Beverly Hills Bar Mitzvah | Temple Emanuel

It's not every day when you get a call from Mexico City asking for photographs and video at a Beverly Hills bar mitzvah. But we were more than up for the task. Trisha and her son Julio used to live in Beverly Hills, then moved to Mexico City, where they now reside. But Julio wanted to have his bar mitzvah in his old home town, so they flew back, and held the ceremony at Temple Emanuel, with the party in an adjoining room, catered by Animal restaurant. One big highlight we'll never forget: the Mexican Klezmer music, provided by the wonderful Mariachi Divas, playing none other than Simon Tov and Hava Nagaila.

Fiddler on the Roof from your friends at Graham & Graham Photography

We stumbled onto this amazing technological marvel the other day--with two mouse clicks and a copy and paste, we were able to present, to all of our loyal readers, the complete movie of "Fiddler on the Roof," for free. Isn't that amazing?
However, we know you're not going to sit here and watch the entire thing, so we played around the settings and offer you instead, a musical highlight, Tevye the milkman singing a song that says what a lot of people are feeling these days: "If I Were a Rich Man."
Enjoy!

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

Temple Isaiah Bar Mitzvah Video by Graham & Graham

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Video snippet from Avi's Temple Isaiah bar mitzvah, by Graham & Graham Photography. Graham & Graham specializes in Los Angeles bar and bat mitzvah photography. 323-972-6217. grahamphoto@gmail.com

R.I.P. Scott Waxler

A video tribute to the great Scott Waxler, the beloved Manhattan Beach teacher and friend who left behind an amazing wife, two awesome sons, and a community who adored him. He will be missed.

Redondo Beach Crowne Plaza Bat Mitzvah

Here's Emma at her Redondo Beach Crowne Plaza bat mitzvah. The actual service was held in a conference room, adjoining the bigger ballroom for the party. We'll post pictures from the party next.

Bar Mitzvah Photography | Valley Beth Shalom Bar Mitzvah

Cody's bar mitzvah was held at THE synagogue of the San Fernando Valley, Valley Beth Shalom. Here's his bar mitzvah album set to "Sholom Alecheim." By http://www.grahamandgrahamphotography.com
Graham & Graham Photography is a Los Angeles based photo team that specializes in bar mitzvah photography, bat mitzvah photography, b'nai mitzvah photography and b'not mitzvah photography. We have photographed simchas at many of the top temples in Los Angeles, including VBS, Temple Israel, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Stephen S. Wise Temple, Temple Menorah, Temple Judea, Congregation Or Ami, Congregation Ner Tamid and Temple Beth Shalom.

Bat Mitzvah Album by Graham & Graham Photography

http://www.GrahamAndGrahamPhotography.com presents a bat mitzvah album from a Los Angeles bat mitzvah at Temple Isaiah of Los Angeles. The party was held at Olympic Collection of Los Angeles.

Bar Mitzvah Photography | Temple Isaiah of Los Angeles

Bar mitzvah photography by Graham & Graham of Los Angeles. A bar mitzvah album, from Brian's Los Angeles bar mitzvah at Temple Isaiah of Los Angeles.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Videos by Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah Photographer.com

Here's a fun 1 minute highlight reel from Zoey and Katy's recent Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah party at the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn in Hollywood, right down the street from Universal Studios. By Graham And Graham Photography.com of Manhattan Beach, California.

Orange County Bar/Bat Mitzvah Photography & Video

Here's a video snippet from the tail end of Samantha's bat mitzvah at Temple Beth Shalom in beautiful Santa Ana, California. Orange County has many Jewish temples, including Temple Judea in Laguna Hills, Surf City in Huntington Beach, Temple Isaiah of Newport Beach and University Synagogue of Irvine.

Malibu Jewish Center B'nai Mitzvah

It was our pleasure to complete the cycle of b'nai mitzvah photography for the Kyman family of Malibu at the Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue. We started with Max, for a 2004 beach service, met with Danny in 2006 at the Malibu Jewish Center, and returned recently for the angelic Alexandra. It's been fun watching these kids grow!

Redondo Beach Bat Mitzvah | Temple Menorah

Last weekend we photographed our first bat mitzvah at Temple Menorah of Redondo Beach, a wonderful Jewish synagogue with a rich 60 plus-year history. Temple Menorah is one of several temples in the South Bay, including Temple Shalom of the South Bay in Hermosa Beach, Congregation Tikvah Jacob in Manhattan Beach, Congregation Ner Tamid in Palos Verdes and the Jewish Community Center Chabad in Redondo Beach. Lots of temples, but not a Jewish deli in sight!

Emily is seen on the bima with the torah, posing with Temple Menorah's Rabbi Steven Silver and Cantor Didi Thomas, and in the Menorah courtyard.

Los Angeles Bar/Bat Mitzvah Temple Photography Highlights

We recently had fun compiling shots from some of the different Los Angeles temples where we've photographed bar and bat mitzvahs over the years for a Graham & Graham Photography highlight reel. Included: Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Steven Wise Temple, Temple Menorah, Temple Shalom of the South Bay, Temple Isaiah, Beth Shir Shalom, Temple Akiba, Malibu Jewish Center, Pasadena Jewish Temple, Adat Ari El, Kehillath Israel, Valley Beth Shalom, Temple Beth El of San Pedro, Redondo Beach Community Center Chabad, Temple Aliyah of Woodland Hills and Temple Beth David of Westminster.

Burbank B'not Bat Mitzvah

Two is often better than one. Such is the case with our Burbank b'not bat mitzvah shoot with Zoey and Katy. They each read from the torah on their big day, and each got their own torah to march with at Burbank's Temple Beth Emet. Rules were tight for the pre-ceremony photography, but perfect during the event itself. At certain points we had front row seats, which made for perfect vantage points.

Santa Ana Temple Beth Shalom Bat Mitzvah Photography by Graham & Graham

Another return engagement at the beautiful Temple Beth Shalom of Santa Ana for Samantha's purrfect (you'll get it later) bat mitzvah. Her party theme, held in the social hall: cartoon cats. Felix, Pink Panther, Slyvester--everyone but Mr. Jinx.

Manhattan Beach Bat Mitzvah Party @ Raleigh Studios

"New York Street," in Manhattan Beach was the place, the occasion was Nikki's high-energy bat mitzvah party, and we were there. The locale was Manhattan Beach's Raleigh Studios, home to CSI: Miami and Boston Legal, and the first ever bat mitzvah party on its studio set street.
We enjoyed doing family shots in front of brownstones, watching Nikki do her hora in the air with buildings behind her instead of ballroom chandeliers and documenting this rockin' family dancin' on the streets.
Mazel tov Nikki!

Letting the Cat out of the Bag

This has nothing to do with Los Angeles weddings or Los Angeles bar/bat mitzvahs, but we couldn't resist.
This is our cat Jinx, who always finds ultra comfortable places to spend his hours. Now if he could just find some little meeces.....

Nikki's Manhattan Beach Bat Mitzvah

Our photo session with Nikki at Congregation Tikvah Jacob in Manhattan Beach started next door at the Hawthorn Suites, in the courtyard. We love taking relaxed portraits there before stepping into the sanctury for bat mitzvah portraits. Here's our favorites from the day.

Dodger Stadium Bar Mitzvah Party

Drew and his family rocked the Dodger Stadium clubhouse Saturday evening (3/15) with a wild party celebrating his Manhattan Beach bar mitzvah. Drew (and brother, mom and dad) spent much of the evening up in the air, courtesy of the Hora and his guests, who kept tossing Drew upwards. Before the Dodger Stadium Bar Mitzvah party got under way, we were able to explore the facility with Drew for shots in and around the ball field and press box. This was our first Dodger Stadium bar mitzvah, and it was great. The party took place in the Clubhouse, with huge picture windows overlooking the ball field. And food? Needless to say, everything from Dodger Dogs to fine pizza and salads.

Manhattan Beach Bar Mitzvah

It was old home week for us the other day when we did Drew's bar mitzvah portraits at Congregation Tikvah Jacob in Manhattan Beach. This is the temple where Sam had his bar mitzvah, way back in 1999.
Drew holds the torah in the santcuary, and later on, does a group hug with the family by the natural window light.

Malibu Bar Mitzvah | Jason 3/1/2008

It was back to Malibu last weekend for Jason's bar mitzvah at the fun Malibu Jewish Center & Synagogue, where rabbi Judith and Cantor Marcelo sing up a storm. Jason read from the torah, and had his relatives hand out candy to the kids before hand. Candy? To throw up on the bima after he did his reading.
We love the wide open spaces of the facility, the abundance of window light and the huge outdoor patios adjoining the sanctuary.

Palos Verdes Wedding Photography by Graham & Graham

The shots in the following post were taken in the rain. These ones of Jenna on her wedding day (top and bottom) were at the (covered) Malaga Cove Plaza. We started off in Redondo Beach by the Pier after the wedding, but once it started really pouring, we went back up the hill to Palos Verdes for some relief from the rain. Malaga Cove is a quaint, magical place that reminds us of some really old Italian piazza. The middle shot is of Jenna prepping for the day, pre-wedding dress, when she arrived to her grandmother's house in a pink "Bride," top! No, we didn't supply it for pictorial purposes.

Palos Verdes Bride & Groom

Rain? What rain? If you look really closely at this wedding day shot of Jenna and John, you can see some raindrops on Jenna's eyelids. But love was in the air on 2/23/08, and Jenna and John were determined to pose for pictures by the historic Malaga Cove Library in Palos Verdes, California, no matter what. The wedding party came armed with umbrellas, and held them over their heads to survive the dropping pellets, until we yelled out, "Drop `em," for a quick shot. And guess what? We all survived! Malaga Cove is one of our all-time favorite picture spots, and we look forward to returning again and again.

Los Angeles Bat Mitzvah | Temple Israel of Hollywood

We love photographing bar and bat mitzvahs at Temple Israel of Hollywood. For one thing, it's a big, beautiful historic building right in the heart of town--on Hollywood Blvd. Secondly, such music!
Allison not only read from the torah, but she also sang several numbers with the cantor and rabbi as well. In harmony!
Afterwards, we moved to the social hall for a rocking party, with fine entertainment provided by You Should Be Dancing.

Hermosa Beach Engagement Pictures

Rhonda and Scott are troupers! One thing it's easy to forget about doing beach sunset engagement pictures in February....it can get darn cold out there. But our happy couple braved the chill, and gave it their best beach bikini Sports Illustrated smiles. And we got a nice sunset to boot!