Greetings! I’m Ace Tombolini-Campbell. I’m a 12 year old photographer, Pablove Shutterbugs alum, and Ambassador of The Pablove Foundation. I am writing to share my experience going to the Golden Globes Award Show.

Every year, The Pablove Foundation, works with the HFPA (Hollywood Foreign Press Association), and invites a Pablove Shutterbug to the Golden Globes Award Show. The Shutterbug gets press passes and credentials from Pablove and Golden Globes so that they can go on the red carpet and take photos up close of celebrities. The Shutterbug also gets a Pablove sign for celebrities to hold. This year, I was lucky enough to be chosen to represent The Pablove Foundation at the Golden Globes!

Ace with Julianne Moore

About 2 1/2 weeks in advance, my mom and I were contacted about going! It was very exciting. I remember the phone call and email, too. Not only was it exciting because I was going to be about 5-6 feet away from Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Sam Smith, etc., but it was my first red carpet photography event. Now, I enjoy taking pictures of landscapes and plants, but I’ve never really been interested in photographing people. I really enjoyed it, and now I love photographing people! On the red carpet, I was able to get different angles that I’ve never been able to get, due to where I was positioned on photographer’s row, where all the professional photographers stand. I was able to get the attention of a few celebrities (Zendaya, Taraji P. Henson, Queen Latifah) and ask them to hold the Pablove sign, but I was very nervous. If I had called names out loud a lot earlier, I’m sure I would have gotten more people’s attention. For any Shutterbugs reading this, if you get the opportunity to go, don’t be nervous like I was! Be confident and know that we represent a good cause. Also, confidence is key – you could probably even sneak in a selfie or two with the celebrity!

My red carpet mentor, and HPFA photographer/photojournalist, Yoram Kahana, will make you feel so confident about your photography. The number one tip he gave me was to be confident and get as many shots as possible. He also told me don’t delete your photos or get nervous! I saw a countless amount of celebrities, like Lady Gaga, Julianne Moore, Steve Carell, Chris Tucker and Katy Perry.

Taraji P. Henson shows her love for Pablove

After the red carpet, I watched the awards show in a viewing room and met some pretty cool people! I was invited to a couple of after-parties so I stayed around. This was definitely one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I would absolutely love to go back. This experience made me want to expand and explore a career in photography – it motivates me to keep going if it’s something I really love and I’m really passionate about.

Steve Carrell gives a smile for Ace on the red carpet

I’m so proud to be representing The Pablove Foundation, because it’s such an amazing organization that has helped me and is helping so many other kids with cancer. Pablove is like a second home to me, because they have given me that ‘home sweet home comfort’ feeling and I’ve learned so much. I can’t wait to do more and I’m proud to call myself an Ambassador for Pablove. I feel like I’ve accomplished so much with Pablove!

Ace with HFPA President, Theo Kingma

I would like to thank The Pablove Foundation and Hollywood Foreign Press Association, especially Jo Ann Thrailkill, Yoram Kahana and Theo Kingma for the opportunity!

Ace Tombolini-Campbell is a 2016 Pablove Ambassador and Pablove Shutterbugs alum. Her photography can be viewed here.