What Fast Bikes Taught Me About Capturing Your Child’s Mitzvah

In the spring of 2022, I found myself in a photojournalism class at Montgomery College needing a long-term project. I spent weeks driving all over Montgomery County and DC looking for inspiration, trying to find a deeper story to document.

Then one day, while walking my dog, I watched a peloton of cyclists fly past me on MacArthur Boulevard.

In an instant, it clicked. Having spent years chasing my own two kids around with a camera, I immediately recognized the similarity: the vibrant, brightly colored gear and the relentless, unpredictable motion. I had found my muse.

The only catch? I did not know a single cyclist.

Fortunately, that has never been an obstacle for me. I am the kind of person who can walk into any room, strike up a conversation, and instantly connect with people. I figured the street could not be that different. The next day, I set up on the sidewalk, watched a group of riders speed toward me, pointed at them with a smile to let them know I was about to shoot, and pressed the shutter. I have been capturing them ever since.

So, what does photographing fast-moving athletes on MacArthur Boulevard have to do with your child’s B’nai Mitzvah?

Absolutely everything.

Great event photography is not about fading into the wallpaper; it requires a distinct personality. It demands someone who can read a room, confidently engage a crowd, and effortlessly draw out genuine reactions.

Just as I can lock eyes with a speeding cyclist I have never met and get them to flash a massive smile for my lens, I bring that exact same magnetic energy to your family's celebration. Whether I am organizing an energetic group photo on the dance floor or capturing a split-second, candid burst of laughter, my time on the pavement has trained me to anticipate the moment, connect instantly, and never miss a beat.