A number of years ago, when I first started shooting for the Miss Maine Scholarship Pageant, I had the pleasure of attending the Miss America Scholarship Pageant in Las Vegas. It was a different time, a time when I had more time to do such things.
A lot has changed since then, I have developed my skills as a photographer, I am a sharper business man, and my goals have become more focused. Not to mention my equipment has changed quite drastically (you try shooting in the Aladdin Theater [Theater for the Performing Arts] with a $300 camera).
Suffice it to say, Vegas and CoverThis Photography go way back, and this year I had the pleasure of revisiting the City of Lights to cover the 2011 Miss America Scholarship Pageant on behalf of the Miss Maine Scholarship Program, once again. Just like old times.
This time, however, CoverThis was accompanied by the talented Jennifer Wolfe, who took care of Press Releases and a very nice exclusive for the Topsham Cryer (to be dual-released in March and June) on behalf of the Miss Maine Scholarship Program. “Know you’re strengths” they say, and CoverThis does not write Copy.
Unlike years past, CoverThis will not be offering photos of the complete Miss America Scholarship Pageant for sale this year. If you are interested in purchasing images of the 2011 Miss America Scholarship Pageant, you are encouraged to visit the Official Miss America Photo Store (when I shot the pageant last, the store was located here, this may have changed this year, I do not know).
This year CoverThis covered the Pageant for the Miss Maine program exclusively. This lowers our workload, and allows us, in addition to being able to enjoy our time in Glitter Gulch, to provide a better product to the people we are serving (nifty, huh?).
Photographs of the 2006, 2007, and 2011 Miss America Pageants are available to view and download below:
Michael J Mulligan
The Miss Maine Spring Gala is a time for the young women competing in the Miss Maine Scholarship Pageant to meet and learn from the volunteers of the Pageant, as well as each other. There are various coaching sessions on Public Speaking, approaching Interviews, Etiquette, Beauty and Skin care, and Networking and Fundraising. The day was long (starting at 8 AM and finally drawing to a close with the Gala at 10 PM), but much was learned as girls were put through their paces during Mock Interviews, Talent Critiques and Wardrobe Consultations, in preparation for the 2010 Miss Maine Scholarship Pageant.
There were even a few vendors on hand offering everything a Pageant Girl needs to survive (Gowns, Earrings and Necklaces; the essentials) and each girl was given the chance to have a personal one-on-one with Miss Maine 2009, Susie Stauble, to get in the mind of a current Title Holder. It was basically a pageantry boot-camp, and something I would suggest any woman considering competing in a pageant should experience. 
