Miranda’s Bat Mitzvah from Adat Chaim in Maryland
Posts tagged ‘bat mitzvah’
Lots of fun yesterday with the Markovitz family down at Or Shalom in Berwyn, Pa. Mindy, Marli’s mom, found me through her sister when I photographed her nephew’s Bar Mitzvah down in Baltimore. Everyone was in good spirits yesterday and made the day so much fun. If yesterday was any indication on the level of fun we are going to have Saturday nght I had better bring my helmet to the party on Saturday. =)
Here are a couple from yesterday. See you on Saturday Markovitz family.
I had the pleasure and privilege of photographing Kim and her wonderful family this past week for her Bat Mitzvah over at Temple Beth Am near Philadelphia. Kim is such a sweety, always graciously accepting praise, smiling, and allowing me to take her photographs. Her friends adore her and her family loves her very much.
Here is an email I just received from the mother of Kim after the party on Saturday. This was addressed to myself, the DJ and the event coordinator.
“gentlemen,
Words can not adequately convey how much we loved our day! You ALL out did yourselves, providing THE BEST of everything, catering, music and photography. There was NOTHING we would change, and only wish the day did not have to end. I know our memories will last a lifetime. It was a real pleasure preparing for Kim’s Bat Mitzvah, with your help and guidance and we would not hesitate to recommend you to our friends and family!
thanks again and hope we need your services again someday.”
This is what keeps me going. Money is secondary and is only a means to survive and live off of photography but emails like this are what I live for. These are what keep me motivated. I just hope I don’t get too old to do this one day. maybe they’ll find the fountain of youth by then!
Thanks Kramer family!
Here are some portraits from the temple we photographed last Wednesday.
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!
Photography will always be something I enjoy whether or not I am doing it for a living or not. (Hopefully for a living!) So while I am here I like to try new things even if it is taking an idea I have already used and making it 10% different.
I met Charlotte and her family down at B’nai Shalom of Olney this evening. We played with light a little bit and also did (what I call) “the staples” as well. However it’s the creative stuff that makes me smile. I don’t think I could keep photographing professionally if I was turning out the same ole mundane stuff everyone else was doing. What sets me apart then? (other than my eccentric personality and charisma!!!).
Once again the whole family was nice and very easy to work with. I must be the luckiest photographer in the world because I have yet to have a family that is hard to work with. Thank you Lavigna family and I look forward to seeing you Saturday night after the Bat Mitzvah
WARNING IF YOU DON’T HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR DON’T READ ON
In the spirit of the comic strip above I thought I’d post this:
Ok so Saturday night was Staci’s (STACI FACE!!) party for her Bat Mitzvah. Being as this was a first for me (read on) I had to post about it. Never before have I seen so many professional grade cameras in the hands of all the wrong people. I mean look at this group of paparazzi. You’ve got Staci’s dad, her mom, 2-aunts and 1 uncle (and did I mention the uncle has the newer D-700 which is a newr model than my d300?) Oh and dad also has a D300. Talk about competition. But don’t worry downing family. I know how to use my big expensive toy ::::makes moose horns with hands and saying ‘na na na na na na’:::::::: =)~ These guys were everywhere. I bet they took at least 1000 photos with all of their cameras. Hey Staci’s dad (make sure you send your images to your NIECE so she can fix your exposures in photoshop :::sticks out tongue:::. Now of course for my belligerent tauntings I am sure to find a picture of the top of my balding head somewhere on the internet. (Scott is a practical joker I have learned!)
On a serious note it was terrible working with all of you and I think you should have had alcohol at the party to liven things up a bit. Especially mom. She needed a shot or two =)
::::today is opposite day::::
Thursday I was at Beth El in Pikesville Maryland to meet Staci, who is Bat Mitzvahed (is there a past tense for that word?) today.
I’ll be leaving here in a few hours to meet them at their party this evening. Can’t wait. See you soon.
Special credit given to her father, Scott, for being my lighting assistant on this portrait of her here below. He held the light way up high for me to create this dramatic effect.
On a side note we are coming up on the close of 2008. I am now taking bookings for 2011 as of this month. Yes there still are openings for 2009 and 2010 so please call 888-517-6374 to check on your date as soon as you get your date from the temple. I can send you my collections list through the email for you to download and look over at your convenience.
Bar Mitzvah Photographers Pikesville MD
Bat Mitzvah Photographers Pikesville MD
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!
Since I like making slideshows I went through and pulled out some portraits from Bar and Bat Mitzvahs over recent history just to give a quick showcase of some of my work. Enjoy and please comment below.
I am currently hoping to catch up by the end of next week since my downtime due to my strained back muscles. Exercising is going to be key for me from now on. My daughter and I are going to the pool and the gym 3 times a week now so hopefully that helps. =) thanks for all your kind words.
Here is an album that I recently got done designing. This belongs to the Lipka Family based out of Olney Maryland.
I posted a few photographs way back after I photographed the BImah Portraits and the reception. Here is their finished product. I tried some different things I have never tried before and I really like the way it turned out. Very challenging, but in the end it was well worth the extra time it took to create this for the Lipka’s.
So in case anyone was wondering yes I cover all the way down into Olney as well so don’t hesitate to call if you are down in Olney and looking for a photographer for your son or daughter’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah. 888-517-6374
Ah yes. Never before did I think I would laugh so much inside a Shule (temple). Enter the Lipka’s. Laughter certainly doesn’t run short in their family.
Despite all the humor, PG-13 moments and , ’someone from above’ speaking to us over the microphone we certainly got some amazing portraits. Here are a few from last night.
The best part of my night was practicing my Espanol with the closing custodian at the Shule with the night custodian. He couldn’t speak english and I only remember what they taught me in 9th grade. I did manage to ask him his name…Lucas was his name. He helped me carry the equipment out to my car.
It was a good night and I look forward to the reception on Saturday.
Here is an album that was recently finished. This is Gabbe’s Bat Mitzvah Album. We did Bimah portraits for them and designed this newer style album that is brand new for 2008. This style will replace the custom builder album in our ‘essentials’ packages. This will be known as the ‘Press Printed Coffee Table Style Album’. Everything is customizable as far as page and cover design much like the panoramic storyboard albums in our enhanced and platinum packages.
We are excited to now be doing these as it was a much needed upgrade for those packages.
Congratulations Gabbe to you and your family.
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Press_Printed_Coffee_Table_Style_Album_2
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- THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR A GREAT 2008! HERE'S TO ALL THE NEW FACES I'LL FIND IN 2009!
