San Francisco Bay Area Bar/Bat-Mitzvah Photography
Why Bar/Bat-Mitzvah
First time I've got invited to photograph Bar-Mitzvah I hesitated to say yes. Why? Because all the photos I've seen before from those events are as far away from documentary style photography as possible. I searched low and high to find non-traditional photos from Bar/Bat-Mitzvah events and couldn't find any.
I asked my clients if they are sure they want to hire me, documentary photographer to do the shoot and they said "yes, absolutely! we like your photos and we want this for our celebration".
I have a major in Jewish Studies, so I do know a bit about Jewish traditions and know how Bar-Mitzvahs usually look like (for the full disclosure I grew up in Soviet Russia and attended Bar-Mitzvahs on the East Coast and in my experience it looks like a wedding, but with lots of teenagers). Little did I know that West Coast will prove me wrong.
I was really happy that I said yes to this shoot. That was the most sincere and amazing event I've done to the date.
At Bar-Mitzvah in redwood grove, Berkley, CA
In a sense Bar/Bat-Mitzvah photography is not just about boy or a girl reading Torah. It's about family coming together, parents helping their kid to overcome shyness towards public speaking, it's about parents looking proudly at their kids. Those kids are almost grown-ups, but not quite yet, they are still little kids.
Bar-Mitzvah is not just about becoming part of the congregation and paying temple dues, it's not just about reading part of Torah and smiling in front of the camera. It's about something bigger, of becoming part of the ancient tradition, about brief moment that connects generations and you can see that connection right in front of you.
After you have booked we then start with an in-person consultation. This is a chance for us to get to know each other better, discuss plan of the event, find out which moments are the most important for you.
I’m looking forward to meeting your family and helping you capture your special day.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah packages are priced from $1500.
All packages include :
CONSULTATION - A chance to get to know each other, discuss the event, find out your wishes & explain the process.
TRAVEL - I live in San Francisco, but would travel anywhere within Bay Area
PHOTOGRAPHY coverage for either Rehearsal or Day Of (or both events)
DIGITAL IMAGES - All Bar/Bat Mitzvah packages include 50+ professionally-edited images available in private web gallery.
GALLERY - Password protected private online gallery and web ready watermarked files to share online, plus online downloadable slideshow