General Powell and Genesis Women's Shelter
To me, there are few things better as a Dallas event photographer than getting to be a part of an event that is truly making a difference, while also having the opportunity to interact with individuals of celebrity status. I was asked to help photograph a patron party for Genesis Women’s Shelter, and was all in from the get go. In case you haven’t heard of the shelter, they provide a place for women and their children to go to escape abusive husbands, boyfriends, etc., and help them get on their feet while keeping them hidden and safe. It disgusts me to think how shelters like Genesis have to exist, because there are males, not men mind you, that choose to bring harm to the ones that they are supposed to lovingly protect. I always want my wife to know that she is safe with me around, and that I will do whatever I need to to ensure her protection. It should never be that she or any woman should have to live in fear.
The event was part of their fundraising effort, and they pulled out all the stops to make sure that it was a memorable one. General Colin S. Powell, USA (ret.) who I am a big fan of, did a meet and greet with guests, and also spoke briefly at dinner. Just getting to photograph his interaction as a Dallas event photographer was a real treat for me, as I always have a ton of admiration for men of strong character, and General Powell certainly personifies that. I was one of two photographers there, and spent the majority of my time following him around to capture moments with him and the guests, and grab a few portraits as well. So cool! Plus, the lighting was amazing outside, the weather wasn’t too hot, so I had a great time capturing moments.
The next celebrity sighting happened from the catering tent. Stephan Pyles, who is a superstar chef , was handling the dinner. I remember as a kid watching his cooking shows on PBS, so it was quite the experience to meet him in person. Plus I may be a Dallas event photographer first and foremost, but right behind that is the label of foodie. I got to meet him and also get my picture with him, which is a pretty rare thing for me to do. I also got to see behind the scenes on how they plate these amazing dishes in record time. It is something that you may never think about, and is really interesting to witness. Plus Stephan was a super nice guy, and super cool under pressure to boot.
All in all, it was a very cool evening to be a part of, and I’m glad that they had me out to help capture the mood. Enjoy!