Palos Verdes Bar Mitzvah | Congregation Ner Tamid

We were back up on the hill last weekend at the big, majestic Congregation Ner Tamid in Palos Verdes for Blake's Bar Mitzvah and reception. We'll post pictures from the party--catered wonderfully by CNT's resident in-house caterer Peter Carpenter and his Gourmet 2 You company.

CNT is one of our favorite places to photograph, but we don't really need to tell you why, do we? Look at how stunning the setting is!


Mazel Tov, Blake!

San Pedro Bat Mitzvah | Temple Beth El | Jordan

We had the good fortune of spending Saturday with Jordan and her family, as she was called to the Torah at Temple Beth El in San Pedro.

Below is what has to be one of our all-time favorite mother/daughter shots. There's just something about those two smiles--and those brown eyes!--that really gets to us.

Here's Jordan with Cantor Ilan and Rabbi Charles.

And here's more Jordan:

Jacob's Redondo Beach JCC Bar Mitzvah Party

Here's a really fun, rocking video from Jacob's Bar Mitzvah party at the Redondo Beach Jewish Community Center Chabad. By David Medill for Graham & Graham Photography of Manhattan Beach.

Redondo Beach Bar Mitzvah | Jewish Community Center | Jacob

Jacob was called to the torah at the Redondo Beach Jewish Community Center Chabad this weekend. We actually took these shots on Thursday, as Jacob had a morning service, and doesn't allow photography on Shabbat.
But that's OK--we love the mid-week portrait sessions, as it gives us more time with our clients, in a non-pressurized atmosphere.
We love this shot of Jacob reading by the door, lit by natural daylight--as well as this beaut of a "generation to generation" shot--Mom, Grandma and Jacob.

Jacob's a great kid with an outgoing personality, and he really wanted to let loose and get wild during the portraits.

We made a deal--be serious inside, and then when afterwards, you can go absolutely crazy outside.

Which, of course, he really did. Taking advantage of the 8-frames-per-second feature on the new Canon 7D SLR, we told Jacob he could make as many funny faces as he wanted, and we'd capture them all.
Here are just a few of them.

Whittier Bat Mitzvah | Temple Beth Shalom

We enjoyed meeting Isabella at Temple Beth Shalom of Whittier recently for her Bat Mitzvah. It was our first time at the temple, and we look forward to returning again in the future.
Mazel tov, Bella!


Bella, photographed by Sam Graham of Graham & Graham Photography

Jotown! A Rocking Motown themed Redondo Beach Bar Mitzvah Party

Here's some highlights from last night's rockin' Redondo Beach Bar Mitzvah bash for Joey--JOTOWN!
The Motown theme was for the Schwartz family, formerly from Motor City, who showed the California folks how the folks in the midwest rock out and let their hair down. Detroit native Jon Layne and his amazing Party Layne company provided the entertainment, we did the photography, the Redondo Beach Crowne Plaza was the setting.
A really fun night.

Long Beach Temple Israel Hafotorah Video Montage | Emily's Bat Mitzvah

It's almost the one-year anniversary of Emily's Valentine's Day Bat Mitzvah at Long Beach's Temple Israel, and we were just thinking about how this is one of your favorite videos ever. Why not pull it out again to share?