If your family is celebrating a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at Temple Isaiah, I’d love to help you document it. I’ve photographed many mitzvahs there over the years, and it continues to be one of my favorite synagogues to work with in Los Angeles. The main prayer space photographs beautifully, with its clean lines, soft light, and meaningful design elements. The community is warm and welcoming, and every simcha I’ve documented there has felt joyful, heartfelt, and deeply rooted in tradition.
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 parts of the Shabbat morning service, or putting on a tallit in front of family and friends, my goal is to capture the emotion, pride, and joy of this moment. My photography style blends classic, editorial, and documentary approaches so your final gallery feels rich, polished, and true to your family’s story.
We typically begin portraits about 90 minutes before the service. I like to start with the essentials: your child standing at the bimah, holding the Torah, opening the aron kodesh, or practicing their tefilot. From there, we shift into more relaxed portraits that show off their personality and style. I take the same approach with family photos, starting with the traditional groupings and then mixing in candid interactions and some magazine-style images for variety.
If photography isn’t permitted during your child’s actual Shabbat service at Temple Isaiah, we can schedule a weekday photo session inside the sanctuary to capture all those key moments in advance. If it is allowed, I’ll photograph the service as it unfolds, including the aliyot, Torah reading, and the meaningful moments shared between your child, the clergy, and your loved ones.
Once the service concludes, the celebration begins. Whether you're planning a kiddush luncheon at Temple Isaiah or a party later that evening at a nearby Los Angeles venue like the Hillcrest Country Club, I'll be there to document it all. That means real, candid photos of your child and their friends dancing, laughing, and playing games like Coke and Pepsi. From dancing the hora to candle lighting, heartfelt speeches, and hugs with the grandparents, I focus on capturing the energy in the room and the joy on everyone’s faces. These are the moments you'll want to remember.
I also offer portrait sessions in the months leading up to the event if you'd like photos of your child or family to use for invitations, décor, or a slideshow. These sessions can be at your home or at a location that reflects your child’s personality. I’ve done 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 vision, I’d love to collaborate.
And of course, the last step is designing your child’s album. A mitzvah album brings everything together and tells the full story of this important day. I have many examples of past albums I can share and would be happy to help you create something truly meaningful for your family.
It’s always an honor to photograph a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. If you're planning one at Temple Isaiah, I’d be thrilled to be part of it. Click the button below to get started.