A Social Life

Veranda Magazine - Quarantine Life at the Colony by Nicholas Mele

Think pink. A better way of life.
— Eloise
Maggie Wetenhall channeling Eloise at the Plaza

Maggie Wetenhall channeling Eloise at the Plaza

While the Wetenhall family is stuck quarantining at home like everyone else, their home just so happens to be a historic Palm Beach hotel. When the pandemic hit earlier this year, the Colony Hotel shuttered its doors in compliance with the nationwide shelter in place order and found themselves living by themselves in an empty 87 room luxury hotel. They asked me to come and bring a little bit of my A Social Life flavor to their family and the unprecedented situation they found themselves in. It was a fun experiment to try this style of photography on a family other than my own and it only worked because the Wetenhalls have a great sense of humor. Hopefully the series can bring a little bit of distraction to people during a very strange time. Check out the full story and all of the images on the Veranda Magazine website here

Bicycle races through the hotel lobby

Bicycle races through the hotel lobby

Andrew Wetenhall playing valet to his children

Andrew Wetenhall playing valet to his children

Hide and seek in the ballroom

Hide and seek in the ballroom

Andrew and Sarah Wetenhall enjoying their morning coffee

Andrew and Sarah Wetenhall enjoying their morning coffee

Avenue Magazine - Palm Beach Melee by Nicholas Mele

If they made films in Palm Beach, actors and actresses would be much better dressed
— Kenneth Jay Lane

Avenue Magazine was recently relaunched under the leadership of new owner Charles Cohen. The 44 year old magazine took nearly a year hiatus as it underwent a full overhaul, including a brand new Editor-in-Chief. Having photographed several articles for Avenue in its previous incarnation, I was beyond flattered when the new EIC, Kristen Stewart Ward, asked if she could run a feature on me and my family and our instagram photo project, A.Social.Life, in her debut issue. Hopefully you’re already following our adventures online, but if not, then this is a good jumping on point to see the tortures I put my family through in the name of art and social media fame. You can find the full article online here

Kips Bay Decorators Show House by Nicholas Mele

Everything is designed. Few things are designed well.
— Brian Reed
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This year’s Kips Bay Decorator Show House was amazing! Each year, celebrated interior designers transform a magnificent estate into an elegant exhibition of fine furnishings, art and technology. All proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Club. This was its second year in Palm Beach (its been going on in New York since 1973) and once again one of the decorators chose to use some of my work to adorn his walls. Billy Ceglia chose a whopping 48 images from my @a.social.life series and framed them up and down the hallways he was tasked with designing. In addition, I was given free reign to explore the house and take pictures of the designers and shoot more photos for my @a.social.life. Many of the designers hired me to shoot the rooms and my photos were featured by Veranda and Architectural Digest.

Bodhi and Johnny at the Dog Bar from @a.social.life on the walls of Billy Ceglia’s hallway at Kips Bay

Bodhi and Johnny at the Dog Bar from @a.social.life on the walls of Billy Ceglia’s hallway at Kips Bay

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Danielle Rollins in her room at Kips Bay

Danielle Rollins in her room at Kips Bay

Meg Braff in her room at Kips Bay

Meg Braff in her room at Kips Bay

My son Johnny for @a.social.life in Krista + Home’s bathroom at Kips Bay

My son Johnny for @a.social.life in Krista + Home’s bathroom at Kips Bay

Veranda Magazine, Slim Aarons by Nicholas Mele

...the cognoscenti are calling him a modern day Slim Aarons
— Veranda Magazine
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I often get compared to Slim Aarons (what a compliment!), but when a publication as esteemed as Veranda starts throwing it around I can’t help but be flattered…and honored…and grateful. Hopefully I can live up to the compliment. Check it out below.

Pg. 24 Veranda Feb 2019

Town & Country, Entertaining by Nicholas Mele

Newport is a town that refuses to forget its history
— Me ;)
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I teamed up with the fabulous Bettie Pardee of Private Newport again; this time to write a story for Town & Country.  Even better, the story was about me.  My favorite subject.  Kidding.  Kind of....  Anyway, much like with @A.Social.Life, my family and I put ourselves center stage to show off our lives, celebrate our history and talk about how we like to entertain.  Click here to read the full story.

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