Here we are in the first week of 2019. I had the opportunity to begin my year photographing a fun family. Zeke’s bar mitzvah at Beth El Synagogue in St. Louis Park, MN.  I feel blessed! Blessed to continue to love what I do after 25 years. It is great fun to work with wonderful people, from the families and their guests, to the vendors, the rabbis and cantors, and everyone involved in the simcha.  As it is defined, a simcha is a joyous occasion.  I feel fortunate to catch the joy and love in every bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah event. To bear witness to such happy times. To be fully present and engaged in the event. Quite frankly: I Love Mitzvahs!

Here, after we did a serious of formal shots at the bema with talliot (the prayer shawls), we took a fun family photo. The family wanted to get a photo without tallitot; a more informal image. They naturally came together like a totem pole, each on a different step going up, right behind each other.  I said to the family: great idea! I then suggested to each of them – put your face out on alternating sides.  We worked together to create this shot.  When posing groups, I like to work with the family to capture their spirit. What is unique about THIS family. I love utilizing my creative side to come up with different, unique, fun and creative images.

Along with the immediate family, 4 au pairs, from Germany, Austria and Denmark attended the photo session! Four young ladies who helped in Zeke’s upbringing.  These ladies had never seen a Torah before, so we had them all gather around this sacred scroll, after we opened it up to take pictures of Zeke chanting.  I took a nice candid of the whole group looking at the Torah for the very first time, at Zeke’s side.  It was quite the moment.  And now, the family has this moment forever. The moment is captured with this image, so that they will never forget.

To view that photo and many more from Zeke’s bar mitzvah at Beth El, please check out my B’nei Mitzvah folders on my Website.

Happy, healthy 2019 to all! May your year be filled with many memorable moments and great, new adventures!  As you begin your bar or bat mitzvah journey, please give me a call/text/email as soon as you receive your date and I will check my availability.  It’s never too early or too late.  Just like what they say about Jewish holidays- they are never too early, or too late, they are always on time! Thank you and Be well!