You can photograph a building any day of the week. You can only photograph its grand opening once.
That's the whole case for hiring a photographer for an open house or big reveal. Whether it's a new athletic center, a science wing, a corporate headquarters, or a renovated lobby - the photos matter. The bricks will look the same after that first day, but the crowd, the energy, and the awe of the first people walking through the doors won't.
On Friday, October 23, Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Flourtown, PA opened the doors to its brand new Athletic Center, a centerpiece of the school's Beyond Pearls campaign. The Mount didn't just cut a ribbon and call it a day, they had a whole evening planned:
Building tours of the new gym, weight room, locker rooms, and training facility
Food trucks and spirit stations for students, families, and alumnae
The Athletics Museum, celebrating the Mount's athletic history
A robotics demo, because Mounties do more than play sports
JV and Varsity volleyball vs. Council Rock North, to put all that spirit to good use
The Alumnae Awards Ceremony, honoring Karen Travers '96, Suzanne Coster McCarthy '88, and Courtney Jones Hartmann '00
That's a lot of moments in one day, and every one of them was worth having on camera.
For any building opening, the MKP team is working on multiple lists at once:
The building. Clean, wide shots of the new spaces and the details donors and planners care about: the signage, the finishes, the views, the features that took years to plan.
The people. Reactions, first steps inside, the crowd filling the bleachers, and the speakers and honorees who make the night official.
The firsts. First game, first cheer, first team photo on the new court. These only happen once.
The full mix. Current students, parents, faculty, alumnae, and community members, so every audience can see themselves in the story.
A grand opening is a one night event, but the photos go to work for years:
Thanking donors. Nothing says "your gift made this happen" like photos of the space packed with students. These are gold for stewardship reports and donor thank-yous.
Fueling the next campaign. Beyond Pearls is bigger than one building. Showing what the first phase delivered is the best pitch for what comes next.
Admissions. Prospective families want to picture their daughter there. Real photos of real students in the new space beat renderings every time.
Alumnae relations. Alumnae who couldn't make it want to see what's new, and the ones who came want to see themselves. Newsletters, the alumnae magazine, and social posts all need fresh images.
Social media. A grand opening is one of the most shareable things a school posts all year. (The Mount's own Instagram recap shows exactly how far good event photos travel.)
And this isn't just a school thing. Corporate ribbon cuttings, new office openings, and facility unveilings work the same way. Those photos end up in press releases, annual reports, recruiting materials, and investor updates.
Opening a new building, unveiling a renovation, or cutting a ribbon at your school or company? It only happens once, so let's make sure you've got it covered. Get in touch and let's talk about your event.
