Rancho Palos Verdes Bar Mitzvah | Congregation Ner Tamid | Zachary

We've spent a lot of time at Congregation Ner Tamid in Rancho Palos Verdes over the last year, and it was a thrill to return again recently for Zachary's Bar Mitzvah. Both the service and party were held at the big temple on the hill, in P.V.
Photography is not allowed during the Saturday services, so we have to work extra hard at making the Friday afternoon "rehearsal" shots come to life, as if they were taken during the ceremony.

We'll let you be the judge at how well the Jeff/Sam tag team pulls that off.
For example, here's two different takes of Rabbi Issac going over Zachary's torah portion, with him, taken at the same time.


And here's Zachary and family marching with the Torah--on Friday afternoon!

Mazel Tov, Zach!

Redondo Beach Senior Portraits | Manhattan Beach

This was something new--and fun--for us!



We met Margaret and her sisters in Manhattan Beach at the Manhattan Beach Pier for a senior portrait session. Margaret is about to graduate from Redondo Union High School in June, and wanted to have some sunset beach shots to hand out to the family. We were thrilled to be there for her.




Congratulations, Margaret!

Bar Mitzvah Photography in Downtown Los Angeles | Part 2 | Julian and Danielle in the City

As promised, here's part two of our recent visit with Bar Mitzvah boy Julian and sister Danielle in downtown Los Angeles, before the big party at the Millennium Biltmore. A little video montage, courtesy of our friends at Animoto.

Los Angeles Bar Mitzvah Photography | Knesset Israel | Julian

We had the honor of meeting Julian and his fine family at Knesset Israel last week for Julian's Bar Mitzvah. It was our first time at the historic temple on Vermont Avenue, and we're thrilled with the results.


Another first for us: Julian, not his parents, did a search for "Bar Mitzvah Photography" on Google and found our website. He liked what he saw, and sent his parents out to meet us. And he knew what he wanted. Classic Bar Mitzvah pictures, like the one of his dad that's been hanging all these years, along with some contemporary twists. This was a fun challenge!
Below, dad's Bar Mitzvah portrait.

Here's our take:

Then it got fun--we put both Bar Mitzvah boys together.

And best of all--they were loving it!

Serious is good, but we're a fan of smiles. We like the classic pose, and a winning, happy grin.


We'll be back later in the week, blogging more photos from Julian's amazing party at the Los Angeles Biltmore, along with our downtown L.A. shoot with Julian and his sister. Co-stars include Disney Hall, Angel's Flight, the Grand Central Market and the Bradbury Building.

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.

He's a Jazzman: Max's Musical Bar Mitzvah Celebration

Here's more from Max's musical Bar Mitzvah celebration: the jazzman blowing away on his baritone sax in his very own backyard.


Max's parents threw the simcha at their home, where Max performed with the hot Richard Bernard and his Oy Stars, a jazzy Klezmer combo with horns, bass, drums and guitar. He did a lot more than just sit in with the band. He held his own, improvised solos, kept up with the band, and proved himself to be one musical prodigy. And sax isn't his only instrument. He had us in awe at another Bar Mitzvah, playing some amazing ragtime piano.


Max: keep rockin'!

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).