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Monday, December 22, 2008

Top Ten Bar/Bat Mitzvah Photos of the Year

It's that end of the year, recap time again. Top Ten Movies! Top Ten CDs! Top Ten TV shows!
And, as always, Graham & Graham's Top Ten Bar/Bat Mitzvah photos of 2008.
This was our best year ever, with more events, more new locales, and new ways of looking at the art of Bar/Bat Mitzvah photography.
In first place, we begin with Dimitri @ Leo Baeck Temple.
Bar Mitzvah Photographer | Graham & Graham
Sam Graham and Dimitri pushed the limits at a Bar Mitzvah/family portrait shoot, and (with further assist from Photoshop) came up with a memorable, iconic image that we used as this year's holiday card.
Samantha @ Wilshire Boulevard Temple' s Irmas campus.
Bat Mitzvah Photography by Graham & Graham
Shortly before her Saturday morning Bat Mitzvah, we brought Samantha to the front door of the temple sanctuary, and made use of the natural light for a soft light portrait. It was made all the nicer for us with her comfy lean against the door. Against the torahs in the background, it just makes this a definitive Bat Mitzvah portrait. And you should hear the girl sing !

Lana @ Manhattan Beach's Congregation Tikvat Jacob Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah Photography by Graham & Graham
We've photographed at CTJ, our local hometown temple more than any other Los Angeles shul, but have never gotten a shot like this! In November we attended an incredible photo seminar by Doug Gordon, who encourages shooting portraits with little video lights instead of flash units. The idea is you'll get softer, less harsh light. We've been experimenting with video lights since, especially at CTJ, and love what we see, but this is our favorite.
We put the video light into an umbrella, turned off all the lights in the sanctuary, and this is what we got, a moody, reflective shot.

Sam @ Long Beach Renaissance Hotel

Long Beach Bar Mitzvah | Renaissance Hotel
Okay, this photo is not arty, but it is THE iconic Bar/Bat Mitzvah party shot, and for good reason. Who can ever tire of seeing a kid up in a chair, hoisted by his parents and friends, having an absolute blast? The confetti just makes it that much better.
Sam had his Bar Mitzvah at the Long Beach Temple Israel. It was our first time there, and we look forward to returning in February for Emily's Bat Mitzvah.

Thomas @ Santa Monica's Beth Shir Sholom


Santa Monica Bar Mitzvah Photographer

Another classic, iconic shot we can never get enough of--Bar Mitzvah boy reading from the Torah, in a beautiful temple, dressed to the nines, with his talit refelecting in the glass.
Tyler @ CTJ in Manhattan Beach.
Congregation Tikvat Jacob Bar Mitzvah
This shoot was special for a number of reasons. Manhattan Beach's CTJ is a conservative temple with strict, no-photography-during-services rules. Tyler is a special needs child who is autistic and doesn't use a lot of words. He had an afternoon service, which ended after sundown, so for the first time, at our pleading, CTJ let us document part of the service. We were honored to be there for this historic occasion. And so was Tyler, who seemed just absolutely thrilled with every moment of the big day. His enthusiasm was infectious on everyone.
Alex @ Temple Menorah of Redondo Beach

Temple Menorah Bat Mitzvah by Graham & Graham Photography
Redondo Beach's Temple Menorah is a large, beautiful building near Torrance, and it can be really dark inside, even with the lights we bring to photograph our portraits. This was our second time shooting at Menorah, and it was really, really hot inside this day. So after about a half-hour, we opened a side door to let some air in--and look at what came with it--beautiful, soft daylight. We brought Alex to the door with the torah, and let the natural light shine on her face. We loved the results so much, now we always look for the side door at all our temples!
Andy @ Orange County's Temple Beth Shalom 
Orange County Bar Mitzvah
Bar Mitzvah boy in front of torahs, with our favorite Canon 70mm-200mm 2.8 lens. It's a classic, made all the better this day thanks to Andy's orange hair, juxtaposed against the orange hue of the torahs. This was our fifth shoot at our favorite Orange County shul, Temple Beth Shalom , and we look forward to returning in 2009.
Brandon @ Camp Hess Kramer
Wilshire Boulevard Temple Bar Mitzvah | Camp Hess Kramer
Look, we traveled to Israel to photograph a Bar Mitzvah!
Not quite, but it sure looks like it. 
Brandon and his family spent the weekend at Wilshire Boulevard Temple's Camp Hess Kramer in Malibu, where he went to the torah in the rustic chapel in the woods, and then partied in a big tent below. 
It was an overcast day, so for this image, we put a flash unit on a light stand, bounced into an umbrella, to help the image pop. 

Alex @ Temple Shalom of the South Bay, Manhattan Beach Marriott.
Manhattan Beach Bar Mitzvah | Temple Shalom of the South Bay
Who can beat an outdoor ceremony on a beautiful September day overlooking a lush green golf course? That's Alex at the Bima, with smiling Rabbi Lori from Hermosa Beach's Temple Shalom of the South Bay looking on. Temple Shalom travels to different venues each weekend for its B'nai Mitzvahs, and Alex's mom choose the wonderful Manhattan Beach Marriott (we're biased--it's five blocks from our home) for the event. On this day, with Alex singing up there, and smiling so, with the greenery of the trees and grass a magnificent backdrop, the M.B. Marriott never looked finer.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Manhattan Beach Bat Mitzvah | Congregation Tikvat Jacob

Manhattan Beach Bat Mitzvah
Manhattan Beach Bat Mitzvah Photography
Congregation Tikvat Jacob Manhattan Beach

Laura had her Bat Mitzvah last weekend at our hometown temple, Manhattan Beach's Congregation Tikvat Jacob, and we were thrilled to take part. We tried a new lighting technique that we picked up at a photo seminar by photographer Doug Gordon. Portraits via the video light, for a softer look and more balanced background. We threw the light into an umbrella and bounced it--how do you like it? All three shots here are via the video light. On the third image, Laura is seen with CTJ's cantor Ken Jaffe.

Long Beach Bar Mitzvah | Temple Israel | Renaissance Hotel

Bar Mitzvah Photography by Graham & Graham
Long Beach Bar Mitzvah | Renaissance Hotel

We had the good fortune of photographing and videotaping our first Bar Mitzvah at Long Beach's Temple Israel on Saturday. Sam, seen posing in the Temple Israel lobby before he was called to the Torah, celebrated afterwards at the Renaissance Hotel in Long Beach. DJ services provided by Time of Your Life, which offered us immense assistance by dropping the confetti during Sam's Hora. We love this shot!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Samantha's Beverly Hills Bat Mitzvah Party | BatMitzvahPhotographer.com



Here's more! Samantha's high-energy Bat Mitzvah party, from the Beverly Hills Country Club, a video montage by http://www.grahamandgrahamphotography.com. Breakdancing and fun DJ services provided by Randy and the gang at http://www.realgeniusdjs.com

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Wilshire Boulevard Temple Bat Mitzvah | Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah Photographer

Bat Mitzvah Photography by Graham & Graham
Wilshire Boulevard Temple | Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah
Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Irmas Campus
Wilshire Boulevard Temple Bat Mitzvah
Bat Mitzvah Photographer | Wilshire Boulevard Temple
Bat Mitzvah Photographer | Graham & Graham Photography
We returned to Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Irmas Campus, Saturday to document the Bat Mitzvah of the lovely Samantha. Few facilities we know of are this dramatic. Love that blue backdrop! And the purple dress!
Afterwards, the party was held at the Beverly Hills Country Club, with a high-energy dance set by Randy and his team of amazing dancers from Real Genius Entertainment. We'll post pix from the party later in the week.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Tyler's Bar Mitzvah | Congregation Tikvat Jacob | Manhattan Beach

Congregation Tikvat Jacob Bar Mitzvah
Congregation Tikvat Jacob in Manhattan Beach is a conservative synagogue, and as such, has strict policies about photography. Specially, no pictures on Saturday, during Shabbat. But on Saturday, Tyler's Bar Mitzvah was an afternoon event, ending after sundown, so Rabbi Mark Hyman agreed to let us take a few shots--at the tail end, once the Havdalah ceremony began. So here it is folks--history in the making--the first shots we know of, ever taken at CTJ, during a service.

Rabbi Mark read a wonderful poem by Danny Siegel for Tyler, who is autistic, and we'd like to share it with you here:


"I am not some developmentally delayed creature today.

Today I am a full-grown Jew.

Do not reach for your Kleenex;

be no more moved to joy for my Bar Mitzvah moment

than for anybody else's with a quicker mind.

There is nothing special about me today.

I came of age.

I recited my blessings.

I joined the congregation.

It is all natural,

though I would not have known this

without my teachers' and my parents' help.



Expect no less of me than of yourselves,

and no more.

My genes specialize in open love and kindness.

For this, do not admire me from a distance.

Do not wish another chromosome for yourself.

All is not beautiful,

even to me,

but it is more beautiful than you allow yourselves to see.

This face, distinct and smiling, feels pain,

but I can manage.

You, with your own, do the same."

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Torrance Bat Mitzvah Party | Doubletree Hotel



Part 2 of our video highlights from Alexandra's Temple Menorah Bat Mitzvah. This one takes us to her rocking party at the Doubletree Hotel in Torrance, for a three minute highlight reel. Enjoy!

Sunday, November 09, 2008

Redondo Beach Bat Mitzvah Video | Temple Menorah



Here's a fun little video highlight from Alexandra's recent Bat Mitzvah at Temple Menorah of Redondo Beach. Conor Morris produced this for us and did a fabulous job.

El Segundo Bar Mitzvah Bash | Automobile Driving Museum

Bar Mitzvah Celebration | Automobile Driving Museum 


Automobile Driving Museum El Segundo 



Bar Mitzvah @ Automobile Driving Museum 
Automobile Driving Museum | Bar Mitzvah Party

Bar Mitzvah Photography by Graham & Graham

 



We had a blast at our first Bar Mitzvah party at El Segundo's Automobile Driving Museum. Justin celebrated his simcha there, surrounded by over 75 classic cars from all vintages, authentic diner food (burgers, shakes, etc.) and a magnificent auto theme provided by master event planner Nina Bracker Events. The museum is a little hidden gem off Mariposa. Stop in and check it out!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Temple Beth Sholom Bar Mitzvah | Orange County Bar Mitzvah

Orange County Bar Mitzvah Photography
Orange County Bar Mitzvah | Temple Beth Sholom
Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah Photographer | Temple Beth Sholom
We had some fun tonight playing with software borders from OnOne software, while going through our photographs from Andy's Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, so naturally, we had to post a few.
How do you like the borders? Let us know.
In shot #3, we love seeing the point of view from the Bar Mitzvah boy's perspective, with his family and friends cheering him on, and the camera's documenting his every move.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Orange County Bar Mitzvah | Temple Beth Shalom

Orange County Bar Mitzvah, Temple Beth Shalom
Temple Beth Shalom, Orange County
Orange County Bar Mitzvah
Temple Beth Shalom, Santa Ana
Orange County Bar Mitzvah
Orange County Bar Mitzvah

It was back this weekend to our favorite Orange County shul, Temple Beth Shalom of Santa Ana, for Andy's Bar Mitzvah. As the simcha fell on Sukhot, TBS, as they call it, put a sukkah on the bima, full of apples and fall leaves. It made a wonderful backdrop for Andy, and a fun angle for us.
Los Angeles and Orange County Bar/Bat Mitzvah Photography by Graham & Graham.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Irmas Campus | Wilshire Boulevard Temple

Graham & Graham Photography
Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah Photography
Max was called to the Torah last Saturday at the stately Wilshire Boulevard Temple in West Los Angeles, Irmas Campus. Last month, we photographed Brandon at WBT's Camp Hess Kramer facility in Malibu, and will be returning in December to Irmas for Samantha's Bat Mitzvah,
We can't wait!

Wilshire Boulevard Temple | Again!

Wilshire Boulevard Temple Irmas Campus
Wilshire Boulevard Temple Torahs
Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah
Did we mention that we love photographing Bar and Bat Mitzvahs at Wilshire Boulevard Temple? We returned to WBT last weekend, to the big Irmas Campus on Olympic, to photograph Max's Bar Mitzvah. We love this shot of the Rabbi looking at the congregation from her perspective. Agree? Let us know your thoughts.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Wilshire Boulevard Temple | Hess Kramer Bar Mitzvah



Here's a fun video montage we put together from the recent Wilshire Boulevard Temple Bar Mitzvah at the Camp Hess Kramer facility in Malibu. By Graham and Graham Photography.

Sunday, October 05, 2008

Hess Kramer Bar Mitzvah | Wilshire Boulevard Temple | Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah

Malibu Bar Mitzvah
Hess Kramer Bar Mitzvah



Here's some shots from one of our all-time favorite Bar Mitzvah shots, an outdoor event at Camp Hess Kramer in Malibu, the facility run by the Wilshire Boulevard Temple. Best-known as a summer camp, the hillside "chapel," also serves as a homey setting for an outdoor Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Brandon was called to the Torah recently at WBT's Hess Kramer, with a fun party down the hill afterwards in a tent. Mazel Tov Brandon!

Friday, October 03, 2008

Congregation Tikvat Jacob Bat Mitzvah | Manhattan Beach | Jamie

Manhattan Beach Bat Mitzvah
Manhattan Beach Bat Mitzvah
Palos Verdes Bat Mitzvah Party
Palos Verdes Bat Mitzvah Party

As the daughter of two talented veterinarians, it was only natural that Jamie's Manhattan Beach Bat Mitzvah party would be stock full of animals. The party, held at their home, featured lots of kids and adults, as well as a baby kangaroo, raccoon and a long, shiny snake.
Jamie was called to the Torah at Congregation Tikvat Jacob in Manhattan Beach, our hometown temple.
Mavel Tov, Jamie!

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Leo Baeck Temple Bar Mitzvah | Dimitri

Leo Baeck Temple Bar Mitzvah Portrait by Graham & Graham
Leo Baeck Temple Bar Mitzvah by Graham & Graham




Dimitri is a talented young Los Angeles actor, so it was natural that when he joined forces with Sam Graham of Graham & Graham Photography for his Bar Mitzvah shoot, they enjoyed going the extra mile for some arty, magazine worthy shots. Dimitri had his Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah at the Leo Baeck Temple--(speaking of art--right across the street from the Getty Center) in September, with a fun party (two ice cream cakes!) in Baeck's social hall. Mazel Tov Dimitri!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Temple Shalom of the South Bay Bar Mitzvah



Here's a video highlight of a Temple Shalom of the South Bay Bar Mitzvah, by Danny Knutson, for Graham And Graham Photography. Rabbi Lori Schneide leads the Hermosa Beach based congregation, with Cantor Ari Perlmutter, at Alex's Manhattan Beach Bar Mitzvah at the Manhattan Beach Marriott.

Redondo Beach Bat Mitzvah | Temple Menorah



The lovely Alex was called to the torah at Temple Menorah last weekend. We're huge fans of natural, window light portraits, and it's not every day we get to make use of natural light inside a synagogue. But we found a special place at Redondo Beach's Temple Menorah to acheive it, and we're sure happy with the results. Mazel Tov, Alex!