Pacific Palisades Bar Mitzvah | Kehillat Israel

Last Saturday was no. 5 for us in 2011 at Kehillat Israel in Pacific Palisades, the reconstructionist temple blocks from the village, and this weekend it was Benicio's turn at the bima. Here's a fun video montage we put together of highlights from the service and party.

Graham and Graham Photography and the Jewish Journal !

We're in the Jewish Journal this week, in the annual spring Los Angeles Bar/Bat Mitzvah issue, with a new ad designed around recent Bar Mitzvah subject Dorian, and that most iconic of shots from Leo Baeck Temple a few weeks back.

This is the first of four ads that will be running in the print edition of the Jewish Journal, the number one source of Jewish news, information and arts coverage in the Los Angeles area. Look for Ally from Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills and her big party from the Mark for Events next week.
Meanwhile, we're also seen in the online edition of the Jewish Journal, at JewishJournal.com, with ads featuring Dorian and Ali (not to be confused with Ally!) from our recent shoot at Culver City's Temple Akiba.

Bar Mitzvah Photographer | Leo Baeck Temple | Los Angeles

Here's more from Dorian's Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah at Leo Baeck Temple in Los Angeles.

Leo Baeck is a wonderful oasis nestled against greenery, off Sepluveda, directly across the street from the Getty Center.

Culver City Bat Mitzvah | Temple Akiba

It's always fun to watch one of our Bar/Bat Mitzvah videos, and pull out some of the great Jewish music. Here's the singing and strumming Rabbi Zachary Shapiro dueting with cantor Lonee Frailich on "Oseh Shalom," from Alison's Bat Mitzvah last weekend at Temple Akiba in Culver City. 

The Mark for Events | Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah Party

After his Pacific Palisades Kehillat Israel Bar Mitzvah Saturday morning, Ross celebrated with an amazing ski-themed party at the Mark For Events, the big event facility in the Beverly/Pico area of Los Angeles. The Mark was full of faux snow, ski hats, skis and projected snow and skiers on the wall.









DJ services by the incredibly uptempo CheckOne2 Entertainment, Green Screen entertainment by Green Screen Events and party planning services by Dana Bresnin's DB Creativity

Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah Video | Adat Ari El

A few weeks ago we met Ilana and her family at Adat Ari El in Valley Village for Bat Mitzvah photos. Since the temple doesn't allow photography during the service, we seized the moment and brought the video camera along to make a short video of Ilana and her family in the sanctuary. We're thrilled to share it! The video was produced for Graham & Graham Photography by David Medill.

Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah | Adat Ari El

Back in 2008, it was our pleasure to meet Rachel at Valley Village's Los Angeles temple, Adat Ari El, for her Bat Mitzvah portrait session. We reunited in December 2010 for sister Ilana's turn, and it was a thrill to see everyone again.



The sisters are a great pair, and we love our shots of the girls on the bima, back to back, and having a ball.


Ilana had a rocking party Sunday at the fabulous Luxe Hotel off Sunset, with DJ services by Mark Ray of Ray Entertainment.

Temple Beth David Westminster Bar Mitzvah | Nathaniel

Back in 2006, we visited Temple Beth David in Westminster for the first time, to photography Myles' Bar Mitzvah. This month we returned--it was little brother Nathaniel's turn at the torah--and now he's all grown up!
That's Nathaniel and his dad Steven, pictured above, looking over the torah before the ceremony. Below is the Bar Mitzvah boy and his family.


Nathaniel, who calls himself a "Jewsian,"--is a lot of fun to be around--a real cut-up.
Below, images from his party at the Long Beach Marriott.

Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah Photography | Knesset Israel | Julian

We had the honor of meeting Julian and his fine family at Knesset Israel last week for Julian's Bar Mitzvah. It was our first time at the historic temple on Vermont Avenue, and we're thrilled with the results.


Another first for us: Julian, not his parents, did a search for "Bar Mitzvah Photography" on Google and found our website. He liked what he saw, and sent his parents out to meet us. And he knew what he wanted. Classic Bar Mitzvah pictures, like the one of his dad that's been hanging all these years, along with some contemporary twists. This was a fun challenge!
Below, dad's Bar Mitzvah portrait.

Here's our take:

Then it got fun--we put both Bar Mitzvah boys together.

And best of all--they were loving it!

Serious is good, but we're a fan of smiles. We like the classic pose, and a winning, happy grin.


We'll be back later in the week, blogging more photos from Julian's amazing party at the Los Angeles Biltmore, along with our downtown L.A. shoot with Julian and his sister. Co-stars include Disney Hall, Angel's Flight, the Grand Central Market and the Bradbury Building.

Redondo Beach Bar Mitzvah | Jewish Community Center | Jacob

Jacob was called to the torah at the Redondo Beach Jewish Community Center Chabad this weekend. We actually took these shots on Thursday, as Jacob had a morning service, and doesn't allow photography on Shabbat.
But that's OK--we love the mid-week portrait sessions, as it gives us more time with our clients, in a non-pressurized atmosphere.
We love this shot of Jacob reading by the door, lit by natural daylight--as well as this beaut of a "generation to generation" shot--Mom, Grandma and Jacob.

Jacob's a great kid with an outgoing personality, and he really wanted to let loose and get wild during the portraits.

We made a deal--be serious inside, and then when afterwards, you can go absolutely crazy outside.

Which, of course, he really did. Taking advantage of the 8-frames-per-second feature on the new Canon 7D SLR, we told Jacob he could make as many funny faces as he wanted, and we'd capture them all.
Here are just a few of them.

The 2009 Bar/Bat Mitzvah All-Stars

The all-star team: Dylan, Alexa, Tyler, William, Spenser, Dakota, Sabrina, David, Drew, Olivia, Adam, Simon, Ben, Leah, Maliena, Daniel, Lana, Zachary, Skylar, Carolynn, Emily, Joey, Miles, Elliot, Nora, Mia, Katie, Jared, Issac, Ethan, Jake, Joshua and Claire. Photographed at Temple Israel of Long Beach, Temple Beth Am, Congregation Tikvat Jacob of Manhattan Beach, Temple Isaiah Los Angeles, Redondo Beach Jewish Community Center, Valley Beth Shalom, Temple Menorah of Redondo Beach, Temple Israel of Hollywood, Temple Beth Shalom of Orange County, Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, Sinai Temple, Temple Shalom of the South Bay, Malibu Jewish Center, Temple Akiba of Culver City, Wilshire Boulevard Temple and Congregation Ner Tamid of Palos Verdes by Graham & Graham Photography.

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!

Temple Isaiah Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah

We returned to Temple Isaiah--the site of our very first Bar Mitzvah photo shoot--recently for Zachary's Bar Mitzvah.
Top photo by Jeff, bottom by Sam Graham.

The evening reception was a jungle themed affair at the UCLA Faculty Club. Below are two shots by Sam Graham, of Zachary at Royce Hall, followed by a wild Hora at the club.

An old Favorite | Temple Israel of Hollywood Bat Mitzvah

We're testing out the video links from Smugmug, and what better occasion than to reach into the grab-bag for this great musical highlight from Allison's Bat Mitzvah at Temple Israel of Hollywood!

Daniel's Bar Mitzvah Celebration | Porter Valley Country Club Northridge

Here's more from Daniel's Nortridge Bar Mitzvah celebration, a basketball themed simcha at the Porter Valley country club. Amazing video work by David Medill for Graham & Graham Photography.

Northridge Bar Mitzvah | Temple Ramat Zion | Daniel

Daniel was called to the Torah Saturday at Northridge's Temple Ramat Zion for his Bar Mitzvah. We were honored to have been there, and to celebrate our third simcha with the Broutt/Berman family. We'd photographed Daniel's cousin Jacob's Culver City Bar Mitzvah, as well as his Uncle Saul's wedding to the lovely Karen in Palos Verdes. How much fun to see so many familiar faces at the basketball themed reception at the Porter Valley Ranch country club in Northridge.