ILEA Napa Sonoma Welcomes Sonja Babich of Iron & Diamond Media

By: Studio J Photography

ILEA Napa Sonoma Welcomes Sonja Babich to Rodney Strong Vineyards

There is something especially meaningful about photographing the people I work alongside in the wedding and event industry. So much of our time is spent creating experiences for other people. This gathering at Rodney Strong Vineyards gave our local community a chance to come together, connect, and make time for professional growth.

On September 9, 2026, ILEA Napa Sonoma welcomed Sonja Babich of California Wedding Day to Healdsburg for an industry event focused on connection and getting published. I was happy to be involved as the photography sponsor and executive liaison helping welcome Sonja to Wine Country.

With an outdoor setting, thoughtfully styled seating, and plenty of familiar faces, the event brought together the people behind so many Napa and Sonoma celebrations.

Table setting at Rodney Strong for Napa Sonoma ilea educational event sponsored by Picnic Potential
Iron & Diamond Owner Sonja Babich holding one of her 8 publications before she speaks to the Napa Sonoma Ilea professional group at Rodney Strong winery in Windsor Ca
Florals designed by Marmalade Sky Floral Design for Ilea's educational September event

Welcoming Sonja Babich to Wine Country

Sonja’s visit was an opportunity to bring a publishing perspective into our local event community. For wedding professionals, getting published is a subject that touches many parts of our work, from the celebrations we create to the photographs and stories we share afterward.

As a wedding and event photographer, I have a particular appreciation for that connection. A photograph can introduce someone to a venue, show the care behind a floral design, or help a reader imagine how a celebration felt. Behind that photograph is often a whole team whose work deserves recognition.

Helping welcome Sonja was also a chance to contribute beyond the camera. Hospitality and relationships matter to me, and I appreciated being part of the effort to make her visit a welcoming one.

An Outdoor Gathering at Rodney Strong Vineyards

Rodney Strong provided a beautiful setting for this ILEA Napa Sonoma event. The photographs move between the terrace, the lawn, and the tasting room entrance, showing the different spaces that became part of the gathering.

On the lawn, floral tablecloths and wooden benches were arranged beneath fringed umbrellas in soft pink and pastel patterns. Pink flowers, gold-toned vessels, and decorative candleholders added detail to the tables. The greenery and climbing vines surrounding the space gave the design a natural backdrop.

Picnic Potential was credited on-site for the seating and décor. The arrangement created a welcoming place to gather, with a style that felt relaxed and carefully considered.

These wider photographs are an important part of an event story. They show how the space was arranged and preserve the finished design before the gathering changes it.

Napa Sonoma Ilea board members getting ready at Rodney Strong Windsor Ca
A bottle of Rodney Strong Brut Rose
Table decorations at Rodney Strong sponsored by Picnic Potential
Table decorations at Rodney Strong sponsored by Picnic Potential
Guest at Rodney Strong enjoying some Brut Rose
Pork loin displayed beautifully from Urban Organics
Bottles of wine that was served at the event at Rodney strong Winery
Desserts displayed beautifully from Urban Organics

The People and Conversations Behind the Event

Some of my favorite photographs from the day are the simplest: two people caught up in conversation, a small group smiling together, and guests gathering beneath the terrace umbrellas.

For me, those moments are a large part of what makes industry events worth documenting. The details establish the setting, but the people give the photographs their meaning.

Our Wine Country event community depends on relationships. Planners, venue teams, photographers, caterers, entertainers, and other creative partners bring different perspectives to a shared experience. Having time to talk outside the pace of a wedding or a busy event day gives those relationships room to grow.

The candid photographs show that side of the gathering. Alongside a few portraits, they create a record of who was there and how people connected.

Hospitality and Thoughtful Details

The welcome was part of the story, too. A tray of sparkling drinks, small floral arrangements on cocktail tables, and food displayed along the terrace counter all contributed to the experience.

I like to photograph those elements alongside the larger scene. A close view of pink roses shows something different from a full photograph of the lawn. An image of a team member offering drinks captures the human side of hospitality.

Together, those perspectives give an event gallery variety and purpose. They also recognize work that can be easy to overlook once an event is underway. For the businesses contributing their time and talent, photographs can provide a lasting record of what they helped create.

Peach and pink roses in amber vases on a wooden table at the ILEA Napa Sonoma event at Rodney Strong Vineyards.
Wedding and event professionals gathering outside at Rodney Strong Vineyards for an ILEA Napa Sonoma industry event.
Guests greeting each other with a hug during the ILEA Napa Sonoma gathering at Rodney Strong Vineyards.
Guest speaker addressing the ILEA Napa Sonoma audience outdoors at Rodney Strong Vineyards in Healdsburg.
Floral-covered picnic tables and pastel fringed umbrellas arranged on the lawn at Rodney Strong Vineyards.
ILEA Napa Sonoma guests networking beneath orange umbrellas on the Rodney Strong Vineyards terrace in Healdsburg.
Rodney Strong team member welcoming ILEA guests with a tray of sparkling wine on the winery terrace.
Pink roses and lavender flowers in a gold centerpiece beside decorative candleholders at the ILEA winery event. Created by Picnic Potential
Three attendees smiling together on the winery terrace during the ILEA Napa Sonoma networking event.
Three ILEA Napa Sonoma attendees posing together beside the food display at Rodney Strong Vineyards.
Three event team members smiling behind the welcome table at the ILEA Napa Sonoma gathering in Healdsburg
Event professionals chatting beside the terrace food display beneath orange umbrellas at Rodney Strong Vineyards.
uests connecting around cocktail tables on the shaded terrace during the ILEA Napa Sonoma winery event.
ILEA Napa Sonoma attendees seated at floral-covered picnic tables, watching the outdoor presentation at Rodney Strong Vineyards.

Photographing the Community I Am Part Of

Being involved with ILEA Napa Sonoma gives me another way to support the local event industry. I know how much collaboration goes into bringing people together, and I value the chance to document that work.

For this gathering, I approached the photography with both the overall event and the individual contributors in mind. The setting, the welcome, the conversations, and the design details each had a place in the story.

Thank you to Sonja for visiting our Wine Country community, and to the people who helped bring the gathering together. I am grateful to have been part of it.

Sonja Babich of Iron & Diamond media with Samar of Blissful events and Sheila Johnson of Studio J Photography

Event Photography in Napa and Sonoma

Through Studio J Photography, I photograph corporate retreats, speaking engagements, hospitality open houses, networking events, and other business gatherings throughout Napa and Sonoma.

My approach combines natural photographs of people with careful attention to the details and setting. The goal is to give you images that help you remember the event and share its story afterward.

If you are planning a Wine Country gathering, visit my corporate and event photography page to see more of my work and get in touch. I would love to hear what you are planning.

Event Partners

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