Michelle and Avi: A Million Reasons

There are a million reasons why I love photography. I love meeting new people and photography is a great way to do it. I love the helpful community of photographers I have found who are generous and willing to share knowledge. I love seeing a photograph that brings me to another place or time. I love seeing a photograph that I took and being able to relive the way I felt when I took it. There are a million reasons, but the number one reason is I love working with couples like Michelle and Avi.

I met Michelle at a hockey game in high school, and we were inseparable from that day on. She went to Longmeadow High, I went to West Springfield, but we became close friends and have managed to stay in touch through some pretty crazy distances (hey Israel) and some pretty crazy ex-boyfriends. She has been living in Tel Aviv for the past few years, but has been back in New York since January with her boyfriend Avi. They are moving back to Tel Aviv in June, so I went to New York to visit her and meet Avi this past weekend. And I learned there are a million reasons why Michelle loves Avi.

It started when I got to the apartment they were house-sitting at for the week. Avi was out when I first arrived, but as soon as he stepped through the door he gave me a hug and offered me a drink. I saw Michelle’s eyes light up. “You know why I love him? Because he’s so sweet!” Fast forward to dinner that night, as Avi gave her bites of his burger. “You know why I love him? He always gives me the good bites!” Fast forward to winding down in the apartment in the wee hours of Sunday morning. “You know why I love him? He puts the toothpaste on my toothbrush before I even get into the bathroom!”

And throughout the weekend, I came up with a million reasons to love Avi. He carried my huge shopping bag when I got a little too Coach-happy and bought 4 bags on Canal Street. He chased down a woman in the subway who had dropped her umbrella to give it back to her. He helped save me from a Stage 5 Clinger at the Joshua Tree who wouldn’t stop trying to dance with me. He opened doors, he held elevators, he carried my camera bag, he took picture after picture of me and Michelle. But the number one reason I loved Avi? Because he loves Michelle, so simply, so effortlessly, so beautifully that it literally took my breath away. I have never seen my friend so happy, and I could not be happier for her.

Michelle and Avi wanted a few pictures of them in NYC before they return to Israel, and clearly I was happy to oblige. They quickly learned when you ask me for a “few pictures” it becomes an all out project and I had them trekking through New York to get some shots :) But we had a great time, ate some great food, and managed to make it to Lion King on time! It was a great weekend, and I hope they like these pictures. Michelle and Avi, keep finding millions of reasons to love each other, and you will keep being as happy as you are today. Love you!

I started with these two pictures because they fit perfectly with the theme of this post, and I think they're my favorite from the day. We stumbled onto this huge wall advertisement listing all the reasons New Yorkers loved the city. It was perfect, especially for Michelle, who is obsessed with NYC!