Need an Event Production Team?

Behind the scenes of AV Actions Studio party event

Your audio-visual needs go far beyond simply flipping on a projector, like that kid from high school used to do. Today’s conference audiences are sophisticated—they expect crystal-clear sound, visuals that grab their attention, and presentations that are both informative and visually striking. Strong audio and compelling visuals aren’t extras—they’re essential to the success of your event.

And let’s be honest: plenty can go wrong if your AV isn’t handled properly. That’s why finding a team who can manage everything—from setup to showtime—gives you peace of mind and frees you to focus on the rest of your conference.

Recently, I connected with an outstanding event production company: AV Actions Inc. Based in the DMV, they’ve been delivering cutting-edge staging solutions for more than 20 years, serving organizations of all sizes—from intimate gatherings of 10 to massive audiences in the thousands.

Their services cover it all: video production, projection (both computer and traditional), lighting, staging, audio, rigging, truss systems, stage design, drapery, and more. I was especially impressed with the owner, Mohamed El Hajam. He didn’t know me beforehand, yet greeted me like an old friend, gave me a tour of their studio and warehouse, and personally introduced me to his staff. His warmth and commitment to customer service really stood out.

Even if you’re already working with another AV team, it’s worth giving them a call. They might complement your current supplier—or even elevate what you’re used to.

Page Carr and me at her retirement party.  That is my photo on the screen. 

The highlight for me? Their stunning LED screen backdrop. At their studio, I handed over a quick iPhone photo, and within moments it was projected in brilliant clarity. It looked incredible—and showed me just how powerful the right technology can be for making an event unforgettable.

Contact AV Actions info@avactions.com www.avactions.com

Ask me anything larrylevin@verizon.net see my website www.LLLevin.com

Awarded A Top 25 Storyteller of Events: Laurence L. Levin Photography

World Photography Day: A Toast to the Top 25 Storytellers of Events  presented by InEvents.  Posted on August 19, 2025 

Every event has its music, its speeches, its drama, and its magical moments… but if there isn’t a photographer there to capture these moments, did it even really happen? Thankful I was chosen as InEvent World Photography Day 2025 as a Top 25 Storyteller of Events 

Here is what they said: 

Larry is the kind of photographer who has a knack for preserving legacies. With nearly 40 years behind the lens, this Washington D.C. native has documented everything from Capitol Hill moments and nonprofit galas to weddings, conferences, and leadership panels. He’s been called the #1 DC event photographer by Peerspace. 

But beyond event coverage, Larry is also an educator (Trinity Washington, American U., NOVA), a mentor to rising photojournalists, and a DC Notary Public. He’s the official documentarian for Best Buddies International, a Special Olympics basketball ref, and just casually helped change actual legislation around notary law in DC. So yes, he’s making the world better one frame and one form at a time. 

With Larry, a photographer is only a tiny pa
rt of what you get. You get a partner, a pro, and the kind of energy that makes your whole team feel comfortable. If you want someone who can handle your high-profile event, teach your students, notarize your forms, and still remember everyone’s name by dessert, Larry’s your guy.

Here is the post  https://inevent.com/blog/events/world-photography-day-top-25-event-storytellers.html#19_Laurence_L_“Larry”_Levin

Ask me anything larrylevin@verizon.net.  See my website  www.LLLevin.com

Website Made Easy : Sitewelder

 

Sitewelder Page Designs 

Website Simplicity

Many of my colleagues are frustrated with their websites—slow designers, hidden costs, endless delays, clunky updates, or worse…being ghosted after launch. The result? Poor satisfaction and wasted time.

Options abound—solo designers, big agencies, or DIY platforms—but problems often multiply: long hold times, unhelpful support, and no real person to guide you.

What we all want is simple: a modern website that’s easy to update, mobile-friendly, expandable, SEO-ready, and backed by responsive human support. This super techno human staffed website design company does exist. I know from personal experience. I personally know the principals, their staff, their office and they even host my website.

That’s exactly what Sitewelder delivers. The company is run by my college friend and fellow photographer, Alan Dorow*, along with Mason Miller. Since 2002, they’ve built an intuitive platform originally for photographers and artists, but adaptable to anyone who needs a professional online presence. If you can use MS Word, you can manage your Sitewelder site—from anywhere, even your phone.

Here’s the best part: when you call, you speak directly to Alan or Mason. No lag, no runaround, just solutions. Their pricing is straightforward, their designs are beautiful, and after 20+ years in business, they’re clearly doing something right.

If you’re ready to upgrade your online presence—or escape your current frustrations—check out www.Sitewelder.com.

Serenity now.

Ask me anything larrylevin@verizon.net   See my Sitewelder website www.LLLevin.com

*Alan is an accomplished photographer.  We were at Indiana University at the same time working on the yearbook and student paper, he freelanced in New York, worked at the New York Times, taught at RIT, I even hired him when I was a photo editor.  His photos hang on my wall.  

Vendor Relationships, the Key to Successful Events. Why I am the Official Photographer for the Consular Corps

 

    Consular Corp Ball at the Austrian Embassy 

The Consular Corps of Washington, DC is a membership-based organization of career consuls and embassy officials in the diplomatic scene in Washington, DC.  This brings a sense of community between all the embassies and other people who work within this group.

Membership Benefits: Professional training, networking with Federal and Local Government officials, share experiences with other diplomatic colleagues, and enjoy fun social events.

As the photographer of the organization, I get to attend all the events held at the various embassies and hotels in Washington, DC.  The networking to meet influential and world-class diplomats is rewarding.  The social events are top-notch and fun.  Most importantly I make friends from around the world.  My photos from their events are seen by many and appear in their social media and website. 

This is a mutual benefit for the organization and me.

•     You receive consistent imagery of their events and people.  
•         Familiarity with the members helps to make natural imagery.
•     .   Regularly scheduled events create certainty on the calendar.
•         Exclusivity of photos. 
•     Loyalty 

I am thankful for the opportunity. 

For your organization, may I suggest you have a regular photographer.  Matter of fact, develop relationships with all your vendors. For these reasons:

1. Familiarity with members and your procedures. 

2. Loyalty is such a wonderful quality for both you and your vendor.

3. Clear communication, someone who understands what you need and when you need it.

4. Flexibility, on so many levels.

5. Enjoy the people you work with. Surround yourself with good people.

Ask me anything LarryLevin@verizon.net.  See my Website www.LLLevin.com

More Photos

Presentation by the Austrian Ambassador 

Professional Training at The Mexican Art & Cultural Center

At the Consular Corp Annual Gala, Austrian Embassy 

Happy Hour at the Churchill Hotel 

Networking at the Canadian Embassy 

Professional Training with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Romanian Embassy  

Photography for the Best Buddies Leadership Conference

Friendship Walks are an integral part of each chapter's activities 

One inspirational conference where over 2500 people come together to learn and celebrate inclusion for people with Intellectual Disabilities.  Best Buddies serves individuals with IDD and their families. The IDD community includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, and other undiagnosed disabilities.

Students from the United States and around the world descend upon Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.  They are leaders in their school chapters who come to learn how to support and grow the mission.   

At one time I was the only photographer covering this conference.  Now we have two additional photographers and a team of videographers delivering content to social media. It takes a coordinated effort to cover the various activities and personalities.  

There are workshops, speakers, training, activities, celebrations and motivational entertainment.  I continue my 34 years photographing events for Best Buddies because of the Buddies.  

Ask me anything, larrylevin@verizon.net  See my website. www.LLLevin.com

More Photos:

State Ambassador

International Students

Job Training

Global Ambassadors 

Tanner Smith from (Love on the Spectrum) and his mother Nicci Smith

Miss America 2025 Abbie Stockard and her Buddy Grace Davis

Rice Stephens and Echo Picone sing from the Broadway Show Wicked.  This year's conference theme was "Wickedly Inclusive"

Branding Your Event with a Step & Repeat. Good Strategy

 

Stand & Repeat Background at a Holiday Party

Branding your Event

Your “brand” is a combination of many elements that help to achieve a positive response in people’s perception.  In photographing an event, it is great to have recognizable elements in the frame that identify your event and your organization.  Your logo, tag line, the typography you use are key components in your symbols that help to instill your brand.  

One of the better forms of branding is a step and repeat.  This banner with your message can be used behind speakers, or on the red carpet or as a backdrop.  Key features of a good step and repeat are:

1.        Non reflective, usually a matte surface so shiny spots don’t reflect into the camera.

2.        Wide enough so that when shot from different angles, the banner fits within the composition.  And it should be high enough to fit the tallest people.

3.        Simple design, subtle, not to overpower the person or people in front of it.  

4.        Keep colors muted but consistent with your company’s color scheme

5.        Make sure it is durable; you will be using this for many events.  As well as, it should be easy to assemble and pack up when finished. 

One of the best Stand and Repeat was from a company called Revolution.  Check out their website www.eventrevolution.com  (fyi I get no fee for this endorsement!) 

Best Buddies, simple design, with Logo and Typography.

Correction Leaders Association, Strong branding, muted color that enhances the speaker.

Ask me anything larrylevin@verizon.net.  See my website  www.LLLevin.com

Top Tips for Photographing Diplomats

Ambassador Sabri Boukadoum, Algeria, Ambassador Shigeo Yamada, Japan, Ambassador Matilda Mukantabana, Rwanda

Working for and with people who are professional and fun and have become friends, is the best part of freelancing.   The Potomac Exchange is a private lunch group consisting of selected executives of global firms.  At each lunch a foreign country ambassador is invited to share and discuss issues, initiate business relationships and network. 

I am grateful for the trust the Potomac Exchange has granted to me as their Official Photographer.  Each luncheon meeting, I am tasked to photograph the activities of the luncheon. In the room, I must be stealth in maneuvering around the table to capture spontaneous and interesting expressions during the discussions, all while food is served and eaten.  It takes patience and understanding when to take photos as well as finding creative composition as people eat. It is a challenge to find those special moments between participants, too. In the hour and a half meeting, it all gets done. 

 
Top Suggestions while photographing a lunch:

1.        Stay out of the server’s way!
2.        Watch the composition, avoid taking a photo when someone in the frame is eating or   drinking.
3.        Look for angles, trying to find something different than all the other luncheons.
4.        Be stealth and as inconspicuous as possible.  Vital that the camera is in silent mode. 
5.        Be patient, look for interesting gestures, facial expression, and eye contact with speaker and participant.
6.        In formal set up photos, make sure clothes are in place.  Jacket buttoned, tie straight.

Ask me anything larrylevin@verizon.net, visit my website www.LLLevin.com

More Photos

Ambassador Catalina Crespo Sancho, Costa Rica

Ambassador Laurent Bili, France

Ambassador Jovita Neliupsiene, European Union

Ambassador Dr. Elsie Kanza, Tanzania

Ambassador Anniken Huitfeldt, Norway

Ambassador Jesper Molleer Sorensen, Denmark

Photographer's Life

Annika

The Life of a Photographer........June 6-7, 2025. One of the most inspiring weekends of my life was in Treviso Italy at a Special Olympics Unified Basketball Tournament. I was one of the 27 basketball referees invited to officiate the two-day event. Accompanying me were three friends, Sandy, Annika & Keith, who have worked with me at other Special Olympic Games. So in between my games, I was able to make pictures of them during their games. Each one got several impactful photos. Nice images they can cherish and share. Through the years, all I asked was that someone would take a photo of me during a game. A nice photo with athletes or me in a game situation. And this is the one that I got…..see the last photo. Shot made by David Thompson on his phone from the stands.

Keith

Keith,  (He has so many other wonderful images from the years of World Games we have worked.)

Sandy

Sandy

Annika

Me