Long Beach Bar Mitzvah | Long Beach Photographer | Temple Israel

If it's Saturday, we're in Long Beach--or at least that's the way it's been this fall, photographing Bar and Bat Mitzvahs at Long Beach's Temple Israel.

This Saturday we spent the morning and afternoon with Blake and his fun family, doing family pictures in the morning before photographing the Bar Mitzvah, and then going back to the family house, where dad hauled in snow for the kids to play in.
How big is a fan of Blake to his dad? Just look at the priceless expression from the bima here!

We look forward to returning next weekend for Isaac's big day!

Long Beach Bar Mitzvah | Temple Israel | Jeremy

In 2008 we met June, who was looking for someone to photograph and video her daughter Emily's upcoming 2009 Bat Mitzvah at Temple Israel of Long Beach. We ended up agreeing to work together, and met up with Emily on Valentine's Day for the big event.
Mom was thrilled with the work, and told her friends. We've since returned to Temple Israel for Claire, Dylan, Maliena, Alysia and Shane, and on Saturday we were back to Temple Israel again, this time for Jeremy.
Thank you June--and Suzanne--and Debbie--for spreading the word.

Temple Israel is a historic temple in the heart of Long Beach, circa the 1940s, with a big sanctuary, stained glass windows and a music filled service. The temple is about to undergo a facelift in the next two years. Progress is great, but we'll miss the ol' sanctuary.
After the service, Jeremy and his friends celebrated at the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach. See him below doing the limbo!

Long Beach Temple Israel--Quartet by Sam Graham

August, 2009 found us with our first four week quartet--4 Saturdays in a row at Long Beach's Temple Israel.
Sam Graham photographed Dylan, Claire, Malenia and Alysia on the bima, and at several fun reception sites, most notably, Seal Beach's Old Ranch Country Club.

Temple Israel of Hollywood Bar Mitzvah

A few weeks ago, while documenting Ben's Bar Mitzvah at Temple Israel of Hollywood, we met the fun Rosner family, and got some amazing shots of the group during Ben's party at the Los Angeles Japanese American National Museum.


The family called a few days later and asked us to join them back at TIOH for Miles' August simcha.

With this gang, we were thrilled to be there for them--we love these fun shots outside the temple, along with the portraits inside TIOH as well.
During the shoot, we kept thinking of the old Miles Davis album, saying to the Bar Mitzvah boy, "Miles Smiles!"--Turns out he was named after the late, great jazz legend--birth of the cool, indeed!

You never know who'll you meet at a Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah party

Speaking of Ben's fabulous Bar Mitzvah party at the Los Angeles Japanese American National Museum...we always make sure to get lots of fun shots of the guests at the receptions. The Museum provided us with some amazing backdrops, the Rosner family noticed what we were doing, and asked us to snap a few shots of them having fun.
The shoot went so well, we'll be joining them again on August 22 for Miles' Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah at the historic Temple Israel of Hollywood.
But will we find another fun window to pose in at the reception?

Temple Israel of Hollywood Bar Mitzvah | Ben

We returned to the majestic Temple Israel of Hollywood last weekend for Ben's Bar Mitzvah. Afterwards, we headed downtown to the Los Angeles Japanese American Museum for a fun party, staged by Nina Bracker Events.
Mazel Tov, Ben!
By Graham & Graham Photography, 310-545-6291

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