While working as Art Director of RSVP Magazine, I was to cover a party on the floating spa Bota Bota. I thought I’d take a few snaps over an hour or two and take off, but once there I was told that I was the event photographer for the party, so it was up to me to document the whole evenings. It was Sir Richard Branson’s party: he was in town for several reasons: He had bought the naming rights for Virgin to the Corona Theatre in Little Burgundy. The event itself fundraised for Virgin Unite, his philanthropic foundation–while he donated the total ticket fees ($100,000) to Dans la Rue. He was also supporting his Formula One team, and opening the first Virgin Mobile store in Canada.

Bradley Cooper and Zoe Saldana were in town, and I managed to snap only one pic of the former in his baseball cap. I’m by no means interested in being parapazzi, so I didn’t chase after them… but I also wasn’t sure who he was at the time! Our magazine was given out to guests of this event, and one of my photos became the next issue’s cover.