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How to Photograph at a Bat Mitzvah

Bat Mitzvahs are special time in young girl's life and important milestone for her parents. These special events should be captured in pictures, and when done properly, you will have a permanent record of the special day. You will want to photograph a mix of candid and posed pictures to really capture the feel of the day. It is important to remember that while this is big day for the family, the young girl may be overwhelmed with all the attention.

Instructions

- 1
  Meet with the family, rabbi and -- if the reception is at a restaurant or banquet hall -- the manager. You want to have a clear understanding of the family's expectations of the photos you will be shooting. Your meeting with the rabbi and hall manager is to get an understanding of the space you will be shooting in, and if there are any restrictions that you must adhere to during the service.
- 2
  Position yourself during the service to be able to photograph the girl and any interaction she has with her family or rabbi, as well as during any readings or speeches she delivers. It is important for you to be subtle and not to be distracting during this time.
- 3
  Pick a location at the hall or restaurant where you can take formal portraits of the family and guests as they arrive. Do this as early as possible during the reception. Once you have all the formal posed pictures out of the way, you can concentrate on the candid pictures.
- 4
  Position yourself during the speeches in a location where you have good sight lines of the person speaking and of the young girl as well. Look for subtle emotion and make sure you capture this.
- 5
  Take pictures of the family and all the guests during the reception. Snap pictures of the guests dancing, having fun, talking with each other and laughing. Aim to capture momens that will remind the family of all the fun they had at the event.

Photography