I had the pleasure of photographing Katie’s bat mitzvah at the end of 2012 (yes, that’s where the belated posting part comes in…) We met for a portrait session at her synagogue Shaare Torah in Gaithersburg, Maryland and even though it was a chilly November afternoon Katie was a trooper outside in her adorable polka dot dress and fabulous heels. Her personality came shining through in those portraits and when I saw her next at her party surrounded by her friends and family. The party at the Washingtonian Center Marriott in Gaithersburg had a Shrek theme, lots of crazy dancing and emotional candle lighting a crazy Hora where the whole family went up on chairs.

Stay tuned for Lena’s bat mitzvah post (Belated Part Two) coming on Tuesday!