SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT – Very Limited Seating – Come to San Antonio TX on Wednesday the 6th and have dinner with a friend of mine from LA, fashion photographer Jerry Avenaim .
This is a photograph my daughter took after Jerry had lunch with my family and I in LA over Christmas 08.
Being a fashion photographer, Jerry Avenaim knows about doing whatever it takes to nail the shot – just don’t tell bad jokes or you will suffer 
Lastly, I have a Jerry Avenaim shot in my collection that he actually took. It will never be in his book to show prospective clients or used to show Vogue his latest work, but it is a personal reminder of his friendly character and generous nature. I will forever be touched that this guy took time out of his routine to have lunch with my family and I when we were passing through LA.
Here we are standing outside his house after lunch. The order is his boots at 6:30, and going clockwise my daughter, my son and myself.
Since meeting Jerry over 2 years ago, he has been responsible for accellerating the quality of my work x 8000. The only training I have had is from Jerry Avenaim.
The details on this special event are here http://www.meetup.com/alamo-arts/calendar/10193340/#posted
Here is a message from Rolando Gomez – the organizer for the Alamo Arts Photography Group in San Antonio.
“Join top celebrity and fashion photographer Jerry Avenaim for his audiovisual presentation of celebrity lighting techniques that will help bring life to your images. Avenaim just returned from filming his special guest appearance on Germany’s Next Top Model with Heidi Klum. Avenaim appears this month on Style’s television, “Life in the Fab Lane with Kimora Lee Simmons” and he will also share his “Voyage of Self-Discovery” in photography during this three-hour meet-up. If you’ve seen the Toby Keith, Ford campaign, you’ve seen Avenaim’s photography whether it was on print, billboards or television.
Many years ago I had the pleasure of sharing the stage at the Photo Imaging Design Expo in San Diego with Avenaim as we lectured as a team to record-breaking crowds on lighting and post-production. I’ve invited him to San Antonio to share his expertise, secrets, techniques, trials and tribulations with the Alamo Arts Photography Group–this event is limited to the first 50 attendees and will be held over dinner at a local restaurant (dinner not included in meet-up fee). Jerry not only accepted, but the airline ticket was booked as we spoke on the phone today as he’s excited to return back to Texas to spend time in San Antonio while working on his upcoming books.
Avenaim took time out from his busy schedule as he’s currently working with 44 Blue and MSNBC on a special television series, “LOCK UP, Doing Time in America.” You can preview it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhRuaxUwmfw Avenaim works in five “Supermax” prisons for this upcoming show.
Avenaim is no small name in Hollywood as Dr. Phil had Avenaim guest appear to discuss his portraiture of Dr. Phil’s Newsweek cover. A native of Chicago, Jerry Avenaim started in photography as an assistant to legendary fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier. Upon venturing out on his own in 1985, his first assignment was a foreign edition Vogue cover of (then rising star) Cindy Crawford. Based out of Milan, he began to work for Italian Vogue under the direction of Editor in Chief Franca Sozzani.
Through the years Avenaim has gained the trust of some of the top A-list celebrities like Halle Berry, Charlize Theron, Alicia Silverstone, Charlton Heston, Mark Harmon, Helen Hunt, Donald Trump, James Caan, Milton Berle, Nastassjia Kinski, Angela Bassett, Ben Stiller, Ricky Martin, Robert Blake, Shaquille O’Neal, Emmit Smith, Brett Favre and many, many others.
Throughout his career Jerry Avenaim’s photographs have been seen in almost every major magazine world-wide, including Vogue, GQ, People, Vanity Fair and Newsweek. His list of advertising clients have included, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Phat Farm, Guess, Durasoft, Pella Windows, Paramount and Warner Bros.
Normally this presentation has a door fee up to $100 or more per person in some venues but for AAPG members the cost is $25 per person to attend. The venue is limited to 50 people, so it’s a first-come, first-serve basis. Dinner and drinks as are not included, package prices for food for less than $20 (drinks not included) are avialable. Follow-ups for upcoming events will be discussed too.
Rolando asks that everyone remember the purpose of meet-up groups, to meet, network, share ideas, knowledge, etc., while having a great time. This meeting will be over dinner. Avenaim will start his lecture during dinner to save time. Expected lecture time is at least 2 hours, plus Q&A. The meeting should end around 9:30 p.m.
This lecture is open for all levels of photographers and models, from beginners to advanced. You may bring guests, but they must pay the $25 fee plus dinner. We will only take a waiting list after 50 RSVP’s of yes. Payment is due and payable upon RSVP via the PayPal link at the AAPG website, http://www.alamoarts.com/payments/ Use the “donate” button at the bottom the page on the link above and if you have not paid your annual dues, pay them with the “buy now” button at the top of the same page. Annual dues must also be paid at time of RSVP. Please contact me via email if you have questions and please understand that I’m traveling too, so expect delays. Thanks, Rolando”
