Shoey's Clicks & Picks

pregnancy, danielle’s final moments

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:21:29 +0000

Danielle, Ben and I got together for a maternity portrait shoot in the nick of time. The next day, Danielle and Ben became parents! Isn’t she gorgeous? There are many more sexy momma photos that are private. I can’t wait to meet the newest member of the family.

family day in the park

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:26:03 +0000

I had the most fun with Jeff, Kaye and their girls at Cordonices Park in Berkeley. One of the things I love about being a photographer is my ability to capture important family moments like a child graduating high school and moving on to college. That’s big. It changes the whole family dynamic. So, I was pleased to photograph this family while they are still together, on the eve of a new chapter. The twins were so funny, like little monkeys. They loved climbing the tree, rolling down the hill and playing.

I made a movie of our time together. Enjoy!

Backyard Family Portraits with Chuck, Betsy and Kids

admin — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 02:24:30 +0000

I love donating my photography to community organizations; it’s a win-win. In this case, I donated a portrait sitting to Berkeley High School for their annual fund raiser. The winner is an old college friend of mine who I haven’t seen in years! I had the pleasure of meeting his family and spending time photographing in their back yard. In addition to taking whole family shots, I also photographed each kid with the iconic symbol of what they each love best: reading in the swing, playing with the cat and playing guitar.

Sam the bar mitzvah man!

admin — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 06:27:42 +0000

Sam is one of our family friends so it was an absolute pleasure for me to photograph him on his bar mitzvah day. Sam is a boy who is full of energy and has a silly sense of humor but he was quite relaxed and serious on his bar mitzvah day. He was surrounded by his mom Cindy, his two brothers and his dad and three grandparents.

My son, Jacob, is good friends with Sam and was asked to sit on the bimah with Sam throughout the service. Of course, I loved seeing my son all dressed up sitting there with his pal, the star of the show. The moms of Congregation Beth El also participated in creating a beautiful kiddush lunch. I love the community and the willingness to support each other.

Mazel tov to Sam, Cindy and the rest of your family.

Mazel Tov Jessica

admin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 06:50:44 +0000

Jessica is a young woman who is poised, beautiful, smart and unbelievably talented. Jessica came to her bat mitzvah day radiant, relaxed and ready to knock the socks off those who heard her sing. I have never heard a 13 year old with such a magnificent voice as Jessica’s who chanted the prayers in 3 part harmony. Photographing her and her family was a joy for me as they were so relaxed.

Inside the Beth El ark we found a torah that the b’nai mitzvah class had made when they were in 3rd grade. The cover was decorated with stars sporting the names of each child. We found Jessica’s. I remember when they were that young and it’s so wonderful to see how the kids have really grown up.

Mazel tov!

Supporting Crew:

Solano Florist who made Congregation Beth El look elegant.

My son the bar mitzvah

admin — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:07:41 +0000

After having the privilege of photographing other kids’ bar and bat mitzvahs, I get to have the pleasure of being in the photos at my own son’s bar mitzvah. Tomorrow, after much hard work and preparation on his part, Jacob will become a bar mitzvah! I’m so proud of him and I’m so looking forward to the events of the day. In true Jewish fashion, we’re having a whole week of eating, hanging out, eating, dancing, eating, celebrating and eating some more! Our family is arriving as I write from LA, New York, Palm Springs, San Diego and we’ll have a cozy group of 30 for Shabbat dinner. Tomorrow, bright and early, we gather again for family portraits and then the service where I know Jacob will do a magnificent job reading from the Torah, reciting prayers and giving a teaching.

My mom and I have also prepared to read from the Torah. Let me tell you, it is difficult! First, one has to learn to read Hebrew letters with no vowels, chanting an atypical melody and not understanding what it means. I only have a paragraph to learn and it took me about two months. Jacob has four portions to learn plus many other prayers. I am listening to my mom practice her portion before the BIG Day right now and she sounds so sweet. I love that our family participates and supports each other. Another way that we are participating is in the creating of Jacob’s tallies. When my older son became a bar mitzvah, he wanted a homemade tallis. His taste runs more toward tie dye than traditional so for Noah’s tallis we tie dyed it. His is truly unique and very much to his personality. Jacob, however, is a bit more traditional so I made his tallis from white linen and decorated it with blue and silver ribbon trim. It is really classy. To finish off the prayer shawl, Jacob’s three grandparents and I tied the ritual fringes, the tzizit. The tzizit are a complicated series of knots and wrappings of string which added up are the number 613, the number of mitzvot in the Torah. Sitting together, tying the knots with Jacob’s grandparents was touching and significant. It was a joy and a pleasure, plus, we were all pretty good at following directions.

Grandma Joyce also showed her skills by needlepointing an exquisite tallis bag. It was a labor of love.

I want to thank all the support folks that have made this bar mitzvah happen: Rabbi Kahn, Rabbinical Intern Reuben Zellman, my wonderful friend and amazing photographer Maggie Fessler, Carmen at Berkeley Doubletree, Joel Nelson DJ, Linda Snyder of Zuzu Petals for flowers and catering, Lucy Adhadjian Catering, Bibi at 6 Degrees Restaurant, Gather Restaurant, all my friends who have given me love and support, Congregation Beth El for years of teaching, camp, kindness. Of course I love and thank my perfect husband David for everything including, well EVERYTHING. I love my family and friends and am so thrilled to share this big life milestone with them.

Mazel tov to Jacob!

Love,

Mom

Mazel Tov to Bowen the Bar Mitzvah

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:05:25 +0000

Some bar and bat mitzvah kids are naturally poised and confident when they stand on the bimah reciting their torah portions and delivering their teaching drash. Bowen is one such teenager. Not only did he chant his Hebrew learnings beautifully and give an interesting lecture but he also played a song on his saxophone. I can’t remember another b’nai mitzvah at Berkeley’s Congregation Beth El where the bar mitzvah performed with their instrument. It was lovely. And what made the service even more meaningful was that Bowen’s mother and aunt also chanted from the torah. Way to go women! These women grew up in Orthodox synagogues where women did not read from the torah so they did not have the early experience of chanting. It was really beautiful to have their contribution; it made the event an important family event.

My son will be a bar mitzvah in 5 weeks. My mom and I are planning to chant from the torah just like we did at my older son’s bar mitzvah and just like Bowen’s mom and aunt. It’s quite a wonderful feeling to be part of an ancient tradition. Learning to read Hebrew without the aid of knowing the language and the help of vowels or other punctuation is pretty hard and it gives me some empathy into how difficult it is for the young people to master. I still have a lot to learn in the next 5 weeks. In the mean time, congratulations to Bowen and his family.

Taken from outside the sanctuary.

The bar mitzvah gets showered with candy.

Blessings over the bread and wine just after the service.

Way to go Bowen. A job well done!

Newborn Portraits of Baby Sam

admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:59:22 +0000

Oakland has a new resident, Baby Sam. I photographed baby Sam and his 2 year old brother when Sam’s mom was pregnant. It was so nice to meet Sam and photograph the whole family. Isn’t he adorable? I also designed baby announcements so friends and family can get a peek at this cutie-pie. I look forward to photographing Sam through all his milestones: his first steps, first birthday, bar mitzvah, his engagement, and wedding…OK, maybe that’s a bit much for now.

Pregnancy Never Looked This Easy

admin — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:27:34 +0000

I had the privilege of photographing K for a maternity shot. She was delightful, fun and beautiful.

Being pregnant is such a powerful time in a woman’s life and K makes it look easy. I’m glad to see that women these days celebrate their pregnancy and take the time to honor it with a photo shoot. It’s a special time, one which is not repeated often, and really deserves being acknowledged. I know for myself, having photos of my body in its most strong, female, natural state is something to treasure. I still have my pregnancy portraits on my wall.

I always get a kick out of women who just want to show their feminine glory and enjoy the marvel of what their body can do. I look forward to meeting and photographing the little guy who’s growing inside.

Art Showing in Contemporary Jewish Museum and Laney College

admin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:49:02 +0000

This has been a wonderful month for me to show my art in two fantastic venues: San Francisco’s Contemporary Jewish Art Museum and Oakland’s Laney College. I currently have a photo in a group showing of Bay Area Synagogues. My contribution is of my synagogue, Congregation Beth El in Berkeley. Our synagogue is quite new and modern and I showed the ceiling as well as the rest of the interior space including the ark. When I’m sitting in the sanctuary, the ceiling reminds me of the ribs of a ship or an ark.

The other public showing of my work is at Oakland’s Laney College Photography Department. I have been involved in a group of Black and White film fanatics who love to photograph film and print on silver gelatin paper. My project focuses on portraits of teenagers. I love the complexity of the teen age as the kids are trying out different roles and attitudes as they try to figure out who they are and what they want to become. I have five prints exhibiting at the event and it was so sweet that three of the five models were present at the show reception December 9, 2009. Photos below taken with my phone! For my next holiday present, I want a camera that also makes pretty good phone calls!

The show includes six other local photographers: Steven Ansley, Black Moon, Carl Lantz, Adreina Febres, Christine and Bill Van Meter. The William High Memorial Gallery is located at 900 Fallon Street, Photography Department Room A-160, is open to the public and will be hanging through January 30, 2010.