Josh Barry Photography’s Blog

Sarah Lossing’s Bat Mitzvah-Washington D.C.

Writing by Josh Barry on Friday, 3 of October , 2008 at 12:28 am

I drove down to Washington D.C. to Washington Hebrew Congregation to photograph Sarah in preparation for her big Bat Mitzvah day on Saturday. Thanks Lossings and see you on Saturday night!!

On a side note:

Are you looking for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah Photographer?

I hope the Lossings don't mind me using an example from their session but I thought other parents looking for a photographer would be interested in this.

As you look for a photographer obviously technical knowledge and the ability to create portraits are important. I always tell my potential clients that when you are looking for a photographer look BEYOND technical knowledge. Look at their personality, look at their ability to be diplomatic. Do they smile? Do they appear to enjoy what they do? Those can be and are, in my opinion, are more important than technical knowledge. The smartest photographer can create a technically perfect image but if they aren't the type of person to make you feel comfortable it will show in the portrait that he or she has created for you.

When the Lossings showed up behind schedule I only had 15 minutes remaining before the rehearsal began to create the type of portraits that I like to do at the Bimah portrait session. Keep in mind I generally take 1 1/2 to 2 hours to do a full session for Bimah portraits.

What is important here is that I remained very calm and collected and explained that we would do our best with the time remaining before the rehearsal to get as many portraits of Sarah as we can. I even explained and reassured them that I would stay during the rehearsal and improvise by covering the rehearsal itself to achieve some other photographs that we otherwise would not have had the time to create.

I enjoy a challenge. It is far less productive to throw your arms in the air out of frustration, shame your client, and give up because the factors have changed drastically. Plan 'B', 'C' and sometimes even 'D' has to be on my mind because you never know what will happen, and after-all your (my client) comfort is my top priority because without that my camera won't even have a chance to do its' job properly.

Here is a sneak at one of her beautiful portraits created in those 15 minutes.

Also, BECAUSE I CAN (tee hee hee). I took some portraits of my oldest daughter the other day and wanted to show off how beautiful she is. So you, my captive audience, gets to see what we did the other day. She is only 8 so her Bat Mitzvah won't be for another 5 years!