11/04/11, FAB PHOTO creates green screen souvenirs at OPEN BOOKS fundraiser "BOOK YOUR TRIP 2011"

FRIDAY NIGHT, November 4, 2011, FAB PHOTO partnered with OPEN BOOKS to provide fabulous green screen on site photo souvenirs to donors during its annual fundraiser. This year's "BOOK YOUR TRIP 2011" was held at the Catalyst Ranch, 646 Randolph in downtown Chicago.

FAB PHOTO was approached by OPEN BOOKS based on our performance at Best Western's 7/31/11 "Shake It Up" meet the stars event at the Bolinbrook Promenade.

FAB PHOTO partnered with OPEN BOOKS Erica Hawkinson to co-create the main photographic entertainment of the event: Guests chose from various books, a vast assortment of props, and 5 different choices of photo backgounds to create their personalized, branded photo souvenir.

10/6/11-10/8/11, onsite instant prints for VW at the Chicago Marathon EXPO and Race Day

FAB PHOTO was hired by Volkswagen's agency LA/Deutsch to photography expo attendees and actual marathoners on race day with the official VW Pace Car of the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

We learned first hand that Volkswagen doesn't have customers, it has super fans. We have seen few brands that inspire such fanatic level of loyalty.

Besides having the biggest booth at the McCormick Place Expo floor, VW featured a full line-up of it's latest automobiles, probably the world's longest foosball table, and two separate step and repeat celebrity appearances of mega-legend ultramarathoman Dean Karnazes (which FAB PHOTO photographed and provided 4x6 instant prints to many a happy fan).

On race day, FAB labored from the morning into the surprisingly hot summer afternoon at the VW / Bank of America post-race party, providing on location studio lit 4x6 instant print photographs to hundreds of exuberantly inspired runners basking in the triumphant afterglow of completing one of the world's most famous marathons. From Japanese who ran in monkey suits to Americans in banana costumes, we were amazed at the variety of people who came from around the world.

9/22/11, The Art Institute of Chicago's 4th Annual SNAP Gala fundraiser

September 22, 2011 was a bright, lovely late summer evening that yielded a fabulous turn out for the Art Institute of Chicago Photography Department's 4th annual fund raiser, the "SNAP" Gala.

FAB PHOTO met attendees at the entrance of the Modern Wing with a blast of light and a paparazzi photographer. The paparazzi entry photos were then projected across the balcony onto the wall during the cocktail hour as guests also took pictures inside photo booths and awaited the dinner bell.

Following dinner and a live auction, FAB PHOTO provided instant polaroid photos of guests interacting with the 2 large photo booth set-ups on site.

9/20/11 Chicago Quality Expo, featuring FARO Orange County Chopper and Paul Jr, celebrity step and repeat appearance

FAB PHOTO was on the scene at the 2011 Quality Expo, hosted at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center, Tuesday September 20 through Thursday September 22.

Anticipation built from before the show's opening when rumors of Paul Jr's celebrity appearance with his infamous FARO chopper proved true.

(The FARO chopper opened the season of popular reality show "Orange County Choppers" and fueled the dramatic split between father and son; FARO awarded the new chopper design to Paul Jr instead of his dad.)

We must congratulate FARO on its brilliant marketing move. FARO's booth attracted the most attention at the show because it had not only the shiniest, most sought after creation, it also promised the celebrity appearance of its creator. Everybody FAB talked to had seen both episodes of the show and were familiar with the bike; engineers stood three people deep to pant and drool.

FAB PHOTO was hired to provide trade show photography and on site instant prints to hundreds of attendees posing with FARO models and the infamous chopper, as well as the celebrity step and repeat appearance of Paul Jr. and his lovely wife.