Rancho Palos Verdes Debutante photography – Las Ninas

Rancho Palos Verdes Debutante portraits at the historic Neighborhood Church

We met the ladies at the Neighborhood Church on the sea cliffs of Palos Verdes. What an amazing property! We got their early to scout out the location and was lucky enough to have found the groundskeeper. He gave us a tour of the one time ocean view, 32 room luxury home. It was originally a summer home for a business mogul named J. J. Haggarty (built in 1927 for $750K) After Haggarty fell on hard times, he sold the mansion. It went through a few more owners through the years and eventually became abandoned! It hit the market for $300K in the 1950’s with no interest. After sitting for a few years, the church managed to put together an offer of $60,000 in 1959.

Check out what it looked like in 1928

Las Madrecitas – Las Ninas

This was our first year working with the Las Madrecitas (Las Ninas) charity group and we have already signed next year as well! Las Ninas is very similar to programs at National Charity League or Assistance League. The difference is their group is dedicated to serving the Orthopaedic Institute for Children (OIC). Each girl donates hundred’s of hours over her 4 years of high school. We photographed the girls in their white dresses at the Neighborhood Church for their Rancho Palos Verdes Debutante portraits. One on a white backdrop for the Evergreen Ball programs and and another with the ocean in the background. Each girl will choose a portrait that will be framed and displayed at the ball. We also photographed a group shot with all the debutantes, and another with their mothers. The next time we will see these ladies is at the ball, and then again at the Rose Ceremony and fashion show.

The Debutante Ball

Their Evergreen Ball will be at the Beverley Wilshire (Four Seasons Hotel) in Los Angeles.

You can read a news article about the 2016 Evergreen Ball here.

EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY

Gilmore Studios have been photographing Debutante Balls in Southern California since 2003. Jennifer Gilmore was a National Charity League debutante in Newport Beach during her teen years and loves working with these young women. Organizing event photography for large groups of people- in a short period of time is no easy task! Thanks to the hundreds of weddings they have photographed over the years, Jennifer and her husband Brian have no problem when it comes to working in a high paced environment.