My First Mitzvah
Elizabeth was amazing. A wonderful singer with a beautiful voice, she knew exactly where to stand and what to do, spoke with authority and clarity, and delivered the entire service without skipping a beat. I was in awe. The shot above, however, is my favorite one from the day. Elizabeth is still a girl! Just after I took this picture during rehearsal, the rabbi reminded Elizabeth: “No dancing.” I thought to myself, Aw, let her dance! She’s beautiful!
The rabbi was warm and friendly, allowing me to take pictures during the service as long as I set up out of the way, didn’t use a flash, and didn’t move around. (This one is during rehearsal.)
LifeSavers do work when you’re nervous, you know. (But I’m speaking only for my own nervousness in hoping I would get a few good shots; it didn’t seem to me that Elizabeth was nervous at all!)
Elizabeth’s cousin is very photogenic!
Once I set up for the service, I realized I had a pretty good angle to capture the grandparents’ reactions.
I told Elizabeth early on that I was a photojournalist. “Don’t turn and smile at me unless I ask you to,” I said. But I did take a few “mug for the camera” shots.
Elizabeth was stunning in every sense of the word, making my first mitzvah a truly memorable event. In fact, I’d never even been to a Jewish service before that day. I was very impressed with the whole thing, mostly because Elizabeth was the most comfortable, assured, self-confident young woman I’ve ever met. And she sang in Hebrew! Wow!
Ed Goldberg and the Odessa Klezmer Band played at the party. They were great! I put a snippet of their music in the slide show.
Below, random shots from the party…
I could be wrong, but I think they almost dropped Elizabeth’s mom.
Elizabeth’s dog tags read, “You are tagged as a person of character.” Her speech was based on the story of how she came about owning such a treasure. The woman can WRITE too!
This is my “creative” shot.
Elizabeth’s dad wore this shirt the day she was born. So sweet.
Below, Elizabeth says goodbye.
Click here to see the slide show.
(The part where Elizabeth says goodbye makes me weep. She’s a good actress!)
As an event photojournalist, I’m supposed to be invisible. One of the lessons I learned from this event is to be careful where I leave my camera bag. So, a free 8×10 for the first person to comment, having found it in one of the slide show pictures. Just a little “Where’s Waldo” game for you! Have fun!
And thanks, Elizabeth, for letting me be a part of your special day!
4 Responses to “My First Mitzvah”
Leave a Reply
Related Posts
No related posts were found, so here's a consolation prize: Twittering at the Metuchen Pool with Eileen.
Recent Chatter
- ray: julie i had a number of seedlings appear about 5 years ago that look like bradford... on Current Tree Grower’s Diary Letters
- Audrey: Beautiful pictures of Saylor and mommy and daddy. What a georgous family. Your work is amazing. on An Update
- Lara A Greene: Sid sounds like such a sweet and loved man. This is a beautiful tribute and I am so glad to... on In Loving Memory of Sid
- Nicole: Love my babies! These pics are amazing. But, for the record, Mommy has... on ‘I Had a Dream That We Were Having Twins’
- glenn: Beautiful. I even wish I have twins too but I know it’s not that... on ‘I Had a Dream That We Were Having Twins’
- Mary: What an awesome set of pictures! I think my favorite is the yin/yang... on ‘I Had a Dream That We Were Having Twins’
- vanessa: I would love to know which household with an older sibling and twins is... on ‘I Had a Dream That We Were Having Twins’
- Dai Manuel: What a fantastic group of pictures. And what a lovely part of the world you live in. thanks on 7th Week of Fall: Resilience
- Anne: Julie, I just love your tree pictures. I greatly appreciated your comments in this post... on 6th Week: A Tree Grower’s Tragedy
- Allison: So so so sorry about your trees, Julie. Thanks for writing this post though —... on 6th Week: A Tree Grower’s Tragedy
- Jean: Excellent macro shots you’ve got here Julie! Great job on the plants btw. I never really get tired of... on Macro on the MacBook
- john from Atlanta: Came up to see the monument, and as a photographer myself, I am... on Visiting the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial
- Louis: Awesome. Just loves this page. Dogwoods…wow on Dogwood: Three Days Later
- Alex Campbell: That nighttime bike tour looks like the way to go. Thanks for the tips,... on Visiting the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial
- Paul Smithfield: Love the Love Shack picture. You always manage to capture my imagination.... on 3rd Week of Fall: Shoot Leaves Backlit
- Joanne Danforth: Hi Julie, I’m considering planting a Forest Pansy Redbud in my yard and came across your... on 2nd Week: More Green
- Joelle Gigante: Thank you for your recomendation. I dont want surface roots again, my... on Current Tree Grower’s Diary Letters
- Rob Ford: Ran across your website while researching some local tree’s in a nursury. I... on Current Tree Grower’s Diary Letters
- Carole Weins: Thanks for all the facts about the Thundercloud flowering plum tree. Have you... on Current Tree Grower’s Diary Letters
- Joelle Gigante: Hi Julie, I was looking for info on October Glory Maples & Red Sunset... on Current Tree Grower’s Diary Letters
- Carol Ryder: As always, beautiful photographs. We’re even getting fall color in Aiken. Night... on First Week of Fall Leaves
- Mary: Ha ha! That dog’s face is something else! A real curmudgeonly look. on An Update
- Mary: Fall is definitely my favorite season! Especially the cooler, dry air (well, usually — not so... on First Week of Fall Leaves
- Jenn: I love orange, what a great party idea – everyone looks terrific! Orange is particularly my favorite... on Orange Everywhere
- Ada Soto: What great pictures of my daughter, Audrey, my son-in-law Ken and my beautiful granddaughters! Great Job... on Any Old Saturday
- Randal: Awesome awesome awesome pictures! These photographs capture the essence of sports and pure innocence from... on High Jump, Long Jump
- treewhispers: So much for the grass…love the trees! Enjoying your posts! on Coming Soon! Updated Tree Pictures for 2010
- Carol: Your detailed photos and comments about Zelkova trees has been very helpful to me in evaluating... on Checking on the Zelkova Growth
- Sara @wedding photography corpus christi: So inspiring. Great design. This is one of a kind wedding invitation I... on A Unique Invitation
- greatreader: looks like you had a lot of fun while working for a good cause… on Never Say Goodbye
- Sarah: Aren’t kids so enjoyable to photograph?
Their innocence and simplicity really get... on My Prayer for New Year’s Eve - Andrew Barrett: I live in Wake Forest, NC. I have a red bud tree that is from as seed from... on Current Tree Grower’s Diary Letters
- Zaheera Knightley: I love the photos. It was too fabulous. Thanks,,,,I’d enjoying watching over you... on When You Smile
- Thomas Gan: Hi Julie, What led here is your blog about the Zelkova trees. Last year I moved... on Current Tree Grower’s Diary Letters
- Architects in Cape Town: I love the one Janet sent you. It’s a great idea using technology to see... on Need Help With Wall Displays?
- Marie Schuchman: Hi Julie, I would love to see your slideshow of the circle g ranch at upc….please send me the... on Never Say Goodbye
- Kelli Jones: Very nice, the photos are simply spectacular. Love the shots that shows action an d look at those... on Pick a Sport or Two
- John Flores: Gorgeous. Thanks for sharing this photo. on Dogwood: Three Days Later
- Nicole: Julie, your gift is truly amazing. Every photo captures a beautiful moment in time and shows us so much more... on Never Say Goodbye
- Allison Sullivan: Julie- Your pics are AWESOME!!!! You captured the beauty of all the kids throughout the week.... on Never Say Goodbye
- Joy: Love em all! I remember when I was a little girl, I used to play having my own studio... on Ballet at Bethesda and a New Pair of Shoes
- Colleen: Wow Julie your pictures never cease to amaze me. What awesome shots. on Never Say Goodbye
- Mary: Love all of these, Julie! Thanks for making it easy to remember this week any time we want to. on Never Say Goodbye
- Sheriff Leardi: First Pres Metuchen VBS is very thankful to the Chick fil A marketing director, Caren, for... on A Cow Brought Us Lunch
- Chuck Justice: Dear Julie: I just happened across your web site this evening. It’s... on Current Tree Grower’s Diary Letters
- Susan Kozo: Hi Julie, I couldn’t get the video for Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. The Sunday show was super. Is... on Sunny Gets News
- Deputy Day: Julie – you are so amazing (do you ever get tired of hearing that??)! I watched yesterday’s... on Love One Another
- Kate Eosso: Great pix after just one day! Wow, you are incredible..if I could have half your energy! on Sunny Gets News
- Craig T.: Hi, Julie! I am looking to plant a tree in my front yard to provide shade and to... on Coming Soon! Updated Tree Pictures for 2010
- Steve Long: Hi Julie, I love your website! I chose 2 October Glory Maples based on your... on Current Tree Grower’s Diary Letters
My family calls me "the mamarazzi."
Great job on the Bat Mitzvah++ Very few Rabbis allow photography during the ceremony, you had a unique experience!
Julie, what is your x-processing method… it’s HOT!
~B
Hey Bobs!
I guess I just don’t have as many fans as YOU do. And I’ll never be as famous as you — it’s not possible! You have a lock on that famous bobbismile! You’re irrestible! Love you, hon!
P.S. X-processing on that creative shot. I love the colors too!
HELLOOOOO JULIE!
ALL of these are awesome, but I’m especially drawn to your “creative shot.” What you did with the color is SO neat!
~Bobbi
PS. Where all of you blog commenters out there… I KNOW I’m not the only one who visits Julie’s blog