This was my first time up at Congregation Keneseth Israel in Allentown. The shule, although small, was beautiful all over with natural light everywhere to play with. This portraits below was taken using window light only. Oh and Aaron was not shy at all. He was a lot of fun and had some ideas of his own. I liked his outgoing personality. Not afraid of the camera at all was Aaron.
This was unique for me as it is rare I get to photograph two siblings at the same time. They both were from the same family yet their personalities were so different. They rounded out their wonderful family very well. This was special for the entire family. I tried to make sure I got portraits of each of them alone to emphasize their individuality.
The party is tomorrow! This is going to be a fun party!
Below is a story. Not just a story, a horror story of someone who threw away a 30 year reputation in photography. Speaking without boundaries I hope someone cuts my hands off if I ever do anything this stupid. Photographer horror stories are usually the type thing that centers around the more common “I paid the photographer, he came and took the photos and then I never heard from him again and it’s been 2 years!”
The story below sickens me. Seriously. I never say anything about other photographers. Any of my clients know this. It is not anywhere near professional. But I would be doing a disservice to my clients if I didn’t share this.
Oy vey! Bat mitzvah photographer accused of stealing guest’s purse
By REGINA MEDINA
Philadelphia Daily Newsmedinar@phillynews.com 215-854-5985
Sometime between the DJ playing “Hava Nagila” and “Last Dance” at a recent bat mitzvah party, the professional photographer allegedly stopped snapping pictures and got sticky fingers.Steve Raab, 60, of Huntingdon Valley, allegedly stole a guest’s black felt purse and apparently used a credit card it contained to pay for gas and dog food, Montgomery County authorities say.
Now, county prosecutors want to know if Raab, who specializes in weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs and other festivities, has stolen other items while at work.
So far, there are no indications that Raab has stolen before, said Assistant District Attorney Steven Latzer.
Raab and his wife, Susan, 63, were arrested Friday and charged with theft, criminal conspiracy and other charges. The couple, who have run Creative Photography and Video for more than 30 years in Newtown, Bucks County, and in Northeast Philadelphia, are out of jail on bail until a March 26 preliminary hearing.
“It’s obviously distressing,” Latzer said. “You place your trust in them [photographers], you have a good time. You don’t consider the fact that the photographer is going into your things and stealing them.
“In situations such as this, not only did he steal a purse, but he also stole the trust of the people that hired him,” he said.
Steve Raab was hired to videotape and snap photos of a bat mitzvah at the Philmont Country Club in Lower Moreland Feb. 2, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
The purse belonging to an out-of-town guest went MIA between midnight and 1 a.m. on Feb. 3, the police criminal complaint said.
The purse reportedly contained an American Express credit card, an iPhone, makeup and other items.
The victim canceled the card, but not before the Raabs used it to purchase $60 in gasoline at a Philly Amoco BP and for a large bag of dog food, valued at $66.32, on the same day, according to the complaint.
Susan Raab was not at the party.
The couple allegedly attempted to buy a global-positioning system and a man’s shirt at a Wal-Mart in the Northeast, but the transaction was declined. The Raabs allegedly tried once again – and failed – to get the GPS at a Target store in the Northeast. The transactions at Target and Wal-Mart were recorded on surveillance video.
The investigation led cops to Raab’s studio at 120 S. State St. in Newtown, where Lower Moreland Township Detective Rick Small showed the surveillance photos to Raab. The photographer said he had found the credit card “laying in the parking lot” outside the Philmont Country Club, according to the police complaint.
When Small asked where the card was, “Raab, without hesitation, pulled the card from a left jacket pocket that he was wearing and gave it” to the detective, according to the complaint.
Eventually, the couple hired a lawyer who helped facilitate the return of the black purse including all missing items, prosecutors said.
Small asks anyone who believes he or she was the victim of a theft at a wedding, bar/bat mitzvah or other private party at which Raab was the photographer to call him at 215-947-3132, extension 223. *
Here is the link to the original story: http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/16017157.html
Dear friends of Josh Barry Photography,
Recently the regular issue of the Baltimore Jewish Times released another Simcha edition featuring articles, ads, tips, how-to’s and guides concerning planning and source-finding for Weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. I had the pleasure and honor of being interviewed and featured in their article “Camera Ready”.
In the article are some very interesting and IMPORTANT tips on choosing your photographer. Although this is largely geared towards the wedding couple searching for a photographer they can easily be applied to Bar/Bat Mitzvahs as well. Click here to read Page 1 and here for page 2 of the article. You will need a PDF viewer to read these. Most computers have them already.
The album pages featured throughout the article are from a recent Wedding client, Patty Hans. Below is a testimonial received from her about her wedding.
“My husband and I used Josh Barry Photography for our wedding in September 2007. He is an outstanding photographer. He not only takes beautiful pictures using a variety of techniques, his approach to photography is very lively and fun while still very professional. He has the creativity and intuition to see something and to envision using it as a prop in his picture and is very comfortable doing so. He makes everyone feel comfortable and relaxed while he is taking pictures. Josh takes beautifully posed pictures as well as pictures where he is capturing the moment. He is able to catch moments so subtly that the subject isn’t even aware of the fact that he’s photographing them at that moment. As a bride, Josh made me feel special while ensuring that I was comfortable and relaxed. He makes every one of the guests feel comfortable too. Our wedding guests all commented on how great the photographer was and how much fun he was. Josh got fantastic shots without being intrusive. The pictures Josh took for us are absolutely beautiful and everyone that has seen them were equally impressed. I highly recommend using Josh Barry Photography for any of your photography needs. He is extremely talented and creative, very personable and also very accommodating. Again, we highly recommend Josh!
Patty & Jim Hollister
Parkville, MD”
Jeremy’s Bar Mitzvah took place at the Liberty Jewish Center in Pikesville and his reception at Ner Tamid in Baltimore. Hats off to his entire family for having JEremy apart of their family. He is definitely a mench and has something to offer to the Jewish adult world.
He and his family were so pleasant and all around good people. Here are some from his Bimah Portraits and Party.
So I took some of my images that I used on my website that showcase my Bar/Bat Mitzvah Photography and made a slideshow out of them.
Let me know what you think. Making these are fun.
