It was Danny’s turn to step up to the torah today at Kehillat Israel in Pacific Palisades, and we were honored to be selected as the Bar Mitzvah photographers to document the occasion.

The morning service had a welcome, honored guest rabbi–former KI rabbi Steven Carr Reuben who now serves as Rabbi Emeritus of the reconstructionist synagogue.

Shooting in the morning gives us fantastic photographer light, soft and dreamy, for perfect skin tones. Plus, we had a Canon 580 speedlight on a light stand as well for catchlights.

The portrait was photographed on a Canon 5D Mark III, with a 70-200mm lens, in the KI garden, which has a fabulous mural backdrop.

The two other key shots here are in the expansive KI sanctuary, where you see Rabbi Reuben passing the torah from generation to generation–grandmom, mom and Danny.

The wide shot is the “sweet” moment when the kids throw candy at the Bar Mitzvah boy after he’s read his haftorah. That was taken on the Sony A7S, which has a really cool "silent" shutter. 

We love returning to KI on Saturdays to photograph Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Mazel Tov, Danny!