YP Life

There we were, on a roof deck bar on the 24th floor of a Manhattan hotel. The view of the city was absolutely stunning. It was the first time in years that I felt this kind of awe for the City. We were surrounded by friends. The weather was perfect and Robert and I just spent the afternoon admiring an incredible art exhibit. For the first time in years, I thought Wow, I totally get you New York.

When I was a Sophomore in college I was convinced I was a New Yorker at heart. I thought it was the only city worth living in and I could not wait to graduate from Maryland, move to Brooklyn (or Queens) and take the world by storm. I mean, the bagels and lox alone is reason enough right?

“So apparently there is a huge power outage that hit over 45000 people just a little north of here.” Ryan said as he read his news alert off of his phone.

No one seemed too concerned. The music was going. The drinks were flowing. We were totally content watching the sun go down, chatting and witnessing half of the city completely dark. It felt like nothing could touch us.

But then, all at once, the music stopped, the lights turned off, and we were sitting in darkness ourselves. The power outage finally hit our little bar oasis.

“So time to go, right?” Robert turned to me and smiled.

“Definitely!”

Robert grabbed my hand and we ran down the 24 flights of stairs, down to the street and headed to the parking garage. As we walked through the darkness, I was shocked. I felt giddy instead of overwhelmed. Maybe it had to do with the fact that I knew Philadelphia had power and as soon as we got to our car, we would be headed home. Maybe it had to do with the fact that I was with Robert and there is no one else I would rather spend a power outage with. And maybe it had to do with the way the darkness seemed to bring New York together and everyone was lending a helping hand. Or maybe it was a combination of all three… whatever the reason is, I found myself thinking again, I totally get you New York.

As you may know, I am on the quest to find the perfect protein shake! I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I have picked up a protein shake, read the nutritional value, putting it right back and walking away appalled with how much added sugar and unnecessary processed ingredient are included. That’s why, I have made it my goal to find the perfect protein shake!

Thank you, thank you, thank you Tova for sending me this incredible recipe!!

Tova Eastman is one of the coolest people I know. She has the biggest heart and sweetest soul. You can see it in everything she does. Tova and Ignite Fitness are devoted to helping moms feel stronger, feel better and feel more confident. It is truly amazing to witness her and her clients success! That is why when I decided to start my quest for the perfect protein shake, she was the first person I asked!

Tova’s Recipe:

2.5 frozen bananas
6 large ice cubes
16 whole almonds
1.5 tsp pure almond butter
3 tsp vanilla extract
1-2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups milk (or almond milk)
2 tsp chia seeds
2 tsp flax seeds

Bonus: I added a handful of Spinach to give it a little extra something : )

Have a protein shake you swear by?! I would love to try it!! Email me at yael@yael.photos with the recipe!

“I just stopped eating meat” Lisa said holding up a piece of my hair to assess as I sat in front of her in her salon chair. “One day. I just stopped and I never looked back.”

“I’ve been the same way with dairy. Haven’t touched the stuff in years.” I responded. A few minutes later, we were done, my hair was looking way healthier and I was on my way but her comment and her lifestyle stuck with me.

It’s funny how that happens, a short conversation, a few exchanges of words with a complete stranger can make a huge impact. Maybe I’ve been subconsciously contemplating this for awhile, maybe hearing how easy it was and how better she feels was just a small push in the right direction, whatever the reason was, I found myself googling Pescatarian Diets at 2am that night and if I am going to be completely honest, I loved everything I was seeing.

Better for the environment, check, against animal cruelty, check, tons and tons of health benefits, check. Everything I read just furthered my desire to go cold turkey (no pun intended) and start my Pescatarian Diet right away and that my friends, is exactly what I did.

That night, after my late night googling session, I decided to give this Pescatarian lifestyle a real chance. I don’t know if it is a life long change or just a fun, healthy experiment, but I decided to go pescatarian for 30 days. To me, a month seemed like a great place to start, no pressure, no real commitment, but a chance to live a cleaner, healthier and fresher lifestyle.

It’s been seven days. Seven days with just vegetables, fruits and fish. I thought it would be harder. I thought my body would crave the things it is now lacking, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I feel energized. My runs are easier, my sleep is deeper and I wake up feeling fresh and ready to go. Seven days down, twenty three to go, or maybe, just maybe this month will change my lifestyle forever.

I had an ice bandage wrapped around my right hand. How did I let this happen? How did I burn myself the morning of my first day of photography school! I was sitting on the passenger side of my new roommates car. Amanda was so poised and so ready to take on the world and here I was, icing my right hand, praying that it wouldn’t blister over too much. It was just so typical Yael.

As Amanda started telling me about her kickball team, I looked out the window, taking in my surroundings. OMG. Where the heck am I? It finally hit me. I was living in New England. The part of the county where Dunkin Donuts was beloved and the Patriots were a way of life. I am actually here. I was in complete awe. It was the first time I had ever been to New England, well, besides the one time I went to Boston with my Jewish sleep away camp, but if you ask me, that doesn’t really count.

I couldn’t believe it. I mean, yes, I had been talking about moving to Western Mass for months. I knew I was doing it. I packed my bags, I said my goodbyes, I left the friends and the roommates that I adored and loved, but, I was ACTUALLY here. I was really doing it. Was I really doing this??

“And we are here!” Amanda said cheerfully. I guess I was doing this…

She made a right turn into the long parking lot of Hallmark Institute of Photography. I took a deep breath in. Am I going to make friends? We saw the welcome balloons as we drove closer to the front of the building. Am I crazy for doing this? We saw the staff smiling at us as they waved. Am I going to be any good? Amanda and I climbed out of the car, I looked down at my burnt hand. Took another deep breath in and headed towards the front door.

The second we passed through the doors, I felt an energy that I’ve never felt before. I felt an excitement that was so deep and so right that my throbbing hand was a thing of the past. I was a photography student now and nothing was going to hold me back.

“And what’s your name?” a bald fellow said as he looked right at me. He was clearly on staff and had a kindness to him that I admired instantly.

“I’m Yael.” and I reached out to shake his hand… with my non-blistering, non-burnt hand of course.

“I’m Tony. Welcome to Hallmark Institute of Photography!”

I felt my entire face smile. I was here. I was finally here and I was so unbelievably ready!

to be continued…

Missed Part I? Check it out here: “How it all Began Part I”

Need to catch up on Part II? “How it all Began Part II”

Want to read Part III?: Check it out here: “How it all Began Part III”

Robert looked confused… He was sitting across from me at Gryphon Coffee when I opened this fancy box and pulled out a pair of beautiful pink wide framed glasses.

“Why do you have glasses?!” he asked. I smiled and slid them on to my face.

“How do I look!?” I responded as I posed across from him.

At six years old, all I wanted to do was be just like my big sister in every way. So, when my mom brought her home a pair of glasses, wearing glasses became a dream of mine… at six year old. A decade later, it was my biggest fear, and now another 10 years later, I am waiting for the day my eyesight gets fuzzy and I’m going to take the plunge and buy myself a pair of real glasses.

As a photographer, I log more hours behind screens than I care to admit. I’m either sitting behind my computer, trying not to slouch, smiling as I stare at my phone responding to Instagram comments or even looking at the preview screen on the back of my camera… I am always behind screens and I am horrified to think of what the blue light is doing to my eyes and should I mention how it’s affecting my sleep!?

That’s why, when I stumbled upon Klassy Glasses, anti-blue light lenses, I was totally sold. I mean, I’m not one to impulsively buy, but when I clicked the Klassy link, I couldn’t get to the checkout page soon enough. I literally could not resist. Being a photographer, and a human, my eyes are pretty damn important and I want to do everything I can to keep from harming them.

Five days later they arrived and I was giddier than a school girl eating an ice cream cone. I love my Klassy glasses, they work like a charm. They work so well that you can 100% see the color temperature change when you look at your computer and phone. The screens are just warmer. Your eyes are less strained and you can stare at a screen way longer with Klassy Glasses on. For most humans, this is amazing, for a photographer who is constantly adjusting the color temperature of her photos, not so ideal.

On the YPP Scale of Awesomeness, I would give Klassy Glasses a 7 out of 10. They are effective, helpful, relatively well priced and adorably stylish. The only issue is that I can’t use them for the bulk of my screen work, processing photos. And let’s be real, I spend a ton of time processing photos!

For now, my Klassy glasses will always be with me, I will wear them proudly as I blog, respond to emails, post and work on my invoices. Yet, as soon as the photo processing begins, those bad boys are coming off. Because, as I say, “anything for the photo!”

It’s 4am. The bags are all packed and waiting downstairs. I woke up about a half hour ago and I am way too giddy to even attempt to go back to sleep. The entire street is quite and dark. The ceiling fan is slowly turning above me and it feels like I have been waiting for this day for centuries.

Today, Robert and I go to Israel. Today, we board an El Al plane, turn our music on and sit there as time creeps by as we fly the 6,000 miles to Israel.

Israel. The land of milk and honey. The land of my people. The place that has always been home to me, my family and my heritage. There is nothing like the feeling of going to Israel. There is nothing like the feeling of knowing when you land, everyone will understand our rush to get to my sister’s house before Shabbat (Sabbath) begins. There is nothing like the feeling of knowing that I won’t have to pronounce my name two times, spell it and then explain “It’s Hebrew. I’m Jewish.” And there is nothing like the feeling of knowing you belong. No matter what, you belong in this country, with these people and in this land.

The land that we fought hard for. The land we continue to fight for. The land that may not be perfect, but it is ours and we love it all the same.

It has been eight years since both Robert and I have been in Israel. How crazy is that? Almost an entire decade! The last time I was in Israel I was 19 years old, the entire country was obsessed with “How I Met your Mother” and BlackBerry was totally a thing. Now, eight years later, I am finally going back! I finally get to see how much the country I love more than any other (sorry America) has changed, developed and grown.

So as I sit here, at 4am, not only day dreaming about hugging my nieces and nephews for the first time this year or even just being in the same country as my two sisters, I daydream about the incredible feeling it is to be going home to Israel.

Can I tell you something?

I don’t watch Game of Thrones. I probably shouldn’t admit it, but I just couldn’t get into it when it first aired. Maybe it’s because it came out when I was living in Israel before Netflix and Video Prime were a real thing. Maybe it’s because I have a hard time paying attention to anything (besides photography and my nieces and nephews, of course) for more than like ten minutes at a time. Or maybe it’s because I am fiercely loyal to the fanciful Harry Potter World and have no room in my heart for any other magical universe (which might actually make me a Hufflepuff).

Who really knows what the real reason is but what I do know is that Robert refuses to watch Game of Thrones with me. I don’t even begin to understand any of the references or MEMEs and I have received a ton of blank stares when I admit to others that “I actually don’t watch GOT.” I think I’ve turned on the first episode twenty times and have pretended to pay attention to at least a dozen other ones, but nothing sticks and you know what, I am totally ok with it.

According to The Times, Game of the Thrones is literally the most popular show in the world, EVER. I mean ever, and I am completely sure I couldn’t tell you the first thing about any of the characters.

Robert sometimes jokes around about how I am in a photography bubble and this might be his proof!

It’s like I am in my own little club. When all of my friends are watching Game of Thrones on Sunday night, I get an extra hour or two to read, listen to my podcasts or get some really great editing done. When everyone else talks about the latest episode the next day, I smile, nod and day dream about what productive thing I want to get done this week! I usually hate being clueless, but when it comes to this, I am totally ok with it.

I know it is supposed to be an amazing series. I know that the graphics are incredible and the storyline is on a whole other level. Yet, I am still one hundred percent fine with being in the dark with this one. Maybe that’s my true Hufflepuff colors showing, or maybe I am just the one of the few people in 170 countries who would rather work than watch Game of Thrones.

One thing is for sure, in a couple weeks when the series officially ends, I still will have no input. I still will smile and nod and I still will be very cool with it.

For all those lovely people out there who love their Game of Thrones, I hope the last two episodes are even better and unexpected as you want them to be. I apologize for not understanding the pain or excitement you feel, but this Sunday, I am super thrilled to finish editing my latest engagement session!

Happy watching my friends!

“You look like you are struggling” Robert said as he watched me grab a water glass from the cabinet Monday morning. I turned around and gave him a blank stare. It took me a second to register what he was saying.

“Oh, I have a wedding hang over” I said matter of factly with my eyes half closed but a huge smile on my face. I ran over to my computer, which, if I am being totally honest was probably more of a slow walk than an actual run.

“Look!” I said as I pointed. “Doesn’t she look incredible!”

Robert let out a soft chuckle and shook his head at me. I am sure I sounded and looked like I consumed massive quantities of alcohol the night before, but in reality, it comes with the territory of being a wedding vender. It was the lack of water that was making me turtle like. I never remember to drink enough water! I am so consumed by photography, love and making my clients as happy as possible, that water is a complete after thought.

Even though my body was hating me, my mind and heart were still gushing over the love that I captured the day before. Robert gave me one more concerned yet, amused look “Make sure you nap today” he said and with that he hugged me goodbye and walked out the door.

I appreciated Robert’s attempt but I clearly did not plan on napping. I had too many photos to look at. Too many memories to swoon over. I am a wedding photographer for crying out! This is what I do and this is what I love! So, as I made my way back to my computer to select ten sneak peek photos to send to the latest YP newlyweds, I ignored my aching muscles and sore neck and just reminded myself to drink more water.

My 2019 wedding season has officially began and I could not be more excited and proud. No matter how hard it is to move, how busy my weeks get or how many times Robert tells me to “go nap,” I couldn’t imagine doing or wanting to do anything else with my life, aching muscles an all…

September 2015

“ROBERT!” I shouted into the phone “The closest Starbucks is 37 minutes away!” It was my first day living in Western Massachusetts and I was appalled! How was I, the queen of the Dirty Chai Latte, going to make it through the entire 10 months of Photography School without a Starbucks right around the corner. Starbucks was my go-to, my happy place. It was consistently delicious and always overpriced. What was I going to do!?

“Well, is there any other cafes around?” Rob asked as I paced around my new bedroom.

“Only Dunkin Donuts and I refuse to settle for Dunkin!” I explained. I was seriously in awe. I knew it was a small town. I knew there wasn’t going to be a ton around, but how was I going to survive without my Starbucks Coffee!

I was 23 years old and it was the first time I lived above the Mavis Dixon line in America. As much as I hate to admit it, it was a culture shock. The highways were different. The stores were different. Even the way people drank their coffee was different! It was the first time I actually understood what “America Runs on Dunkin” meant and I didn’t know exactly how I felt about it. As I babbled on the phone to Robert, I realized, I had two options. (1) Get on the Dunkin Bandwagon and get use to asking for a large coffee with X amount of sugar packets in it, or (2) become a tea drinker… I became a tea drinker.

Passover 2019

I don’t think I have ever seen a cup of coffee brewed or poured in the Pachino Family House. So, it didn’t even phase me when Robert and I arrived in Baltimore for Passover and there was absolutely no coffee in the house. Five years ago, I would have been horrified! I would have done everything in my power to make sure there was at least two cups of coffee waiting for me in the morning. Now, thank you to those crazy 10 months in New England, I have grown. I no longer need a cup of coffee to get through the day. Now coffee is a pleasure instead of a necessity. Now, I can go weeks, even months, without a cup of coffee and I have to tell you guys, I have never felt so great and fresh!

As Robert and I stopped for his coffee on the way back from Baltimore, I couldn’t help but think back on the first day I lived in Western Massachusetts. It is amazing how much one adapts and evolves over time. It is amazing how much one can grow. A

Guys, I am lucky. As a small business owner, I don’t have the normal 9 – 5 schedule. I don’t have to be in a certain place for 40 hours a week. I don’t have to count my vacation days or call in when I’m sick. It is up to me to fit it all in, stay on task and never miss a deadline.

I like to consider my schedule flexible, yet consistent. That is why, all winter long, I had strived to get to City Fitness six times a week and always in the morning. It was great! I never had to wait for a bench. My favorite cardio machines were always available and all the dead lifting platforms were free. The gym was essentially empty, mine and one of my favorite places to be!

But winter has come and gone, the weather is nicer and the outdoor photography sessions are being booked one on top of the other! Being busy with what you love is the goal isn’t it?! It is a beautiful thing and I wouldn’t want it any other way!

So, when I found myself at the gym at 6:30pm, I was shocked. It was buzzing with people. As I waited my turn to use the Smith Machine, I didn’t let it frustrate me, (even though I am Type A through and through)! I actually took it as a win! I had spent that entire morning outside taking photos in the best city with the best clients! My afternoon was filled with coffee consultations and phone check-ins. If waiting for a machine at the gym was the worst thing of the day, I am insanely lucky. As I sat down on the Lateral Pull bench to work in an extra set or two, I kept my eyes on the Smith Machine and smiled.

Always keep your eyes on the prize. Never give up your goals. Go after your dreams and do it all!