If your family is celebrating a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at Kehillat Israel, I’d love to help you document it. I’ve photographed many mitzvahs at this synagogue over the years, and it’s always a joy to return. Kehillat Israel has a beautiful, modern sanctuary and a truly welcoming community. Every simcha I’ve captured there has felt warm, heartfelt, and deeply personal.
A Bar or Bat Mitzvah is such a meaningful milestone in Jewish life. Whether your child is reading from the Torah, chanting their parashah, leading prayers, or putting on a tallit in front of loved ones, my goal is to capture the emotion, pride, and connection of the day. My photography blends classic, editorial, and documentary styles so that your final gallery feels polished, vibrant, and true to your family’s story.
We typically begin portraits about 90 minutes before the service starts. I like to begin with the essentials: your child holding the Torah, standing at the bimah, opening the ark, or practicing their tefilot. After we’ve captured those meaningful shots, we’ll shift into more relaxed portraits that reflect your child’s personality and spirit.
For family photos, I start with the traditional groupings and then move into more candid interactions and some magazine-style images that bring a little extra personality, variety, and texture to your gallery. These portraits often end up being some of the most meaningful because they reflect not just what the day looked like, but how it felt.
If photography isn’t allowed during your child’s Shabbat morning service, we can plan a weekday "rehearsal Mitzvah" session inside the sanctuary ahead of time. This gives us the opportunity to capture all the key moments, from opening the ark to standing with the clergy, without disrupting the service. If photography is permitted, I’ll document the service as it unfolds, including the aliyot, Torah reading, blessings, and interactions between your child, your guests, and the spiritual leaders who have helped guide them.
Once the service concludes, it’s time to celebrate. Whether you’re planning a kiddush luncheon at Kehillat Israel or an evening party at another nearby Los Angeles event venue, I’ll be there to photograph it all. That includes real, candid moments of your child and their friends laughing, dancing, and playing games like Coke and Pepsi.
From the hora to candle lighting, heartfelt speeches, and quiet hugs with grandparents, I focus on capturing the emotion in the room and the joy on everyone’s faces. These are the moments that bring the story (and the energy) of the day to life.
If you’d like portraits for invitations, décor, or a slideshow, I offer pre-mitzvah sessions in the weeks or months leading up to the event. These sessions can take place at home or at a location that feels meaningful to your family or reflects your child’s interests. I’ve photographed themed shoots in Venice, basketball-inspired sessions (including one where the mitzvah boy played a pickup game with the Rabbi and Cantor), and graffiti backdrops downtown. If you have a creative idea, I’d love to help bring it to life.
And of course, the last step is designing your child’s album. A mitzvah photo album brings everything together and tells the full story of this important day. From the quiet moments in the sanctuary to the dancing and laughter at the party, the album becomes a keepsake your family can return to for years to come. I’m happy to share past examples and guide you through the design process to make sure it feels just right.
It’s always an honor to be trusted with documenting these celebrations. If you’re planning a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at Kehillat Israel in Pacific Palisades, I’d be thrilled to be part of it. Click the button below to get in touch.