WWIRE - Wellness for Women in Real Estate; Women’s Health; San Francisco 2025
This post recaps and visually celebrates an inspiring WWIRE networking and educational event focused on Mature Women’s Health—especially perimenopause, menopause, hormones, and evidence-based hormone therapy options (including hormone patches). I’ll share highlights from Dr. Cheruba Prabakar’s talk, what I looked for as the event photographer, photo storytelling opportunities at a corporate wellness gathering, and why documenting conversations like these matters for women in real estate—and all women navigating hormonal change.
If you’re planning a corporate wellness program, a professional development mixer, or a women-led industry event in the San Francisco Bay Area or Sacramento region, this behind-the-scenes look will help you plan for photography that informs, empowers, and connects your community.
Quick Takeaways
Real talk about perimenopause & menopause: Symptoms vary widely; get informed early so you can advocate for yourself.
Hormones are tools, not taboos: Modern hormone therapy—including transdermal patches, gels, and other delivery methods—can relieve symptoms and support long-term health for appropriate candidates under medical guidance.
Community reduces stigma: When professionals gather in a supportive setting (thank you, WWIRE & Haworth!), women feel seen, heard, and better equipped to make care decisions.
Photography amplifies impact: High-quality imagery extends the conversation beyond the room—driving post-event education, sponsor visibility, and ongoing engagement.
About WWIRE: Wellness for Women in Real Estate
WWIRE creates spaces where industry professionals can learn, network, and support one another around whole-person wellness—because the women driving deals, design, development, and property strategy deserve the same investment they bring to the market. By spotlighting health topics that are often under-discussed (like perimenopause and menopause), WWIRE strengthens both community bonds and professional resilience.
Thank You to Our Event Sponsor: Haworth
A huge shout-out to Haworth, who opened their beautifully designed San Francisco showroom to host this important conversation. Thoughtful environments support thoughtful dialogue—and the modern, light-filled Haworth space gave us room to learn, connect, and photograph meaningful moments. (Please confirm if sponsor credit should read Haworth or Howarth so I can match branding.)
Meet the Speaker: Dr. Cheruba Prabakar
Dr. Cheruba Prabakar is a board-certified OBGYN and fellowship-trained minimally invasive surgeon whose care philosophy centers on compassion, access, and long-term wellness across the full spectrum of womanhood—from first periods (menarche) to the menopause transition and beyond.
She is known for:
Fertility-sparing fibroid surgery & endometrial polyp removal.
Supporting patients navigating IVF and complex hormonal concerns.
Providing individualized menopause care as a nationally certified menopause practitioner.
Educating and myth-busting around hormone therapy safety, timing, and delivery methods.
Extending impact globally through educational initiatives for girls in South India.
Her practice, Lamorinda Gynecology and Surgery, reflects her commitment to sustainable, evidence-based, and patient-led care. She’s also a dynamic speaker featured in media outlets including Arise America and Essence magazine.
What We Learned: Hormones, Aging & Options
Below are key educational themes I heard (and photographed visual aids for!) during Dr. Prabakar’s session. Always consult your own healthcare provider; individual needs vary.
1. Perimenopause vs. Menopause
Perimenopause: The transition years leading up to menopause—often beginning in the 40s (earlier for some)—marked by cycle changes, hormonal fluctuations, and symptoms like sleep disruption, mood shifts, hot flashes, and brain fog.
Menopause: Clinically defined as 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period (not caused by another condition). Symptom patterns may shift, but support remains important.
2. Common Symptoms & Quality of Life
Hot flashes, night sweats, weight redistribution, vaginal dryness, low libido, anxiety, and disrupted sleep can affect work performance and relationships—making workplace awareness and support crucial in industries like real estate where networking and travel are common.
3. Hormone Testing & Personalization
Lab work, symptom tracking, and medical history help determine whether hormone therapy is appropriate. Not every woman needs or chooses it—but when indicated, individualized dosing matters.
4. Hormone Therapy Delivery Methods
Dr. Prabakar discussed multiple delivery options—each with pros, considerations, and candidacy guidelines:
Transdermal hormone patches (steady dosing; often well tolerated; may reduce certain risk profiles compared with some oral forms in specific populations).
Topical gels or sprays.
Oral formulations (estrogen, progesterone, combined).
Vaginal rings, creams, tablets for localized symptom relief.
IUD with progestin as a protective or multi-purpose option in some treatment plans.
5. Timing & Safety Conversations
Current evidence supports that, for many healthy women who begin hormone therapy within a certain window of menopause onset (often referenced as the “timing hypothesis”), benefits may outweigh risks—especially for symptom relief and bone health—when managed by a knowledgeable provider. Risk factors (history of certain cancers, clotting disorders, etc.) must be evaluated.
6. Lifestyle Tools That Complement Hormone Care
Nutrition, movement, sleep management, stress reduction, and social support all play a role. Many attendees shared real-life strategies—one of my favorite parts to capture in candid photos.
Ready to book your event photographer? Lets connect!
Photographing a Women’s Health Education Event: My Approach
Documenting an educational wellness event is different from photographing a gala or awards dinner. The goal is connection + clarity—showing learning, engagement, and the humanity behind the data.
Here’s how I approached the WWIRE x Haworth evening:
Pre-Event Planning
Reviewed the run-of-show and key talking points (hormones, patches, menopause myths) to anticipate powerful slide moments.
Coordinated with Haworth staff on lighting zones and sponsor signage framing.
Confirmed any privacy requests (e.g., attendees who preferred not to be photographed).
Storytelling Priorities Onsite
Venue atmosphere – establishing shots of the Haworth showroom so viewers know where this happened.
Branding & sponsor gratitude – signage with WWIRE + Haworth logos; detail shots of event materials.
Speaker energy – expressive portraits of Dr. Prabakar mid-talk, gesturing to slides, engaging in Q&A.
Educational content – wide shots including presentation slides that reference hormone therapy tools (patches, delivery methods, symptom charts).
Attendee engagement – listening, note-taking, laughter, “aha” reactions.
Networking moments – women from across real estate roles connecting in small groups.
Hands-on visuals – if demo materials (like mock hormone patches, educational handouts, or sample packaging) were shown, I photographed them as clean detail frames.
Technical & Creative Notes
Shot primarily with fast primes (35mm & 85mm) for low-light showroom conditions without flash distraction.
Used available ambient + subtle bounced light during networking; switched to controlled flash only for group photos.
Captured both horizontal hero images for banners and vertical crops for social reels & blog headers.