What are the "must have" Bar Mitzvah shots?

[moses_sparks]

Hi folks, looking for some guidance...

 

I'm a commercial photographer in Los Angeles, been shooting professionally for

about 20 years and I have done close to 300 weddings, among many other types of

jobs, BUT...

 

A commercial client of mine has asked me to shoot her son's Bar Mitzvah. I've

only done a few of these and it's been at least 10 years since the last one.

 

Can someone tell me what are the most important shots to get? They are looking

for the traditional kinds of things. I don't have any concerns about equipment

and tech stuff, just want to be sure I cover all the "must have" shots they

would be expecting to see.

 

This is the kind of thing I would normally file under "just say no" but it's an

important client, they really want me to do it, and they know I'm not a "Bar

Mitzvah" photographer per se', so I agreed, but I still want to do a good job

for them.

 

Thanks for your help!

[kgarrison]

Site down with the family first and ask. That's how I do it. Explain you are not familair with the ceremony and ask for a shot list and a timeline agenda. That should get you all the info you need. And if you have more nice jobs you don't want to do, call me. :)

[picturesque]

Use the search function in this forum. Been asked before. I've seen a list in Steve Sint's "Wedding Photography: Art, Business and Style". The most important ones--bar mitzvah holding the torah, bar mitzvah reading from the opened torah, to the latter, add parents and/or family, the various groups coming to the bimah to read. Secondary would be portrait shots of the bar mitzvah, with and without tallit. With tallit, holding prayer book. Presentation of tallit by parents/grandparents. Possibly a generational passing of the torah. Possible shot with rabbi and cantor (while holding torah) and re creation of rabbi's blessing upon bar mitzvah. All as much as possible within religious context and using the ark and temple interior. Third tier are all the combinations of family shots with various members--parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, etc. Also individual shots of siblings and parents alone (even other individual shots).

 

The reception shots are obvious, with the hora and table shots being extremely important. Candle lighting too.

[zachk1]

You should check in advance to make sure that shooting will be OK. If it is an orthodox shul they will not let you shoot on Shabbat. I'm assuming its probably not. But a quick call to the rabbi might be in order.