WHEN GIA MET SMASHBOX: HOW OUR NEWEST PARTNERSHIP CAME TO BE
Some of the best things in life happen when you're just showing up and being present. This is one of those stories.
One evening in March 2026, my husband Pete and I headed to Smashbox Studios in Culver City for a very special book signing. My dear friend Mary Ellen Matthews - the legendary photographer behind Saturday Night Live's iconic cast portraits since 2000 - was celebrating the release of her book The Art of the SNL Portrait.
The Art of the SNL Portrait by Mary Ellen Matthews
Mary Ellen and I go back over twenty years. We met on the East End of Long Island, part of a tight-knit group of Montauk surfer girls who didn't just ride waves together - we traveled together, laughed together, and showed up for each other. Years later, Mary Ellen became a design client when my firm Dre Design gut renovated her charming cottage in East Hampton in 2021. One of my favorite pieces of art at home is a large black and white photograph she shot on her Hasselblad at Ditch Plains in Montauk. She's so crazy talented! I love her and am proud to call her my friend.
Ditch Plains, Montauk photo by Mary Ellen Matthews
Mary Ellen line dancing at our wedding with us
So when she had a milestone evening, we were there.
She was interviewed that night by none other than Will Ferrell, who took us all behind the curtain on decades of unforgettable moments with celebrities, rock stars, and the stories behind some of the most iconic images in pop culture. It was one of those evenings where you leave feeling genuinely inspired and grateful to know the people you know.
Will Ferrell interviewing Mary Ellen at her book launch event at Smashbox Studios
After the event, Pete and I wandered outside and fell into easy conversation with a group of people in the parking lot. We had brought our new rescue dog Gia with us - and as any dog owner knows, a good dog is the world's best icebreaker.
Nancy Mack, Pete Pepe, Dre, Gia and Chad Smith at Smashbox Studios
One of the people we got talking to turned out to be David Padilla, Director of Location Operations at Smashbox Studios. We exchanged cards, promised to connect soon, and meant it.
I followed up that same week and scheduled a tour of Lacuna with David. We really hit it off - creative minds, aligned values, and wheels turning from the moment he walked in the door. David proposed something that immediately felt like a no-brainer: a partnership where Smashbox would make their full professional arsenal of photo and video equipment available in-house to any client booking Lacuna for a shoot.
Smashbox Studios Equipment
For anyone who knows Smashbox, you know they are the real deal - and they are next level when it comes to gear. They carry and maintain the latest in camera systems, lighting, grip, and digital equipment from the most respected brands in the industry, including Canon, Nikon, Hasselblad, Phase One, Profoto, Broncolor, Arri, Kino-Flo, and more. Every piece of equipment is thoroughly tested, cleaned, and calibrated before each shoot by their expert team. Their highly experienced staff is also available to bring on for your production - making the whole experience truly turnkey, from the space to the gear to the crew.
Lacuna
A second meeting followed - lunch with Rachel Callahan, Sr. Studio Director at Smashbox, along with our own Venue Manager Siew Longhorn. We had a blast. It felt less like a business meeting and more like a gathering of like-minded friends who happen to also be neighbors. Smashbox and Lacuna are literally around the corner from each other, which made the whole connection feel even more meant to be.
I love how organically this all came together. A book signing, a rescue dog, a parking lot conversation - and now a partnership that genuinely elevates what Lacuna can offer every photographer, director, and brand that walks through our doors. This is people helping people at its best.
And the story kept going. Pete and I celebrated July 4th with friends at Rachel and her husband Rick's home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. From a parking lot introduction to a holiday weekend together - that's the magic of showing up, staying open, and letting life surprise you.
This is what happens when creatives find each other. New friendships, unexpected partnerships, and something bigger than any of us could have built alone. Who else wants to build something together at Lacuna?
Dre at Lacuna Space
Booking a shoot at Lacuna? Smashbox's full equipment roster and experienced staff are now available in-house. Contact us here to learn more and start planning your production.