PhotographiC Memory Justin Bilsky’s bar mitzvah party at Pinstripes in Orange on Nov. 6, 2021. Photo / Elizabeth Glorioso Photography.
Professionals share approach for capturing the big day in pictures By Becky Raspe
O
nce the dance floor has cleared, the lights have been dimmed and family members have gone home, memories of a b’nai mitzvah are remembered through the photos taken to celebrate the occasion.
For generations to come, family members will fondly look back on the event through that photographic evidence. But how do you ensure the memories are captured in the way you want? For photographers Beth Glorioso of Elizabeth Glorioso Photography and Mariana Edelman of Mariana Edelman Photography, that journey starts with hiring a professional who knows their way around a simcha. “I make sure that there is a timeline or itinerary from a photographic point of view to capture all of the important moments,” says Glorioso, who has been a photographer for 21 years and shooting events for 15. She’s based out of Parma, but shoots events all over Northeast Ohio. “I frequently consult with all of the clients to make sure to go over the details important to them, understanding the important players – like a grandparent or a favorite aunt – and making sure they’re included in the immediate family photos.” Edelman, who has been in the business for over 12 years, says she prefers to approach her assignments like they are her own child’s. Based out of Macedonia, Edelman does most of her work in Cleveland’s eastern suburbs and her children attend the Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School in Beachwood.
14 Bar•Bat Mitzvah | Fall / Winter 2022
“It’s about capturing the moment but also harnessing timelessness. I want them to remember a story.”
Mariana Edelman
“I will be one of those moms in those shoes five years from now, so I’m very passionate about what I do,” she says. “It’s not just a headshot and it’s over and done. I care about every single detail. I am a photographer and a Jewish mom taking pictures all at once. I am not shooting to get an award – I do it to capture the happiness, emotion and expression of the day.” While it is important for the family’s needs and wishes to be understood for the photos, Glorioso says great event photography is a marriage between the client’s goals and the photographer’s personal flair. It is why a family hires a photographer, she adds. She most enjoys capturing the excitement, both before the service and ahead of the party.