Recently I had the honor of photographing a traditional Korean first birthday celebration or dol. Alina’s party was held at a restaurant in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles. The banquet room was beautifully decorated with photos of Alina, floral arrangements, fruit, colorful cakes and desserts.
I took portraits of Alina’s family in the courtyard area adjacent to the restaurant.
The highlight of the afternoon was the toljabee celebration. Alina wore colorful clothing called dol-bok and items were placed in front of her to choose from. The items she picked are said to predict her future. Alina was attracted to the calculator, stethoscope, and a children’s book. So, will she grow up to be an accountant, doctor or author?
