Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah | Wilshire Boulevard Temple | Liam

It was Liam's turn at the Torah today, following brother Noah and sister Mia, at the beautiful Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Irmas campus, on the west side.





Liam, a South Bay dance student, had a wonderful grace about him up there, and infectious smile. He brought that big energy afterwards to a big, rockin' party at the El Segundo Automobile Driving Museum, a popular South Bay spot for Bar and Bat Mitzvah parties. It's filled with classic cars, and has a wonderful, intimate ballroom for dancing. We'll be back at the museum, in fact, on 10/16, for another party.

Wilshire Boulevard Temple Bar Mitzvah | Piness Auditorium

In October, 2008, a foot-long chunk of plaster fell from the huge dome of the downtown Wilshire Boulevard Temple, closing it down for B'nei Mitzvah families.
Last weekend we photographed our first Bar Mitzvah in the temporary WBT quarters, the "small," and incredibly photogenic Piness Auditorium. Piness seats just 600 (!) folks, in a school-like setting, with an amazing mural of L.A. Jewry as the backdrop.
It was a privilege to be there, and we're thrilled to share some of the images from Daniel's Bar Mitzvah here.

Mia Dances Up a Storm @ Wilshire Boulevard Temple

Mia loves to dance--and she put on quite the show at her Bat Mitzvah over the weekend.

The service was held at Irmas Campus of Wilshire Boulevard Temple, with a party afterwards at Hermosa Beach's Zen Lounge.

The party--which just happened to fall on Mia's birthday--opened with the traditional grand entrance and Hora, followed by an energetic, solo number by Mia. Erica Mangham's THE Event staged the nattily decorated party, with wonderful nightclub like lighting, and terrific food from the Zen Lounge.

Wilshire Boulevard Temple Bat Mitzvah | Irmas Campus

Here's one of our favorite all-time videos montages. It's images of Samantha, from her December Wilshire Boulevard Temple Bat Mitzvah, chanting from the torah.
Photodex, which makes our favorite video montage software, Producer, just came out with a new version that shows videos in crisp, widescreen, and we love the look.
Check it out!

Top Ten Bar/Bat Mitzvah Photos of the Year

It's that end of the year, recap time again. Top Ten Movies! Top Ten CDs! Top Ten TV shows!
And, as always, Graham & Graham's Top Ten Bar/Bat Mitzvah photos of 2008.
This was our best year ever, with more events, more new locales, and new ways of looking at the art of Bar/Bat Mitzvah photography.
In first place, we begin with Dimitri @ Leo Baeck Temple.

Sam Graham and Dimitri pushed the limits at a Bar Mitzvah/family portrait shoot, and (with further assist from Photoshop) came up with a memorable, iconic image that we used as this year's holiday card.
Samantha @ Wilshire Boulevard Temple' s Irmas campus.

Shortly before her Saturday morning Bat Mitzvah, we brought Samantha to the front door of the temple sanctuary, and made use of the natural light for a soft light portrait. It was made all the nicer for us with her comfy lean against the door. Against the torahs in the background, it just makes this a definitive Bat Mitzvah portrait. And you should hear the girl sing !

Lana @ Manhattan Beach's Congregation Tikvat Jacob 
We've photographed at CTJ, our local hometown temple more than any other Los Angeles shul, but have never gotten a shot like this! In November we attended an incredible photo seminar by Doug Gordon, who encourages shooting portraits with little video lights instead of flash units. The idea is you'll get softer, less harsh light. We've been experimenting with video lights since, especially at CTJ, and love what we see, but this is our favorite.
We put the video light into an umbrella, turned off all the lights in the sanctuary, and this is what we got, a moody, reflective shot.

Sam @ Long Beach Renaissance Hotel


Okay, this photo is not arty, but it is THE iconic Bar/Bat Mitzvah party shot, and for good reason. Who can ever tire of seeing a kid up in a chair, hoisted by his parents and friends, having an absolute blast? The confetti just makes it that much better.
Sam had his Bar Mitzvah at the Long Beach Temple Israel. It was our first time there, and we look forward to returning in February for Emily's Bat Mitzvah.

Thomas @ Santa Monica's Beth Shir Sholom




Another classic, iconic shot we can never get enough of--Bar Mitzvah boy reading from the Torah, in a beautiful temple, dressed to the nines, with his talit refelecting in the glass.
Tyler @ CTJ in Manhattan Beach.

This shoot was special for a number of reasons. Manhattan Beach's CTJ is a conservative temple with strict, no-photography-during-services rules. Tyler is a special needs child who is autistic and doesn't use a lot of words. He had an afternoon service, which ended after sundown, so for the first time, at our pleading, CTJ let us document part of the service. We were honored to be there for this historic occasion. And so was Tyler, who seemed just absolutely thrilled with every moment of the big day. His enthusiasm was infectious on everyone.
Alex @ Temple Menorah of Redondo Beach


Redondo Beach's Temple Menorah is a large, beautiful building near Torrance, and it can be really dark inside, even with the lights we bring to photograph our portraits. This was our second time shooting at Menorah, and it was really, really hot inside this day. So after about a half-hour, we opened a side door to let some air in--and look at what came with it--beautiful, soft daylight. We brought Alex to the door with the torah, and let the natural light shine on her face. We loved the results so much, now we always look for the side door at all our temples!
Andy @ Orange County's Temple Beth Shalom 

Bar Mitzvah boy in front of torahs, with our favorite Canon 70mm-200mm 2.8 lens. It's a classic, made all the better this day thanks to Andy's orange hair, juxtaposed against the orange hue of the torahs. This was our fifth shoot at our favorite Orange County shul, Temple Beth Shalom , and we look forward to returning in 2009.

Brandon @ Camp Hess Kramer

Look, we traveled to Israel to photograph a Bar Mitzvah!
Not quite, but it sure looks like it. 

Brandon and his family spent the weekend at Wilshire Boulevard Temple's Camp Hess Kramer in Malibu, where he went to the torah in the rustic chapel in the woods, and then partied in a big tent below. 

It was an overcast day, so for this image, we put a flash unit on a light stand, bounced into an umbrella, to help the image pop. 

Alex @ Temple Shalom of the South Bay, Manhattan Beach Marriott.

Who can beat an outdoor ceremony on a beautiful September day overlooking a lush green golf course? That's Alex at the Bima, with smiling Rabbi Lori from Hermosa Beach's Temple Shalom of the South Bay looking on. Temple Shalom travels to different venues each weekend for its B'nai Mitzvahs, and Alex's mom choose the wonderful Manhattan Beach Marriott (we're biased--it's five blocks from our home) for the event. On this day, with Alex singing up there, and smiling so, with the greenery of the trees and grass a magnificent backdrop, the M.B. Marriott never looked finer.

Samantha's Beverly Hills Bat Mitzvah Party | BatMitzvahPhotographer.com

Here's more! Samantha's high-energy Bat Mitzvah party, from the Beverly Hills Country Club, a video montage by http://www.grahamandgrahamphotography.com. Breakdancing and fun DJ services provided by Randy and the gang at http://www.realgeniusdjs.com

Wilshire Boulevard Temple Bat Mitzvah | Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah Photographer

We returned to Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Irmas Campus, Saturday to document the Bat Mitzvah of the lovely Samantha. Few facilities we know of are this dramatic. Love that blue backdrop! And the purple dress!
Afterwards, the party was held at the Beverly Hills Country Club, with a high-energy dance set by Randy and his team of amazing dancers from Real Genius Entertainment. We'll post pix from the party later in the week.

Irmas Campus | Wilshire Boulevard Temple

Max was called to the Torah last Saturday at the stately Wilshire Boulevard Temple in West Los Angeles, Irmas Campus. Last month, we photographed Brandon at WBT's Camp Hess Kramer facility in Malibu, and will be returning in December to Irmas for Samantha's Bat Mitzvah,
We can't wait!

Wilshire Boulevard Temple | Again!

Did we mention that we love photographing Bar and Bat Mitzvahs at Wilshire Boulevard Temple? We returned to WBT last weekend, to the big Irmas Campus on Olympic, to photograph Max's Bar Mitzvah. We love this shot of the Rabbi looking at the congregation from her perspective. Agree? Let us know your thoughts.

Wilshire Boulevard Temple | Hess Kramer Bar Mitzvah

Here's a fun video montage we put together from the recent Wilshire Boulevard Temple Bar Mitzvah at the Camp Hess Kramer facility in Malibu. By Graham and Graham Photography.

Hess Kramer Bar Mitzvah | Wilshire Boulevard Temple | Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah

Here's some shots from one of our all-time favorite Bar Mitzvah shots, an outdoor event at Camp Hess Kramer in Malibu, the facility run by the Wilshire Boulevard Temple. Best-known as a summer camp, the hillside "chapel," also serves as a homey setting for an outdoor Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Brandon was called to the Torah recently at WBT's Hess Kramer, with a fun party down the hill afterwards in a tent. Mazel Tov Brandon!

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.