Bar Mitzvah Photography
"Do you have any experience photographing a Bar or Bat Mitzvah?" It's a question that often separates the men from the boys in the world of professional photography. Some photographers wouldn't touch one with a (name your length) pole, while for others it certainly represents a niche market where a job well done can lead to numerous referrals.
A Bar Mitzvah (for a 13 year old Jewish boy) or a Bat Mitzvah (for a girl) is a rite of passage which raises the status of the participant into adulthood within the synagogue and the Jewish community. Generally a Bar Mitzvah will have two rather distinct elements, both of which will present many wonderful opportunities for the photographer and so many treasured memories for the family. Most Bar Mitzvahs will begin with a regular Sabbath service, generally on a Saturday morning, where the young man/woman will be called to read from the Torah in front of friends, family and congregants. However due to the sanctity of the Sabbath (from Friday night ending at sunset on Saturday, no photographs may be taken during the actual Bar Mitzvah.
Many synagogues will hold a dress rehearsal a few days in advance, allowing the immediate family, grandparents and any extended family the chance to have photographs taken at the synagogue without the restriction imposed by the Sabbath. I find this to be a wonderful time to capture images of family interaction, multi-generational portraits and of the course the Bar/Bat Mitzvah reading from the Torah scrolls. The dress rehearsal usually lasts about an hour and a half, as the Rabbi will be present and will want to go over everything that will happen during the actual service. At this point photographs of the rehearsal are complete and I'm next called upon to photograph the reception party. Some people hold the reception immediately following the service on Saturday, while others have an evening reception.
The reception itself can be very much like a wedding as it relates to the formality involved, however the thing that often presents a challenge in photographic coverage is that there are often different things going on at the same time. Adults will have their cocktail hour, while the kids are being entertained by a D.J. often in a separate area, playing games, participating in contests and well...being kids! I try to circle around the reception hall capturing bits and pieces of activity all around, along with some general photographs of the room(s) and related decorations. Much planning has gone into the reception so it's important to take some photographs of the details involved.
As for formalities, one of the most important elements of the evening is the "cake-lighting" ceremony. Generally a large birthday cake is rolled onto a prominent place on the dancefloor, and one by one, various relatives and close friends are called up to light one of the candles until all thirteen have been lit. This is actually a very high honor to be called for a candle, and these are certainly "must-take" photographs.
Most Bar Mitzvahs are fairly large gatherings where relatives have come from far and near to attend, so photographs of the guests are very important. During a salad course I work my hardest to take photographs of the guests seated at their tables. This can sometimes be an awkward situation as I certainly don't want to disturb guests during their dinner, but also realizing that this may be the only time during the evening where they'll actually be seated!
Following dinner, everyone is asked to gather around the dancefloor in a large circle surrounding the host family so that they may dance the "hora". This is a traditional celebratory dance where everyone dances in circles, (many times a circle within a circle), and the Bar Mitzvah boy/girl is hoisted on a chair and paraded around the dancefloor. This is also done at Jewish weddings. These are obligatory photographs and require much timing and skill to come up with the just the right shot. Overall, a Bar Mitzvah is a bit more challenging to photograph than a wedding, but with sound knowledge of the rehearsal schedule and plenty of working energy for the reception you'll be able to present some beautiful photographs to the family.
About the author:
Andy Heller is the owner/operator of Heller Photography, http://www.hellerphoto.com specializing in Boston Wedding Photography and social events throughout Massachusetts since 1987. He can be reached at 508-668-4277 or by email: andy@hellerphoto.com
A Bar Mitzvah (for a 13 year old Jewish boy) or a Bat Mitzvah (for a girl) is a rite of passage which raises the status of the participant into adulthood within the synagogue and the Jewish community. Generally a Bar Mitzvah will have two rather distinct elements, both of which will present many wonderful opportunities for the photographer and so many treasured memories for the family. Most Bar Mitzvahs will begin with a regular Sabbath service, generally on a Saturday morning, where the young man/woman will be called to read from the Torah in front of friends, family and congregants. However due to the sanctity of the Sabbath (from Friday night ending at sunset on Saturday, no photographs may be taken during the actual Bar Mitzvah.
Many synagogues will hold a dress rehearsal a few days in advance, allowing the immediate family, grandparents and any extended family the chance to have photographs taken at the synagogue without the restriction imposed by the Sabbath. I find this to be a wonderful time to capture images of family interaction, multi-generational portraits and of the course the Bar/Bat Mitzvah reading from the Torah scrolls. The dress rehearsal usually lasts about an hour and a half, as the Rabbi will be present and will want to go over everything that will happen during the actual service. At this point photographs of the rehearsal are complete and I'm next called upon to photograph the reception party. Some people hold the reception immediately following the service on Saturday, while others have an evening reception.
The reception itself can be very much like a wedding as it relates to the formality involved, however the thing that often presents a challenge in photographic coverage is that there are often different things going on at the same time. Adults will have their cocktail hour, while the kids are being entertained by a D.J. often in a separate area, playing games, participating in contests and well...being kids! I try to circle around the reception hall capturing bits and pieces of activity all around, along with some general photographs of the room(s) and related decorations. Much planning has gone into the reception so it's important to take some photographs of the details involved.
As for formalities, one of the most important elements of the evening is the "cake-lighting" ceremony. Generally a large birthday cake is rolled onto a prominent place on the dancefloor, and one by one, various relatives and close friends are called up to light one of the candles until all thirteen have been lit. This is actually a very high honor to be called for a candle, and these are certainly "must-take" photographs.
Most Bar Mitzvahs are fairly large gatherings where relatives have come from far and near to attend, so photographs of the guests are very important. During a salad course I work my hardest to take photographs of the guests seated at their tables. This can sometimes be an awkward situation as I certainly don't want to disturb guests during their dinner, but also realizing that this may be the only time during the evening where they'll actually be seated!
Following dinner, everyone is asked to gather around the dancefloor in a large circle surrounding the host family so that they may dance the "hora". This is a traditional celebratory dance where everyone dances in circles, (many times a circle within a circle), and the Bar Mitzvah boy/girl is hoisted on a chair and paraded around the dancefloor. This is also done at Jewish weddings. These are obligatory photographs and require much timing and skill to come up with the just the right shot. Overall, a Bar Mitzvah is a bit more challenging to photograph than a wedding, but with sound knowledge of the rehearsal schedule and plenty of working energy for the reception you'll be able to present some beautiful photographs to the family.
About the author:
Andy Heller is the owner/operator of Heller Photography, http://www.hellerphoto.com specializing in Boston Wedding Photography and social events throughout Massachusetts since 1987. He can be reached at 508-668-4277 or by email: andy@hellerphoto.com
