In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future. Alex Haley
As I was headed onto a flight to NYC for a site visit on an event I''m working on, I had a call from this family to photograph their son's upcoming Bar Mitzvah that was taking place one week after I was returning from a week of work on another event with over 50,000 in attendance. (For those not in the know, my profession prior to photography was event management and I still pick up programs in tandem with photography clients). At any rate, they were very eager for the pre-Bar MItzvah home session and the only day we could manage between our schedules was the afternoon after my overnight flight across the country which landed at 6am. I was thankful to my husband for offering to drive; even though I'd had a nap, I was preserving everything I had to give to this family. On arrival I was greeted by warmth and conversation (and a welcome cup of coffee) and soon after, we began. I'm always so pleased when a family not only appreciates black and white photography, but knows how to dress for it (ie dark clothes tend to allow for a focus on hands and faces). We covered a range of activities that highlight their everyday time together - soccer, athletics, a silly family portrait they've taken since they had children, semi-formal portraits, fresh lemonade (as in the real lemons, sugar and water) - and then rehearsing for the Bar Mitzvah service. We ended our time together with an idea they had to look through old photo albums together. Their laughter, love, connection and joyfulness was a visible tonic. It was through them, and their beautiful spirits that I left lighter and brighter and refreshed.
