Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah Party Video | Fantasea Yacht Club

Ali had the time of her life at that amazing Fantasea Yacht Club Bat Mitzvah party in Marina del Rey a few weeks ago. Here's a two-minute highlight, produced by David Medill for Graham & Graham Photography.com. 
Featuring the amazing DJ services of Dan and the gang from the Party Zone
Enjoy!

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.

Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah Party @ Skirball | Carly

Carly and her family celebrated her Sinai Temple Bat Mitzvah at the impressive Skirball Cultural Center, with a party ably produced by Nina Bracker Events, and MC'd by Kerry Slater's Slater Entertainment. Photos by Graham & Graham Photography and video by Melinda Gilchrist.



Mazel Tov, Carly!

B'nai David Congregation Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah

We just had the good fortune of our first photo shoot at the historic Los Angeles temple, B'Nai David, on Pico Boulevard, for Danielle's simcha.
B'nai David was once one of the oldest, grandest movie palaces in Los Angeles, the Fox Stadium Theatre. It was transformed into an orthodox shul in 1964 and looks as grand today as ever.
Photo by Sam Graham of Graham & Graham Photography.

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!

Carolynn's "Hug" Mitzvah | Temple Akiba, Culver City

So many hugs at Carolynn's Temple Akiba Bat Mitzvah in Culver City, we were inspired to make a little video montage, set to the best soundtrack imaginable--Carolynn's sweet voice.

Skylar's Malibu Bat Mitzvah Haftorah Video Montage

We don't do this every day, but it's something we just love! Take an amazing haftorah portion performed by a young Bat Mitzvah with an angelic voice, and set it to the pictures from the Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
So here's more from Skylar's Malibu Bat Mitzvah, with photos by Sam Graham (and a few by Jeff, but most by Sam.)

Manhattan Beach Bat Mitzvah | Ayers Hotel

The Ayers Hotel in Manhattan Beach was the beautiful setting for Leah's Saturday Bat Mitzvah, in the secluded courtyard of the hotel, which is right off the 405 at Rosecrans. The statues pictured here are part of the Ayers decor. Rabbi Lori led the service for Temple Shalom of the South Bay, and DJ services at the rockin' party courtesy of our friend Sam House and the gang. Look for him below, funnin' it up on the dance floor with Leah, dancers Heather and Jackie and MC Dave Greer.

Less Stress? Let a Party Planner take care of it.

 
Interesting article in the latest edition of the Jewish Journal about several things that could go wrong during a Bar/Bat Mitzvah event and how to avoid them.
Party planner Yvonne Wolf offers her take on why Bar/Bat Mitzvah moms and dads need some well-deserved help on the big night. The venue will rent you space and collect their fee, but they rarely help with the all-important details, like decorating the room and helping you find the best vendors.
The party planner pro is also on site to help avoid problems.
For instance, what do you do if the wrong appetizers are served? Or, worse, the venue runs out of food during the cocktail hour and your guests start to get really cranky? How do you handle an excessivly long line at the bar? Yvonne has solutions--read what she has to say in the Jewish Journal.
By the way, we worked with Yvonne at one of the all-time most memorable parties, a baseball themed (natch) affair for Drew at Dodger Stadium last year. You can reach Yvonne at 323.356.2698, or via e-mail at yvonnewolf@roadrunner.com
Congrats Yvonne on the article!

 
 
 

Venice, California Bat Mitzvah | Mishkon Tephilo | Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah Photographer

Ever notice that temple right there on the bustling Venice, California Strand, a backdrop to cyclists, roller bladers, beach performers and throngs of beachgoers? It's Mishkon Tephilo, "Devotion by the Ocean" serving 200 families since the 1917, an eclectic group that "attracts people from every profession, including artists, writers, educators and intellectuals," says the Mishkon Website.
We were honored to be on hand for our first Bat Mitzvah at Mishkon recently, photographing Nora on the Bima a few days before the actual service. (Mishkon is a conservative temple, and thus, doesn't allow photography during the actual service.)
We were surprised by the enormity of Mishkon (you could fit five of our local CTJ temple in its cavernous sanctuary) but loved taking advantage of the many opportunities, including the streaming daylight from the big windows. That's Nora with Rabbi Dan Shevitz on the bima. He has been with the temple since 1996.

Samantha's Beverly Hills Bat Mitzvah Party | BatMitzvahPhotographer.com

Here's more! Samantha's high-energy Bat Mitzvah party, from the Beverly Hills Country Club, a video montage by http://www.grahamandgrahamphotography.com. Breakdancing and fun DJ services provided by Randy and the gang at http://www.realgeniusdjs.com

Wilshire Boulevard Temple Bat Mitzvah | Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah Photographer

We returned to Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Irmas Campus, Saturday to document the Bat Mitzvah of the lovely Samantha. Few facilities we know of are this dramatic. Love that blue backdrop! And the purple dress!
Afterwards, the party was held at the Beverly Hills Country Club, with a high-energy dance set by Randy and his team of amazing dancers from Real Genius Entertainment. We'll post pix from the party later in the week.

Temple Israel Hollywood Bat Mitzvah Video by Graham & Graham

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A highlight from a Temple Israel of Hollywood bat mitzvah video, by Graham and Graham Photography's http://www.losangelesbarmitzvahphotographer.com