San Pedro Bat Mitzvah | Temple Beth El | Jordan

We had the good fortune of spending Saturday with Jordan and her family, as she was called to the Torah at Temple Beth El in San Pedro.

Below is what has to be one of our all-time favorite mother/daughter shots. There's just something about those two smiles--and those brown eyes!--that really gets to us.

Here's Jordan with Cantor Ilan and Rabbi Charles.

And here's more Jordan:

Jacob's Redondo Beach JCC Bar Mitzvah Party

Here's a really fun, rocking video from Jacob's Bar Mitzvah party at the Redondo Beach Jewish Community Center Chabad. By David Medill for Graham & Graham Photography of Manhattan Beach.

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.

Whittier Bat Mitzvah | Temple Beth Shalom

We enjoyed meeting Isabella at Temple Beth Shalom of Whittier recently for her Bat Mitzvah. It was our first time at the temple, and we look forward to returning again in the future.
Mazel tov, Bella!


Bella, photographed by Sam Graham of Graham & Graham Photography

Jotown! A Rocking Motown themed Redondo Beach Bar Mitzvah Party

Here's some highlights from last night's rockin' Redondo Beach Bar Mitzvah bash for Joey--JOTOWN!
The Motown theme was for the Schwartz family, formerly from Motor City, who showed the California folks how the folks in the midwest rock out and let their hair down. Detroit native Jon Layne and his amazing Party Layne company provided the entertainment, we did the photography, the Redondo Beach Crowne Plaza was the setting.
A really fun night.

Long Beach Temple Israel Hafotorah Video Montage | Emily's Bat Mitzvah

It's almost the one-year anniversary of Emily's Valentine's Day Bat Mitzvah at Long Beach's Temple Israel, and we were just thinking about how this is one of your favorite videos ever. Why not pull it out again to share?

Palos Verdes Congregation Ner Tamid Bat Mitzvah

It's January now, and we're just getting to posting some highlights from the December Bar and Bat Mitzvahs.
Katie was lively and vivacious and a total pleasure to photograph during her photo shoot at Rancho Palos Verdes' beautiful Congregation Ner Tamid, high up on the hill overlooking the Los Angeles basin.

Her reception was held at the Portofino in Redondo Beach, right by the water, where Katie was truly the life of the party, staging dance contests, running madly through the restaurant at break-neck speed during the "Pepsi/7UP" game and....well, check out her jump shot. There are jumps, and then there are jumps. Mazel Tov, Katie!

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.

Favorite Moments from Los Angeles Weddings | Video Montage

We take a quick break from the Bar/Bat Mitzvah pix this week for a highlight reel of some of our all-time favorite Los Angeles wedding photographs.

We had fun pulling our best work, and putting it through ProShow Producer for a fast-paced slideshow.
The brides featured here were photographed at the Mary, Star of the Sea church in San Pedro, Old Ranch Country Club of Seal Beach, Neighborhood Church of Palos Verdes, La Venta Inn, Jose Eber hair salon on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, the Manhattan Beach Pier, the Ritz-Carlton of Marina del Rey, Los Angeles Athletic Club, LMU, UCLA's Royce Hall, South Bay Botanic Garden, Malaga Cove, Mountaingate country club, Riviera church in Torrance, Wayfarers Chapel of Palos Verdes, Long Beach's Queen Mary and our all-time favorite, Union Station in downtown Los Angeles.

Beverly Hills Hotel | Bar Mitzvah Party Video | Simon's Simcha

Here's video highlights from Simon's rocking Beverly Hills Hotel Bar Mitzvah party from a few weeks ago. David Medill shot this for us, and did an amazing job.

Beverly Hills Temple Emanuel Bar Mitzvah | Beverly Hills Hotel Party

It was a pleasure last weekend to return to Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills for Simon's Bar Mitzvah. Later that night, Simon and his family hosted a rockin' party at the swanky Beverly Hills Hotel, with DJ services from the Party Zone.







Pictured below, you'll find Simon in front of the Beverly Hills Hotel, posing with his lovely mom by the Crystal area, and having an amazing Hora in the Beverly Hills Hotel ballroom.

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.

Temple Menorah Redondo Beach Bar Mitzvah

Jake had his Bar Mitzvah at one of our favorite local temples, Redondo Beach's Temple Menorah, recently. The party was held that night in downtown Los Angeles's swanky Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, staged by Nina Bracker Events, with DJ services by You Should Be Dancing. Pictured below: Jake in the Chandler banquet room.

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.

Tyler Reads | CTJ | Manhattan Beach

Another new favorite. Tyler @Congregation Tikvat Jacob in Manhattan Beach, photo by Sam Graham of Graham & Graham Photography.

Below--there's Tyler making his grand entrance with the Amazing Bottle Dancers at the Cheesecake Factory.

Spencer's Redondo Beach Bar Mitzvah | JCC Chabad | Ayers Hotel

Spencer and his friends celebrated his simcha with gusto at his recent Bar Mitzvah bash at the Ayers Hotel of Hawthorne. Check out the top shot--it's one of our all-time favorites. Savor it, and look at all the faces as Spencer is thrown into the air. The boys on the left are loving it, while the girls on the left--their faces in horror, are saying "OMG!"
As the pictures below show, Spencer was having the time of his life! And we were thrilled to be there to capture the memories.
Spencer held his Bar Mitzvah at the beautiful Redondo Beach Community Center, Chabad.

William Z's Temple Isaiah Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah

Three years ago we had the good fortune of meeting up with the Liebenson family for Justine's Bat Mitzvah at Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles.
Fast forward to 2009, and it was time for brother Will to step to the Isaiah bima--and for us to reunite with the family again. We (along with hot LA DJ Randy Lehrman and his Real GeniusDJ outfit)also got to participate in a high-energy celebration at the Olympic Collection in Los Angeles.




Here's Will wooping it up with his pals at the simcha!

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.