Much of my summer season is spent hustling to weddings, family portraits, and snapping shots of seniors before they head into their last year of highschool. Getting to shoot Ella’s Bat Mitzvah felt like the icing on the cake of another fantastic Sun Valley summer.

The Bat Mitzvah took place up at Sun Valley’s Round House, which is a stunning location on its own, but with gorgeous flower arrangements by Tara Bella Flowers, a beautifully constructed arbor, and lots of lovely details—the scene was jaw-dropping.

I’ve always loved the tradition of Bat Mitzvahs and Bar Mitzvahs. Every time I go to one I notice the feeling of not only tight-knit families, but also of community. I know that there are other rites of passage for kids to take part in, but something just feels extra special about this one.

I think what I love the most about the Bat Mitzvah tradition is the way it encourages kids to understand the responsibilities of becoming an adult, becoming a member of a community (both religious and wider), and the idea of being a part of a community you have to actively participate in and give back to. Kids have to create their own community projects. They need to seek guidance from their Rabbi. They need to show up and show off their skills. It isn’t just a beautiful ceremony, it’s empowering and liberating for kids who are soon to be adults.

As Asha, our oldest, moves into her first year of High School, Gurmeet and I have been thinking about this a lot - how do we help her become self-reliant? We only have four more years with her in the house before she moves on from High School and possibly this Valley that we call home. How do we find the balance of giving her space to rely on herself while still being able to keep them safe?

I’ve been bingeing books about raising teenagers, both “Untangled” and “How to Raise an Adult”. In one, the author likens parenthood to sitting by the edge of the pool while your child goes swimming. You don’t have to be in the pool, you don’t even have to be helicoptering around while they are swimming. Simply being there as a safety net is enough to let your kids venture out into the middle of the pool, knowing they can come back at any time to the safety of the side if they need it. You want to be really careful that you're not choosing their life for them, you can share your values with them and still encourage them to discover and develop their own. Both of these books have been a great help for me and I would recommend them to anyone, especially those balancing keeping their kids close while also recognizing you need to give them space to let their wings grow.

I want to send out a big thank you to Ella and her family for letting me be a part of this special occasion. Another shout out to Tara Bella Flowers for her gorgeous arrangements and decorations, Amanda Seaward for planning this fantastic event, and Sun Valley for hosting!