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).

Long Beach Bat Mitzvah | Hyatt Regency | Mikaela

Two weeks in a row in beautiful Long Beach, this time for vibrant Mikaela, who came to the torah the day before Passover at Congregation Shir Chadash in Lakewood.



After the service, we zoomed over to the stately Hyatt Regency, for a fun Hollywood themed party for the Bat Mitzvah girl.

Temple Israel Long Beach Bar Mitzvah | Shane

We returned to Temple Israel of Long Beach Saturday for Shane's Bar Mitzvah. The time change caused the light to shine in places we'd never experienced before, illuminating the temple with much more light than we'd seen before--happily so.

After the service, Shane and his friends boarded a water bus for the Marriott Renaissance Hotel, where a guitar themed party had the kids and adults rockin' out. DJ's H2H did an amazing job. Rock on, Shane!

Headshots and Portraits for business cards, brochures, webpages, etc.

We get calls all the time asking us to take headshots for websites, brochures, business cards and the like, and we're more than happy to oblige. So many asked, we figured we'd make it official and let everyone know--we're available for headshots!



Just give us a call at 310-594-8704, let us know you're on the way, have a seat on our stool, and we'll get some nice images of you while you wait.

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!