Zoe’s Bat Mitzvah Portraits – Larz Anderson Park, Brookline

Last Fall, I had the opportunity to photograph Zoe’s Bat Mitzvah.  The event was so fun, and we even shot some portraits the day before – but the weather that weekend was gross and we just didn’t get the bright sunny portraits we were hoping for.  So, we picked a nice Spring day and tried again!  This time we got sunshine…. cold winds, but sunshine!  It’s hard to get the weather quite right in New England in the Spring ;)  But I love how these turned out!

The adorable Zoe

Bat Mitzvah Portraits

Bat Mitzvah Portraits

Bat Mitzvah Portraits

Sisters… Annika, Zoe & Sivan

Bat Mitzvah Portraits

The whole fam

Bat Mitzvah Portraits

Bat Mitzvah Portraits

Bat Mitzvah Portraits

 

Bat Mitzvah Portraits

Bat Mitzvah Portraits

Bat Mitzvah Portraits

Jody, Paul, Zoe, Annika & Sivan – thanks for braving the cold and making the session for fun!  I hope you all love the photos!

 

To view more of my favorites from this session, please check out the album on Facebook!

Zoe’s Bat Mitzvah – Boston MA

Can I just tell you that I LOVE working with the same families over & over again?!  There is something very special about documenting the important moments in the life of a family as it changes and grows over time.  And it’s definitely an honor build relationships with those families!  Well, a couple of years ago, I photographed Annika’s Bat Mitzvah and after the photos were posted her Mom emailed me and told me to save the date for Zoe’s as well!  So, a few weeks ago, the time had finally come for Zoe’s Bat Mitzvah and I was excited to be there to photograph the celebration with this fun family!

On Friday of that weekend, they had the ceremony at their home.  Because sundown marks the beginning of their Sabbath, I wasn’t able to photograph the ceremony & party that night.  So I came by that afternoon and shot some portraits of Zoe and her family.

Zoe's Bat Mitzvah

I think it’s so cool that Zoe’s learning to play the drums!!!  There aren’t many girl drummers out there!

Zoe's Bat Mitzvah

Sisters!

Zoe's Bat Mitzvah

The Fam :)

Zoe's Bat Mitzvah

After a fun Friday night celebration, they had a huge party for the kids on Saturday night at Veronique.  We started out with a few more portraits of the Bat Mitzvah girl!  She’s so cute :)

Zoe's Bat Mitzvah

Being silly in the photo booth!

Zoe's Bat Mitzvah

The party got started with some GAMES!  First up, a crazy hula-hoop contest!  Annika was totally impressive…

Zoe's Bat Mitzvah

Then they played Coke & Pepsi.  If you haven’t been to a Bar or Bat Mitzvah in the last 5 years or so, you probably have no clue what that is. It’s a crazy game where they line up on opposite sides of the dance floor and do crazy things as the DJ calls out commands… Like “Coke” means to run to one side and sit on your partner’s knee, and “Pepsi” means to run to the other side and do the same.  It’s a process of elimination to see who can keep up.  It’s hilarious (especially if you’re 13).  You can barely see in this photo the blur of the kids running across the floor…

Zoe's Bat Mitzvah

There are always props, and hilarious teenage boys

Zoe's Bat Mitzvah

Zoe's Bat Mitzvah

Lots of dancing!  This family loves to dance!

Zoe's Bat Mitzvah

You’ve gotta love a Grandma who likes to party :)

Zoe's Bat Mitzvah

The sisters in the photo booth… more silliness!

Zoe's Bat Mitzvah

And the whole family sang the final song of the night.  I told you they were fun :)

Zoe's Bat Mitzvah

Jody, Paul, Siban, Annika & Zoe – it was SO great to work with you all again!  Thanks for trusting me with another great moment in your family history!  I hope we get the chance to work together again… maybe a wedding one day?!  Haha, no rush ;)  Congratulations once again Zoe!!!

Jared’s Bar Mitzvah

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to take some portraits for Jared and his family in honor his Bar Mitzvah.  Here are a few of my favorites!

Jared

Jared's Bar Mitzvah

Jared's Bar Mitzvah

I always like photos of kids doing what they love, for Jared that’d be basketball…

Jared's Bar Mitzvah

Jared's Bar Mitzvah

And he is learning to play the guitar!  He plays a mean Stairway to Heaven :)

Jared's Bar Mitzvah

Jared's Bar Mitzvah

Siblings :)

Jared's Bar Mitzvah

Jared's Bar Mitzvah

Jared's Bar Mitzvah

The whole fam!

Jared's Bar Mitzvah

Jared's Bar Mitzvah

It’s great when I can photograph a rehearsal since usually I’m not allowed to photograph during the ceremony.  Besides, I can get much closer this way!

Jared's Bar Mitzvah

They had a bunch of family over as well, but this guy was my favorite!  I’m such a sucker for a cute little grandpa!  And he was so honored that I’d asked to take his portrait, how could I not include him in the post?!

Jared's Bar Mitzvah

Congratulations Jared!

Annika’s Bat Mitzvah

This past Fall, I had the pleasure of photographing Annika’s Bat Mitzvah at the Museum of Science. It was such a cool location for a party! I got there early and spent some time wandering around the museum, and capturing some of the details planned by the lovely & talented Nathalya Mamane

Flowers by Sarah’s Garden


Linens by Be Our Guest


Food from the amazing Catering by Andrew


This was basically the coolest spot in the place! Fine dining under the T-Rex – how awesome is that?!


Then the family arrived and we had a little time for some quick portraits around the museum.

The beautiful Bat Mitzvah girl


The whole family


Annika’s parents are such a fun couple! When I first met them cutting it up on the dance floor at Julia’s Bat Mitzvah, I knew they were going to be great to work with!


They kicked off the party with the Horah! Always my favorite part :D





This family loves to dance!



I think Annika had a great time!




Annika, it was so great to meet and work with you and your family. What a great party! Congratulations once again!! :)

Julia’s Bat Mitzvah

Wow, it’s been a couple weeks since I posted on the blog!! I hope you all weren’t worried ;) It’s been a busy few weeks with a sinus infection just in time for my parents to visit, and then a lovely bout of vertigo just in time for my birthday. Trust me, it’s been a blast (insert sarcastic tone here). But, I’m feeling better, finally blew out my birthday candles, and am back in business!

So without further ado, I present photographs from Julia’s Bat Mitzvah!

The lovely Bat Mitzvah Girl


And her wonderful siblings


Julia’s Dad, Andrew is one of the best caterers in Boston. I was absolutely honored to photograph this special event for their family!


And what an event it was! The party was huge, everything was so colorful, the decor and the details were so gorgeous, and of course the food was amazing! Special thanks to Nathalya Mamane, flowers by Carol Silverston, and Rentals Unlimited!


The dance floor was definitely my favorite part of the whole day. This was one of the most energetic dance floors I’ve ever photographed. I got knocked over, feet jumped on, and bumped all over the place – it was totally awesome! Music by the Nafshenu Orchestra out of New York.


I LOVE the Horah!!


More dancing…


And what’s a celebration without a few toasts?!


Thank you Andrew and family for having me as part of such an important day for your family – and for such a great time and an awesome party!!


To see more, check out the longest slideshow ever…

Noah’s Bar Mitzvah

A few weeks ago, I photographed Noah’s Bar Mitzvah in Brookline. This fabulous event was planned by the talented Nathalya Mamane, and took place at Veronique Boston. Noah and his family had recently returned from a trip to China and the whole party had a Chinese theme. It was beautifully done, and the party was so much fun! Here’s a look…

Some of the gorgeous details… Flowers courtesy of Carol Silverston of The Original Touch, Cake by John at Party Favors.


Noah reading Torah



Noah’s grandparents. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a cute little old man!


Noah’s aunt holding his very shy, but very cute little sister


I’m always so entertained by the games at Bar Mitzvahs! The light coming into the ballroom was just about perfect, and mix that with a bunch of girls hoola-hooping, and I was having a blast!




I wasn’t the only one fascinated by the hoola-hoops…


The Hora is one of my FAVORITE Jewish traditions! It makes me want to have a Jewish wedding someday. Though I doubt my Irish-Catholic family would quite know what to do… ;) Noah was loving it!


His Mom was a little scared at first


Dad was getting into it though


As was Noah’s little brother


Even his little sister had fun with it!



More games… Coke & Pepsi, anyone?


Fun on the dance floor



One of the things I love about Bar Mitzvahs is when the adults get in on the fun and let themselves be kids for a little bit


Noah’s birthday cake was AMAZING! One of the coolest cakes I’ve ever seen, for sure! (check out the detail collage at the top to see some more of the front of the cake)


this is what a 13-year-old looks like when he’s making a wish


All in all, I think Noah and his friends had an awesome time!


Congratulations Noah! Thanks so much for having me as part of your day!

Gabriella’s Bat Mitzvah

I shot Gabriella’s Bat-Mitzvah a few weeks ago at the Hilton Logan in Boston.
It was such a great time! Check it out…
Gabriella with her parents and brothers


The crowd was totally excited and danced the whole afternoon. It was high-energy and lots of fun!




I think some of the adults may have even been having more fun than the kids!



All in all, it was a great day. Congratulations Gabriella!!

Your slideshow and the rest of the pictures will be up online by the end of the week!