400+
Edited images
Delivered from one evening, May 15, 2025.
EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY / PHILANTHROPY
Linette and Matthew Semino hosted a fundraiser for the Belafonte Family Foundation in Lower Manhattan. JFP Studios photographed the night for the hosts and their guests, and delivered more than 400 edited images.
At a glance
The challenge
Covering a High-Profile Evening Through the Hosts’ Eyes
What we did
Full Coverage of the Evening, Centered on the Hosts
The result
A Night on Record, and a Relationship That Kept Growing
01 / THE BUSINESS CONTEXT
On May 15, 2025, Linette and Matthew Semino hosted a VIP fundraiser for the Belafonte Family Foundation. Linette is a luxury real estate agent who leads the Semino Team at Compass. The evening took place on the 31st floor of Jones Day’s offices on Vesey Street in Lower Manhattan.
The night had a lot going on:
The foundation brought its own photographer to cover the program. Linette wanted a second photographer focused on her, her husband, and their friends and guests, with photos they could share after the event.
02 / THE CHALLENGE
About 150 guests were expected, including cultural figures, designers, and members of the Belafonte family. The hosts needed images that made every guest look and feel their best.
THE CHALLENGE IN BRIEF
03 / THE CREATIVE RESPONSE
We planned the coverage with Linette before the event, then photographed the evening from start to finish. The hosts and their guests stayed at the center of every part of the night.
WHAT WE DID / KEY DECISIONS
We met with Linette in April 2025 to understand what she needed. The foundation’s photographer would cover the program. Our job was to focus on the hosts, their friends and family, and the guests they invited. We prepared a photo plan for her approval before the event.
We posed guests quickly and with care, then stepped back to catch candid moments at the bar, the buffet, and the auction tables. The room included guests such as:
We covered every performance and speech, so the hosts had a full record of the night:
We delivered more than 400 edited images, from the art preview to the final toast. Then we wrote a short, captioned recap of the night from the hosts’ point of view. It gave them a ready-made way to share the evening and thank the people who came.
THE BRAND PLATFORM / STRATEGY & IDENTITY
05 / THE RESULTS
Delivered from one evening, May 15, 2025.
Malena Belafonte, Sarafina Belafonte, and dance partner Chris.
The hosts, David Belafonte, and Malena Belafonte.
The fundraiser started a working relationship with the Seminos. In July 2025, JFP Studios recorded an interview with Linette about sales and negotiation in luxury real estate.
At a fundraiser, the hosts’ relationships are part of the mission. Photos that make guests look and feel their best give hosts a reason to reach out after the event.
The main photographer usually follows the program. A second photographer can focus on specific people, such as hosts, sponsors, or VIP guests.
Move quickly, pose people with care, and give them space for candid moments. Every image should be one the guest would be happy to share.
Use them to thank donors, share news with partners, fill newsletters and annual reports, and support future fundraising.
Results describe delivered photography. Fundraising totals and donor outcomes were not measured.
LET'S BUILD AROUND YOUR NEXT OBJECTIVE
We plan and photograph events around the people and relationships that matter most to you. Let’s map out your next one.
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