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!

Pasadena Bar & Bat Mitzvah Photography

 

We're big fans of the Pasadena Jewish Center--especially the big windows that provide illumination for natural portraits. For Allie, before we went up to the bima to open the torah, we had her pose right by the window, looking up, down and around, and are absolutely thrilled with the results. Hopefully you will too.

Santa Monica Bar Mitzvah Photography

 

 

The ever photogenic Thomas had his bar mitzvah at Santa Monica's Beth Shir Sholom on January 12th, and we were honored to be on hand to document it.

Salt Lake City Jewish Wedding by Graham & Graham

 
 
 
 

A Jewish wedding in Salt Lake City on Christmas day? Don't laugh. The couple was surrounded by friends and family, kosher food and rockin' klezmer music at a wonderful 12/25 simcha. It was the first wedding ever at the Chabad of Utah, and we predict many more. The best news of all: beautiful weather! The big snow storm came on Monday, leaving us with lots of sunshine and blue skies for the Tuesday wedding.
The 12/25 simcha was a first for us as well: our initial "destination" wedding,leaving our sunny Southern California climes for the snowy, cool mountain air of Salt Lake City. We hopped in our car, and headed up route 15, lights, tripods and camera gear in tow, and it was well worth it. A great way to spend the holiday.