Lyla is a force to be reconded with! We met via zoom with her mom, Christine, eons ago, and we just hit it off. If I had a daughter, I would want her to be as fearless, self-confident, and funny as Lyla, that’s for sure. Christine assured me that Lyla would not be camera shy and knew exactly what she wanted when it came to her photos. This was great news because it makes my job so much easier, that’s for sure. So on a cold winter day in February, I headed down to Philadelphia to celebrate and capture the delightful Lyla.

I met with Lyla and her family at Temple Adath Emanuel in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, for the service. The theme of her day was peace, love, and VW buses. This was genius and a fantastic fit for Lyla’s personality. I was fortunate enough to have permission to photograph the service, which is a rare occurrence that I am always grateful for. I wish I could capture more of them live now that I have switched to a mirrorless format, which allows me to photograph in complete silent mode. It was pretty cold and snowy, but Lyla was happy to take some formals outside to sport her marabou shrug because she is just that stylish.

After the service, I headed back to Center City Philadelphia to meet Lyla’s family and friends at a party at Spin Ping Pong Club. Thanks to Christine, the mastermind behind the “Swag Gift Shop,” was stocked with all the things that celebrated her daughter. It was genius! Everyone danced, ate, and danced the night away. It was a blast. Lyla, thank you so much for trusting me on such an important day. You are indeed a force to be reckoned with.

Vendor links that made the day even more amazing are listed below.

Temple: Adath Emanuel-el Mount Laurel New Jersey

Party Venue: Spin Philadelphia

DJ and MC: All Around Entertainment

Flowers: Jamie Rothstein Floral Design

Invitations: Chick Invitations

Lyla’s “gift shop” swag: Lisa Monfried Over Your Head Custom Party Favors

Lyla’s fancy dress: Custom made at Gabrielle & G-Lizzy Bala Cynwyd

Custom sneaker - Converse and added sparkly by Lyla’s mom, Christine

Hair and Make up- Jules at Willam Robert Salon Cherry Hill