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SNL Themed B’nai Mitzvah

Posted on June 23, 2010

One of the reasons I love shooting these events is because I love seeing what themes and decorations the family comes up with.  The Somers family did such a great job with this ~ SNL (Sasha Noah Live) was such a brilliant, creative idea.  I love LOVE the SNL styled photo place cards especially….they were also used on the beautiful flower arrangements.  Everything was perfect, down to the “lounge-style” seating section for the kids, the spotlight that said “Sasha Noah Live” on the dance floor, and the backdrop!  Wow….lots of planning went into this party.  But what was also just as amazing ~ and beautiful ~ was the ceremony.  I usually don’t attend many of the ceremonies because we’re not typically allowed to photograph them, but this one was on a Sunday, and was a little less traditional (they turned an outside space into a Temple….just beautiful.)  As the sun was setting, we got some gorgeous light, just as the twins were giving their speeches.  I feel very lucky and privileged to have been there to witness such a touching and loving event.  The family was surrounded by friends and family, celebrating their Jewish traditions….you could feel the love in the air.

Check out Cory Almeida ~ Etc. Productions ~ FANTASTIC party entertainment (with DJ C Note)

It took a village…

Posted on June 21, 2010

I’ve been fortunate in my life to have had many amazing men to look up to.  My own father and I have had a bit of a rocky past…I’m happy to say we’ve overcome it and are now quite close.  We can sit and talk for hours….we’re so similar in so many ways it’s scary.  Some of my favorite memories are of us just chatting and connecting ~ he always took time to answer my questions and explain things.  He never brushed me off when I wanted to know something.  It’s been great getting to know him over the last few years, but it wasn’t always so good.  He and my mother divorced when I was seven and both re-married not long after (and they are still married and very happy, I might add).  So the years following the divorce were….difficult..and we’ll leave it at that.    My stepfather is so much the reason I am who I am today.  He had a pretty difficult job ~ I wasn’t all that open to him telling me what to do and I’m certain that I wasn’t the most pleasant teenager either.  There are so many things I said that I wish I could take back.

During my childhood, my grandfather was a huge part of my life.  My mother is one of ten kids and I was the first grandchild, so I was kind of a big deal.    My grandparents took care of me while my mom was working, so I spent a lot of time there….and it was often said that I was like the eleventh child.  I liked that.  Every day my grandfather would come home from work at 4:30 and I’d be waiting by the window.  He walk in and act surprised that I was anxiously awaiting his arrival and then dramatically produce his lunchbox for me to open.  (I still remember that lunchbox vividly)  He’d always have a Reese’s peanut butter cup in there for me and some of the sugary jelly candies for my grandmother – I can’t for the life of me remember what they were called.  EVERY DAY he would do this.  I blame him for my still very intense addiction to Reese’s peanut butter cups… and yeah, I did name my kid Reece.  (But that was more for Kyle Reese from the Terminator movie ~ I swear)

So not only did I have my grandfather, father and stepfather, I also had my mom’s four brothers, and later on, my aunt’s husbands.  One of them taught me to drive.  Another would take me on trips and I’d babysit for his kids.  Another was one of my music teachers.  All these men showed me guidance, all in their very different and unique ways.

Thank you to all of them ~ all the men who inadvertently taught me what to look for in a husband.  No, they didn’t consciously know they were doing this….but all my experiences with them have shaped me and in turn, helped me find the awesome husband I have.  Andrew is hands down the best man I have ever met, and all the aforementioned men are pretty fantastic, so this is saying a lot….and frankly, it was touch an go there for awhile.  My pregnancy with Reece was… well,  shocking.  Andrew was only 26…..it was a scary time for both of us.  We didn’t even know if we wanted to stay together, much less have a child together.  Alas, it seemed that Reece was the glue our relationship needed.  I don’t think we would have stuck it out had we not had such a good reason to try.  Looking back on that now, it seems like a lifetime away.  Andrew took to fatherhood so easily and effortlessly…is he perfect?  Absolutely not!  There are times when I want to duck tape his mouth shut so he can’t utter the idiotic and misguided, albeit well intended advice he doles out to our impressionable children.   But at least he tries.  At least he is present in their lives.  Not everyone has the courage to do that, so for that, I applaud him.

Some of favorite photos ~ honoring all the heroes in my life…

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