Capturing the Image

Bat Mitzvah celebration

2011-05-17T14:58:00.001-07:00

If you are like me you enjoy a good celebration. Which is why I love to photograph Bat Mitzvahs and Bar Mitzvahs. This past weekend I was fortunate to photograph a very fun Bat Mitzvah party and as always worked to capture the emotion, fun and spontaneity of the evening. From the entrance to the candle lighting, from the hora to the dancing. Being there and anticipating the moment is great fun. I highly recommend Northern Lights and their emcee Louie too.

Boston Art Life

2011-04-22T12:27:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is doing well. I want to promote a new website that my wife and I just launched called the Boston Art Life. It's a great new venture and social network devoted to promoting the artist lifestyle, fostering creative ideas and sharing those ideas amongst artists. Please take a few moments to look it over, make comments, join the facebook fan page and twitter feed. In addition to online space for artists we will be holding regular public art salons providing real space for artists and creative individuals to share. All the best!

Bat Mitzvah pictures

2011-04-04T14:21:00.000-07:00

These Bat Mitzvah pictures were all taken at the Wellesley Country Club. See below post for dancing and action shots taken later in the evening. The full celebration was held at the country club, including the ceremony with the Rabbi. As you can see the decor was fantastic with terrific uplighting and table settings. If you are interested in having your Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah party at a great location I highly recommend the Wellesley Country Club.

fun party photography

2011-04-04T14:11:00.001-07:00

Here's some great fun party pictures from a recent Bat Mitzvah held at the Wellesley Country Club. Everyone is having a great time and as you know with most Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs - the time of their life!

To make an event real special there needs to be a great ambiance quite often established by a professional event planner. Key is also the music and entertainment that sets the tone and rhythm for the day. When it comes to pictures what's most important is being there, on the dance floor, capturing the fun and spontaneity. I'll follow this up with some decor and more traditional shots of the same event.

mitzvah decor and more

2011-03-11T09:51:00.000-08:00

Just photographed a great event at Temple Emanu-el in Providence Rhode Island. The decor and planning was done by Bonnie Gold. Definitely check out her website to see what she can do she's fantastic!

On another note, I've been busy photographing Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs and thought I'd share a few of the notes that I've received recently. All the best!!

"I just looked through all photos and they are truly gorgeous!!! You did such a wonderful job capturing the event from the decor shots to the people having a great time. THANK YOU!"

"The pictures came out terrific. We are thrilled with your work and enjoyed having the opportunity to work with you. Please feel free to use us as a reference should that be helpful."

"Thank you SO much for the wonderful pictures. We had such a blast and you certainly captured a lot of fun moments. I love the temple pics too!"

"I think your pictures are amazing. You did an amazing job and I am so happy you took pictures at Mia's Bat Mitzvah."

"Thank you so much! The pictures are great! It was wonderful having you photograph the party. Not only are the pictures wonderful, but I also greatly appreciated your personable manner and style."

I love to hear the feedback so THANK YOU!

beth elohim wellesley

2011-02-19T09:11:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Natasha!! Natasha celebrated her Bat Mitzvah recently in the beautiful new Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley. I've photographed many services in the old temple over the years, but this new one is quite fantastic. The large amount of ambient light and the creative design make it a joy to work and celebrate in.

the action sequence

2010-12-30T09:18:00.001-08:00

We like to talk about getting THE shot. That decisive moment that defines the event or time. But sometimes there is nothing like THE action sequence: that series of pictures that together reveal decisive action. Especially when we are talking about the joy of children with their exciting and fresh look at life. In this way, the above action sequence of brother and sister experiencing the beautiful tradition of the hora makes for a terrific series. Don't you think?

Photographs were taken at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge from a Bat Mitzvah on December 23rd 2010. Happy New Year!

party shots

2010-12-09T15:04:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love Bar Mitvzah and Bat Mitzvah parties? I do. One reason is that everyone has fun - both kids and adults. The DJ's and entertainment have to be first rate so that fun is had by all and in the case above you can easily see that everyone had a good time!! The venue was the Charles Hotel. The entertainment was Mike Siagel of Siagel Productions. Both highly recommended in my book. Again congratulations to Talia. See some of her temple pictures below.

family events

2010-12-09T14:49:00.000-08:00

I love photographing family events. Joshua's Bar Mitvah was held at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham Massachusetts. The temple has a beautifully designed interior with an abundance of ambient light. The party was held in the temple too and you can see Joshua and his brother Ben enjoying the hora above.

The Temple

2010-11-18T13:38:00.000-08:00

Talia did such a wonderful job at her Bat Mitzvah. Her voice was beautiful! These pictures were taken at Temple Shir Tikvah in Winchester Massachusetts. Her party was held at the Charles Hotel and I may post some of the party pictures shortly as Siagel Productions was the entertainment and they did a great job keeping the energy high and making things fun.

Boston Bat Mitzvah

2010-11-15T15:24:00.000-08:00

These great photographs are from Emily's Bat Mitzvah photographed about a month ago. The temple is Temple Shir Tikva located in Wayland Massachusetts. It was a beautiful day and this last photograph was taken just outside the entrance of the temple and was a great find. I love the white brick and the morning sun and shadows. Later that evening the party was held at the Boston Harbor Hotel. A great venue for any party. The entertainment was Pure Energy Entertainment and they are definitely high octane party material. The hora and excitement of the day took over and it was a lot of fun to capture it!
If you are seeking a photographer for your Boston area Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah give me a call!!

Boston Bar Mitzvah

2010-10-07T13:02:00.000-07:00

This fun Boston Bar Mitzvah was designed and planned by the one and only Janie Haas Event Consulting. Just check out the great decor and the atmosphere. I'll be sure to post more photographs from the event soon.

The venue was the Charles Hotel located in Harvard Square in Cambridge Massachusetts. It's a great venue for a Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah or wedding reception.

Temple pictures

2010-08-31T15:32:00.000-07:00

Temple pictures can be fun! I know I stress this quite a bit, but I think it's really important. I'm starting to think that doing photographs on a weekday before is the best way to approach them. I know that this can't always be done but when possible it is the ideal. Why? There's less stress on the day, as there is no pressure with regards to time constraints and deadlines. It allows for a happier mood because all we have to do is concentrate on the pictures and not worry about a ceremony that follows.

These pictures were taken at Temple Emanuel in Andover MA. It's a terrific temple to work in photographically. It has wide open, high windows that infuse the room with natural light. It's a beautifully designed building and the architect should be very proud of his creation. It makes my job that much easier!

party celebration!

2010-08-31T15:20:00.001-07:00

Don't we all love a good party! Jennifer and Jonathan had a great party this past weekend celebrating their B'nai Mitzvah! At the helm of the celebration was Northern Lights Entertainment. I definitely recommend these guys as they know how to put on a good show. The MC was Noah and he was assisted by some great dancers and Orlando. Just check out the excitement in the photographs and the party atmosphere. I also wish to draw your attention to what is called up-lighting. You can see it in the back of the photos where there is lots of color on the walls. This additional lighting really helps to create a festive mood and make for sparkling pictures.

mitzvah fun

2010-08-11T08:03:00.001-07:00

I'm sticking to my fun theme and showcasing a bunch of fun party pictures here. All of these were taken at Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs in the Boston area. These photographs reveal kids and adults having a blast on the dance floor. I love working with the DJ's as the good ones really make the party. My job is quite simple really. I put myself in position to get the best pictures at the height of joy. Add to that a bit of technique and bingo!

If you are planning a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah I'd be happy to be a part of your planning process. I can meet with you at my studio and show you sample work and also recommend a host of DJs and videographers that I have found great to work with. In the end my goal is to make the entire experience a fun one. And of course to provide you with excellent pictures that reflect the celebration and joy of the day!

temple pictures

2010-08-11T07:47:00.001-07:00

Temple pictures must be fun. That's a simple fact and stated as so. I'm of the opinion that Bat Mitzvahs, Bar Mitzvahs, weddings or any other special event is a celebration. And as a celebration one must have fun! Now I realize there are solemn ceremonies and other such things, but I don't think there has been an event that I've photographed that was not meant to be just plain fun. So with that said, I like to partake in that fun and make things easy and enjoyable. If we are working within a temple I like to find unique shots that work within that setting. And of course if we are at the party - well - need I say anymore.

celebrating the moment

2010-07-08T08:45:00.001-07:00

Celebrations are my favorite thing to photograph. Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs are ripe with celebratory moments and my job is to be in position and anticipate the height of emotion and fun so that the entire celebration is documented. In the end there will be a total of 500 or more pictures, many of which come directly from the celebration. So if you are planning a celebration in the Boston area, don't hesitate to contact me!!

groups

2010-07-07T06:24:00.001-07:00

Family fun! There's your traditional group photographs and then there's your non-traditional group photographs. I think both of them are great to have for a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah family. Of course your traditional ones are typically done at the temple. Then at the reception site I like to capture the essence of the family unit.

room decor

2010-07-06T16:47:00.001-07:00

The decor and planning in a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah can be a spectacle in itself. I love to get there early and take it all in, both mentally and photographically. Themes range from sports, retro and New York high-style. Of course another great reason to take it all in early is one doesn't want to miss any of the action soon to come! The above rooms come from Hotel Commonwealth in Boston, Windsor Club in Waban and the Charles Hotel in Cambridge respectively.

candle lighting

2010-07-04T04:43:00.001-07:00

The candle lighting is a beautiful tradition with lots of unexpected moments. Take the little brother who triumphantly raises the torch! Or the father who gives his son a helping hand! All magical moments of the Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah event. If you are planning an event in the Boston area be sure to contact me. I can provide you with package information and would love to set up a meeting. If you use my services I can also provide you with a list of other vendors, vendors that I have worked with and learned to trust for their excellent quality. I hope to hear from you soon!

the hora

2010-07-04T04:33:00.000-07:00

The hora is one of the best moments of the party, any party! It's when the dancing and action are at a pinnacle of excitement. This is one of the reasons why I love to be in the center of the action. It is there where you get all the expression and all the fun. Boston Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvah photography is one of my favorite types of shoots. I've photographed mitzvahs in Needham MA, Newton MA, Wellesley MA, Andover MA, West Newton MA, Sharon MA, Newton Centre MA, Brookline MA. I look forward to celebrating with you!!

temples

2010-07-02T06:03:00.000-07:00

Temples are where it all starts. I love photographing Bar Mitvzahs and Bat Mitvzahs and all my packages include photographing in the temple either on a weekday before the event or on the same day. Here is a list of some of the temples in the Boston area that I have photographed at.

Temple Emanuel, Newton Centre
Temple Beth Elohim, Wellesley
Temple Emanuel, Andover
Temple Shalom, West Newton
Temple Beth Shalom, Needham
Temple Israel, Sharon
Temple Aliyah, Needham
Temple Beth Avodah, Newton Centre
Temple Ohabei Shalom, Brookline
Temple Israel, Boston
Temple Emanu-El, Providence Rhode Island

Let the Party Begin

2010-07-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

That's right, let the party begin!! I'm changing this blog around so that it is more centered on Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah photography. In fact this entire website is now being used to showcase my mitzvah photography. Why? First of all I love photographing these events. They are just plain fun! And although I do already have another website for Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitvzahs (see Boston Mitzvah Photography ), it is in flash. So I'm thinking I may want to have a mitzvah site that is in html. I hope you enjoy the pictures and the comments and I hope all of my mitzvah clients have a fantastic summer!

available light

2010-05-29T04:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes one doesn't need to get fancy with extra lights to make a stunning picture. The setting is Church of Our Saviour in Brookline. A beautiful church with a great cloister that makes a terrific backdrop for photography. In the image above I use the natural sunlight from the window to light up the bride and incorporate the windows shadow for effect. The beautiful Indian wedding dress adds to the exotic setting. For more information on wedding photography in the Boston area go to Boston Photographer.

using natural light

2010-05-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

The above photographs were taken at the Boston Hyatt Harborside Hotel. It was a beautiful day with a view of Boston's skyline directly to our right. Also to our right was the afternoon sun. In order to take advantage of that natural light I positioned my assistant to the left of the couple and had him hold a golden reflector to bounce some of the light back into faces of the bride and groom. What a beautiful natural glow it provides on the couple!!

To view more pictures from the day visit Boston Photography.