A Summer Estate

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The backyard of a spanish-style villa with grass and desert foliage in the foreground, patio furniture and umbrella in the center and various trees including palm trees throughout and a pool and home in the background amidst a blue-and-red sunset.
We recently had the privilege of photographing a remodel of an estate in one of Las Vegas’ older neighborhoods. The goal was to create images which evoked the feeling of a resort which was the goal of this substantial makeover. We had a great time roaming the grounds in the scorching heat and shooting it as if we were creating a brochure for an upscale hotel chain.

There are times when weather is an obstacle (just as shooting all day in mid-June.) However, on rare occasions, mother nature can reward a diligent effort with unexpected shooting opportunities–as it did on this particular evening. Clouds which only minutes before were casting a hazy grey light suddenly became a dramatic canvas of yellows, orange, red, and pink. When shooting away from the sun, the clouds become a deep lavender. Suddenly this beautiful desert residence had a surreal light cast over it and upon it.

Included are a few images of the look of daytime, nighttime, and the unnatural sunset of a June afternoon at an estate in Las Vegas which seems like it was created for summertime.

 

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High Design at Medezin

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With the legalization of medial marijuana in Nevada, dispensaries have sprung up all over Las Vegas. Medezin is a brand new dispensary seeking to elevate the medical marijuana shopping experience. With the owners wanting to emulate the open feel of an Apple Store, designer Briana Tiberti used the minimalist Apple retail design scheme and threw bold paint colors, sleek wood and tile surfaces, loud murals featuring Vegas iconography, and a rich green faux-grass. The result is a modern, yet vibrant and richly visual space, the very opposite of the dark, speakeasy-esque look one might expect. A beautifully photogenic space, Medezin was a pleasure to photograph.

 

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Exploring the Old Las Vegas Hilton (now Westgate)

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LasVegasHotelRoomPhotography-3The old Las Vegas Hilton, for many years the largest hotel in the world, with nearly 3,000 rooms, is an immense property with a lush history. The hotel which originally opened as “The International” was the home of Elvis and Liberace in the early 1970’s, the site of a massive fire in 1980, the go-to destination for Trekkies from 1998-2008 featuring “The Star Trek Experience,” and still boasts the largest race and sports book in the world. The Las Vegas Hilton was rebranded the LVH in 2011 in the wake of the recession and was finally sold in 2014 to Westgate Resorts which now calls the classic hotel Westgate Resort Las Vegas.

Unlike many newer mega-hotels, the Westgate has over 40 years of history within its walls. Since 1969, many rooms have one-by-one received custom makeovers. Some for special residents of the hotel, others just to offer guests a unique Vegas experience. With scores of custom suites, the Westgate is no boilerplate hotel with 3000 matching rooms and what’s more, the new ownership has no up-to-date photography of its inventory of guestrooms. Westgate is exploring its giant new property on foot, one wild suite at a time.

Lucky for us, we’ve been invited to explore the hotel with the marketing team, as they try to piece together a portfolio of guestroom photos. Not knowing what we’ll find each time we open a new door, touring the property is an experience for which the hotel could justifiably charge admission. Suites such as “The Bedroom” or “The Hollywood Suite” thrust a person back to the heydey of Vegas-esque design and lifestyle with round beds, mirrored ceilings, and wild art-deco trim and pillars.

LasVegasHotelRoomPhotography-10LasVegasHotelRoomPhotography-1LasVegasHotelRoomPhotography-9 The Barron Hilton Suite features velvet furniture, a grandfather clock, and work desk (with two guest chairs), and makes you want to close a big deal and hand out cigars.

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In sharp contrast to the Rat-Pack-era designs of the old rooms are the newly redesigned timeshares being introduced by Westgate. Flat panel TV’s, illuminated jetted tubs, and modern furniture are the lures to attract the 2016 Vegasphile, tempting visitors to turn their weekend into lifelong love affair with Las Vegas.
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