A Backstage Photography Experience at a Fashion Show with Rito

A Backstage Photography Experience with Rito
Rito on a runway holding a camera to his eye facing the viewer with models walking in the background in red dresses

Here Rito will depict the story of a fashion event he was a backstage photographer for during a New York Fashion Week.

Being backstage as an observer can be a very special experience, you get a view of the birds-eye depths of the most human moments behind the curtains... so it would do no justice to simply share a gallery of photos or a montage.

Instead...‍

You will see a story unfold told in photos, text and animated navigation.

A Who's-Who Event Overview

The event was sponsored in part by JUMPTAG Club, a Fashion Tech company founded by Rito, in partnership with Ritography for photos taken.

Rito holding a camera to his eye focusing on a shot with a sunset backgroundOrange Jumptag Club logomark and wordmark
Sandy Dalal sitting and speaking into a microphone with his hand gesticulating while smiling

Sandy Dalal

Carmen Artigas sitting with the microphone on stage gesturing with her hand

Carmen Artigas

A Creative Director & Fashion Consultant

A Fashion Sustainability Designer & Advocate

Ritography logo with red text and trademark symbol

Speaker Panelists

Rachel Cooper stands on stage at the podium

Rachel Cooper

Melissa Shea wearing a yellow scarf and holding papers

Melissa Shea

Director of Asia Society

CEO of Fashion Mingle

Ritography logo with red text and trademark symbol

Event Hosted by

Ajay Shrivastav standing on stage speaking into a microphone and point up while wearing a yellow jacket, sunglasses and golden jewelry

Ajay Shrivastav

Gingerblu logo
Ritography logo with red text and trademark symbol

Featured Designer

Close up of Poonam Thimmaiah on stage speaking into the microphone with her hand out
Ritography logo with red text and trademark symbol

Poonam Thimmaiah

Featured Jewelry Designer

With contributions to the show from many other brands including:

Ritography logo with red text and trademark symbolWhite Fashion Mingle logo
Krishna Mehta logologo of Anna Sui brandlogo of Marchesa brandlogo of Betsey Johnson brandVani logoGingerblu logoAsia Society logofempowerment foundation logoWhite Fashion Mingle logologo of Maalicious brandOrange Jumptag Club logomark and wordmark

Sections of Event

Ritography camera logomark
Ajay Shrivastav sitting and elaborating about a point he's making with the microphone close to his face


Featured Designer Intro
A male make up artist kneeling as he applies make up to a female model sitting in a chair with a busy background backstage

Backstage Prep
New York government representative speaking at podium on stage with Asia Society logo in purple background

Presentations
Ajay Shrivastav, Carmen Artigas Sandy Dalal, Rachel Cooper in chairs on stage with a purple background with Asia Society logo

Speaker Panels
Crowd of models standing on stage with two shirtless male male models standing prominently in front

Fashion Show

Afterparty Reception

Featured Designers

Ajay Shrivastav

Ajay Shrivastav sitting and elaborating about a point he's making with the microphone close to his face

With over 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship across the fashion, media, jewelry, and nonprofit sectors, Ajay has successfully scaled various ventures. Among them he founded GingerBlu, a sustainable women’s fashion brand, and co-founded of NectarNectar, a globally recognized jewelry brand, both dedicated to ethical practices and female empowerment.

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Ajay Shrivastav's tapestries on display at Asia Society New YorkAjay Shrivastav's tapestries laid out on display at Asia Society New Yorkclose up of blue patterned textiles laid out on a table with a sign indicating its style and materialsA woman reaching out to examine textiles on a deskAjay Shrivastav's table of textiles laid out being examined by a womana variety of patterned textiles made by Ajay Shrivastav laid out on a table with signs indicating their style and materials

Poonam Thimmaiah

Close up of Poonam Thimmaiah on stage speaking into the microphone with her hand out

With a rich background in finance, engineering and a passion to create, Poonam founded her jewelry brand, Maalicious, based in New York City. Maalicious offers unique, gender-fluid jewelry crafted by women artisans in India emphasizing empowerment and sustainability.

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A table full of jewelry with people examining itclose up side profile of two models facing the left side with earring tapestry being prominently highlightedClose up side profile of a female model adorning large Indian style earringsSideview close up a female model and blonde hair wearing large decorative green earringsClose up an Asian woman with red lipstick and blonde hair wearing large decorative green earrings made by Maalicious jewelryClose up side profile of a woman wearing large blue decorative earring made by Maalicious jewelry

Backstage Prep

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yellow warning sign

*WARNING*

A backstage scene of hair and make up models busy at work with models and a woman looking off to the side

🚨 Artists at Work 🚨

Backstage staff preparing clothing for a fashion show holding out dressesBackstage female staff member holding a dress in preparation for a model to wear it for the fashion showPeople sitting on a floor arranging jewelry in preparation for the fashion show at Asia Society NYCa male model getting his make up done by a male make up artist and a female model standing in the backgroundBackstage stylist dressing a model before the fashion showA male make up artist kneeling as he applies make up to a female model sitting in a chair with a busy background backstage

Swipe the below images for a sneak preview!

Jeeno Joseph dancing with his female counterpart with both of their arms stretched out on stage against purple backgroundJeeno Joseph with face make up on standing with a blanket over his body in preparation for his performance
Backstage
Showtime
Female model with her back turned from the camera and head twisted around facing the camera posing in a blue lightA make up artist backstage applying make up to a female model who is taking a selfie for social media
Backstage
Showtime
Last call, people!
 
Almost showtime
Two hairstylists working on their female models backstageA model accepting fashion clothing from staff backstagePeople on the floor backstage preparing jewelry for the fashion show
Female hair stylist doing Ajay Shrivastav's hair before the fashion show at Asia Society in New York City

The featured designer is almost stage ready

Hair stylist doing Ajay Shrivastav's hair while he holds a golden jumptag dog tag in its box to the camera smiling
Orange Jumptag club logomark

And he's got a jumptag ready for action!

Presentations

At the mainstage area, the audience gathered to hear several speakers give speeches at the podium.

Rachel Cooper stands on stage at the podium

Rachel Cooper, Director of Performing Arts at Asia Society, addresses the crowd and sets the stage for the topics to come.

A representative from a government office in NYC came by to commemorate Asia Society for its contributions.

A representative from the NYC government speaking at the podium with a purple background and Asia Society logoAjay Shrivastav and Rachel Cooper standing next to each other on stage as a NY government rep speaks on podium

Carmen Artigas then takes the stage to deliver a keynote on climate-based sustainability issues and its history

Carmen Artigas speaking on stage into a microphone in front of a slideshow projection screen

...setting up topics for the speaker panel discussion, they're already seated on stage

Rachel Cooper, Ajay Shrivastav, Sandy Dalal speaking sitting on stage turning behind them to see the presentation on screenCarmen Artigas on stage making a point during her presentation with a microphone to her mouth

Speaker Panel Discussion

After her presentation, Carmen Artigas joins the speaker panel discussion including featured designer Ajay Shrivastay, Sandy Dalal (a creative director and designer) and Rachel Cooper as moderator.

Ajay Shrivastav, Carmen Artigas Sandy Dalal, Rachel Cooper in chairs on stage with a purple background with Asia Society logoCarmen Artigas sitting with the microphone on stage making a point by gesticulating with her handSandy Dalal is making a point to Carmen Artigas who appears to be smirking, both sitting on stage
Sandy Dalal speaking into a microphone with his hand out to the viewer
Ajay Shrivastav, Sandy Dalal and Carmen Artigas sitting in chairs on stage in a discussion panel
Distant Ajay Shrivastav, Carmen Artigas Sandy Dalal, Rachel Cooper sitting on stage with a purple background with Asia Society logo
Ajay Shrivastav sitting and elaborating about a point he's making with the microphone close to his faceCarmen Artigas sitting with the microphone on stage gesturing with her handSandy Dalal leaning forward with the microphone wearing glasses

Some questions from the audience thrown in for good measure

audience member at Asia Society NY speaking into the microphone in a crowd of seated peopleAjay Shrivastav speaking in microphone with Carmen Artigas Sandy Dalal, Rachel Cooper sitting on stage togetherAjay Shrivastav sitting on stage making a point while holding a microphone and wearing gold jewelry

Fashion Show

To get the fashion show underway, Ajay first introduces the featured jewelry designer to the stage

Ajay Shrivastav handing a silhouette of Poonam Thimmaiah the microphone on stage against a purple background
Full body of Poonam Thimmaiah on stage speaking into the microphone with her hand out

Poonam Thimmaiah introduces herself and her jewelry brand Maalicious

Close up of Poonam Thimmaiah on stage speaking into the microphone with her hand outPoonam Thimmaiah on stage holding the microphone look to the side of the stage

But Ajay has a message...

Ajay Shrivastav standing on stage speaking into a microphone and point up while wearing a yellow jacket, sunglasses and golden jewelry

I think it's time for a fashion show!

Jeeno Joseph dancing on stage without a shirt against a purple background with the Asia Society logoJeeno Joseph on his knees with his arms spread wide apart on stage against a purple backgroundJeeno Joseph and female model wearing Indian textiles and dancing with their hands in the air against a purple background on stage with the Asia Society logoJeeno Joseph and female model wearing Indian textiles and dancing against a purple background on stage
Female Asian model wearing Indian-style dress on a runway
Ajay Shrivastav in black and white sitting in the audience watching a show with his legs crossed and a microphone in his hand
Female model with blue and yellow fashion attire posing with her back turned and head twisted on the runway to the crowdA male model adorned in Indian style attire posing at the runway confidentlyTwo female fashion models on stage posing for the audience with hands on hips in Indian style dressesClose up of African American male model with glasses, chest exposed and a patterned red, black and grey jacket on runwayFemale model in bright yellow fashion attire walking off runway with other models in the background
a female model standing confidently hand on hips posing at the end of a runwayfemale model walking down the runway against a purple background wearing a grey dressfemale model posing on stage to a purple background wearing a grey dress
A line of models on stage with Ajay Shrivastav walking through the middle speaking on the microphone for the fashion show

Press down onto the image to see the shoes in action!

female model in blue Indian style dress and high heel shoes walking off runway stageFemale fashion model wearing a grey dress by Ajay Shrivastav posing on stage with a purple background with Asia Society logoFemale model in blue dress posing for the crowd on the runway

Swipe image to be dazzled by the dress

Model on Asia Society New York stage wearing long white dress surrounded by standing male models
Model on Asia Society New York stage wearing long white dress surrounded by male models grabbing bottom of her dress
Model on Asia Society New York stage wearing long white dress surrounded by male models lifting up the bottom of her dress
Model on Asia Society New York stage wearing long white dress surrounded by male models letting go of bottom of her dress
Model on Asia Society New York stage wearing long white dress surrounded by male models holding up the bottom of her dress
Female model with long white dress walking on runway stage with group of male models carrying bottom of her dress
A crowd of models lined up on the runway stage with a woman with a long white dress in the middleAjay Shrivastav gesticulating to the crowd and speaking in the microphone in front of crowd of models on the runway

Thank you ladies & gentleman,
that is a wrap!

Afterparty

A crowded reception party at Asia Society New York

Photos with the people responsible for running the show

The Speakers

ajay shrivastav, Sandy Dalal and Carmen Artigas standing in front of a step and repeat banner

The Models

Models lined up posing next to a wall
four female models wearing Indian style dresses posing for the cameraTwo models wearing green Indian style clothing facing the cameraMelissa Shea speaking to two female modelsBottom of four models dresses lined upFemale model with her back turned from the camera and head twisted around facing the camera posing in a blue lightthree female models lined up sideways wearing elegent Indian textilesLegs of female models lined up
Model with very long white dress turning around facing the camera holding her dress

Photos with the designers

crowd gathered in front of step and repeat banner including Ajay Shrivastav, Kiren Srivastav, Poonam Thimmaiah, Rachel Cooperajay shrivastav, his girlfriend and son in front of a step and repeat bannerAjay Shrivastav standing in between two female models posing wearing bright yellow clothing in front of a step and repeat banner
Ajay Shrivastav and a female model wearing a white dress in front of a step and repeat bannerAjay Shrivastav and a female model wearing a long white dress in front of a step and repeat bannerAjay Shrivastav posing with two women in front of a step and repeat bannerAjay Shrivastav and his son standing in between two female models wearing bright yellow clothing in front of a step and repeat bannerajay shrivastav, his girlfriend and son in front of a step and repeat bannerAjay Shrivastav in between a male and female model wearing yellow clothing in front of a step and repeat banner

Miscellaneous!

a fashionable woman posing along a spiraled staircase
Julie Tran and friend posing for camera in front of step and repeat banner with Asia Society logos and blue lightswoman drinking from a cup with sunglasses with her hand on her hand in front of step and repeat banner
Rito, Ajay Shrivastav, Ajay's son, Melissa Shea, Victoria Roberts, Sneha Andani posing in front of a step and repeat banner