4/10/12

Move On MS

posters designed by Jose Prieto // autographed guitar for auction from My Chemical Romance
In 2007, an award-winning wedding photojournalist took a chance on a nineteen-year-old kid who didn't  know why digital cameras still had ISOs.  Karen hired me as an intern, promptly switched my camera to the Manual setting, and then she taught me how to shoot, how to run a company and she believed in my abilities as a photographer.  She taught me much of what I know about the industry and, without her early guidance & support, I doubt I would be where I am today.  In addition to being an artist with a camera, she's also a brilliant writer, a great mom & friend and she became a coach in helping people live with multiple sclerosis through her own experiences.  Karen has MS.

On March 29th, I photographed Move on MS, a fundraising event at American Trash in NYC.  The event was coordinated by Katie Ellsweig, who's a big time PR lady at Big Machine Media, and who threw a sock hop themed 11th birthday party -- which I attended.

Katie put together Move On MS in honor of her mom, Jean, who lost her twenty-four-year battle with multiple sclerosis in the spring of last year.  She was 52.  Between Karen and Katie and my own family's comparable struggles, you can understand why I jumped at the opportunity to help.  Neurological diseases are so devastating to patients and their families and it's so important to raise awareness and help in any way you can - whether that means you're marching on Washington to get bills like this one passedsharing you story, or, in this case, donating a few bucks, having a few beers and listening to some rock bands -- sounds brutal, I know!!

In case you're not convinced by my personal experiences and scattered sarcasm, you should know...
all the cool kids are doing it.
Here are some of the folks that contributed to making Move on MS a success:


And these guys put on a hell of a show:

Oh, and that company, Click Pictures, photographed it - ever heard of them?


Rockstar photographer, Anna Webber with friends // the donation door // Katie being fierce

Anna Webber & Katie Ellsweig giving away lots of cool stuff // raffle tickets // winner winner, chicken dinner!
Click Co-founder, Matt Versweyveld, being a hardcore rock photographer (or probably making fun of my shoes)

Anthony Walker.
Brian Carley (the Waltz) hanging out before the show

Sad & French
Restorations (Acoustic)
One of my all time favorite musicians and long time friend, Jason Guzman, with his lady, Arianna.

That's me making goofy faces & rocking out while simultaneously embarrassing Matt.

And (because what kind of music post would this be without music?) here's my favorite upon favorites from the show:





You can read more about MS or donate at www.msassociation.org

Oh, and if you're in NYC this weekend, Oscar Rodriguez and his band are playing at American Trash on Friday!

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