Manhattan Beach Photographer | Family Photos by the sea

Another beautiful sunset evening in Manhattan Beach with the Brandmeyer family and Graham & Graham Photography. We were thrilled to take part in the beach photo session on a recent Sunday evening for family portrait time.
What an honor it is to be a Manhattan Beach photographer!

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!

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.

Drew's Manhattan Beach Bar Mitzvah | Congregation Tikvat Jacob

Here's Drew, from his Saturday Bar Mitzvah at Congregation Tikvat Jacob of Manhattan Beach.

Photos by Sam Graham of Graham & Graham Photography

Manhattan Beach Bar Mitzvah--Meet the new Team

We did our first photo shoot with the new team at our local temple, Congregation Tikvat Jacob today--say hi to Rabbi Mark, Cantor Beth and Bar Mitzvah himself, Drew.
Photo by Sam Graham of Graham & Graham Photography.

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

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."

Manhattan Beach Bar Mitzvah | Temple Shalom of the South Bay

Now this was a really fun Bar Mitzvah. Not only did we get to document it at our all-time favorite venue, the Manhattan Beach Marriott, but we had perfect photographer weather (overcast, and nice even light) and a terrific subject, Alex.
Alex is a member of Hermosa Beach's Temple Shalom of the South Bay, which doesn't have a permanent temple, and stages its Bar and Bat Mitzvahs at venues around the South Bay.
Hence, the greenery backdrop for Alex. We love it!
For the simcha, Alex's theme was the Bard himself, Shakespeare, which is why the ever jovial Bar Mitzvah lad is seen sporting a jester's hat during the Hora.
Finally, we do mother/son and father/daughter dance pictures every weekend, but this one here is our new all-time favorite. Love those smiles and sways!

Bar/Bar Mitzvah Showcase Sunday 9/14

Come stop by and say hi to us Sunday at the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Showcase in Manhattan Beach at Raleigh Studios. We'll be there from 1-3 p.m., admission is free and so is parking!

Letting the Cat out of the Bag

This has nothing to do with Los Angeles weddings or Los Angeles bar/bat mitzvahs, but we couldn't resist.
This is our cat Jinx, who always finds ultra comfortable places to spend his hours. Now if he could just find some little meeces.....