Photo Nights Boston

Introducing the Second Annual Industry Event Night

Q&A with Tracy Bennett Stewart and Elaine Totten Davis

Photo Nights Boston, in partnership with ETD Coaching and Zero2Sixty, will be co-hosting the second annual Industry Event. This event brings together the creative community to celebrate, rekindle relationships and make new connections that will drive our businesses forward!

For tickets and more information head to: http://industryeventboston2012.eventbrite.com/

Tracy Bennett Stewart and Elaine Totten Davis have been hard at work planning IE Boston for the past few months. In anticipation for the event, they were able to share some of their personal experiences and explain why this event is important for the city Boston.

1) Tracy, what lead you to create and develop I.E. Boston?

I truly felt Boston needed something big and fresh to bring the creative community together.  So much has changed in the past decade-- no photo labs, less in-person interaction and the industry has become more global. This has made us a little less intimate and I was hearing over and over that everyone missed the face-to-face run-ins.

I felt that inaugural event in 2011, hosted by my agency zero2sixty creative, was a huge success. This year IE Boston is being held in support of Photo Nights Boston. I felt that IE Boston could continue to be an amazing networking event and also support the arts/photography industry. We are helping PNB spread awareness and raise money. This year, as a ticketed event, 100% of the proceeds will go to PNB.

2)  Elaine, what are you most excited about as the planning for I.E. Boston comes together?

I think it is always great when we can get the industry in the same room together.  The party last year was very fun.  This year, the thing I am most excited about is being able to share the vision and efforts of  Photo Nights Boston with the community. I am a big supporter of public art and certainly, photography.

When I first heard that PNB was going to create an outdoor, photographic festival, showcasing a juried show of large-scale projections on screens and facades, at night, I thought, "sign me up."  Boston has a thriving creative and arts community.  This organization wants to "shine a light" on how amazing it is AND bring it to the public.  Who better to understand this than the people that live and breath it everyday?  The I.E. Boston event is a fantastic way to celebrate creativity, photography and public art.

3) Tell us about your backgrounds and current position/profession.

•  Tracy -  I grew up with my Dad's influence as a "book-taught" wedding and portrait photographer.  When he wasn't working his day job at GM, he'd shoot weddings, meet with clients, sleeve negatives..... That contributed to my love of photography and lead me to become a fine art/photo major at Salem State College. In college I landed a great internship with Eric Roth and gained invaluable experience from being on-set.  After college I assisted and produced shoots for some amazing Boston photographers and eventually began working as a producer for about 8 yrs. That lead me to become a rep, which I throughly enjoy. I've had the photography bug my whole life. I also found time to get married and become a mom!

•  Elaine - I have been in the advertising and photography world for all of my adult life as an art producer and a marketing consultant in both New York City and Boston. I have always truly loved being part of the creative process and collaborating with others to make things happen.

In 2008, I gathered up all of my experience, trained to become a certified life and career coach (C.P.C.) and started ETD Coaching. As a coach, I work predominantly with creative professionals from all walks of creative life: photographers, art directors, producers, writers, fine artists, film makers. I have even coached a few PhD candidates that wanted to complete their dissertations! I work with individuals to focus on their professional and personal aspirations and provide support to make the best choices. I really love being a part of this industry. The opportunity to co-host the I.E. Boston party with Tracy this year AND create awareness around the exciting mission of Photo Nights Boston, is a great pleasure.

4) Tracy and Elaine, as people in "the industry" what do you think seasoned veterans will gain from attending I.E. Boston? What about folks new to Boston?

• Tracy:  Simply, I think it is to connect and re-connect.  Social media has played a huge role in everyone's lives and business the past few years— I think people really light up when they get out, meet up and put a face to a name or a Twitter handle.  It's exciting!

• Elaine - Whether someone is a seasoned veteran or new to the area, coming to this event gives all of us an opportunity to not only talk business, but also share some common interests, have a few laughs and talk about why we love living and working in Boston. It gives everyone a chance to relax and appreciate why we all do what we do.

For tickets and more information head to: http://industryeventboston2012.eventbrite.com/