Manhattan Beach Bat Mitzvah | Congregation Tikvat Jacob

This image of Jake here is THE iconic portrait for a Congregation Tikvat Jacob Bar Mitzvah. Proud boy or girl holding the torah. We've done this shot many, many times over the years at CTJ, but never like this. CTJ members might wonder--that doesn't look like CTJ!

That's because CTJ just underwent a 3 month construction project that puts a total new sheen to the venerable institution. "It's not a remodel," says Rabbi Mark Hyman. "It's a brand new sanctuary."
Same Rabbi and Cantors, same torah, same chairs--but everything else is new. A beautiful new wooden adornment to the torah, new lighting--words don't do it justice. Go take a look.
Jake had the honor of being the first Bar Mitzvah at the new CTJ--we met with him and the family two days later for his official portraits.

Congregation Tikvat Jacob Bar Mitzvah | Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific Party

Scott's Manhattan Beach Bar Mitzvah at Congregation Tikvat Jacob had a fun bonus for us--a new venue for the party, Long Beach's Aquarium of the Pacific.

After Scott read the torah at CTJ, guests boarded a big bus in Manhattan Beach for the ride down to Long Beach, where the party was held in the heart of the aquarium. Scott, who volunteers at the aquarium, personally selected the venue for his party, because of his love of fish. Great choice! A fun time was had by all.




Photos by Sam Graham

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!

Manhattan Beach Bat Mitzvah | CTJ | Sarah

We've spent a lot of time with the lovely Sarah over the last few weeks. First, we met her under the Manhattan Beach Pier to shoot the portrait for her sign-in board. Then, a few weeks later, we were at Congregation Tikvat Jacob, our neighborhood temple, for her Bat Mitzvah portraits. Last weekend, it was time to reunite, first in the afternoon, for some Bat Mitzvah day portraits at the family home, then over to the Manhattan Country Club, for the big party, staged by Nina Bracker Events.
Featured below: Sarah at the beach and CTJ, with Rabbi Mark.







All photos by Sam Graham, except for #5, which is by Jeff.

Redondo Beach Bar Mitzvah | Jewish Community Center | Chabad | Jason

It was back to the friendly Jewish Community Center, Chabad last weekend for Jason's Bar Mitzvah. Rabbi David, Jason and the family met with us on Thursday afternoon (no photography allowed during service) for pictures at the JCC.

Rabbi Dovid always thinks we're funny to ask for all the lights to be turned off while we take the pictures, but we love the results. This way, we don't mix different light sources.
The JCC has strong, beautiful window light, probably more so than at any other temple we've photographed, and we love taking advantage of it.


After the Saturday service, Jason and co. celebrated with a simcha at the Manhattan Beach Belamar hotel.


All photos by Sam Graham except for the top photo, which is by Jeff.

Manhattan Beach Bar Mitzvah | Max | Congregation Tikvat Jacob

We returned to our hometown temple for Max's CTJ Bar Mitzvah, a reunion not only with the temple where our Sam Graham went up to the Bima in 1999, but with the Lesser family as well. We photographed sister Jamie's Bat Mitzvah two years ago, so it was great to reunite with the family, and Rabbi Mark Hyman and Cantor Beth Garden.





Photos here by Jeff (1, 3, 4 and 6) and Sam (2 and 5).

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

From Generation to Generation, Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah

One of the highlights of Bar/Bat Mitzvah photography is seeing the joy the older generation exhibit when watching young 13-year-old children step up to the Bima and read from the Torah. In this case, it was Dakota's Bar Mitzvah over the weekend at Congregation Tikvat Jacob in Manhattan Beach, where beloved great-grandfather "Poppy," got up from his seat, put down his cane, and took his place up on the Bima. He handed the talit to Dakota, and was at the head of the line for passing the Torah down, from generation to generation. The cool thing, as you can see from these images, is that Dakota got as much of a kick from having Poppy there as the old man did.
Dakota and mom Lisa (also seen posing in a killer shot from the sanctuary) put on a terrific baseball themed party (Dakota kind of enjoys sports!) at the Spanish styled Embassy Suites in El Segundo. (Attention Bar/Bat Mitzvah parents--this is one really special facility. We'll post more images from the event later in the week. In the meantime, ask for Deb and tell her we sent `ya.) You Should Be Dancing did their usual stellar DJ job, keeping the kids up and moving all night long.

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.

It was the third simcha for the Granow clan, and we have been honored to be there for all three.

It was also Lana's third time on the Hora chair. See below for her 2007 and 2005 moments.

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.


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.

Mazel tov, Lana!