Congregation Tikvat Jacob Manhattan Beach | New Clergy Portraits

We just finished new portraits of the Manhattan Beach Congregation Tikvat Jacob clergy--just in time for the High Holidays!

Pictured is Cantor Berger, Cantor Beth and Rabbi Mark, along with the new rabbinical intern Sarah.




A quick note on the lighting for the portraits--we used the Orbis Ringflash on a lightstand as the fill, with the Honl Traveller 8 softbox on two Canon 580 flashes. We love the look!

Manhattan Beach Bat Mitzvah | CTJ | Sarah

We've spent a lot of time with the lovely Sarah over the last few weeks. First, we met her under the Manhattan Beach Pier to shoot the portrait for her sign-in board. Then, a few weeks later, we were at Congregation Tikvat Jacob, our neighborhood temple, for her Bat Mitzvah portraits. Last weekend, it was time to reunite, first in the afternoon, for some Bat Mitzvah day portraits at the family home, then over to the Manhattan Country Club, for the big party, staged by Nina Bracker Events.
Featured below: Sarah at the beach and CTJ, with Rabbi Mark.







All photos by Sam Graham, except for #5, which is by Jeff.

Redondo Beach Bar Mitzvah | Jewish Community Center | Chabad | Jason

It was back to the friendly Jewish Community Center, Chabad last weekend for Jason's Bar Mitzvah. Rabbi David, Jason and the family met with us on Thursday afternoon (no photography allowed during service) for pictures at the JCC.

Rabbi Dovid always thinks we're funny to ask for all the lights to be turned off while we take the pictures, but we love the results. This way, we don't mix different light sources.
The JCC has strong, beautiful window light, probably more so than at any other temple we've photographed, and we love taking advantage of it.


After the Saturday service, Jason and co. celebrated with a simcha at the Manhattan Beach Belamar hotel.


All photos by Sam Graham except for the top photo, which is by Jeff.

Manhattan Beach Bar Mitzvah | Max | Congregation Tikvat Jacob

We returned to our hometown temple for Max's CTJ Bar Mitzvah, a reunion not only with the temple where our Sam Graham went up to the Bima in 1999, but with the Lesser family as well. We photographed sister Jamie's Bat Mitzvah two years ago, so it was great to reunite with the family, and Rabbi Mark Hyman and Cantor Beth Garden.





Photos here by Jeff (1, 3, 4 and 6) and Sam (2 and 5).

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!

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.

Drew's Manhattan Beach Bar Mitzvah | Congregation Tikvat Jacob

Here's Drew, from his Saturday Bar Mitzvah at Congregation Tikvat Jacob of Manhattan Beach.

Photos by Sam Graham of Graham & Graham Photography

From Generation to Generation, Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah

One of the highlights of Bar/Bat Mitzvah photography is seeing the joy the older generation exhibit when watching young 13-year-old children step up to the Bima and read from the Torah. In this case, it was Dakota's Bar Mitzvah over the weekend at Congregation Tikvat Jacob in Manhattan Beach, where beloved great-grandfather "Poppy," got up from his seat, put down his cane, and took his place up on the Bima. He handed the talit to Dakota, and was at the head of the line for passing the Torah down, from generation to generation. The cool thing, as you can see from these images, is that Dakota got as much of a kick from having Poppy there as the old man did.
Dakota and mom Lisa (also seen posing in a killer shot from the sanctuary) put on a terrific baseball themed party (Dakota kind of enjoys sports!) at the Spanish styled Embassy Suites in El Segundo. (Attention Bar/Bat Mitzvah parents--this is one really special facility. We'll post more images from the event later in the week. In the meantime, ask for Deb and tell her we sent `ya.) You Should Be Dancing did their usual stellar DJ job, keeping the kids up and moving all night long.

Redondo Beach Bat Mitzvah | Crowne Plaza | batmitzvahphotographer.com

Saturday it was finally Lana's turn. Lana made her majestic grand entrance to her rocking Bat Mitzvah party at the Crowne Plaza in Redondo Beach, with over 300 guests sharing the love.

It was the third simcha for the Granow clan, and we have been honored to be there for all three.

It was also Lana's third time on the Hora chair. See below for her 2007 and 2005 moments.

One highlight is always the Havdalah ceremony, as staged by the clergy at Manhattan Beach's Congregation Tikvat Jacob. We love photographing it in natural, colorful candle light.


The party was put on by master party planning service In Any Event, and Robin Crevelt. Love that color! DJ Mark Ray had the audience up and moving all night. We produced the montage, which we'll post here soon.

Mazel tov, Lana!

Tyler's Bar Mitzvah | Congregation Tikvat Jacob | Manhattan Beach

Congregation Tikvat Jacob in Manhattan Beach is a conservative synagogue, and as such, has strict policies about photography. Specially, no pictures on Saturday, during Shabbat. But on Saturday, Tyler's Bar Mitzvah was an afternoon event, ending after sundown, so Rabbi Mark Hyman agreed to let us take a few shots--at the tail end, once the Havdalah ceremony began. So here it is folks--history in the making--the first shots we know of, ever taken at CTJ, during a service.

Rabbi Mark read a wonderful poem by Danny Siegel for Tyler, who is autistic, and we'd like to share it with you here:


"I am not some developmentally delayed creature today.

Today I am a full-grown Jew.

Do not reach for your Kleenex;

be no more moved to joy for my Bar Mitzvah moment

than for anybody else's with a quicker mind.

There is nothing special about me today.

I came of age.

I recited my blessings.

I joined the congregation.

It is all natural,

though I would not have known this

without my teachers' and my parents' help.



Expect no less of me than of yourselves,

and no more.

My genes specialize in open love and kindness.

For this, do not admire me from a distance.

Do not wish another chromosome for yourself.

All is not beautiful,

even to me,

but it is more beautiful than you allow yourselves to see.

This face, distinct and smiling, feels pain,

but I can manage.

You, with your own, do the same."

Manhattan Beach Bar/Bat Mitzvah Photography & Video

Graham and Graham Photography is a Manhattan Beach based father/son photo team specializing in Los Angeles Bar/Bat Mitzvah photography and video. We work out of our house, just a few blocks down the street from CTJ, and invite you to come visit and take a look at our portfolio, videos and albums. While we work most often at local temples, like Congregation Tikvat Jacob, Temple Shalom of the South Bay, Temple Menorah and Congregation Ner Tamid, we do often leave the South Bay. Recent photo shoots were at Temple Sholom in Orange County, the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles and Leo Baeck Temple in West Los Angeles. Feel free to call us at 310-545-6291 or e-mail grahamphoto@gmail.com to set up an appointment.

Temple Shalom of the South Bay Bar Mitzvah

Here's a video highlight of a Temple Shalom of the South Bay Bar Mitzvah, by Danny Knutson, for Graham And Graham Photography. Rabbi Lori Schneide leads the Hermosa Beach based congregation, with Cantor Ari Perlmutter, at Alex's Manhattan Beach Bar Mitzvah at the Manhattan Beach Marriott.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Showcase a Smash!

Sunday's Bar/Bat Mitzvah Showcase at Raleigh Studios was a huge hit, with over 200 people attending. Parents of Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Palos Verdes Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, with events in 2009, 2010 and 2011, attended, along with 30 vendors. Thanks to local temples Congregation Tikvat Jacob of Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach's Temple Menorah and Jewish Community Center Chabad and Hermosa Beach's Temple Shalom of the South Bay for helping to make the event a reality. And special kudos to Manhattan Beach event planner Nina Bracker for putting it all together. Look forward to seeing everyone again next year!