Last week I photographed the 50th Anniversary dinner of Les Dames d’Escoffier.  It was an epicures dream, fine wine, 8 scrumptious courses,  good company and at the Omni Parker House, one of the finest hotels in the city.  I was able to witness how a high-end kitchen is run from waitstaff, to plating to the last toast.  Yes it was tense, it was hectic, it was the stuff that food network drama is made of….  but it was inspiring to see how the best of the best strive for perfection.  Here are a few of my favorite photos from the night.

Les Dames d’Escoffier is a world wide philanthropic society of professional women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality. The invitation-only membership, composed of 27 individual chapters across the United States and Canada; it reflects the multifaceted fields of contemporary gastronomy and hospitality.

Happy Monday morning folks.  Hopefully it was a good weekend for you too.  Last Friday we went to the B-list meet-and-greet in Washington D.C..  It was so fun!  What an amazing group of women; talented, intelligent, stylish and organized a totally rockin’ event.   Definitely check out the B-list for the country’s best wedding bloggers.  Anyway…. this quote comes from Lao Tzu who is the author of the Tao Te Ching an inspirational book that I read a long time ago and it still affects me.

“Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.”

Lao Tzu

This photo is available for sale and would make a great wall print… if you’re interested email Edson@DiasPhoto.com : )

This Saturday brought us to The Downtown Harvard Club for this crisp Spring wedding.  The greens and yellows were clean and appropriate for the spring… also very popular colors this year.  Flowers by Les Fleurs in Andover, MA.  Murray Hill Talent provided the music: the band’s name is Flipside… they were great btw  : )  Getting ready photos taken at the Club Quarters Hotel

Happy Monday Morning peeps!  : )  I’m feeling particularly happy this morning but also kind of tired because of the busy weeekend we had.  So instead of sharing a thoughtful quote, I figured I’d share a couple funny ones about work:

They say hard work never hurts anybody, but why take the chance.

I like work.  It fascinates me.  I  sit and look at it for hours.

My fiance and I received from our officiant this list of questions to consider and discuss before getting married.  I found it extremely helpful.  I’ve narrowed the list down to the most intriguing.  If you’d like the whole list, email me Edson{at}DiasPhoto{dot}com and I’ll be happy to send it to you.  Here it is:

Finances:

1. One account or separate?
2. How will each contribute?
3. How will you handle your bill paying?

Household duties:

1. Who will do what?
2. Will each of you have a “space”?

Children:

1. Do you plan to add children to this union?
2. If so, how many?     Birth or adoption?
3. Are there any family illnesses/conditions that might affect your children?
4. What will be the division of child care/discipline/responsibilities?

Events and holidays:

1. Which holidays or anniversaries are important to you?
2. Whose family will you spend which days with?
3. Have you discussed the continuation of existing friendships?

Religion or spiritual practices:

1. Do you have a preferred religious/spiritual practice?
2. How will you handle this component in your life together?
3. If there are children involved, how will this be handled?
4. Have you discussed end of life issues and wants?

Future:

1. Have you discussed your dreams/plans for the long-term future?

Communication:

1. When and how do you best communicate?
2. When you have difficulty in communicating?
3. Have you discussed pet peeves – or annoyances?
4. Do you trust your fiancé with the full truth? Both to give the full truth and receive the full truth?
5. Do you know how to fight fairly?
6. Do you agree on fidelity issues?
7. Do you have an agreement on how to keep your communication open?
8. How do you want to be cared for when you are ill?

10.  Do you feel that you can truly be yourself?

11.  Can you talk openly about your likes/dislikes sexually?

It never ceases to amaze me what’s photographically possible at some one’s home.  The photos shown here on the white background were also taken at the family’s house.  We have several small backdrops that we can set up virtually anywhere.  It’s great for us because shooting in a studio everyday can be awfully boring.  That’s why I love taking photos on location, you get the best of both worlds… and it’s much easier for the family.

And heeere’s Jake….  Our traveling studio made it’s way out to Stoneham for this photo session.  I’ve been enjoying grabbing what ever elements are available at people’s homes for the photo.  The yellows duckies in this photo are the babies bath toys.  It adds visual interest to the photo and personalizes it a bit too.  He was a fun baby to photograph.  I love the photo with the wide eyes… woah!