I'm Eric Goldstein, a Boca Raton photographer who covers bar and bat mitzvahs across Palm Beach County, Broward and Miami-Dade. A mitzvah is one day with several different parts. Here is how to plan the photos for each of them.
The Day in Five Parts
- The service
- Family portraits
- Candle lighting, if you're having one
- The hora
- The party
The Service
Whether a photographer can shoot the service is up to your synagogue. Some allow photography from a fixed spot with no flash. Some allow it only at a rehearsal, and many Shabbat services allow none. Ask the synagogue office before anything else. I wrote up what to ask in what your synagogue will actually allow.
If photography isn't allowed during the service, a short portrait session on the bimah before or after still covers the sanctuary, the tallit and the family.
Family Portraits
With large extended families, portraits can take the whole cocktail hour if they aren't organized. Build the list together ahead of time. Put the groups in order, oldest relatives first, and name one person who can gather people. Send it to your photographer a few days before the date.
Include the combinations that get forgotten: grandparents with the whole family, siblings, each cousin's family and the relatives who traveled in. Tell your photographer about any family situations to know about, like divorced parents who shouldn't be placed together.
Candle Lighting
If you're doing a candle lighting, send your photographer the names in the order they'll be called, with a note on who each person is to the family. Ask your emcee or DJ to confirm the order and the start time.
The Hora
The hora moves fast. Tell your photographer when it's planned and where the chair lift will happen, and keep that part of the floor clear of tables and cables.
The Party
The entrance, the speeches, the dance floor, and the moments with grandparents before they leave. Send the timeline and the name of the emcee or DJ so your photographer knows when each one starts.
What to Send Your Photographer
- The timeline for the whole day
- The synagogue's photography rules
- The family shot list, in order
- The candle lighting names, in order
- The venue and the emcee or DJ
What You Get
Usually 400 to 700 edited images, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks through a private online gallery, with a print release. Most families book 6 to 12 months ahead, and if your date is closer, reach out anyway.
Common Questions
How do I plan the photos for a bar or bat mitzvah?
Break the day into the service, family portraits, candle lighting, the hora and the party. Check the synagogue's photography rules first, then send your photographer the timeline, an ordered family shot list and the candle lighting names.
Can a photographer shoot during the bar or bat mitzvah service?
It depends on the synagogue. Some allow photography from a fixed spot with no flash, some only at a rehearsal, and many Shabbat services allow none. Ask the synagogue office, and ask about a portrait session on the bimah before or after if photography isn't allowed.
How many photos will we get from a bar or bat mitzvah?
Usually 400 to 700 edited images, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks through a private online gallery.
How far ahead should we book a bar or bat mitzvah photographer?
6 to 12 months is typical. If your date is closer than that, reach out anyway.
Planning a Mitzvah in South Florida?
Send me your date and venue and I'll tell you if I'm free. Get in touch here.
More: bar and bat mitzvah photography, the Boca Raton mitzvah page, what makes great coverage and bat mitzvah photoshoot ideas.