Israel

I'm so happy I decided to visit Israel in early June because the weather was great; it was never too hot to be outside so I got a lot of exploring done. I visited so many gorgeous places like Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Tzfat, Masada, Tiberias, and the Negev Desert. I was also very lucky to be in Jerusalem on Jerusalem day so I went to the parade and got to experience the love and pride that Israelis have for their country first hand! What I enjoyed the most was the unique culture and experience that each different city had to offer. I visited the western wall, experienced the sunrise at Masada, swam in the dead sea, rode on a camel, slept in the Bedouin tents, fed the local cats, shopped in the market, and enjoyed the art in Tzfat. I made memories to last a lifetime and I look forward to going back one day!

How I Got Started and My First Professional Photoshoot

One of the most frequent questions that I get asked is how I got started in photography:

It all started on my 6th birthday when I was given my first digital camera. I took it everywhere with me, and I took photos of everything : my family, flowers, animals, and toys. Because of this, I got a ton of practice experimenting with natural light and composition. On my 12th birthday I was given my first DSLR, and from then on I was the designated family photographer. I took photos at all the family events and through trial and error I learned what makes a good portrait.

When I was thirteen years old I was going through a phase of making prints of my favorite photos, mounting them, and decorating my room with them. One day I was heading to my hairdresser's house to get a haircut and I had a great idea - I'd take one of my mounted prints and gift it to her since I knew that her birthday had just passed. I also knew that her favorite color was orange, and I thought that my photo of a monarch butterfly would match her room and personality so perfectly. I had no clue that this small action would change my life forever. When I gave her the photo she said she loved it and hung it right by her work area. A few months later, I got a call from her - she was looking for a photographer to shoot some looks that she was creating for a fashion show... and she asked ME to be the photographer! Of course I was nervous and had my doubts, but I ended up agreeing to shoot. This was way out of my comfort zone but I loved photography and I knew that this was a great opportunity. 

I remember how nervous I was the morning of the photoshoot. I had done a lot of research and read a lot of articles on photography but I felt like I was forgetting everything. I was freaking out but I was trying my best to hide it. Fake it 'til you make it, right? I walked into the salon and it was a little overwhelming at first. People were running around and they all looked so busy - there were hair stylists, makeup artists, models, and then I saw another photographer! I was so sure that he was a "real professional" and I was so intimidated that I felt like leaving. Looking back, I'm so glad I didn't. I walked up to my hairdresser and she stopped what she was doing and introduced me to everyone. I felt a little out of place being so young, and I really felt like nobody took me seriously. Finally, a model was ready so I looked around the salon, found a spot, and started taking pictures. The other photographer was doing his own thing, which looked weird to be honest, so I decided to do MY own thing and ignored what he was doing. I took some photos of the first model and showed her the back of my camera - she looked so surprised and she told me that the photos looked great. This gave me some more confidence and I proceeded to shoot with some of the other girls. Word spread pretty fast that I wasn't actually "just some kid with a camera" and the models started lining up to get their photos taken. I've got to tell you, that was a great feeling. 

After I got home, I was really tired but even more excited to edit the photos and send them to my client. I spent the next few days experimenting with editing and doing my best to perfect the photos. Once I finished and brought them to my client, she instantly went to look at them. She told me she loved them and then showed me photos from the other photographer... they were pretty bad. I guess it was one of those "don't judge a book by its cover" moments. She also told me how much the models loved working with me and how comfortable they felt with me taking their picture. This really inspired me to work more with people and officially start my photography business. 

 I still find it so incredible that such a small thing like giving a gift lead to something this big. I consider myself so lucky that I was given such a great opportunity to find my passion at such an early age! Here are some of my favorite photos from the shoot - enjoy!!

Mexico

This vacation was the first time I was ever at an all-inclusive resort, and let me tell you, it was amazing! It was really nice not worrying about anything for a whole week, and the resort itself was so big that I never ran out of places to explore! One of my favorite parts was waking up at 5am to see the sunrise- I'd get to the beach early and relax while I waited for the sun to peek out from the horizon. Sunsets were beautiful too, the whole resort turned golden. 

Another thing I loved about the resort was how there were so many iguanas and other exotic animals just hanging around. Although it was hard to get any photos of the other animals since they were nocturnal, I did get a great one of the iguanas!

The water was so blue and so clean, it truly felt like paradise. Here are some of my favorite photos!

What Are Senior Portraits and Why Do We Need Them?

 If you've graduated high school, you've probably taken a senior yearbook photo. However, a senior photo session is much different from the average senior yearbook picture. Seniors are not required to wear their graduation gowns (unless they want to) or follow any strict wardrobe rules. In a senior photo session, seniors are given the opportunity to choose every outfit - which allows them to express their individuality. Senior portraits are about celebrating a life stage! Senior year is all about being on the cusp of something great - the future, and seniors will never see the world the way they do right now. Not only are these photos great memories, but the photoshoot is also a great experience to have! The senior becomes a model for the day, getting their hair and makeup done and expressing themselves in any way that they want! These are photos that are cherished for life! I offer a variety of products such as photo books, prints, canvases to hang on your walls, and of course digital copies to show off on social media! 

In many areas of the US, a senior portrait session is tradition. In NYC it isn't as popular but lets be real, it should be! Senior portraits are FUN, high-quality images!  How often do you get an opportunity to have a fashion shoot? How often do you get to make the shoot all about you?  How often does a photo shoot really show a snapshot of your life? High school seniors have one opportunity to show the world who they are in a really creative way. Remember, time is fleeting. Your high school years have likely flew by, and soon, this moment will be gone too. For many people, their high school senior portraits will be the last portrait they ever have taken!

Not only are senior portraits fun for the upcoming graduate, but these portraits are also for the parents. The child you have raised for 18 or so years is never going to be the same. They will soon move on to college or the workforce, and the recent memories you have now will become more and more distant. Senior portraits are a way to preserve this part of their life - to keep these memories alive for years to come. Don't miss out because you will regret it later!