The Michael Phelps/Tim Alan Smith Connection

Recently my website generated an abnormal amount of page views. My web host was baffled as our bandwidth continued to exceed the amount allotted in our plan. Confused, he investigated and found out that a photo I had of Micheal Phelps (pictured above with me and softball star, Jennie Finch) was generating HUGE traffic. It turns out that a Time Magazine Cover from the 2004 Olympics that I had linked on my site (because I interviewed Michael in Athens) was #1 on the Google Images page! One of my brides from a few years ago even e-mailed me saying she sent the link to a friend and realized after it came from my page! Things were getting out of control- almost a million views in 2 weeks- so we took the photo down so our site wouldn't crash!

Anyway, it was just a reminder to me of the good times I had at the 2004 Olympic games working for Sports Illustrated. I got to know Michael as he stayed with us after winning his six gold and two bronze medals. I had the opportunity to spend some time with him and he is fun, funny and full of energy. He did not have a mean, pretentious or arrogant bone in his body as far as I could tell. We shared laughs, had a few good conversations and I filmed an interview he did with a Sports Illustrated writer.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his amazing accomplishment of 8 gold medals at the Beijing games, making him the most prolific Olympic Champion in history.

Rob & Liz, Wolffer Estate Vineyards; Sagaponack, New York ; July 12

Rob and Liz were married at the Wollfer Estate Vineyards under the Chuppah amongst an intimate gathering of friends and family on July 12.

I have known Rob since freshman year at the University of Michigan where we lived next door to each other in the dorms. We then lived together for 3 years in NYC a few years after college so I actually attended this wedding as a guest. Of course I never go anywhere without one of my cameras, so I filmed the high points of the day with one of my more compact models.

Enjoying cocktails, good food and good company is tough to mix with filming a wedding, but I was able to get most of the high points of the day. These included the beautiful outdoor ceremony under the Chuppah, cocktail hour on the lawn of the vineyard, the Horah, music by the Central Park Orchestra (including an encore performance requested by Liz of 'Seasons of love' from 'Rent'), many toasts and bottles of wine for guests to take home as favors.

Tim Alan Smith Corporate Co. (Avenue 5 Films) coverage of ISES Big Apple Awards

On June 24, Tim Alan Smith Corporate Video Co., Avenue 5 Films, was asked to film the ISES New York Metro (International Special Events Society) Big Apple Awards at Cipriani Wall Street.

The event is designed to recognize the top companies and individuals in the event industry over the course of the past year. In 'Oscars' style fashion, nominees are announced in different categories before the winner is brought on stage to receive the prestigious award.

Many companies helped sponsor the event along with my company, Avenue 5 films, including photographers Kate and Georgina, who took the photo above.

I was there as a guest to mingle and network with friends in the industry, but two of our videographers were there to capture the event. My assistant, Gianna, also helped out by interviewing the winners throughout the evening.

I recently edited the footage into the highlight clip below.

ISES Big Apple Awards Video by Tim Alan Smith Corporate Video Co., Avenue 5 Films

Tim Alan Smith corporate video company, Avenue 5 Films, was asked by ISES New York Metro (The International Special Events Society) to produce a film in June honoring the top 20 people and companies in the NYC event industry over the past 20 years.

The video was shown to the 500 attendees at the black tie Big Apple Awards gala on June 24 at Cipriani Wall Street.

The honorees include such NYC event luminaries Abigail Kirsch, Tavern on the Green, Preston Bailey, David Tutera, BizBash Magazine, Battery Gardens, Macy's Parade organizer Jean McFaddin, Chelsea Piers, , Michael Cebelli of Total Entertainment and more!

Below is an abridged version of the video.

The Meadow Club in Southampton

A beautiful ceremony in Southampton's St. Andrew's Dune Church was followed by a processional to the Meadow Club for an afternoon and evening of revelry. Highlights included toasts from both brothers, cutting the cake and a surprise set by an Elvis impersonator!

Michelle & Dave, Le Chateau: Westchester

Tim Alan Smith videographer, Dan, captured the beautiful country setting of the Le Chateau in Westchester before heading inside to film Michelle and Dave getting ready for the big day.

The ceremony was in a beautiful garden space behind the Chateau with highlights being the personalized vows and ring ceremony. Afterwards, the couple made use of the grounds for photo and video.

After the introductions, a few toasts and special dances were done the bride and groom spent much of the rest of the special evening on the dance floor.

Robert Smith: A Life Well-Lived; 1917-2008

I don't normally veer far from wedding topics in this space and head for the more personal territory, but today I don't mind changing course a little bit.

My grandfather, Robert Smith, passed away on Sunday, in a hospital in Portland, Maine. He was 90- weeks away from his 91st birthday and miles away from the home in coastal York, Maine where he spent his last 23 years.

He only started getting sick earlier this year, and lived independently up until that point. Until January, he still drove his car (although many on the road kept a safe distance.), he still prepared his own food (like his grandson, he was an expert at using the microwave to whip up a TV dinner) and still rooted strongly for his favorite teams from his beloved chair pictured above (regretfully for me, all of them based in New England).

I got a chance to say goodbye to him, though, last week when I went to Maine and saw him in the hospital. He was sent to the hospital that day from the nursing home because he was having trouble breathing. I had the busiest week of my life with work, but still knew I had to make the trip. I got up there Thursday night and they weren't sure he was going to last the night. When I left the next afternoon, he was still alive and fighting, but I knew it was only a matter of time. I wanted to stay but had to leave to get back to NYC for a Friday night wedding shoot.

When he turned 90 last July, the family came up for a nice lobster dinner and I made a video celebrating his 90 years. It was great for us to watch it and even better to watch his reactions as the photos and memories flashed by on the screen. We saw him as a child in NJ and then playing basketball in college as well as photos from his time served in the Navy during WWII. We saw him as a father to twin boys- my father and Uncle Rob- and as a doting grandfather to Mark, Ryan, Tyler and myself. We saw the photos of him as a cherished husband, friend, neighbor, co-worker, uncle, father-in-law, brother and so-on. It was nice to share this video with him when he was alive and to watch him enjoy it as well.

There is a lot I can say and it still would not be enough. This blog isn't long enough for the things I can say, so I will keep it short: he was a special man and an amazing grandfather, father, husband and friend.

He will be missed but not forgotten....