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.)

Malibu Bat Mitzvah --Skylar

Skylar took center stage at Malibu Jewish Center, leading an unorthodox Bat Mitzvah, in which the young woman actually led the service, giving the rabbi more time to sit than stand.
Skylar chanted, she sang, she read, and boy did she party.
Here's shots of the extremely talented Skylar at the Bima, singing by herself and with dad, in and around her wordly party theme and popping her eyes during the lively Hora celebration at the temple, with fun assist from the Amazing Bottle Dancers.
More to come in the next days, including video clips.

Paris!

Another video postcard from our recent travels.

Barcelona!

OK, this is a Bar/Bat Mitzvah blog, but what fun is it going to Spain and snapping lots of video and stills if you can't share them with the world?
So here's our video postcard from Barcelona!

A 3-D, Action-Filled Bar Mitzvah Party

Earlier in the week we promised to post some of the highlights from Joshua's Palos Verdes Bar Mitzvah party--so here we go.
This was the event with the 3-D video montage--and a very enthusiastic family rockin' the dance foor.

Flush-Mounted Bar/Bat Mitzvah Albums by Graham & Graham

Folks ask us all the time about our deluxe flush-mounted Bar/Bat Mitzvah albums. So we thought we'd show an example here, from Justine's Bat Mitzvah @ Temple Isaiah of Los Angeles.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Album by Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah Photographer from Graham & Graham on Vimeo.

We prefer the contemporary look and feel of the flush mount--where the pictures are right on the page, to the matted albums of grandma and grandpa's era.
We tell our clients after the simcha to select around 50 pictures for the album. We take the images, go off and design it--then show a proof via an e-mail link. Once it's all approved, the album arrives within about a month.

Jewish Wedding Highlights | Los Angeles Athletic Club

OK, this is our Bar/Bat Mitzvah blog, but if you're reading this, odds are, you're Jewish, so we think you'll get a kick out of these very special Jewish wedding photos from last weekend.
We're thrilled with what we got--Jade and Brett look so happy under the chuppah--this is the real stuff.
So we deviate from our normal format, and ask you to enjoy our wedding highlights for the happy couple.




Jade and Brett's traditional Jewish wedding was held at the Los Angeles Athletic Club, officiated by Rabbi Issac Jeret of Palos Verdes' Congregation Ner Tamid.
The hoopa was put in the main ballroom, overlooking the 7th Street diamond district. We had fun with the happy couple afterwards by taking some shots on the roof, and then slipping into the basketball court. (Who needs to throw a bouquet when you can toss a basketball?)
Terrific music at the reception by the insanely talented Dwight Kennedy band.
A hearty mazel tov to the couple from Graham & Graham.

Palos Verdes Congregation Ner Tamid Bar Mitzvah | Joshua

Here's Joshua and his great-looking family from this weekend's Palos Verdes Bar Mitzvah up on the hill at Congregation Ner Tamid. Ner Tamid doesn't allow photography during the service, so these images were taken Friday afternoon at the "rehearsal."
We returned the next day for the party, where Dad, a stereo photography enthusiast, had the kids in the palm of his hands hen he did something we've never, ever seen at a Bar Mitzvah party. David handed out 3-D glasses to all to watch the incredibly creative, very unique and highly entertaining video montage.
Pictures from the party will be posted later in the week. Photos 1, 3, 4 and 9 by Sam, the others by Jeff.

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.

Palos Verdes Ner Tamid Bar Mitzvah by Graham & Graham

It was back to Rancho Palos Verdes and Congregation Ner Tamid over the weekend for Jared's Bar Mitzvah, with a super-hero themed reception at the Torrance Doubletree.


Jared, like the younger Graham, is a great visual artist, and he decorated the party with some of his great images. The artwork was also a centerpiece of his entertaining montage.

Below, Jared posing with some of his pals--the Hulk, Spider-man, Superman and Wall-E, and dancing up a storm. Photos by Sam Graham (except siblings, by Jeff.)

Leo Baeck Temple Bar Mitzvah | American Jewish University

It was our first time at American Jewish University on Mulholland for Elliot's Bar Mitzvah. The family belongs to Leo Baeck, which is under construction remodeling for a year, so Bar Mitzvahs are being held, for the time being, in the retro chapel at AJU. We got the killer shot of Elliot and his siblings outside on the patio, directly across from the chapel.

Later that night, master party planner Nina Bracker staged the hippest, contemporary iPod-themed i-celebration for Elliot at Michael's in Santa Monica. Elliot is having fun in front of some of the really cool lighting effects Nina posted in and around the restaurant patio.