Wait, what?

I had to look it up.

“A ketubah (Hebrew,  ”document”; pl. ketubot) is a special type of Jewish prenuptial agreement.”

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Ok, sounds super romantic.

But really, if you think about it in the right light it’s a husband promise to always provide for his bride, even after he’s gone.

After witnessing Brit and Jake’s Ketubah Ceremony I have to say it was one of the most tender events I’ve witnessed as a photographer.

It began with the Rabbi placing the tallit on Jake and explaining to us all the meaning and importance of the tallit and it’s place in the ceremony…..

… then the tallit, together with Brittany and Jake’s friends and family form a home, or a shelter…

I should say something here about this Rabbi. He approached me and my second and said he had some rules. To which we cringed. Usually when a Rabbi/Preacher has rules for the photographer it essentially means we can’t photograph anything of any significance.

Needless to say we were floored when he told us our duty that day was to capture the best images we possibly could because, “These two, this day will ZIP by and they will need these photos to remember. You tell me where to stand and how to stay out of your way. You do what you have to do to make great pictures.”

Temple Beth El Bar Mitzvah

Light, Light, Light. That is one of the fundamental, non-negotiables in photography. As a photographer I chase it around streets, in fields, and around temples and churches. When Susan asked me to photograph Kai’s Bar Mitzvah I knew that it was a privilege. From what little I knew about Bar Mitzvahs I had gathered that 99% of the time the photographer isn’t allowed to photograph the actual ceremony. But I would be allowed to photograph the actual ceremony so long as I stayed in the back, didn’t make any noise and didn’t move.

Needless to say I was sweating it a little. I like to move around, I like to watch and find moments and catch them. Not only this but I knew there was no way I would be using any strobes.

Then I saw the light in the temple. Wow. Just look at the image of the family and the Rabbi with the Torah above. Just look. That light is amazing. All I had to do was be there.

Temple Beth El Bar Mitzvah

This second image is one of my all time favorites. During the ceremony Kai carries the Torah around the congregation and the worshipers reach out and touch it. Behind him is his family. This little moment happened in a fraction of a second. His grandfather reached up and gently touched the cheek of the little boy on his father’s shoulder.

Moments and Light. That, for me is what it is all about.

Temple Beth El Bar Mitzvha

I caught this little dude…

Sock Monkey

If you want to book my photo booth for your wedding or event you can reach me through my contact page.

you participate. you give blessing, rings, daughters and sons, unite and depart.

they’re a little micro metaphor of life at times.

Ten years old and she looks ahead.

This is one of my all time favs. I just told Mitch and Steph to take a few steps back and do what comes natural…

But as good as 2009 was 2010 holds even more promise. I’ve got several inquiries and a couple of consultations to set up for weddings this year, and a birthday party needing a photobooth on the schedule.

Speaking of photobooths, we brought in 2010 with an impromptu photobooth at Peter and Jana’s Roller Skating Capes and Bling NYE party.

All the images are up on Facebook, but Facebook wrecks images so I wanted to post a few here.

This is the opener, the guest of honor Ryan

What I love about the photobooth is it lets everyone get into the act. All night whole families came over and got what amounts to mini family portrait shoot. I would do 3 -4 shots of each group. One “normal” and then coach them to be a little more – uh not-so-stick-up-your-butt like. Which isn’t all that hard in this case considering the context (hello, capes AND bling) and who the party goers where.

Case in point, check out these sets:

Another thing I love about the photobooth is I have absolute control over the light. Place the subject, pose and compose. Super rad.

The more willing people are to get a little wacky the better the images – which is why this would be great at a wedding or a party with an open bar. Or in this case a party with my friends who are all just a little off anyway.

For you technique geeks I set up two SB 600s 8ft up on stands, with diffusers on the heads fired through shoot through umbrellas. They are at about a 45 degree angle to the backdrop. Triggered by an SB 800 on camera (hint:set it to — so it won’t ad to the exposure). They are at full power (didn’t complain a bit and I didn’t have a single misfire, you will want to give em a brake every 2 – 3 shots but you will need to talk and compose people anyway so it works out). I shot at 1/40 at 5.6 with a 17mm lens, hand held. The backdrop is a 10x seamless gaffer taped to the wall on one side and clamped to a light stand on the other.