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Sunday, September 26, 2010

UCLA Engagement Photos | Michelle & Andre


We spent Sunday afternoon with Michelle and Andre on the incredible UCLA campus today and left with some amazing pics of their engagement shoot. It's a thrill to share them here. Between Royce Hall, Powell Library et. all, there are so many awesome backdrops to choose from.


It's hard to pick a favorite here, but we're especially partial to this fun series of the couple running down the quad--can't beat those smiles.




We'll be seeing Michelle and Andre again on October 16th when we meet up in San Pedro for their wedding at the fabulous Mary, Star of the Sea church. Can't wait!

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Redondo Beach Wedding Video | Redondo Beach Historic Library


Here's the last in our series of snippets from Lisa and Matt's Redondo Beach Wedding, from August. It's the opening to their wedding video, shot and edited by David Medill, and we couldn't be happier with it--so we're thrilled to be sharing it with you.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

More from Lisa and Matt's Redondo Beach Library Wedding

Here's a fun video montage we put together with images from Lisa and Matt's wedding at the historic Redondo Beach library. We're huge fans of the couple, and love the results--hope you all do too.

Malibu Estate for Weddings & Bar/Bat Mitzvahs

It seems like yesterday that we were up in the Malibu hills, documenting a rocking Bat Mitzvah party at the palatial family home. Cut to fall, 2010, and the party was such a hit, the owner has now opened the Malibu Villa Skyletta home up for brides, grooms, Bar/Bat Mitzvah kids, and filming.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Manhattan Beach Portraits | Meet a Dietz Mother


This is why we love working locally. We got a call this week from Susan Dietz, she of the Manhattan Beach institution Dietz Brothers, seeking a new headshot. Just hearing the "Dietz" name brought instant smiles to our face. The legendary Dietz Brothers music store on Sepulveda is where the younger Graham took mandolin lessons for several years during high school, where teacher Pat Dietz always greeted him with a big smile and wealth of knowledge. He was more than happy to share music and books with Sam as well, and compare notes on the great mandolin pickers, like Chris Thile and Ricky Skaggs.
Susan is married to John, one of the two Dietz Brothers, who runs the music store with Pat. John and Pat also have a band that performs often.
Susan, a singer, needed a new headshot for career purposes, and we were thrilled to help out, and in our own way, try and return some of the kindness shown by the Dietz gang to our family.
And we think she looks fabulous in the above photo.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Redondo Beach Wedding | Redondo Beach Historic Library


A beautiful sunset, a wedding with a killer ocean view, a ceremony out on the green--what's not to like? Lisa and Matt had their wedding at the historic Redondo Beach Library at the end of August, a wonderful facility right next to the Redondo Beach Pier.






The Redondo Beach Historic Library is an awesome facility to have a wedding, with terrific food from Spectrum Catering, an ocean view from every angle, and a really romantic setting.
We love this last shot of Lisa and Matt, walking on the Strand, right after our sunset shoot. She got cold, so he gave her his jacket, and the look is just priceless, don't you think?

Friday, September 10, 2010

Beverly Hills Bat Mitzvah | Temple Emanuel


After several appearances on this blog, Ally's turn at the bima was last weekend, at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills. Here she is pictured with her pre-Bat Mitzvah portrait in the morning before the service, and having a whale of a time with the cantor and rabbi post-Haftorah, when all the kids threw candy at her.

Monday, September 06, 2010

Rancho Palos Verdes Bar Mitzvah | Congregation Ner Tamid | Garrett

We returned recently to Congregation Ner Tamid, the beautiful shul on the hill in beautiful Palos Verdes, California for Garrett's Rancho Palos Verdes Bar Mitzvah.
The temple has lots of ambient daylight to work with, which we augmented with our Orbis ringflash and Alien Bees.





Mazel Tov, Garrett!

Manhattan Beach Bat Mitzvah | Congregation Tikvat Jacob | Marisa

A year ago, we met Joey at Congregation Tikvat Jacob to document his Manhattan Beach Bar Mitzvah. Twelve months later, it was sister Marisa's turn.

That's the entire family up on the CTJ bima. We began the day by taking Marisa outside, for a portrait near the CTJ sign, and then returned to the sanctuary, which we adorned with some blue and orange gells to add a little contrast and separation to the light. The blue, at least to our eyes, worked perfectly with her talit.




All the photos taken by Sam Graham, except for the outside portrait, which is by Jeff.

Congregation Tikvat Jacob Manhattan Beach | New Clergy Portraits

We just finished new portraits of the Manhattan Beach Congregation Tikvat Jacob clergy--just in time for the High Holidays!

Pictured is Cantor Berger, Cantor Beth and Rabbi Mark, along with the new rabbinical intern Sarah.




A quick note on the lighting for the portraits--we used the Orbis Ringflash on a lightstand as the fill, with the Honl Traveller 8 softbox on two Canon 580 flashes. We love the look!