Parties

Photo: Emma Beiles Howie

Even at 14-years-old, Emma Beiles Howie had an eye for immortalizing someone at their best. Back then, she was photographing her little sisters at home in Colorado with a film camera their mom had won at a town auction. These days, she’s on speed dial to capture the quintessential GRWM—get ready with me—shot. In fact, if you follow a certain set of today’s most in-demand stars who are always immaculately turned out and on their way to one glamorous party or another, you’ve probably seen Howie’s work online already.

“My sisters used to say I made them feel beautiful, and thats what really made me want to do photography forever,” Beiles Howie told Vogue. “I did it on the side since I was a teenager, but I never imagined I would be able to do this full-time.”

Alas, a fateful image taken of Blackpink’s Rosé during Paris Fashion Week in 2021 helped ensured she’s been booked-and-busy ever since. “Rosé posted my work organically and then asked me to shoot back in New York. Those images changed the course of my career, for sure. Shortly after I met stylist Yael Quint. We started working together and that’s been the biggest turning point for me so far. She’s now one of my best friends too.”

Earlier this week, Beiles Howie was head-down preparing for her fourth Met Monday. Ahead of the red carpet, she was taking on the ambitious task of photographing five guests on their way out the door; an effort that required down-to-the-minute scheduling—and marathon-worthy shoes.

“I’m nervous every year. Things never go quite as expected, especially with timing, but everything always works out in the end,” Beiles Howie shared, noting that it’s still a “pinch-me moment” each time. “One of my clients ran 30 minutes over time, but my next two clients were in rooms right next to each other, so it was still able to work out.”

“Seeing everyone’s final looks, how they feel, the designers’ reactions, and being able to capture everyone’s hard work coming together always make the best moments of the day,” she continued. “I think with most of my clients, but especially my repeat clients, we’re all just girls who love fashion at the end of the day. Shooting something like this before they leave feels so giddy and exciting. Walking the carpet can be very nerve-wracking. My favorite thing is being able to make them feel beautiful before they go.”

Just like her sisters when they were little? “Yes—that’s always the goal!”

Below, Beiles Howie and her assistant, Lindsey Englander, document the BTS of a whirlwind Met Monday—with time stamps for dramatic flair.

11:34: Uber to the subway station—we love the uptown 6 train for saving time!

12:05: Hop off subway.

12:06: Re-route to 78th and 5th for security reasons; they’re so strict this year.

12:22 Load film.

12:31: Shoot EJAE’s makeup application and her jewelry all laid out.

12:52: Walk down four flights of stairs—pro tip: the elevators are always crazy on Met Monday.

12:56: Walk three blocks over to The Carlyle Hotel to shoot Joey King.

1:08: Security won’t let assistants through without credentials, so Emma is on a solo mission.

2:26: Wrap shoot with Joey King; time to switch back to The Mark.

2:54: Head to the Swarovski suite to shoot EJAE’s final look.

3:35: EJAE finishing touches.

3:57: Run down ten flights of stairs to get ready for our next clients.

4:26: Reload film cameras for Grace Gummer.

4:54: Shoot Grace’s final look for a Vanity Fair Get Ready With Me diary.

5:18: Switch to Lila Moss’s room to capture her look. Her stunning 1920s-style dress by Conner Ives is our favorite look of the night.

5:42: Rush out of The Mark through the paparazzi and crowds to make it back to The Carlyle and meet with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s team.

6:00: Emma makes in inside and up to floor 30 to the Tiffany Suite to shoot Rosie. A few shots later, it’s back down 20 flights of stairs to the hotel room while Rosie is in the elevator.

6:30: Snap room shots.

6:45: Take Rosie’s departure shots with Burberry’s Daniel Lee, who designed her dress.

7:04: Grab the first taxi we see to head home—that’s a wrap!!!!

8:10: Switch on Vogue’s live-streamed Met Gala red carpet coverage in the background while we start the editing and upload process. We’re going to be here all night making selects.

9:27: Scan big shots.

12:38: Finish making selects, wrap up editing behind-the-scenes video footage.

1:42: Time for a proper New York pizza!

Freya Drohan is Vogue's parties editor. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, she has put her journalism degree, Duracell bunny energy, and aptitude for small talk to work covering hundreds of the world's biggest and buzziest events over the last decade. When she is not at a party (for professional ... Read More