Breast Cancer Event raises $10,000

Sun Sentinal Newspaper.

Fashion event highlights breast cancer awareness

By Laura Burdick-Sherman | Special Correspondent
November 4, 2007

After surviving surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy, parading down a fashion runway in a private label gown wasn't difficult for six South Florida breast cancer survivors.

The women helped raise $10,000 for breast cancer awareness during Ever After Miami's Susan G. Komen For the Cure's Passionately Pink for the Cure.

"I thought it was absolutely fantastic," said Judy Celender, 58, a cancer survivor from Coral Springs. "I had no idea it would be such an overwhelming feeling. My emotions were skyrocketing."

Celender has endured a 14-year battle with breast cancer, including a dozen biopsies, treatments, a bilateral mastectomy and 15 subsequent surgeries.

Susan Cassone, a survivor who lives in Lighthouse Point, has been cancer-free for a year after being diagnosed in 2005 and undergoing a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, radiation and intravenous drug therapy.

She said the fashion show was a wonderful experience.

"The whole time I was going through this, I put it in the background and never really gave myself credit for going through it with dignity," said Cassone, manager for teacher certification for the Broward County School Board. "This was a celebration for me to acknowledge that."

Both women said they plan to continue working for breast cancer awareness.

"I want women to know if you get it, you can through it," Cassone said. "You don't have to be suffering and ashamed. It's not the end of the world. My life has changed in a positive way as a result of this."

Camille Thiry Russler, owner of Ever After Miami, said she came up with the idea for the event after her great-grandmother, grandmother, mother-in-law and sister-in-law were stricken with the disease.

"We were able to raise funds and awareness for a very valuable foundation as well as celebrate six inspirational women for their courage, strength and grace and for ultimately conquering a dreadful disease," she said. Each winner received a unique Ever After Evening gown designed by in-house designer Renato Armijo, hair and makeup by Mario Ortega of Oribe, and fashion photography by Carlos Baez.

Thiry Russler said she is already planning next year's event and accepting sponsor offers.

For more information, go to www.everaftermiami.com.

Alumni Wall of Fame Induction 11-10-07

Believe it or not, I graduated from the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale in 1987, even though they say 1997 in the clip and on my name tag. Nothing like feeling younger when you are getting older.

I want to thank the AIFL for the honors they have bestowed on me this year. From commencement speaker at the graduation in June to this past Saturday and the Wall of Fame. 20 years go by so quickly and yet I still feel like a student.

I feel blessed to have learned from those who taught me at the AIFL and those who I have taught while being an adjunct professor.



Mi Familia.


Right name, wrong year.

Ms. V, fashion photography professor

Me and Diana Zalucky, an inductee herself in Photography.


Old time photo booth, enjoyed by all.

Carrie Cochran, another inductee in Fashion Design

Being interviewed, I look short.

Alex Rodriguez (not baseball guy), me and Hazel Gutierrez

Name those Cameras!

Here's some lost footage we found from 7 years ago! Different shoots we did (an online calendar, Ocean Drive, People en Espanol, and CD cover for Luis Fonsi) over 1 month in 2000.

I guess we were ahead of our time with video. Now we have a platform to show it here, and on our new website soon to come.

Melaura and Chris (10-22-07)

Melaura and Chris chose Little Palm Island right off the coast near Key West for their sunset ceremony, just the 2 of them, and us of course.

This is part 1 of 2. The will have another ceremony at Maralago in Palm Beach on Nov. 19th. Can't wait.

They are so much fun to be around.

Photo Plus NY 2007

Ok, so this post is a few weeks off, but we are busy. Photo Plus NY 2007 was a blast. From seeing old friends and making new ones, the city was alive with tons of great photographers. Hung out a lot with my good friend Sara France, but for some reason we don't have a photo together, go figure.

I was fortunate enough to be one of the few who saw Albert Watson speak at the show, what an amazing photographer and inspiration.

Speaking of displays, these next 2 shots were 8x10 "foot" photos of mine on the Graphi Studio booth.




The next 3 photos were my coffee table books that were on display at the Graphi Studio booth. For those of you who "stole", I mean borrowed those albums from the booth, feel free to contact me, and I will autograph them for you. Enjoy them, they are fun samples.


These 2, above and below, are my fashion portfolio's. Thank you Graphi!




My great friend Joe Buissink after his Graphi talk.

More great friends,Mike Larson, David Luebke of Couture Book.

Pictage PUG leaders (from L to R) Joy Moody, Amber Holritz, Mr. and Mrs. Marantz (on their mini-moon),.

Myself and the crazy, but super helpful, Mark Adams of Lacour Studio.

These are the views from the Grand Havana Room in NY, a private members only club on 5th avenue that my friend Boris Bauer belongs to and invited me for dinner and drinks on Friday evening.




Boris, me, and Randall the general manager of the Grand Havana Room. The dinner and company was amazing, hanging out with all the high rollers of the city.

Nothing like those NY parks, reminds me of West Side Story, all that chain link fence.

Does anyone use these anymore? Maybe it's for all those who still have beepers.

Kellie and Adrian (10-4-07)

With Kellie and Adrian, out of Jersey via Philly, you couldn't get a sexier or hotter couple. Of course the humidity did and didn't help.

Small wedding on a Thursday, October 4th, at the National Hotel on South Beach. We just jumped in cabs and shot at Miami Ink, from cable TV fame, and over to and into the former Versace Mansion, now Casa Casuarina, and back to the hotel for the ceremony and party.

We all had fun even when it rained late, but they party continued despite, no stopping the dancing.