It’s Ethan’s bar mitzvah in a few months time, so in preparation, we met up today for his portrait shoot.  Ethan is mad about sport… particularly cricket, soccer and boxing, so the photoshoot was organised around these sports.

The photoshoot was done at Wanderers Cricket Stadium, where he plays for the Northern Gauteng team.

We had a lot of fun playing cricket and soccer (or rather he played with his parents while I took photos) and then we did the more serious photoshoot Those photos will be posted after his barmi, but in the meantime… here are the action/lifestyle photos

It was Josh’s bar mitzvah last night at HOD in Orchards, Johannesburg.  Barmis are always fun to work at, and I always love the dancing and the whole evening actually.

The theme was Apple, and they very cleverly incorporated apples and tech into the decor.

Josh’s little cousin highjacked the mike from Adam (the MC for the evening)

Just before dinner, these guys came and performed some awesome dance moves, and tried to teach a few people some moves

Dessert arrived with all the waitrons dancing into the hall carrying bowls of sweets… and then they managed to get every person dancing with them before the guests tucked into the desserts

Venue: HOD in Orchards

Catering: Gary Friedman Caterers

DJ : DJ Small Paul

Videographer:  Freeman Productions

There are a few more photos in an album on my Facebook page.  If you were a guest at the simcha, you’ll be able to tag yourself if you “like” the page.

I met Josh and his parents at Pine Street Shul on Thursday evening to take his bar mitzvah rehearsal photos.  I do love that shul… I love the height of the ceiling and the lights…. and because it was so bright in there, I didn’t need to use my flash at all.

I met Josh and his family at Soccer City just over a month ago, to do his portrait photoshoot in anticipation for his bar mitzvah (which was last night).  The photos from the shoot were used to design a guest book for the simcha, and they were also used in the decoration of the hall.

What an amazing location for a photoshoot!! The light was amazing, and I had a blast in the space.

It was Chad’s bar mitzvah at the Capri Hotel in Johannesburg last night, and it was fantastic!! The Friedman family really know how to throw a party, and it was definitely the liveliest bar mitzvah I’ve been to.  It was a black and red soccer themed simcha because Chad is a staunch Man United supporter, and the decor was incredible.  Janine (Chad’s mom) met a beader a few years ago, and he made life-size soccer balls out of wire and beads, and he also made a pair of soccer boots for the table centre pieces.  So beautifully made!!

From the bag-pipers that started the proceedings before the hora, to the fact that everyone was on the dance floor, there was just so much fun that was had… oh and not forgetting the 2 Afrikaans songs played by Jonathan Birin’s band which had everyone singing on top of their voices and for the first time I got to take photos of people doing a sokkie at a barmi!!

The other thing was that I recognised so many people there… a lot of their guest list were old clients of mine.  From barmi and batti kids (now much older and taller) and their parents, to Izzie, who’s 70th birthday party I took photos at in 2009.  It was awesome to see them all

Anyway, enough words… on to the photos which I’m hoping will portray the story and the energy of the evening…

I do like seeing my photos printed this image was taken at his portrait session a few weeks ago.

Venue and catering:  Capri Hotel in Savoy Johannesburg
Videographer: Arnaldo Mandel
Band: Jonathan Birin Big Band
Bag Pipers:

There are a few more images in a Facebook album too (the album also includes his rehearsal photos), and if you were at the mitzvah, tag yourself in the images (you’ll be able to if you “like” the Facebook page), and leave a comment here, or on Facebook for the family to see.