Have you shot a Bat Mitzvah?

I have shot roughly 30 weddings, but have never shot a bat mitzvah before.

I have a family I am in discussion with who are interested to hire me. I am meeting them soon in person to get to know them and discuss their customs and what they would be expecting of me. I was open and forward about not having done this before, but showed them other wedding and reception galleries and they like what I have to offer.

Any tips or advice? I am anxious for the opportunity to do something different, and am also considering cutting them a deal since it is my first.

I'm assuming the same gear for a wedding and reception would cut it:
3 camera bodies
10-22mm f/3.5
50mm f/1.8 (maybe 1.4 by June 11')
70-200 f/2.8
plenty of on and off camera flash ability

http://evangordonphoto​graphy.com …2/main.php?g2_i​temId=4775

This is my "specialty" as I'm very involved in my Synagogue (started out doing music for them)

Take a look and let me know if you have any specific questions.

http://evangordonphoto​graphy.com …/main.php?g2_it​emId=16577 is my most recent one where I went all "strobist on the Bimah

The skills are essentially the same, you just need to know what to expect. You also need to know the rules and what/when you're NOT allowed to photograph. There's tons of info on this out on the net. And do a search for bat mitzvah photographers in your area and look at their portfolios for some idea of the expected shots.

My Synagogue doesn't allow photography during the actual service, so I take pictures of the torah reading beforehand while the student is going over the reading one last time.

Our service starts at 10, and I generally show up at either 8:30 or 9:00 AM and shoot for an hour. I get all the family/group shots, and the "practice" reading shots during this time.

Some good shots to get:
-Student holding torah in front of ark
-Father/Whomever putting tallis on student
-Reading the torah
-Putting the tzit tzit up to the torah prior to the blessing before the reading of the torah
-Closeup of the yad during the reading

Or just look through my galleries above to get a feel for the type of stuff to capture

I'm getting excited, I hope they sign with me. This would be very cool to do. I am a christian, so all of these customs are foreign to me, I have already started reading a little bit, I'll probably try and read quite a bit more before I meet with them so I can know what I am talking about.

What is the time for the day involved? Most wedding packages I book are around $1200 for the majority of a day, is that about ballpark on pricing?

The service is generally Saturday morning, but it may be Saturday evening (Friday evening is a possibility, but fairly unlikely)

The reception can be directly after the service, or sometimes Saturday night (even if the service is in the morning)

Receptions vary from an informal luncheon to a full blown out party similar to a wedding.

The ones I've shot all have been from the Reform movement, so if it's Conservative or Orthodox, things might be a bit different.

So I met the family last night. VERY nice people, I am very excited to work with them. They haven't signed yet, the biggest reason being is I am working on their contract at the moment, though everything they said was inclined toward me working for them. All in all, it was by far the best first client meeting I have ever had. I just need to make sure I am on my A-game though, because the father is president and chief counsel of a local law firm. Otherwise, exceedingly nice guy!

On a side note: The new iPad is hands-down the best tool for client meetings. Had the sample contract, pricing, and additional work they requested to see.

css7493 wrote in post #10923481
So I met the family last night. VERY nice people, I am very excited to work with them. They haven't signed yet, the biggest reason being is I am working on their contract at the moment, though everything they said was inclined toward me working for them. All in all, it was by far the best first client meeting I have ever had. I just need to make sure I am on my A-game though, because the father is president and chief counsel of a local law firm. Otherwise, exceedingly nice guy!

On a side note: The new iPad is hands-down the best tool for client meetings. Had the sample contract, pricing, and additional work they requested to see.

Is this gig on dec 4th by any chance, I'm taking a long shot here, but itd be funny if you we're shooting this event hah.

35mmNewbie wrote in post #11392964
Is this gig on dec 4th by any chance, I'm taking a long shot here, but itd be funny if you we're shooting this event hah.

Nah, its mid '11

I'm shooting the save the dates soon, but the event isn't for a while.

op. .. where is this all taking place? as in, where are you from?

i've done some informal bar mitzvah shooting at the wailing wall in israel... i suppose outdoors makes quite a difference for gear, but shooting the event is essentially the same as weddings. i think you should be JUST fine.

orena wrote in post #11410139
op. .. where is this all taking place? as in, where are you from?

i've done some informal bar mitzvah shooting at the wailing wall in israel... i suppose outdoors makes quite a difference for gear, but shooting the event is essentially the same as weddings. i think you should be JUST fine.

I've done nearly 40 weddings, and have become very comfortable in that scene. I am not at all worried about it. The event is in Dallas in June '11. I shoot all over the Dallas Fort Worth area, however its a huge craigslist market, its hard to get work. If this goes well the family all but promised me references to many other bat mitzvahs, they said this is how their party planner got started out, now she pretty much plans every celebration in that community.