I make it a point to seek out one perfect moment each day. It’s usually nothing too elaborate or contrived. It could simply be spent enjoying a cup of hot chocolate on the patio as hummingbirds dart by or taking a few minutes to sit quietly on the couch while our cat Tupelo purrs contentedly on my lap. The point is to recognize that these small occurrences are perfect and to stop and enjoy them fully while they are happening. Sometimes my perfect moment wallops me right upside the head. That usually happens when I take a walk to the beach in the late afternoon. It’s virtually impossible to not feel incredibly appreciative for all of life’s blessings when nature is unraveling such a spectacular display.

“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.”
~Audrey Hepburn

Having grown up Catholic in a predominantly Catholic community, I wasn’t exposed to many Jewish ceremonies. It wasn’t until Larry and I began photographing events that I had my first glimpse into this world. Over the last 14 years, we have photographed everything from mikvahs to the occasional briss and with each new religious ceremony that we are privy to, I have become more and more enthralled. Yes, some things are very familiar to me – we too are tightly bound to our traditions and family plays a huge part in the way we observe and pray but the Jewish religion has something that I’ve never experienced in my own faith and that is celebrating with unabashed joy.

Noah’s bar mitzvah was that and more. It took place at Maggiano’s, his favorite restaurant. The rabbi had everyone in stitches and the audience was encouraged to participate by shouting out answers to his various questions. It made for a very lively and fun ceremony. Noah was the picture of composure and grace however. He read so eloquently and with such feeling. I was truly impressed with his charm and maturity. But that’s not to say he doesn’t have a fun side too!

Noah’s party was an absolute blast – complete with food picked out personally by the bar mitzvah boy. A temporary tattoo artist and t-shirt designer were on hand to ensure each guest left with a special memento.

If you would like to see more of Noah’s bar mitzvah, check out the video below.

Mazel tov Noah! We wish you all the best.

“But let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.”
~Kahlil Gibran

There are so many joyful moments that take place on a wedding day. Most of them, like the instant when the bride and groom first see each other, or the magical kiss upon being pronounced husband and wife, are exclusive to the bride and groom. But the exuberance of the first dance is shared by everyone in attendance. As the newlyweds take to the dance floor, all of the love and well wishes of family and friends can be felt around them. If I had one wish for newly married couples out there, it would be to dance together often and remember that circle of love.