Pure Barre’s 25th Anniversary at SUMMIT Events

This SUMMIT One Vanderbilt event photography story began 72 stories above Manhattan, where Pure Barre marked 25 years while hundreds of studios joined from around the world.

Pure Barre celebrated its 25th anniversary at SUMMIT Events at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, bringing instructors, guests, media, and brand partners together for a global event in the sky. The celebration centered on a live class led by Pure Barre instructor Michelle Ditto and broadcast to more than 600 studios.

A global Pure Barre class above New York City

The main class unfolded against floor-to-ceiling views of Manhattan. Red workout sets and anniversary branding cut through the mirrored interior, while the skyline wrapped around the room.

Pure Barre described the broadcast as the largest simultaneous barre class in history. The number established the scale, but the photographs needed to show what a statistic could not: concentration during the workout, quick exchanges between participants, anticipation before class, and the release when it was over.

We photographed wide to establish the setting, then moved closer to the gestures and reactions that gave the event its pulse. The finished story connects a national brand milestone to the community that made it matter.

Inside SUMMIT Events at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

SUMMIT Events at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt occupies the 72nd floor of One Vanderbilt beside Grand Central Terminal. Its mirrored architecture, floor-to-ceiling glass, and panoramic views make New York part of nearly every frame.

That visual impact also demands control. Reflections repeat people, lights, and equipment. Bright windows can compete with faces. Strong event coverage here depends on reading those surfaces quickly and using them with intention.

For Pure Barre, the reflections multiplied the movement and carried the red-and-black palette through the space. The venue never became a backdrop disconnected from the event. It became part of the event’s visual language.

The brand experience, from arrival to reception

The strongest brand-event galleries do more than record a logo. They show how the company’s identity shaped the whole experience.

Pure Barre’s anniversary mark appeared across the custom barre, workout equipment, wardrobe, merchandise, florals, signage, food service, and partner stations. We photographed those details in context, then connected them to the people using and enjoying them.

The result gives the brand useful photographs for press, social media, internal communications, and future campaigns, while the gallery still feels like a real account of the day.

The creative and production team behind the celebration

Chandelier Events, led by founder and creative director Amy Shey Jacobs, shaped the event design, creative direction, and production. The team translated a major brand anniversary into four class sessions, a champagne toast, partner experiences, personalized merchandise, and a reception that felt cohesive from room to room.

Eventique handled livestream and video, extending the energy inside SUMMIT Events to more than 600 Pure Barre studios. That production layer mattered to the photography too. The live audience, cameras, instructor platform, and reactions in the room were all parts of the same story.

Food and hospitality came from Chef Daniel Boulud and Cuisine Boulud New York. The Juice Barre, Barre Bites, passed food, and anniversary cocktails made the reception feel considered rather than secondary to the workout.

DJ June and June Events provided the music, while Rachel Cho Floral Design carried Pure Barre’s red palette into sculptural arrangements. Social Glam Booth created the photographer-led portrait experience. SS Laser Engraving, Rhode, e.l.f. Cosmetics, HaeSkn, Studs, Glam on the Go NJ, and G2G Bar rounded out the publicly credited partner experience.

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt event photography

At a venue this visually distinctive, the city and architecture deserve real space in the gallery. They should never overwhelm the people, though.

Our approach to New York event photography is built around that balance. We photograph the room, design, program, talent, guests, brand details, partner experiences, and unscripted interactions, then add direction only where it improves the result.

Once the class ended, the energy shifted from movement to celebration. Those candid conversations, embraces, and team photographs completed the story by showing the relationships behind the production.

Pure Barre at SUMMIT Events FAQ

Source note: Event details and vendor credits were checked against the official Pure Barre livestream, SUMMIT Events, Cuisine Boulud New York, and public production credits.