Event – Page 2 – Alexander Rubin | Napa Valley Photographer

Cakebread Cellars Open House

Cakebread Cellars recently hosted an Open House at their winery, with the goal of treating their guests to a sensory experience while capturing new images for their marketing. They brought me in to shoot the event with the concept of providing commercial and lifestyle images during a live event. I’ve been doing more and more of this style of shoot lately, and it’s something I’m really enjoying. It’s a great new way to do commercial marketing and it feels more fluid when I’m shooting around a actual event. I was chosen because the winery was attracted to my style which they felt conveys warmth, color, and texture. Through my camera I was able to show Cakebread Cellars’ commitment to quality and hospitality. Through the movement of a live event I was able to evoke the craftsmanship that goes into their wine making and the comadery that their guests enjoy during an event. I loved shooting the food and wine offerings that engaged all the senses. After all, isn’t that what food and wine is all about? It should engage the eyes, the nose and the palate. I worked very hard to ensure that I kept all of Cakebread’s goals in mind, and I’m so proud of the final product. I think I really helped to tell their story through my lens.

A Private Dinner with Jean-Charles Boisset and John Legend

You’ve heard the cliche “I have to pinch myself”, right? That’s the feeling I had when shooting this event. It was an intimate private dinner at the home of Jean-Charles Boisset and Gina Gallo-Boisset. The Boisset’s home, Wappo Hill, is well known in Napa Valley as it sits at the highest point of the Napa Valley floor. It was once the place where the Wappo Native Americans watched over the valley. It’s a stunning ranch style home designed and built for Robert Mondavi. The dinner was part of an auction lot from Auction Napa Valley, which benefits community and youth organizations. Guests dined on a world class dinner catered by Boisset Family Estates Chef, Michel Cornu. A highlight of the evening was the private performance by Grammy and Oscar Winning artist John Legend. Boisset and Legend have become partners in The LVE Collection by John Legend, produced in collaboration with Boisset’s Raymond Vineyards. Boisset’s words about the evening were heartfelt and summed up the night to perfection:

The stars and energy were all aligned Friday night on the historical and highest energy point of The Napa Valley, Wappo Hill! Artist of the century John Legend, fantastic winery owners from Napa and the best friends ever for a gathering that was illustrious, magical and also beneficial for the community…Wine brings people together and music enchants and transports them… What an association where all senses, singing and the melody magnetized all of us. We are so grateful to breath the oxygen of life !With passion and love, Warmest Wishes, Meilleures Salutations…..Jean-Charles Boisset
BoissetCollection.com, JCBwines.com

My deepest appreciation and thanks go to Jean-Charles and Gina Gallo-Boisset for welcoming me into their home and allowing me to be part of such a joyful evening. I was deeply honored.

Blackbird Vineyards & Bulgari – Ma(i)sonry Dinner

This is the second installment of a shoot that I did at Ma(i)sonry in Yountville in the same day. In addition to doing a commercial shoot at this beautiful location for Restoration Hardware, the garden was the scene for a welcome dinner for the 35th Annual Auction Napa Valley. The private dinner was hosted by Blackbird Vineyards and Bulgari. This impressive wine-pairing dinner was expertly prepared by renowned Chef Victor Scargle. As this was part of the fundraising auction, models mingled with guests adorned in Bulgari jewels which were up for auction. On the dining table were more jewels and watches by Bulgari under glass. As a lover of food wine, and the finer things in life, this was a real treat for me. Some of my images landed on the DuJour Blog. Check out the whole story here.

Kendall Jackson | Food & Wine

I recently photographed a Farm to Table shoot and dinner event for Kendall Jackson Winery. I captured images of their food and wine paring, event details and some great candid moments. It was such a pleasure photographing Executive Chef Justin Wagner and Tucker Taylor Director of Culinary Gardens.

Oprah and Starbucks

I had an amazing time shooting the Teavana campaign for Starbucks and Oprah Winfrey in Seattle. At the end of 2013 , Starbucks and Oprah announced a joint venture to co-create Teavana Oprah Chai Tea. I photographed Oprah as she developed the tea with Teavana’s leading teaologist , Naoko Tsunoda. It was inspiring to watch! The images were shot in a very natural and organic style. Oprah was incredibly down to earth. I feel very fortunate to have worked with such an inspiring woman. This shoot was one of the highlight of my career thus far. Take a look at Teavana’s website, and look at some of my favorite images below.

Napa Celebrity Photographer shooting Oprah by Rubin Photography_0006 Napa Commertial and Celebrity Photographer By Rubin Photography_0055

Raymond Vineyards | Release Party

I love photographing winery events in Napa and Sonoma. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of photographing one of the most anticipated events of the year for Raymond Vineyards: The release of their 2010 Generations Cabernet Sauvignon. It was an incredible event with delicious food, and of course, older vintages of Raymond’s flagship wine, Generations Cabernet Sauvignon.

Buena Vista Winery Event

Below is a shoot for Boisset Family Estates, owners of Buena Vista Winery. The winery hosted a party for the Sheriffs Association of California. It was a great event with amazing wines, delicious food and even a little entertainment from the Buena Vista mascot the original California Sheriff, Count Agoston Haraszthy.

Chef’s Dinner | Urban Enoteca

We photographed this chef’s dinner for Urban Enoteca. The food and wine were amazing, and I had a great time working with the chefs.