If your family is celebrating a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at Brentwood Country Club, I’d love to help you document it. Over the years, I’ve photographed many mitzvah celebrations across Los Angeles, and Brentwood Country Club remains one of the most versatile and inviting locations. The lush grounds, natural light, and open space create a beautiful setting for portraits, while the staff makes the day feel seamless.
A Bar or Bat Mitzvah is one of the most meaningful milestones in Jewish life, and my goal is to capture the joy, pride, and connection that comes with it. My photography style blends classic, editorial, and documentary approaches so your final gallery reflects both the significance of the day and your child’s unique personality. From portraits and the service to celebration coverage, I aim to photograph everything in a way that feels polished, natural, and full of personality.
We usually begin with portraits about 90 minutes before the Bar/Bat Mitzvah service. I start with the essentials: your child at the bimah, holding the Torah, opening the aron kodesh, or practicing their tefilot. Then we move into more relaxed portraits that reflect their personality and style. Family portraits follow a similar rhythm, starting with traditional groupings and then mixing in casual interactions and editorial-style images for variety.
Depending on your specific timeline and chosen synagogue’s policies, the service may follow immediately after. If photography is permitted, I document the full ceremony, including aliyot, Torah reading, and any interactions between your child, the clergy, and your loved ones. If photography isn’t allowed during the actual Shabbat morning service, we can schedule a weekday session in the sanctuary to capture all those important moments in advance.
Once the service concludes, the celebration begins. Whether you’re planning a daytime luncheon or an evening party at the Brentwood Country Club, I’ll be there to document it all. That includes real, candid photos of your child and their friends on the dance floor, during games like Coke and Pepsi, and of course, the hora. I also photograph speeches, candle lighting ceremonies, and those beautiful in-between moments - laughs with friends, hugs from grandparents, and everything that makes the simcha so memorable.
If you’re interested in photos for invitations, décor, or a slideshow, I also offer portrait sessions in the months leading up to the event. These can be at your home, at the Brentwood Country Club, or at another meaningful location. I’ve photographed sessions with everything from a modern city vibe or beach, to nature-inspired or sports-themed mitzvah shoots. If you have a creative vision in mind, I’d love to collaborate.
The last step is the mitzvah photo album, which brings everything together into one beautiful story. I offer custom-designed albums that reflect the emotion, color, and joy of your child’s milestone. I’m always happy to share examples of past designs or help you create something from scratch that your family will treasure for generations.
It would be an honor to photograph such an important moment in your child’s life. If you're planning a Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration at Brentwood Country Club, I’d be thrilled to be part of it.
Bar Mitzvah Planner: Jessica Gehring - Designed by JG