Opening Night: CALENROSE at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas

Photography by CALENROSE, LUÁGO

In December, Las Vegas’ newest resort made its debut on the Strip. The grand opening of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas was a major moment — star-studded, meticulously produced, and capped with a surprise performance by Justin Timberlake.

CALENROSE was onsite to cover not just the main event but the days leading up to it. Kim and Travis spent time inside the hotel as it prepared to open its doors, shooting an editorial with the Fontainebleau’s iconic poodle mascot and documenting the energy of a building about to meet its public for the first time.

For the opening itself, the duo assembled a team of nine photographers to cover the scale of the evening — hundreds of guests, multiple entertainment moments, and a guest list that read like a casting director’s dream. Cher, Lenny Kravitz, Alice Cooper, DJ Peggy Gou, Jesse Jo Stark, and Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul all made appearances. The atmosphere was electric, and CALENROSE had the coverage to match.

What sets their work apart here is the use of Polaroid film alongside the digital documentation. The instant frames — grainy, warm, imperfect by design — bring a tactile, human quality to an evening that could easily have been captured as pure spectacle. It is a smart, intentional choice that gives the project personality and texture.

The planning and production was led by Colin Cowie Lifestyle, whose team delivered the kind of seamless, high-level execution an opening of this calibre requires.

A landmark debut, captured with range.

Planning and Production: Colin Cowie Lifestyle