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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Wilshire Boulevard Temple Bat Mitzvah | Irmas Campus


Here's one of our favorite all-time videos montages. It's images of Samantha, from her December Wilshire Boulevard Temple Bat Mitzvah, chanting from the torah.
Photodex, which makes our favorite video montage software, Producer, just came out with a new version that shows videos in crisp, widescreen, and we love the look.
Check it out!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Lana's Bat Mitzvah Video Montage by Graham & Graham



Here's the "director's cut," version (a shorter, 2.5 minute video) of one of our all-time favorite Bat Mitzvah video montages. It's from Lana's Redondo Beach Bat Mitzvah at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. We see more movie parodies in our future. Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Redondo Beach Bat Mitzvah | Crowne Plaza | batmitzvahphotographer.com

Saturday it was finally Lana's turn. Lana made her majestic grand entrance to her rocking Bat Mitzvah party at the Crowne Plaza in Redondo Beach, with over 300 guests sharing the love.
Bat Mitzvah Grand Entrance by Graham & Graham
It was the third simcha for the Granow clan, and we have been honored to be there for all three.
The Big Bat Mitzvah Party Moment by Graham & Graham Photography
It was also Lana's third time on the Hora chair. See below for her 2007 and 2005 moments.
Manhattan Beach Bat Mitzvah Photography by Graham & Graham
One highlight is always the Havdalah ceremony, as staged by the clergy at Manhattan Beach's Congregation Tikvat Jacob. We love photographing it in natural, colorful candle light.
Havdalah Ceremony by Graham & Graham
CTJ Havdalah at Lana's Redondo Beach Bat Mitzvah
The party was put on by master party planning service In Any Event, and Robin Crevelt. Love that color! DJ Mark Ray had the audience up and moving all night. We produced the montage, which we'll post here soon.
Redondo Beach Bat Mitzvah Party by Graham & Graham
Mazel tov, Lana!
Graham & Graham Photography

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Less Stress? Let a Party Planner take care of it.

 
Interesting article in the latest edition of the Jewish Journal about several things that could go wrong during a Bar/Bat Mitzvah event and how to avoid them.
Party planner Yvonne Wolf offers her take on why Bar/Bat Mitzvah moms and dads need some well-deserved help on the big night. The venue will rent you space and collect their fee, but they rarely help with the all-important details, like decorating the room and helping you find the best vendors.
The party planner pro is also on site to help avoid problems.
For instance, what do you do if the wrong appetizers are served? Or, worse, the venue runs out of food during the cocktail hour and your guests start to get really cranky? How do you handle an excessivly long line at the bar? Yvonne has solutions--read what she has to say in the Jewish Journal.
By the way, we worked with Yvonne at one of the all-time most memorable parties, a baseball themed (natch) affair for Drew at Dodger Stadium last year. You can reach Yvonne at 323.356.2698, or via e-mail at yvonnewolf@roadrunner.com
Congrats Yvonne on the article!

 
 
 
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Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Venice, California Bat Mitzvah | Mishkon Tephilo | Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah Photographer

Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah Photography
Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah Photographer
Mishkon Tephilo Bat Mitzvah | Venice, California Bat Mitzvah
Venice California Bat Mitzvah Photography | Mishkon Tephilo
Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah | Mishkon Tephilo | Venice
Mishkon Tephilo of Venice, California
Ever notice that temple right there on the bustling Venice, California Strand, a backdrop to cyclists, roller bladers, beach performers and throngs of beachgoers? It's Mishkon Tephilo, "Devotion by the Ocean" serving 200 families since the 1917, an eclectic group that "attracts people from every profession, including artists, writers, educators and intellectuals," says the Mishkon Website.
We were honored to be on hand for our first Bat Mitzvah at Mishkon recently, photographing Nora on the Bima a few days before the actual service. (Mishkon is a conservative temple, and thus, doesn't allow photography during the actual service.)
We were surprised by the enormity of Mishkon (you could fit five of our local CTJ temple in its cavernous sanctuary) but loved taking advantage of the many opportunities, including the streaming daylight from the big windows. That's Nora with Rabbi Dan Shevitz on the bima. He has been with the temple since 1996.

Friday, January 02, 2009

Top Ten Bar/Bat Mitzvah Videos of the Year


Torrance Bat Mitzvah Party | Alex @ Torrance Marriott
Why we love Alex's Torrance Bat Mitzvah party video. First of all, she has great poise, and really lights up the screen. Secondly, Alex made her grand entrance by running under the arms of the guests, and Conor Morris, who did the videography for us on this shoot, did an amazing job running right behind Alex, and capturing it all.  
Beverly Hills Bar Mitzvah | Julio @ Temple Emanuel
There's never been a better match of a Bar Mitzvah boy and a soundtrack--at least, not as far as we're concerned. Me and Julio down by the Bar Mitzvah.
Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah | Temple Israel 
We love visiting Temple Israel of Hollywood for a number of reasons, highlighted by history and music. Temple Israel is the huge Hollywood temple founded by the guys who started the film industry--like the Warner Bros. and Louis B. Mayer. Thus, a visit to Temple Israel is akin to spending time at a great old movie palace. And then there's the music. Bar/Bat Mitzvahs at Temple Israel are extremely musical, and Allison's February Bat Mitzvah was no exception. We love the harmonies with Allison, the Rabbi and Cantor.

Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah | Wilshire Boulevard Temple
We are often so inspired by our Bar/Bat Mitzvah photography shoots, we often put little video montages together of our work afterwards. This is a collection of images from Samantha's December Bat Mitzvah, with the greatest soundtrack ever--Samantha's voice!


Hollywood Bat Mitzvah Party | Beverly Garland Holiday Inn
Two twins having a "B'not Mitzvah," and lots of fun at their twin party at the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn in Hollywood. Lots of fun!


Manhattan Beach Bar Mitzvah | Manhattan Beach Marriott
It's not just that we live 5 blocks from the Marriott--we don't get a lot of opportunity to document outdoor Bar Mitzvahs, so Alex's simcha was very special. This gave us lush green backdrops from the golf course, and fantastic "photographer lighting"--overcast sky and nice, even, natural facial tones.

Malibu Bar Mitzvah Party | Camp Hess Kramer
Another fun Saturday outside, this time in the Malibu hills, where Brandon was called to the Torah at Camp Hess Kramer's outdoor chapel. Afterwards, we went down the hill, into a tent, for the big simcha. Danny Knutsen captured it all for us on the video.

Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah | Temple Isaiah

Another of the great Los Angeles temple's, Isaiah, on Pico Blvd. by 20th Century Fox. We were honored to be there for Avi's February Bar Mitzvah.

Orange County Bar Mitzvah | Temple Beth Shalom
Temple Beth Shalom of Santa Ana has a huge party room adjoining the temple, and it makes a great backdrop for a rocking party. Here's Andy, as introduced by his sister, moments before the big celebration.

Redondo Beach Bat Mitzvah | Temple Menorah

Before Alex celebrated at the Torrance Marriott, she was called to the torah at Temple Menorah in the morning. Here's a brief highlight from the Bat Mitzvah, with soundtrack provided by Alex.