As a photographer, I’m challenged every day to be creative. To make every shoot unique. To think out of the box. This family did all the work for me when they chose the venue for their daughter’s bat mitzvah, and I could not have been more excited when they told me we were going to set sail and party on the New York Harbor.

I’ve had the privilege of capturing many bat mitzvahs this past year, and I get to see the same group of kids week after week. But each week it’s someone else’s time to shine, and I loved watching Yardena not only shine but truly radiate on her special day.

As parents, you know you’ve thrown a great party when your daughter says “Mom, Dad, I had no idea you were so cool until right now!” Yes, these were Yardena’s exact words as she walked onto her boat for the first time and saw the Hawaiian-themed party planned in her honor.

Yardena is one of the sweetest, most caring girls I have ever met. She’s quick to hug her siblings, tell her parents she loves them, and go out of her way to make her friends feel happy and included. Which, for a 12 year old girl, is rare. She lacks the ‘tude that often comes with her age and when her mom joked that she won’t hurt a fly, I’m positive that it was no joke at all.
Yardena decided to help give a bat mitzvah to a less fortunate girl in Israel, and wrote and illustrated a children’s book which she’s selling to raise money for her “bat mitzvah twin.” Yes a book. Did I not mention she’s crazy talented as well? Her family plans on visiting Israel this summer and celebrating the joint bat mitzvahs of Yardena and her “twin.”

Meet sweet Yardena…
And her awesome brother and sisters…

Our cruise was fantastic, with amazing views of the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, the new Freedom Tower, and we even got the extra surprise of seeing the Space Shuttle Enterprise on top of the Intrepid. OK I’ve rambled long enough, without further adieu I bring you Yardena’s bat mitzvah.

I totally thought space shuttles were larger than this! 

 Our view at sunset was spectacular. 

Thanks Yardena for allowing me to set sail with you guys, I loved every minute of it!