THE Race Party Slideshows

The slideshows from this past weekend are up and ready to go!  You can check them out at my newly improved site www.brianmcguckin.com or just enjoy them below!  Want to order any prints?  CLICK HERE 

I'm here because Jen Beaver brought me here...

So, if you are into pop culture then you probably recognize Ludacris (rap artist on the left)and Carlos Diaz (Extra host on the right), but if you are really lucky then you know the woman in the middle—Jen Beaver. Like Ludacris kept announcing at The Race Party, “I’m here because Jen Beaver brought me here;” I too was there because she brought me. Jen, an Event Planner, worked in the most tireless manner to orchestrate three major events that comprised THE Race Party and additional gatherings surrounding a movie premier and the Indy 500. Little sleep, even less food, keeping celebrities at the right place at the right time, and making everything appear seamless are just a few of the job qualifications that make Jen amazing. The more important personal ones are her dedication, sincerity, approachability, kindness, and ability to not be “starstruck”. No matter what profession you are in, when you have someone who believes in your ability, encourages you endlessly, sacrifices their own time to direct you, gives you rare opportunities, and exists outside of the small circle of people who would seem required to do all of the above (i.e. your mom); it is an awesome boost to your belief in yourself and quite worthy of the time to say THANK YOU! Are you fortunate enough to have your own “Jen Beaver” to recognize; if so, I would encourage you to acknowledge them today!

PEOPLE MAGAZINE!!!

I was excited to find that one of my shots from this past weekend made it on People.com! Check it out by CLICKING HERE!

THE Race Party - Sneak Peek!

WHAT AN AMAZING WEEKEND!!! From Dancing with the Stars, to RACING with the Stars, and EVERYTHING else in between! Stay tuned this week for more pictures to come and a new website featuring THE Race Party photos! And... WAY TO GO HELIO!!!

Mark Ballas & Derek Hough send their support to their favorite driver AND Dancing with the Stars previous winner Helio Castroneves!

Helio celebrates!!!

Falan and Johnny Slideshow

It's finally here!  Falan and Johnny had a beautiful intimate wedding up in Culver, Indiana and the day was meant for them!  Dark clouds, rain, and wind threatened the morning until the sun took over and made it one of the most beautiful days of the year!  

I admit it!  I get choked up at weddings!  Sometimes it's the thought of my wife, sometimes it's the thought of my daughter (when she's 40 of course), but most of the time it is because I've had an opportunity to truly get to know the couple and I feel a connection to them.  After all, it's hard not to.  You spend the most intimate moments with the couple individually, together, and with their family and friends on what is often THE most important day of their lives so far.  It's hard not to feel like you are a part of it all.  Falan and Johnny were no exception!  

I tried to capture snippets of their day in the slideshow below.  Check it out!

 

Falan & Johnny

Here's a sneak peek at a gorgeous couple from an amazing ceremony this past weekend!  Stay tuned for their slideshow from the day!

40 X 40 - 3 Down 37 To Go!!!

So, the MiniMarathon is finally over and I'm officially 3 races closer to my goal of 40 races by the time I turn 40, which IS still far away - thank you very much!  If all of my training runs would have been races, I'd be at my goal by now.  (I'm trying not to be bitter that my 12 mile runs, 10 mile runs, 8 mile runs, etc. counted for nothing towards my goal.)  More importantly though, I've learned to actually enjoy running and now find myself itching to get out there.  

My race times weren't the best, but I achieved one of my goals by finishing the race without walking; thanks to my friends cheering me on the last 1/2 mile!  I officially count this race as the biggest physical athletic achievement in my life... I wonder what will come next?