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.

Top 10 Bar/Bat Mitzvah Photos of 2010

It's time for our annual look back at our Top 10 Bar/Bat Mitzvah photos of the year, a best of from nearly 50 shoots in 2010, starting with CTJ in Manhattan Beach and ending in Long Beach at Temple Israel.

So, in no particular order, we begin in Manhattan Beach at Congregation Tikvat Jacob, and Joey's Bar Mitzvah portrait from January. What makes it different? This is a unique angle we hadn't seen before.

Then it's off to the Jewish Community Center, Redondo Beach, and this portrait of Jacob reading from the siddur. There's nothing new about it, just classic portraiture, in that amazing afternoon natural light at the JCC.

Temple Beth El in San Pedro has a wonderful tile backdrop--we love this shot of Jordan. We added the dreamy effect in Photoshop.

Now it's back to CTJ in Manhattan Beach, and this terrific, unguarded father/son shot from the bima of Max and his dad, shot by Sam Graham. This is what it's all about folks.

Here's Julian from behind the bima, at Knesset Israel in Los Angeles. Again, a unique angle, and lighting brings it to our end of the year list.

We spent a lot of time at Congregation Ner Tamid in Rancho Palos Verdes, where you photograph portraits on Friday, and then meet up the next day at the Saturday party. We staged this photo during Zachary's portrait session and love how authentic it looks.

Rabbi Moskowitz of Temple Israel in Long Beach is one of the singiest (is that a word?) Rabbi's we know. He hits the high notes while Cantor Finley sings bass. Here they are, singing with Maddy at her Long Beach Bat Mitzvah.

For drama, you can't beat the layout at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Irams campus, as we did with Liam for his October Bar Mitzvah.


Speaking of Temple Israel, here's a wonderful photo from the brother/sister Cooper Bnai Mitzvah, of the siblings sharing the torah.

And we close with this iconic image from Carly's Long Beach Bat Mitzvah bash at the Virginia Country Club. Celebrate!
Thanks everyone for another awesome year!

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.

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.

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).

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."

Congregation Tikvat Jacob Bat Mitzvah | Manhattan Beach | Jamie

As the daughter of two talented veterinarians, it was only natural that Jamie's Manhattan Beach Bat Mitzvah party would be stock full of animals. The party, held at their home, featured lots of kids and adults, as well as a baby kangaroo, raccoon and a long, shiny snake.
Jamie was called to the Torah at Congregation Tikvat Jacob in Manhattan Beach, our hometown temple.
Mavel Tov, Jamie!