Corporate Celebration at Imperia Lake Union: Dubois Levias
Partners of the law firm speak at their annual corporate event to their people at the beautiful Imperia Lake Union - an art deco venue in Seattle.
When photographing corporate events, the goal is always twofold: capture the authentic energy of the people and do justice to the environment they’ve chosen for their celebration. A recent event for the family law team at Dubois Levias provided a perfect backdrop for both.
Held at Imperia Lake Union, the venue’s rich Art Deco design immediately set a sophisticated tone for the evening. From the intricate architectural details to the warm lighting and stellar food and beverage service, the ambiance was primed for a memorable night.
Balancing Mood and Clarity in Event Lighting
Venues with strong interior character like Imperia present a fun lighting puzzle. The ambient light is key to preserving the venue's moody, Art Deco feel, but relying purely on existing light means high-traffic party photography can easily lose sharpness or fail to highlight key moments.
To maintain the warmth of the room while keeping subjects crisp and vibrant, I used a multi-layered lighting setup:
Preserving Ambiance: Utilizing available ambient light as the foundation to maintain the golden glow, room depth, and atmospheric backdrop of the space.
Off-Camera Remote Flashes: Positioned strategically to shape key light directly onto guests and key subjects, giving them clean definition and directional pop.
Handheld Flash: Used flexibly on the move to add subtle, controlled fill light, keeping skin tones accurate and expressions clear as subjects moved throughout the room.
This hybrid technique ensures the final gallery feels exactly as the night felt in person—warm, elegant, and lively.
Capturing the Night
From candid conversations over drinks to group toasts, documenting the Dubois Levias team was a pleasure. The combination of great food, excellent company, and a stunning Lake Union setting made for an exceptional evening.