Branding is all about storytelling, right? So let me tell you the story of this photo.
Two years ago, right after we started JE Swim, we took a trip to NYC for a girlfriend’s birthday. We had just gotten our first samples from our manufacturer, and we were dying to get content. We were staying at the Williamsburg Hotel in Brooklyn, and everyone was napping after some poolside margs. I decided it would be a good idea to prop my new phone up on the side of the balcony to try and take some photos on my own. (Narrator: It was not a good idea)
Right after I determined the perfect angle, I got a phone call. I watched in slow motion as my phone vibrated off the side of my tenth-floor hotel room. I immediately panicked and rushed downstairs expecting to find it broken on the pavement. After an unfruitful search and a quick find my phone tutorial, I figure out how to ping the phone. I COULD HEAR IT. “It must have fallen onto one of the below balconies” I thought. Still not great, but hopefully not unrepairable.
I went to the hotel concierge and asked for help determining which balcony it had landed on. They looked at me like I was insane and told me that I would need to talk to the head of security. I was escorted upstairs to the pool where the hotel was hosting a party…It was a rave, straight up. Even though I had 5 poolside margs, I was by far the most sober person on that pool deck. I pushed past Santino Rice from Season Two of Project Runway dancing shirtless with a fur hat on to find the head of security. He thought I was unhinged, and assumed I was one of the many unsober party guest. He said, “So you want me to knock on guest doors to have them check their balconies?” I shyly said, “yes please.”
He for sure hated me but sent one of his guys with me to knock on doors. It was 10pm at this point so of course no one answered their door. He mentioned they weren’t going to check the 3rd and 4th floors, which I thought was strange. The security guard eventually gave up and said he would help us in the morning and left.
However, we decided to keep searching. Since the security guard left us on the service elevator, obviously we were like, “let’s go check the 3rd and 4th floor.” We ended up on a floor that was closed to the public. Apparently, they have a floor of rooms they use for storage and security. We began knocking on doors and found ourselves face to face with two other security guards that were less than pleased to see us. “How did you even get on this floor” they inquired. I explained my story for what felt like the one hundredth time that day.
We were escorted back to the rave to talk to our favorite head of security. He told me to drop it for the night and they would try and help me in the morning. They also allowed us to stay at the private party. Assuming we were drunk party guests actually ended up paying off. I decided that my phone was lost forever, so I poured one out for it and decided to make the best of the night.
The following morning, I was feeling the effects of the rave. As I sat in clothes from the night before + my YSL aviators drinking a black coffee, a security guard came over to me and asked if I ever found my phone. I told him no, and that I was about to get an Uber to the Apple store to buy a new one.
As I was waiting for my Uber, a bewildered couple approached the same security guard. I saw them holding something and heard the woman say, “we woke up and just found this phone on our balcony.” I literally jumped out of my chair and spun around repeating “OMG OMG.” As the security guard cackled with laughter, I repeatedly thanked the couple and told them, “You have no idea the wild ride we took trying to find this thing yesterday.”
The security guard went on to tell me, “Honestly we thought you were full of shit”
As my phone was being put back in my hand, I couldn’t help but wonder, did I get the shot? After I charged my phone, I scrolled down to see the last photo taken before the swan dive, and sure enough I got the shot. I vowed that the photo would not have been taken in vain, and thus we decided to use it as our mailing insert.
Proof that if you want something bad enough and your heart is pure wonderous things can happen.
XOXO
Jamie