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Josh's Bar Mitzvah

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Being asked to be a part of a families simcha is an honor I take very seriously, and I am grateful to once again create a slide show for Josh and family. Mazel Tov to Josh and his entire family!

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Lillian's Bat Mitzvah

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Mazel Tov Lillian! You will always be your moms little hummingbird!

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Gabe's Bar Mitzah

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As I was finalizing the slide show, Gabe’s family asked me to include a countdown to the start of the show highlighting his unique date, 04-03-21. I am so glad they did, because it was such a fun addition and creative way to celebrate Gabe. Mazel Tov Gabe!

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Karen and Daryls' 50th

blogEntryTopperKaren and Daryl’s 50 year marriage is the feel good story we all need as 2020 comes to a close. They met in seventh grade, got married at 18 and have shared a lifetime of family, friends, travel and adventure since then. Unable to host a traditional celebration, their family and friends recorded best wishes, congratulations, and words of love and those greetings were interspersed throughout the slide show. In true 2020 fashion, the party moved to zoom where the video debuted, and Karen and Daryl celebrated virtually with all of those near and dear to their heart.

Congratulations Karen and Daryl, your love story is truly inspiring!

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Risa's Bat Mitzvah


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Rias's focus for her Bat Mitzvah was spreading kindness. But for Risa, and her entire family, being kind is not just a catchphrase or cute hashtag, but something they live each and every day. Mazel Tov Risa, may your kindness continue shine bright and inspire everyone around you.
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Colleen + Alec

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The craziness of 2020 could not keep these two high school sweethearts from beginning their life together.


The Soundtrack to their rehearsal dinner slide show included:
Daughter by Louden Wainwright II
Ohh LaLa by The Faces
One Life by Ed Sheehan

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Tastes of Temple Israel

blogEntryTopperCooking for friends and family has always been a way to show love and bring comfort. I created Tastes of Temple Israel as a way for us to continue to eat, cook and be joyous together, even when forced physically apart. Please gather around our virtual Temple table, cook with us and continue spread joy through cooking.

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Olivia's Bat Mitzvah

blogEntryTopper“I wish somebody would have told me, babe
That someday, these would be the good old days”
-Good Old Days by Macklemore

Some days as parents we just can’t wait to get the next stage of our child’s life, but most of the time we look at them in wonder and think “where did the time go?” Mazel Tov to Olivia and her entire family, may all your best days be ahead of you.


The soundtrack to Olivia’s Slide Show included:
In My Life by The Beatles
Build Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations
Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles
Count On Me by Bruno Mars
Good Old Days by Macklemore
Good As Hell by Lizzo



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Sadie's Bat Mitzvah

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“You don't have to be afraid to put your dream in action.
You're never gonna fade you'll be the main attraction.
In my victory
Just remember me
When I make it Shine!"
-Shine by Victoria Justice
Mazel Tov Sadie, on beaming a Bat Mitzvah! May you continue to shine and fill the world with your light and dreams.



The soundtrack to Sadie's Bat Mitzvah slide show included:
Firework by Karie Perry
Count On Me by Bruno Mars
Make It Shine by Victoria Justice
Oath by Cher Lloyd

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Rafi's Bar Mitzvah

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This slide show has it all. Star Wars, Legos, Harry Potter, and Broadway. But in addition to all the "things" Rafi loves, it also has his heart, his humor and the joy he brings to others shining through in every photo. Mazel Tov Rafi! May you continue to find wonder in the world and spread your joy and kindness.


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Jacob and Blaine Class of 2019

blogEntryTopper"At eighteen turned my helmet in and walked to the fifty yard line
Just the coach and me after we lost state ten to nine
And I cried man next time to get in here I'll have to buy a ticket
Can't you give me five more minutes"
-Five More Minutes by Scotty McCreery

Perfect lyrics to celebrate two high school seniors, football players and friends.
Congratulations Jacob and Blaine on your graduation!

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Emmy's Bat Mitzvah

blogEntryTopper"You must be telepathic. You correctly deduced the "essence" of each photo and video. We could not be happier with the result." -Emmy's Parents

What a privilege to create a slide show for Emmy, whom I have known she was in preschool. It was a fantastically fun puzzle to combine all the videos and photos into her slide show story, and the opening segment gives a brief glimpse into how much fun the entire slide show was to create. Every parent takes a series of photos hoping one day they may be used for a Bat Mitzvah or Wedding video - and 13 years later, Emmy's family got their wish.



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Mazel Tov Ava

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"If you need something to believe in
If you're looking for a light to guide you home
Just look inside
You light a shining brighter than you know
You should know
I'm never gonna let you down"
Lyrics from Never Gonna Let You Down by Colbie Caillat



Mazel Tov Ava, on becoming a Bat Mitzvah. May you continue to be a source of light and joy!


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Lights, Camera, Alissa

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After working on Rebecca's Instaglam Bat Mitzvah slide show a few years ago, it was a pleasure to create another photo themed slide show for the Barnholtz family. Mazel Tov Alissa!



The soundtrack to Alissa's slide show included:
Perfect, by Ed Sheeran
Home, by Phillip Phillips
Best Day of My Life, by American Authors


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Naomi

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"Slow down
Won't you stay here a minute more
I know you want to walk through the door
But it's all too fast
Let's make it last a little while
I pointed to the sky and now you wanna fly
I am your biggest fan
I hope you know I am
But do you think you can somehow
Slow down"
-Slow Down by Nicole Nordeman


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Adam's Bar Mitzvah

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A huge Mazel Tov to Adam on becoming a Bar Mitzvah!



His slide show soundtrack included:
Feel It Still - Portugal. The Man
Titanium - David Guetta
Hall of Fame - The Script
Thunder - Imagine Dragons

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Mazel Tov Kate

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After creating a slide show for Kate's bother's Bar Mitzvah, I was thrilled to work with her family again and make something special for Kate. Mazel Tov Kate, on your Bat Mitzvah!


Her slide show soundtrack included:
Baby Mine - Alison Krauss
We're Going to Be Friends - The White Stripes
One Call Away - Charlie Puth
We Are - Keke Palmer


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Happy Birthday Bob!

blogEntryTopperFor Bob's 85th birthday, his family surprised him with a montage video complete with photos and video birthday greetings sent from across the land.

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Humble and Kind

blogEntryTopperAlways stay humble and kind is pretty much all the advice you ever need to hear. I love, love, love this song. You may know it as Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw, but it was actually written by Lori McKenna and performed on her latest album "The Bird & The Rifle." Both versions are beautiful, and give us important reminders about humility, patience and kindness.
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An Album 12 Years in the Making

blogEntryTopperAs it happens with most events, after Ellen and Frank received their wedding photographs, the prints sat in a box for years, waiting to be added to an album. 12 years later, Ellen contacted me to design an album she could surprise Frank with on Valentine's Day. The album had a special addition, she wanted to include custom art Frank created for the response cards that many people refused to send back because they wanted to keep them.

It was such a joy to design an album for Ellen and Frank, hear about their wedding day, and help celebrate their love. Happy Valentine's Day, and I wish you many, many more.

You can view the full album by clicking here or on the images below.

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Happy New Year

blogEntryTopper"Sometimes you never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory."


Many people mistakenly attribute this quote to Dr. Seuss. Understandable, since he has give the world a bounty of inspirational and introspective quotes, but this is not one of them.
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Dear Photograph

blogEntryTopperI have adored Dear Photograph ever since it debuted in 2011. So much, that my very first blog post was about the website. You hold up a photograph from the past in the same place it was originally taken, and take a new photograph mixing the new and the old. Since I am lucky enough to live in the house I grew up in, I am surrounded every day by a mixture of memories, nostalgia and new experiences. I live a Dear Photograph moment almost everyday.

sisters
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Flashes Of Hope - Wigs For Kids

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I am grateful and honored to serve as the St. Louis Chapter Director for Flashes of Hope. Founded in 2001 by the parents of a child with cancer, Flashes of Hope is a volunteer driven organization solely focused on children's cancer. With chapters in 55 cities, we photograph more than 50% of the children annually diagnosed in the United States.

In 2009, we began funding research and have already raised millions of dollars through our Kick-It program and other initiatives.

Inspired by the families I met at our photo shoots, I grew my hair for Wigs For Kids. It took 14 months to grow the 12 inches necessary, and I gladly chopped it all off last month.

Flashes of Hope is changing the way kids with cancer see themselves. You can change the life of a child with cancer. Donate now at
flashesofhope.org

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Songs about Babies and Children

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As the saying goes, it's the longest shortest time. Kids make us laugh, they make us cry, and above all else, they remind us there is always beauty and kindness in the world. The full Spotify playlist is at the bottom of the blog.

Baby Mine - Alsion Krauss

Baby mine / Don't you cry / Baby mine / Dry your eyes / Rest your head close to my heart / Never to part / Baby of mine


Barefoot Children - Jimmy Buffet

Barefoot children in the rain / Got no need to explain / We'd be swingin' on a ball and chain / It's always understood by those who play the game / barefoot children in the rain


Home - Phillip Phillips
Settle down, it'll all be clear / Don't pay no mind to the demons / They fill you with fear / The trouble it might drag you down / If you get lost, you can always be found / Just no you're not alone / Cause I'm going to make this place your home
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There Are No Bad Pictures

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Fun fact of the day: This quote is often attributed to Abraham Lincoln. I am skeptical, since they were called daguerreotypes, not photographs or pictures during the 1800's. However, the sentiment remains the same. Stop scrolling and saving only the perfect shots, and preserve all the memories of our beautiful but imperfect lives.

Want another famous Lincoln quote? "The problem with internet quotes is that you can't always depend on their accuracy."
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Sara and Lucas Get Married

Throughout the wedding planning process, Lucas told his mother the only thing he really wanted was a slide show. Such a small request, and yet, it says so much about the bride and groom. Here's to keeping things simple, and focusing on what truly matters most during a wedding, the couples love for each other. Sara and Lucas celebrated their love with a slide show featuring photos from their many celebrations, vacations and years together.

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Flashes of Hope STL

Flashes of Hope is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating powerful, uplifting portraits of children fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. We turn the hospital into a full service photo studio, bringing lights, backdrops, make-up artists and a much needed change of pace for the families. As volunteer chapter director for Flashes of Hope - St. Louis I am truly honored to have had a small part in photographing over 1,200 children since the chapter was founded in 2010.




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Christmas in the Desert

blogEntryTopperIt's the most wonderful time of the year. A ShutterflyTM album filled with magical moments, glittering lights and fireside fun for the whole family! You can view the full album here.

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Happy New Year

Wishing you all the best in 2016!


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#OregonTrail Album Design

So many photos, so little time! If your phone and hard drive are overflowing with photos that you just don't want to deal with, a Shutterbug Stories Tradition Album is your answer. You pick the photos, I layout your story, and Shutterfly (TM) prints the album.

#OregonTrail is the story of one family's journey across America. Driving from DC to Oregon in 82 days, 10 states, and an enormous amount of potty breaks, Michael and Cathy had the summer road trip of a lifetime. blogEntryTopper Read More...
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Introducing A New Website

When I designed my website 5 years ago, responsive design (building a website that can be viewed easily on any platform) was talked about, but very new. While laying out my site I deliberately ignored phones and tablets, deciding anyone who wanted to view my website could go to a desktop. Devices were new and fun and shiny, but everyone had a computer at work or home they could go to.
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International Day of the Girl - Songs from the First Lady

In honor of the United Nations International Day of the Girl First Lady Michelle Obama released a playlist filled wit inspiring songs she says "every woman - young or old - will love." Great slide show songs to celebrate the strong, confident and independent women in your life.

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The Brown Sisters by Nicholas Nixon

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Every year since 1975 photographer Nicholas Nixon has photographed his wife and her three sisters. Always in the same order, always with the same camera, and the sisters together agree on the final image each year. The St. Louis Art Museum is currently hosting a free exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of the project, and it is amazing.

"Being an only child, it was really gratifying and lovely to be embraced by this family. There's still a ground water of affection, and support. I look back at these thirty-some pictures and it's like they're of my sisters. I can feel myself getting old with them. And I'm part of them; they're part of my love." -Nicholas Nixon

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Make

Make memories, make believe, make your mark, make 2014 your year to shine!

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Let's Celebrate

Milestone events are a cause for celebration, and Mimi and Don's family have much to celebrate! This montage was created for Mimi and Don's 65th wedding anniversary, Mimi's 85th, birthday and Don's 90th birthday. Congratulations Mimi and Don on a lifetime of celebrations!


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The Schlapper Family Reunion

Coming from a family of 9 sisters and 2 brothers, the Schlapper family had much to celebrate as they gathered for their family reunion. It was a joy to see the family history take shape through old family photographs, beginning with the family farmhouse and continuing through today, with many milestone birthdays, anniversaries and celebrations in between.




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Beth and Michael Get Married

Beth and Michael became husband and wife in an elegant ceremony surrounded by people who love them. As a couple, they have a wonderful combination of grace, good humor and devotion. Their rehearsal dinner slide show highlighted all of these qualities, by beginning with classic engagement photos, and sprinkling in a bit a fun throughout the show.



No celebration of Beth and Michael could be complete without their beloved dog Daisy, so the slide show ended with a recreation of "The Simpsons" couch gag, complete with caricatures of Michael, Beth, and of course Daisy. Lets raise a can of Duff's to toast the happy couple as they begin their life together.


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The wedding of Lori and Lee

There is a tradition in Judaism to plant a tree when a child is born - cypress for a girl, cedar for a boy - and use the branches of each to make the chuppah (wedding canopy) upon their marriage. The Rabbis told this story under Lori and Lee's chuppah, and reminded us all about the glory of tradition, the strength of love, and the beauty that comes from blending branches. Mazel tov to Lori and Lee!

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Myra's 104th Birthday

Creating a video to honor a woman turning 104 is truly amazing, and when that woman is also your grandmother, it is magical. Last weekend, my family gathered to celebrate my grandmother's 104th birthday. Mother of three boys, grandmother to seven, and great-grandmother of ten (with one more on the way) she still lives on her own, has never used a computer, and fills every room she enters with her enormous personality.



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Jimmy's 95th Birthday

Goody, Pvt. James G. Davis, Uncle Jimmy, Poppy Joe. There is no shortage of nicknames for Jimmy, and his family reminisced about them all as he celebrated his 95th birthday this weekend. A man full of energy and fun, not even a snow storm that shut down the Midwest could stop his family from gathering to toast this family patriarch. Happy 95th birthday Jimmy, and surfs up!

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Today You are You

Live life, laugh lots and love yourself. Happy Valentines Day.
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The Mom Stays in the Picture

Take a moment to flip through your photos from 2012. You have birthday photos, vacation photos, a great shot of the family pet. But where are you? How many photos did it take until you found one of you? I am especially guilty of this. I take pictures of my kids all the time, but it is a rare moment when I hand the camera off to someone else and take a photo with them. Read More...
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The Zeldin Family

The Zeldin family gave the gift of memories this holiday season. Instead of framed photos for all the grandparents, this year the Zeldin's gave a dvd slide show of the grandchildren growing up, a gift guaranteed to bring smiles and laughter to every grandparent.

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Shop Local this Holiday Season

This holiday season, take a moment to think about where you are shopping and spending your money. Choose three independently owned businesses you would miss most if they were gone, stop in, get to know them, and make a purchase. The 3/50 Project encourages supporting local brick and mortar stores by spending $50 each month in an independently owned business.

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L'Dor V'Dor - From Generation to Generation

Congregation Temple Israel celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. As a 6th generation congregant, and member of one of the founding families, I created Temple's retrospective with both pride and reverence for our history.
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Songs for the Graduation Season

Graduation season is upon us. Here are some songs to get you in the mood for new beginnings and old friends.

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Photographing the Past - Welcome to my Blog

Take a picture of a picture from the past in the present might sound complicated, but it is the simple idea behind Dear Photograph. Who knew such a simple concept could produce such emotional and elegant imagery? Read More...
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