PROJECT : Vegas • Gonna Make a Stand???

20 Image Series:

Song co-written and sung by Jodie Rocco, an amazing artist with Certified Gold and Platinum Records. Base Track: Stomp (Instrumental) by Evgeny Kiselevich

Lyrics:

“I take a look around, we’re going downtown come on ride with me let’s cruise.

Las Vegas Boulevard too.

I’m gonna make a stand, I’m a Town Square fan, come on run with me right to, and yes, Commonwealth will do.

I see Mandalay, it’s a Circus should I go?

Maybe I should stomp my feet it’s Trump Tower you know!”

As a local Las Vegas photographer and studio owner located right off the strip in the heart of Vegas, I can honestly say that I have felt the impact of COVID-19 tremendously as a majority of my clients are visitors to the Vegas valley.

Photo 1 of 20⁣
Location: Wildfire Boulder

I feel for those who have cancelled their trips to our fascinating city, but my heart hurts especially for those small business owners, like me, who depend on the hundreds of thousands of tourists that descend on our city yearly, for their livelihood.

Photo 2 of 20⁣
Location: Wildfire Boulder

Weddings, engagements, annual anniversary celebrations, graduations, family gatherings, entrepreneurs hoping to launch their business, conventions, etc.. All cancelled.

Photo 3 of 20⁣
Location: Wildfire Boulder

Although my family and I are sad at the sudden turn of events we are also Vegas Strong! Right before the lockdown ordered by our Governor, I partnered with another long-time Las Vegas local, Jodie Rocco, to capture the emotion and beauty of Vegas.

Photo 4 of 20⁣
Location: Boby Motel

The gut wrenching emptiness, the darkness, and the nightmare that has become a reality for so many in our city, state, country and the world.

Photo 5 of 20
Total Shoot Time: 1 min 17 seconds
Location: Town Square

Through photography Jodie and I have created a series of 20 images that depicts the reality of Las Vegas just two days before lockdown. Literally being all dressed up with nowhere to go.

Photo 6 of 20⁣
Total Shoot Time: 12 seconds!
Location: Mandalay Bay

This goes out to the bride that had to hang up her dress, the wife that couldn’t celebrate her love with her husband, the woman who put her dreams of launching her very own business on hold, and so many other celebrations and events that will have to wait until they can financially recover.

Photo 7 of 20⁣
Total Shoot Time: 23 seconds!
Location: A Little White Chapel

In addition, we have created a short video, co-written and sung by Jodie, who has numerous certified gold and platinum records. This video is the culmination of our work and expresses the excitement of the Las Vegas valley as we shot from Henderson to the strip and up to Fremont Street.

Photo 8 of 20⁣
Total Shoot Time: 28 seconds!
Location: The Strat

How the project came together: At the beginning of April, shortly after the world came to a halt, Jodie Rocco, a long-time friend and multi gold and platinum award winning artist, asked me if I wanted to do a project with her.

Photo 9 of 20⁣
Total Shoot Time: 29 seconds!
Location: Circus Circus

A project about Las Vegas and the beauty of our city even in such trying times, from the strip to downtown, to Henderson where she lives and where we first shot.⁣

Photo 10 of 20⁣
Total Shoot Time: 2 min 52 seconds for photo 10 & 11
Location: La Comida

In the meantime, we knew the precautions we would have to take. Jodie did her own make-up, hair, and wardrobe. I took care of the photography and vision. My husband, Ephraim, was the driver, lighting assistant, and behind the scenes video.

Photo 11 of 20⁣
Total Shoot Time: 2 min 52 seconds for photo 10 & 11
Location: La Comida

We drove two cars, we were always cognizant of the 6-foot rule and we did not overstep our boundaries or break any laws. That means sometimes we had less than 3 seconds to shoot an image.⁣

Photo 12 of 20⁣
Total Shoot Time: 2 min 31 seconds for photo 12 & 13
Location: Commonwealth

I contacted my editor, Purple Key Agency , in London, England that I’ve used for years to see if they’d like to be a part of this project as well. Within minutes I received an email back and they took it on!⁣

Photo 13 of 20⁣
Total Shoot Time: 2 min 31 seconds for photo 12 & 13
Location: Commonwealth

The day after our valley-wide shoot, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak increased the safety of Las Vegas and issued a stay at home order. Vegas will come back stronger than ever before. We will rise up and we are gonna make a stand!⁣

Photo 14 of 20⁣
Total Shoot Time: 52 seconds
Location: Le Thai