kisha Mitchell Williams (Multicultural Marketing Manager of Proctor and Gamble), and Lt. Gov Mitch Landrieu (State of Louisiana).

This is such a profound event that people from around the world attend annually.  I was honored to be able to attend this event and meet such amazing people. Please view all the images from the press conference by clicking the above image.