The Great Skate - Aidan becomes a Bar Mitzvah at Temple Beth Avodah

Temple Beth Avodah, Bar Mitzvah, Kristin Chalmers Photography

I was honored to be part of Aidan’s bar mitzvah on April 2nd at the Temple Beth Avodah, as well as the party afterward at the Windsor Club.

A few months before his big day, I photographed a practice session with Aidan, where I got to know this amazing young man. He’s a lover of all things skateboarding, graffiti, and hip-hop. He is creative and genuine, with so many amazing friends, and it was obvious that he loves his family more than anything. After the practice session we had, I was sure that the actual day was going to be uber cool, filled with both love and celebrations.

I met up with Aidan at the temple and insisted that he bring his skateboard so that he could take a few minutes to roll around the parking lot and relax—and so that I could get a few pictures of him before he even set foot inside the temple.

Before things got moving, I hung back during the service until the rabbi gave me permission to snap a few pictures while the Havdalah was going on. With many rabbis, once they get to know me and my approach to mitzvah photography, I’m finding that they seem to be cool with me snapping a few pictures during the service after I assure them that I will only click the shutter when there is a group prayer or singing. That way, I don’t disturb the child—or the service itself!

Once the service was over, I made a mad dash over to the Windsor Club—where Aidan’s family threw the party of the year! His friends and family REALLY love to dance and party.

Adian, thank you so much for trusting me to get those images of your bar mitzvah that are truly YOU. I hear I may be photographing your sister's bat mitzvah soon, which means we all get to hang again and go on and on until the break of dawn. You and your family are the best!