Engagement Photo Shoot Surprise!

I was at the beach finishing up an Engagement Photo Shoot for Jackie & Lamar when I spotted this bathing beauty. I was told that this was the baby's first trip to the beach. Do you think she was enjoying herself? You be the judge.

Bar Mitzvah & Bat Mitzvah Photography in West Palm Beach - Boca Raton - Delray Beach

Who is a Bar or Bat Mitzvah? Bar Mitzvah means "Son" of the Commandment. Bat Mitzvah means "Daughter" of the Commandment. Jewish tradition teaches that a Jew becomes responsible for observing the Commandments upon his or her 13th birthday, with or without a ceremony -- and thus becoming a "Bar or Bat Mitzvah."

The Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony has long been a powerful and popular life cycle ritual in the Jewish community surviving from generation to generation. The child demonstrates his/her Hebrew ability to lead the blessings and the service on his/her own. Most importantly, the child is called upon to read aloud from the Ancient Sefer Torah for the first time. The Torah is a long scroll made from the skin of a kosher animal. It contains the entire text of the Five Books of Moses. Every Torah takes an entire year to be hand-written by a specially trained scribe. The scribe writes a Torah in the original Hebrew but without vowels or punctuation. It is rolled up around two wooden rollers which are attached to either end of the scroll.

Parents are also called up to the Torah. Relatives of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah are usually honored with roles during the service. The entire community offers prayers of thanks and expressions of joy and pride.

How do you congratulate the Bar/Bat Mitzvah? You can say "mazel tov" or "congratulations."

Cantor Jan Lieberman

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Training

www.janlieberman.com

561-742-7583

Tips for Setting up a Bridal Registry, Wedding Registry

10 Tips for Creating a Wedding Registry

He finally popped the question and you, of course, said "Yes!" Now the hard work (and fun) begin. One of the first things is to set up a Bridal Registry or Wedding Registry.


Registries are easy to set up, but not reading the fine print or researching your choices could cost you later on. Hidden fees, poor quality items, strict completion packages and other registry caveats can give you a large financial headache.

Before you say "I do" on the big day, say "I do" to these registry tips:

1. Register with two or three different merchants. It gives your guests more options, especially if one or two of your selected stores aren't familiar or appealing to your guests.

2. Register at physical, as well as online, stores. The last thing you want to do is register with just one web-only retailer and confuse someone who has never shopped online. Pick a combination of merchants that will accommodate the web-savvy and the traditional, in-store shoppers.

3. Read FAQs and check hidden fees before setting up a registry. Read the fine print very carefully, and be aware of what you're signing up for.

4. Remember your general retailers. Unlike some department stores, you can register for fun items such as Rollerblades and things for your pet.

5. Register for items to fit every budget, but don't shy away from big-ticket items such as that nice luggage set. A big trend among wedding guests is to pool money and buy expensive gifts as a group.

6. Check for a completion package. Some retailers will offer a discount of 10 percent or 20 percent on unpurchased registry items. Some will even let you add last-minute gifts before you close the registry, so be sure to ask before you sign up. Also, add things as you go so you can get more items at a discount and keep gifts in everyone's budget.

7. Become a connoisseur of household essentials. Read up on information about thread counts, knife tang and silverware chromium-to-nickel ratios before you make selections or you might end up with items that feel rough, break or rust easily. A rule of thumb: If a product's description involves jargon you don't recognize, conduct a simple web search on the unfamiliar terms. It could save you from buying replacement items sooner than you'd like.

8. Ask that your address remains hidden from guests but on file. Guests don't need to know your mailing address to send you a gift, and that way strangers can't find out where you live.

9. Appoint a reliable person to check on your house while you're away on your honeymoon. You don't want to come home to find that your home was broken into.

10. Consider keeping some of the duplicate gifts. That second set of dishes might come in handy when some start breaking.

P.S.

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Filipina Debut, Filipino Debutante 18th Birthday Celebration

Please call/text me at 561 201 3277.  John
Visit my website at www.wpbphoto.com.

Outstanding Father & Daughter Dance (Click on link to see a very nice and memorable dance from Jessica's 18th

Birthday Party Debutante Party.)Debutante (or Deb) (French word for “female beginner”) is a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who as reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal presentation known as her “debut” or “coming out.” Originally, it meant the young woman was eligible for marriage, and part of the purpose was to display her to eligible bachelors and their families with a view to marriage within a select upper class circle. This event is traditionally referred to as The Debutante’s Ball.

In the Philippines, a debutante’s ball is very popular and widely celebrated when young Filipina teenager turns 18.
The highlight of a debutante’s ball is known as The Grand Cotillion Dance where the Debutante, with an escort, share a waltz dance with the elegantly-dressed cotillion court composed of her friends of 9 boys and 9 girls. A special cotillion choreographer is normally hired by the debutante’s parent to teach the un-experienced boys and girls to perform a highly-choreographed waltz dance. Practices for the dance can last for 6 months and normally held in the debutante’s residence every weekend.

The other popular dance is The 18 Roses Dance where the Debutante shares a memorable dance with 18 men with each one offering a freshly-cut red beautiful rose. The father of the debutante is typically the first one to dance, often called The Father and Daughter Dance. The Debutante picks the 18 songs to play and the participants normally include relatives, friends, godfathers, neighbors and acquaintances.

Next of the tradition is The 18 Candles Presentation, wherein 18 ladies will light 18 candles to resemble the 18 lights that will serve as guidance to the debutante as she makes her transition to the status of a full grown woman. Sometimes, the 18-lighted candles are the candles that the debutante blows before she cuts the cake. Most often, the mother of the debutante is the last of the 18 candles participants. Each participant also says a word, a congratulatory note or wishes to the debutante.

A new activity that we have seen lately is what others call The 18 Symbolic Treasures, where 18 participants, mostly family friends and relatives, as well as godmothers and godfathers, offer a gift to the debutante. A perfect gift is something that the Debutante can treasure as she moves on to college and started to live as a young woman.
The last of the tradition is A Word From The Debutante, where the Debutante shares her thoughts of probably one of the most memorable times of here life.

Likewise, a debutante’s ball is a way for the parent to showcase to the society their daughter’s talents or specials sills like dancing, singing or playing instruments and other talents she possesses.

The debutante’s ball normally concludes with hours of dancing enjoyed by both the adults and teenagers.

Please call/text me at 561 201 3277.   John
Visit my website at www.wpbphoto.com.  


The following is the typical Debutante’s Ball Agenda
INTRODUCTION OF THE COTILLION COURT, THE FAMILY, ESCORT, AND THE DEBUTANTE
TOAST IN HONOR OF THE DEBUTANTE
WELCOME REMARKS BY THE PARENTS
INVOCATION OR PRAYER
DINING TIME
VIDEO PRESENTATION
THE FATHER AND DAUGHTER DANCE
GRAND COTILLION WALTZ DANCE
COTILLION COURT SPECIAL DANCES
18 ROSES DANCE
18 CANDLES PRESENTATION
SINGING OF THE TRADITIONAL BIRTHDAY SONG
BLOWING OF THE CAKE CANDLES
CUTTING OF THE CAKE
18 TREASURES PRESENTATION
A WORD FROM THE DEBUTANTE
DANCING TIME

More Pictures from Key Largo & Key West

My son and I spent a few days in Key Largo and Key West during the Summer. He wasn't afraid to have the birds eat out of his hand. We had a pretty good time. He turns 18 on the 23rd of Oct. and is my assistant on many shoots. It keeps him out of trouble and keeps money in his pockets. He also has a pretty good eye.

Persian Wedding Photography in West Palm Beach, South Florida

One of the many pleasures I've had in the past few months is photographing a Persian Wedding. The Persian Aghd, which is the legal ceremony of the Iranian wedding, is a beautiful and joyful event celebrated with lots of music, laughter, food and love. Please visit my website at http://www.wpbphoto.com/ for more pictures and information.

Engagement Photo Session, Engagement Photo Shoot

Most of my wedding photography and video packages include a free Engagement Photo Session, Engagement Photo Shoot. It's a great way for the bride and groom to get acquainted with the photographer.

It's also great because if you do it early enough you can use the pictures for your invitations. You can also use of the pictures for display at the reception or as favors for your guests.

I usually schedule the Engagement Photo Sessions for a Sunday morning (before the sun and people come out) or late afternoon (after the people leave and the sun goes down.)

You can wear anything you want for the shoot, but I usually suggest a white top and blue jeans for both bride and groom. Clothing should be kept neutral and should match the location. So, for the beach clothing should be white, cream, beige, blue or pastels. Park photo shoots are best in tans, blues and greens. You should also wear colors similar to each other.

The bottom line is to get ready to have lots of fun and take some great pictures.

Quince, Quinceanera Photography in West Palm Beach, South Florida

I love shooting Quince Celebrations. I will often take the Quinceanera to City Place or the beach for pictures and people will mistake her for a bride. 
Please visit my website at http://www.wpbphoto.com/ for more pictures.  Call or text me at 561-201-3277.

Military Wedding in South Florida, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami

I am a former Marine who served during peace time. I'd love to do more military weddings and offer a discount to the bride and groom. This is a wedding I shot at the Ocean Manor Hotel & Resort in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
I will offer the same discount to our civil servants--police and firefighters as well as teachers.

Please visit my website at http://www.wpbphoto.com/ for more pictures.

Bar Mitzvah & Bat Mitzvah Photography in West Palm Beach - Boca Raton - Delray Beach

As noted on my homepage at http://www.wpbphoto.com/, photography is not just my job, it's something that I love to do! One of the great benefits is seeing the different cultures and traditions involved in the celebrations.

I had attended a few Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs prior to starting my photography business but I didn't really know or understand what was going on. Now that I've photographed several Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs I've obtained a great deal of knowledge on what the celebration means.