Oscar Night

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I have never missed an Oscars in my life. In addition to being an avid movie lover enjoying the visual storytelling of the silver screen, I love to get lost in the glitz and glamour of that one celebratory night. You can imagine my excitement when Chopard invited us to Elton John’s Oscar viewing party! I’ve pretty much decided the only direction I can go from here is to attend the actual Oscars… but there are many miles of work ahead before that happens.

Los Angeles is certainly a change of pace, especially for this New Yorker. Many times when I’m invited to incredible places, I can’t help but photograph and share these moments in my life, BUT, in LA, it was a totally different experience.  Once you get inside events, nobody is on their phone Instagramming, grabbing quick snap shots of the beautiful celebrities going by, or walking around with a DSLR taking candids for the fun of it.

At the Chopard Weinstein party before Oscar night, I found myself in a conversation standing next to Quentin Tarantino with a view of Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, and Bradley Cooper…and all I could do was sip my champagne and dream of what I would have captioned the Instagram. Then there was that moment at 3am standing on Leonardo DiCaprio’s balcony in the Hollywood hills and thinking, NOBODY is going to believe me when I tell them because there is no picture to prove it, and it’s me we are talking about! There are always pictures!

Don’t get me wrong, there were photographers there, but there was a specific place and a specific time for photographs. It’s a strange feeling to not be allowed to take my own images, but on the other hand, it felt respectful of people’s privacy in an old fashioned kind of way.  Not being able to capture what I was experiencing allowed me to be in the moment and these memories… I don’t need to pull up the images to remember, they are as vivid as if it were yesterday.

I took a lesson from LA – to live in the moment. I need to remind myself: I don’t create to live, I live to create. Perhaps if I put my camera down and remain present, I can find better clarity for when I do decide to work. Maybe just changing that will be my ticket to the big show one day…

Thank you Chopard for the unforgettable night and dressing us in your beautiful diamonds and thank you Kelly for this Marchesa gown moment, I felt like a Hollywood princess… if only for a night.

  • Emily Fleck

    Has Kelly ever made a smokey eye tutorial? That’s definitely her signature dressed-up look and I’d really love to know how she does it!

    Jaime, the incredible professional journey over the past few years is wonderful! Congratulations. =)

  • Isa

    Your dress is absolutely, absolutely stunning! Do you just have a collection of ball gowns stashed in the back of your closet?! You’re always whipping them out at us!

  • Leonardo DiCaprio’s balcony…?! **SWOON** I may have just died of jealousy!! On a more serious note, your success is well deserved, Jamie! It’s always refreshing to read and know that hard work leads to dreams coming true… And it’s wonderful that you’re able to take the time to enjoy that success away from behind the camera as well!

  • CiaoChessa

    I think that for me as a photographer (and honestly as a mom) learning to truly BE in the moment is one of the most difficult lessons I’ve learned (and I’m not even sure I’m there yet). When you’ve always lived your life (and are most comfortable in my case) behind a lens it can be difficult to come away from that. But in my opinion the memories are always fresher when you actually live them out instead of constantly strive to somehow chronicle them. At the end of the day, your memories are most strongly preserved in your heart and your mind. A photograph is a beautiful and very important reminder of that but the sounds, smells, the way you felt, the light…the MOMENT, lives in your memories and your dreams. x

  • As someone who loves photography and carries around my old school 35mm film camera for that perfect photo opportunity, your words totally speak to me. I love photography so much and use it as a tool to capture the beautiful moment that’s in front of me; however, there are times I wonder if there’s a line I can draw for myself on when to put the camera down and just be alive in that moment. It’s a balance each of us have to find for ourselves. I’m glad you found yours… xo

  • You are so gorgeous and I love your dress!

  • Such a beautiful post! Loved your perspective on the night…and of course, you all look stunning!

  • You belong there with your classic Hollywood glamour~

    The Occasional Indulgence

  • Christine

    You truly are a Hollywood Princess in that gown. Tell me, how can I be in your shoes???
    Love your blog eversince the day I found this. xoxo

  • Great googly moogly these are gorgeous!

  • Absolutely gorgeous 🙂 You both look stunning! And I love the sweet words in the beginning. I have to remind myself to stop looking down at my phone, taking photos etc. etc. and actually enjoy the place I’m in sometimes too…

  • SAY WHA?! Leonardo’s balcony?? GIRL! Aren’t you glad you weren’t instagramming or photographing the night away, so that you actually saw things with your eyes instead of behind a lens. That’s how I feel sometimes, I take photos for memories, but sometimes, it’s not the same looking at photos after the fact.
    You and Kelly looked so glam btw, better than the stars!

  • Jen

    I too need to remind myself to put down the camera sometimes..and enjoy the moment. fully. sounds like you did JUST that.

    and you looked glamorous as all get out, I may add!!

  • Olexandra

    congratulations . You too look simply Beautiful. That’s the only word for it. A well deserved night after so much hard work through other times.
    -Olexandra.

  • bijoux

    What an amazing experience that must have been. I have never missed an Oscars either. To be there in person one day would be my dream come true. You look wonderful!!

  • vanessa

  • Beautiful pictures! You two look lovely. Glad you were able to enjoy the moment. I’m still a novice photog, but I know exactly what you mean about the urge to “capture” the moment, rather than actually “live” in it. I’m the biggest culprit, especially when it comes to vacation. Glad to see you were able to relax and enjoy yourself.

    Kendra
    http://closetconfections.com

  • I love the pictures and the dresses and the makeup and probably just about everything.

  • Oh my goodness. That was an INCREDIBLE write-up. You both look stunning in those gowns. Drop-dead gorgeous!

    xo
    http://hautecouture3.blogspot.com

  • voguestelle

    you guys look amazing!

    http://fashionfeude.tumblr.com/

  • ladybird

    Your dress is to die! Flawless as always.

    But seriously, no one should be allowed to be as perfect in front of the camera as they are behind it. It’s just not fair for the rest of us…