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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

The 2009 Bar/Bat Mitzvah All-Stars


The all-star team: Dylan, Alexa, Tyler, William, Spenser, Dakota, Sabrina, David, Drew, Olivia, Adam, Simon, Ben, Leah, Maliena, Daniel, Lana, Zachary, Skylar, Carolynn, Emily, Joey, Miles, Elliot, Nora, Mia, Katie, Jared, Issac, Ethan, Jake, Joshua and Claire. Photographed at Temple Israel of Long Beach, Temple Beth Am, Congregation Tikvat Jacob of Manhattan Beach, Temple Isaiah Los Angeles, Redondo Beach Jewish Community Center, Valley Beth Shalom, Temple Menorah of Redondo Beach, Temple Israel of Hollywood, Temple Beth Shalom of Orange County, Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, Sinai Temple, Temple Shalom of the South Bay, Malibu Jewish Center, Temple Akiba of Culver City, Wilshire Boulevard Temple and Congregation Ner Tamid of Palos Verdes by Graham & Graham Photography.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Favorite Moments from Los Angeles Weddings | Video Montage

We take a quick break from the Bar/Bat Mitzvah pix this week for a highlight reel of some of our all-time favorite Los Angeles wedding photographs.

We had fun pulling our best work, and putting it through ProShow Producer for a fast-paced slideshow.
The brides featured here were photographed at the Mary, Star of the Sea church in San Pedro, Old Ranch Country Club of Seal Beach, Neighborhood Church of Palos Verdes, La Venta Inn, Jose Eber hair salon on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, the Manhattan Beach Pier, the Ritz-Carlton of Marina del Rey, Los Angeles Athletic Club, LMU, UCLA's Royce Hall, South Bay Botanic Garden, Malaga Cove, Mountaingate country club, Riviera church in Torrance, Wayfarers Chapel of Palos Verdes, Long Beach's Queen Mary and our all-time favorite, Union Station in downtown Los Angeles.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Beverly Hills Hotel | Bar Mitzvah Party Video | Simon's Simcha


Here's video highlights from Simon's rocking Beverly Hills Hotel Bar Mitzvah party from a few weeks ago. David Medill shot this for us, and did an amazing job.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Beverly Hills Temple Emanuel Bar Mitzvah | Beverly Hills Hotel Party



It was a pleasure last weekend to return to Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills for Simon's Bar Mitzvah. Later that night, Simon and his family hosted a rockin' party at the swanky Beverly Hills Hotel, with DJ services from the Party Zone.







Pictured below, you'll find Simon in front of the Beverly Hills Hotel, posing with his lovely mom by the Crystal area, and having an amazing Hora in the Beverly Hills Hotel ballroom.




Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Manhattan Beach Bar Mitzvah Photography by Sam Graham | Ethan


Ethan will step up to the Congregation Tikvat Jacob bima this weekend--but you saw him here first.

We met with Ethan last week for his CTJ rehearsal photo shoot, as documented by Sam Graham, and had lots of fun.
A hearty advance Mazel Tov, Ethan, from Sam and Jeff!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Temple Isaiah Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah


We returned to Temple Isaiah--the site of our very first Bar Mitzvah photo shoot--recently for Zachary's Bar Mitzvah.
Top photo by Jeff, bottom by Sam Graham.

The evening reception was a jungle themed affair at the UCLA Faculty Club. Below are two shots by Sam Graham, of Zachary at Royce Hall, followed by a wild Hora at the club.

Temple Menorah Redondo Beach Bar Mitzvah


Jake had his Bar Mitzvah at one of our favorite local temples, Redondo Beach's Temple Menorah, recently. The party was held that night in downtown Los Angeles's swanky Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, staged by Nina Bracker Events, with DJ services by You Should Be Dancing. Pictured below: Jake in the Chandler banquet room.

Monday, November 23, 2009

B'nai David Congregation Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah


We just had the good fortune of our first photo shoot at the historic Los Angeles temple, B'Nai David, on Pico Boulevard, for Danielle's simcha.
B'nai David was once one of the oldest, grandest movie palaces in Los Angeles, the Fox Stadium Theatre. It was transformed into an orthodox shul in 1964 and looks as grand today as ever.
Photo by Sam Graham of Graham & Graham Photography.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Tyler Reads | CTJ | Manhattan Beach

Another new favorite. Tyler @Congregation Tikvat Jacob in Manhattan Beach, photo by Sam Graham of Graham & Graham Photography.

Below--there's Tyler making his grand entrance with the Amazing Bottle Dancers at the Cheesecake Factory.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Spencer's Redondo Beach Bar Mitzvah | JCC Chabad | Ayers Hotel


Spencer and his friends celebrated his simcha with gusto at his recent Bar Mitzvah bash at the Ayers Hotel of Hawthorne. Check out the top shot--it's one of our all-time favorites. Savor it, and look at all the faces as Spencer is thrown into the air. The boys on the left are loving it, while the girls on the left--their faces in horror, are saying "OMG!"
As the pictures below show, Spencer was having the time of his life! And we were thrilled to be there to capture the memories.
Spencer held his Bar Mitzvah at the beautiful Redondo Beach Community Center, Chabad.



Monday, November 09, 2009

William Z's Temple Isaiah Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah

Three years ago we had the good fortune of meeting up with the Liebenson family for Justine's Bat Mitzvah at Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles.
Fast forward to 2009, and it was time for brother Will to step to the Isaiah bima--and for us to reunite with the family again. We (along with hot LA DJ Randy Lehrman and his Real GeniusDJ outfit)also got to participate in a high-energy celebration at the Olympic Collection in Los Angeles.




Here's Will wooping it up with his pals at the simcha!


Thursday, October 15, 2009

An old Favorite | Temple Israel of Hollywood Bat Mitzvah

We're testing out the video links from Smugmug, and what better occasion than to reach into the grab-bag for this great musical highlight from Allison's Bat Mitzvah at Temple Israel of Hollywood!

Friday, October 09, 2009

Daniel's Bar Mitzvah Celebration | Porter Valley Country Club Northridge



Here's more from Daniel's Nortridge Bar Mitzvah celebration, a basketball themed simcha at the Porter Valley country club. Amazing video work by David Medill for Graham & Graham Photography.

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Northridge Bar Mitzvah | Temple Ramat Zion | Daniel


Daniel was called to the Torah Saturday at Northridge's Temple Ramat Zion for his Bar Mitzvah. We were honored to have been there, and to celebrate our third simcha with the Broutt/Berman family. We'd photographed Daniel's cousin Jacob's Culver City Bar Mitzvah, as well as his Uncle Saul's wedding to the lovely Karen in Palos Verdes. How much fun to see so many familiar faces at the basketball themed reception at the Porter Valley Ranch country club in Northridge.



Saturday, September 26, 2009

Temple Beth Am Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah | Alexa

Alexa had her Bat Mitzvah Saturday at the big Temple Beth Am, the beautiful conservative shul on La Cienga Blvd., near Olympic. The conservative synagouge is one of the largest in Los Angeles--Alexa's service was in the main sanctuary--a godsend for a photographer.
We lit Alexa with our video lights, which we feel adds a more "movie" like look than just traditional flash. Fitting, we feel, for a temple in the heart of Hollywood--and a young girl who is destined for stardom! (Alexa is shown here rehearsing with Temple Beth Am cantor Robert Pflug.)







We also produced Alexa's video montage for the reception at the W Hotel in Westwood, and partially set it to the classic song, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." Boy does she! Here's Alexa having a ball at our photo shoot, being cute for the camera. You go girl!


Carolynn's "Hug" Mitzvah | Temple Akiba, Culver City


So many hugs at Carolynn's Temple Akiba Bat Mitzvah in Culver City, we were inspired to make a little video montage, set to the best soundtrack imaginable--Carolynn's sweet voice.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Sinai Temple Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah


We recently had our first photo session at Los Angeles' majestic Sinai Temple, on Wilshire and Beverly Glen, for Ben's time on the bima.
Such a beautiful facility!
Ben's service was in the smaller chapel, and we loved lighting the flowers to make them shine!


On Sunday, Ben and his family had a totally non-traditional simcha at Gameworks in Long Beach, where there was no Hora--or dancing of any kind! Just pizza, candy and games! A 13-year-old's fantasy....



That's Ben's brother above, in intense game play.