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The Most Popular Bar & Bat Mitzvah Photographers in New Jersey
We've compiled a comprehensive list of the most popular professional photographer across NJ to document your child’s upcoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
There are countless event photographers in New Jersey, but not all of them have been hired to capture a bar or bat mitzvah. While any photographer may be able to capture the “party” segment of your child’s mitzvah celebration, many families feel more comfortable hiring a photographer who understands the importance of the sacred religious ceremony and is able to document it with the respect and reverence it deserves.
A seasoned mitzvah photographer will know the timeline of a typical bar or bat mitzvah by heart, so they’ll already know which traditions and moments to focus on, like the hora or candle lighting ceremony. Someone with experience capturing mitzvahs is also a great person to have on hand when you’re trying to get a group of excited teenagers to pose for those all-important family portraits!
When choosing a photographer for your event, it is important to do your research and find the right photographer for you, your child, and the vision you have for their bar/bat mitzvah! Your child’s mitzvah will be an important day for your family, and you want to make sure you have a photographer there that can capture all of the special moments that will undoubtedly happen during it and that you’d like to continue looking back at over the years to come!
There are so many New Jersey mitzvah photographers, that it may sometimes seem hard to choose or even know where to start. In our almost two decades of working as a mitzvah entertainment company, we’ve had the pleasure of working with many in the area and are often able to make suggestions to our mitzvah families! Because of that, we thought we’d make it easier for you by making a list here of the top bar and bat mitzvah photographers in the New Jersey area that we’ve worked with in the past and that we feel may be the right fit for you! Be sure to check out their website, look at their past work, and of course contact us if you have any questions in your search for a mitzvah photographer.
FEATURED NJ MITZVAH PHOTOGRAPHER:
Mazel Tov Studios - Manalapan, New Jersey
Mazel Tov Studios exclusively specializes in Mitzvah photography, capturing authentic and unstaged moments that reflect the true essence of each child's special day. Their experienced photographers ensure every cherished smile and tradition is beautifully documented, delivering nearly 1,000 unique images in under two weeks. With transparent pricing, clients can expect all-inclusive coverage, from temple ceremonies to lively celebrations, with no hidden costs.
NJ MITZVAH PHOTOGRAPHERS (A to Z)
Andy Foster Photography - Montclair, New Jersey
Using non-traditional angles, unique poses, and different lighting, Andy makes his photos and the subjects in them larger than life. Andy is best at capturing raw emotion, your chosen theme which you worked so hard on to showcase, and the biggest moments throughout your event.
Bart Gorin Photography - Millburn, New Jersey
With 30 years of photography experience, Bart has solidified himself as one of the top New Jersey mitzvah photographers. His portfolio, showcased on his website, is extensive and a great example of his work and style, which you can expect if you choose him for your event.
Bonnie Wireback Photography - Blackwood, New Jersey
If you hire Bonnie, not only will you be getting a photographer, but you’ll feel as though you’re gaining a friend through the process. She does her best to fully understand your vision before the event, so that you have photos you can cherish forever after it. Being a mother, teacher and mitzvah photographer, she feels that she has the skills and experience to get the best of your child when photographing their event.
Brad Photographers and Video - Wayne, New Jersey
With 40 years of experience and thousands of events photographed, Barry and his team at Brad Photographers and Video are ready to help your event last forever. Their team offers a large variety of options including videography, projections, montages, photo favors, and albums, making them a great option if you are looking for more than just a photographer for your child’s mitzvah.
Captured Event LLC - Scotch Plains, New Jersey
For Josephine, the creator of Captured Event LLC, photography is her life. She has photographed hundreds of events and understands the importance of executing the client’s vision while capturing their individual style. The only thing that exceeds her level of professionalism is her passion, and that is made clear in her many reviews about her work ethic and talent.
DR Photography Studio - Marlboro, New Jersey
David does something not many photographers do; he gives you all of the photos taken, not just the edited ones. This gives you the power to choose which photos you like and what ones you feel best show the memories made at your event. David also gives you full access to all of your digital photos for no additional cost, rather than charging you for prints, so that you can decide on your own what you’d like to do with your photos. David loves photographing and creating memories for his clients and by doing this, he feels that you will get the most out of his work and your special event.
Elena Mitchell Photography - Morristown, NJ
Elena Michelle may have stumbled upon photography at a young age, but that discovery turned into a true love of hers and has led her to become an award-winning photographer. Elena’s style is progressive, fresh and natural. She focuses on capturing moments as they happen, rather than staging them, to create genuine memories that her clients can look back on and relieve through.
Giulianna Marie Studios - Wayne, New Jersey
Giulianna isn’t your everyday photographer. She specializes in making you feel like you’re the only one in the room and captures memories that will last you a lifetime. Giulianna is the perfect mix of elegant, creative, traditional, attentive, and cutting edge, and this is shown in her portfolio of photos which you can view on her website.
Impressions Photo and Video - Marlboro, New Jersey
Impressions Photo and Video of Marlboro has covered more than 2,000 events, but the team still approaches each event with freshness, drive, and passion. They pride themselves on forming personal relationships with each of their mitzvah clients and bringing your vision to life with images captured from exciting angles with interesting lighting and perspectives. Impressions’ mitzvah coverage includes a religious session and coverage of the celebration by a two-person team, with no travel charges within New Jersey.
Ira Casel Photography - Millburn, New Jersey
Ira Casel has an extensive portfolio of bar, bat and b’nai mitzvah photography at a long list of New Jersey and NYC venues. As a parent who has made two mitzvahs, Ira understands and appreciates how meaningful and emotional this milestone event is. He strives to make the whole mitzvah process easy, stress-free, and fun for his clients, who often describe him as “the hardest working photographer that they’ve ever seen.”
Jeremy Messler Photography - Marlton, New Jersey
Solely a mitzvah photographer, Jeremy has learned a thing or two from photographing them over the last 15 years and having one of his own as well. Understanding the importance of the event and the uniqueness it has from others, his goal is to capture the essence of your child at this special moment in their life When choosing a photographer, Jeremey believes it is important to find a photographer that make the experience fun, feel comfortable, and provides a portfolio of past work that you can picture yourself in.
JKP Photographers - Livingston, New Jersey
Starting as a child photographer and later moving on to events and senior photos, JKP has years of experience photographing kids during important moments of their lives. Their goal is to empower young adults through the photos they take, and give them the confidence through their art!
Joy Yagid Photography - Mapplewood, New Jersey
Self proclaimed as a “documentary style” photographer, Joy loves capturing common moments in different ways. She always makes sure to find the joy in the event, not just capturing photos of who attended it.
Memory Creations Photography - Clifton, New Jersey
With photography, experience is key and Brian at Memory Creations Photography has plenty of it. With over 17 years of experience and hundreds of satisfied clients, Brian has a true passion for his work and the ability to capture special moments that can last a lifetime.
Mitzvah Mayhem - New Jersey
Scott Roth at Mitzvah Mayhem prides himself in being able to match the enthusiasm and excitement that kids bring during their mitzvah. Never putting the camera down, he always captures the important moments during your event. Although they have been in the industry since 2003, Scott never lets that stop him from staying fresh and appreciating each event for the new experience it is.
Mitzvahtography by Sharon Fullerton
Sharon shot her first bat mitzvah in the 80’s - not long after her own. She’s a recent mitzvah mom herself, and understands the emotions from both sides of the camera. As a mitzvah-only photographer based in Delaware, Sharon is in demand and regularly travels a couple hours in several directions – to Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Virginia. All her collections include free high-res downloads and print release for both her clients and their guests. There’s a reason she books up years in advance.
Omar Gonzalez Photography - Hoboken, Westfield, Montclair, New Jersey
Being a kid a heart and a self-proclaimed goofball, Omar feels that he has an edge when photographing teens at their mitzvahs. Having the ability to relate quickly to all ages, he finds it easy to capture the peak of emotion and find the greatest reactions.
Photography by Jen Davis - Princeton, New Jersey
Jen Davis is a master at photographing bar and bat mitzvahs. In fact, these celebrations are the only large events she photographs. Located in Princeton, Photography by Jen Davis offers a range of mitzvah photography packages to suit any family’s budget. Each one includes formal portraits, high-resolution digital files, and an album delivered after the event.
VeroLuce Photography - Montclair, New Jersey
Veronica L. Yankowski, founder of VeroLuce Photography, has been a professional photographer for over 25 years, capturing everything from breaking news to fashion shoots to family and solo portraits. Known for her soulful portraits, Veronica loves to do bar and bat mitzvah pre-shoots, where she collaborates with the child to plan a session around their mitzvah theme so they feel excited and involved. Then, she captures the day itself with style and flair.
We hope this lists aids you in your search and helps you find the right fit for your event! If you do decide to hire one of these incredible photographers, let them know Xtreme Event Group referred you!
If you’re looking to plan your child’s bar or bat mitzvah, Xtreme Event Group will take care of all your mitzvah entertainment needs. Schedule a consultation with one of our bar/bat mitzvah planning experts today.
Event Spotlight: Gideon's Virtual Bar Mitzvah
Gideon’s Zoom bar mitzvah was filled with fun virtual activities, including a scavenger hunt and photo booth for guests.
One of the most common hesitations clients have about a virtual mitzvah is whether it can compare to an in-person event. At Xtreme Event Group, we’re always up for that challenge.
We love creating a personalized, once-in-a-lifetime event for every bar and bat mitzvah child we work with. The virtual bar mitzvah we helped Gideon and his family plan was no exception.
Image credit: Tom Warren
“Everyone said it was the most fun they've had in so long,” said Karen, Gideon’s mom. “Seeing our guests engaged and having fun, made it so much more enjoyable for all of us.”
Gideon’s special day started with his bar mitzvah ceremony at their local temple, led by Cantor Marcos Askenazi. Photographer Tom Warren captured the ceremony and took formal portraits of Gideon and his family. Afterward, the family headed back to their New York City apartment for a Zoom bar mitzvah celebration.
Image credit: Tom Warren
Virtual fun for everyone: Our scavenger hunt and photo booth
All of Gideon’s guests participated in a special virtual scavenger hunt coordinated by Xtreme Event Group’s Scott Present. As our prompts came up on the screen, guests ventured throughout their homes to quickly find all sorts of fun and wacky objects and participate in challenges to be crowned the champion of the scavenger hunt.
“When Scott said they were going to do a scavenger hunt, we all thought this was going to be a failed attempt at engaging the guests especially since there were adults, children and families of all ages and nobody would want to participate,” said Karen. “However, this was a highlight and I should've known to trust Xtreme. They made it fun and entertaining and really brought everyone together. Guests were talking about the scavenger hunt for long after the event!”
Another highlight of Gideon’s Zoom bar mitzvah was the virtual photo booth. Xtreme’s virtual photo booth comes with fun filters, like Harry Potter glasses and bunny ears, to simulate the classic “photo booth experience” of using silly props and accessories. Best of all, it gave Gideon and his guests a nice digital keepsake from the event.
Xtreme Event Group hosted a virtual photo booth for Gideon and his guests, which were available after the event on a private mini-site.
Even though they couldn’t gather in-person, Gideon and his guests thoroughly enjoyed the virtual experience.
“[Xtreme Event Group was] so professional from beginning to the end,” said Karen. “Everyone was responsive and very helpful. They took all the stress out of the evening with their broader team behind the scenes.”
We aim to make every virtual bar or bat mitzvah as special as any in-person event. Xtreme Event Group was honored to be able to host this special day for Gideon and his family.
Contact our mitzvah planning experts today to see how we can create a personalized virtual event for your family’s celebration.
5 Tips for Plan a Flawless Virtual Mitzvah Celebration
Thinking of hosting a virtual bar or bat mitzvah? Here are some tips to plan the perfect celebration your child deserves.
Planning any type of celebration today is difficult, especially in colder areas where an outdoor gathering isn’t ideal. As the pandemic continues, many people are opting for virtual rather than in-person events to safely accommodate all their loved ones, no matter where they’re located.
If you’re looking to host a virtual bar or bat mitzvah for your child, here are five tips for hosting an engaging celebration.
Image credit: Mitch Messinger
1. Host it on Zoom.
Zoom is a great video conferencing platform that can host hundreds of guests and allow for fun, interactive chats and other features. At Xtreme Event Group, we’ve pivoted to offering Zoom mitzvahs to meet our existing clients’ needs and open our business to new clients, both nationally and internationally. We love Zoom because it allows everyone involved in the event to visually see everyone as well as their emotions and expressions. It’s also easy to use and allows you to record everything, which makes an incredible keepsake memory of your child’s special day.
Once you set the date and time, we’ll help you create a private Zoom link for the event and send it as an invite to your guests. This makes it easy for everyone to log onto your child’s virtual mitzvah celebration when the big day comes.
2. Create engagement with live entertainment.
Live entertainment is a must-have for mitzvahs, so integrating that into your virtual celebration is important. Be strategic and intentional with your choice of activities to drive engagement from guests. You want to make it different than the standard boring “Zoom meeting” you do for work and school every day by creating create a sense of community and love that radiates off the screen.
There are many ways you can do this, including having a professional entertainer as your event host, creating collaborative song playlists in real-time, and inviting performers to join the Zoom conference. For example, we recently hosted a virtual mitzvah for a client on Zoom where a mentalist was able to demonstrate his mind-reading skills. Despite the distance between all the guests, the entire party was wowed by this live performance.
Image credit: Lisa Klein
3. Include your favorite mitzvah traditions.
Setting an agenda, just as you would with an in-person mitzvah, will ensure a smooth and seamless event. There’s no need to cut out traditional mitzvah rituals, either: you can still incorporate a hora, a candle-lighting ceremony, and even a dance with Dad. If you or your child wanted to do it for a live event, it can be done over Zoom.
4. Consider everything that might go wrong.
Hosting virtual events comes with all kinds of technical and security risks. Aside from poor cameras and lighting or a bad WiFi connection, you may also run into a Zoom bomber if you don’t have a password-protected meeting link. When we host a Zoom mitzvah, we help our clients with best practices to eliminate any hurdles or obstacles from occurring.
5. Work with a mitzvah expert.
Working with a mitzvah-planning agency allows you the freedom to focus on the exciting parts of your celebration while knowing the rest of the planning and dirty work is being taken care of for you.
At Xtreme Event Group, we do it all. We are your personal event planner, IT coordinator, technical support team, professional event host, game master, virtual photographer, virtual videographer, and production expert. We also offer features like a virtual photo booth and curated music playlists for a personalized experience.
Check out The Virtual Simcha by Xtreme Event Group to better understand how we can help you celebrate your day, or schedule a consultation call with our mitzvah-planning experts!
How to Host the Perfect Hybrid Mitzvah This Spring
Looking to host a mitzvah with both in-person and online festivities? Here’s how you can host the perfect hybrid mitzvah this spring.
As the pandemic continues to change the event-planning industry, many parents planning bar and bat mitzvahs are deciding on hybrid celebrations to accommodate all their guests. This typically involves a smaller in-person event (often held outside, weather permitting) that is live-streamed for other guests to attend virtually.
As a premier mitzvah entertainment company, we’ve worked with clients all over the country (and the world) to plan virtual and hybrid celebrations for this important family milestone, even during COVID-19. If you’re considering a hybrid mitzvah celebration for your child this spring, here’s what you need to know about planning and executing the best party ever — no matter where your guests are located!
Image credit: Lisa Klein
What is a hybrid mitzvah?
A hybrid mitzvah combines an in-person celebration with an online gathering, accommodating both on-site and remote attendees. In addition to all the elements of a traditional mitzvah event, a hybrid event can also offer interactive virtual activities like real-time curated music playlists, photo booths, and video messages.
Since the start of the pandemic, Xtreme Event Group has been offering virtual mitzvahs that are fully online, allowing families and friends all over the world to safely celebrate their loved one. As smaller in-person social gatherings become safer, unique hybrid mitzvah experiences have been a go-to for families that want to engage both live and virtual guests simultaneously.
To achieve this, we work with a wide network of national A/V vendors that can facilitate an on-site technical experience while we operate the fun, interactive online elements. With this format, we are able to seamlessly integrate in-person entertainment with virtual fun for all your mitzvah guests.
Tips for hosting a virtual mitzvah
If you’ve decided to host a mitzvah with both on-site and virtual components, here are some tips to ensure the day goes smoothly and all your guests have a great time.
1. Test equipment/video before the event.
Taking the time to test any computers, audio/video components, or livestreaming equipment can help you work out any bugs before the big day. Xtreme and our A/V partners provide our clients with a dedicated day-of tech support team and recommendations, as well as a thorough rehearsal prior to the event to make sure everything is working properly.
2. Incorporate traditional mitzvah events.
Mitzvah traditions, such as speeches and the candle-lighting ceremony, can easily be translated into a hybrid model. With livestreaming and Zoom capabilities (plus a bit of rehearsal and planning beforehand), your guests can participate in the traditional mitzvah events regardless of their physical location.
Image credit: Jen Davis Photography
3. Include interactive entertainment.
Incorporating interactive entertainment ensures that both your in-person and virtual guests can enjoy the festivities equally. Curated music playlists sent to your guests, virtual photo booths and video messages, and interactive games and performances can be integrated for an unforgettable experience.
4. Work with experienced mitzvah vendors.
From contacting vendors, to setting up the tech, to ensuring guests are engaged regardless of location, planning a hybrid mitzvah can feel overwhelming. A team of trusted mitzvah vendors can help with planning, coordinating, and executing your vision for the day.
When you work with Xtreme Event Group, we’ll facilitate every step of the process, allowing you and your family to enjoy an amazing mitzvah without the stress of planning. We provide all the tools you need for a highly-engaging virtual celebration that can be held anywhere, as well as recommend local companies to help with the in-person celebration.
Choosing the right team for your mitzvah celebration will ensure a seamless and unforgettable experience for your child and their guests. For more information about our hybrid and virtual mitzvah services, contact us to schedule your consultation call today.
Event Spotlight: Josh’s At-Home Virtual Bar Mitzvah
To celebrate Josh’s bar mitzvah, his family threw an at-home virtual mitzvah celebration with the help of Xtreme Event Group.
For every Jewish family, a child’s mitzvah celebration is a momentous milestone in their young lives. It’s an opportunity to celebrate their child’s hard work, dedication to their faith, and maturity, surrounded by their loving family and friends.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to put large in-person gatherings on hold, families like Josh’s have found ways to plan this once-in-a-lifetime event from the comfort of their own home.
Image credit: Matt Petit
With the help of Xtreme Event Group, Josh and his family were able to host a virtual mitzvah celebration (“Josh’s Nosh”) and have all of their family, friends, and loved ones attend over Zoom. Josh, his parents, and his sisters stayed on-theme by donning matching shirts, with “Josh’s Nosh” embroidered on the front.
Xtreme Event Group provided the entertainment for the evening, including a virtual scavenger hunt that Zoom attendees could participate in from home. Laughs ensued as guests raced all throughout their houses to be the first to present an item that matched hilarious prompts like “Expired Food” and “Whipped Cream.”.
Josh got the chance to see a new side of his family and friends, who committed to the challenge by doing wild tasks like putting on lipstick for the camera and smashing whipped cream on their faces (though he'd probably have preferred not to know who in his life had expired food around the house!).
Image credit: Mitch Messinger
Josh loved his special day, and the at-home virtual format provided the opportunity to create a truly unique and special event. Josh's parents were overjoyed, too, saying what they loved the most about working with Xtreme Event Group was "the level of customer care.”
“Maggie understood our needs for ensuring this family milestone was properly celebrated, no matter how many times we reached out,” said Mitch, who hosted Josh’s at-home celebration. “They were seamless and made the planning process easy. The scavenger hunt made all our guests feel connected despite being on Zoom."
As we pivot to virtual mitzvahs and events, Xtreme Event Group, has made it a priority to give our clients the same level of joy that our events had before the pandemic. With our limitless creativity and the ability to stream celebrations across the world, we can create a personalized bar or bat mitzvah that will help you and your family create memories that will last a lifetime.
Contact Xtreme Event Group today to schedule a consultation with one of our mitzvah planning experts.
Our Pivot to Virtual Mitzvah Celebrations: Q&A With Xtreme Event Group
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Xtreme Event Group made a smart and strategic pivot to virtual mitzvah celebrations. Here’s how we made the shift and expanded our client base.
This time last year, most families never would have fathomed throwing a Zoom mitzvah celebration for their child.
Many professionals within the live events industry thought the worst of the pandemic would be over in a few weeks or months and people would be back to having large gatherings by the summer of 2020. Of course, that’s not how things played out.
Based on the needs of our clients, Xtreme Event Group made a quick, strategic pivot to virtual mitzvah celebrations. That shift paid off in a big way: Our business not only survived, but grew in 2020, and the virtual format has allowed us to expand our reach beyond our home state of New Jersey to serve clients around the world.
In this Q&A, our founders Scott Present and MJ Navara discuss the changes we made to become a premiere global entertainment company and where we plan to go from here.
MJ Navara and Scott Present, founders of Xtreme Event Group
In the first few months of the pandemic, you made a quick and successful pivot to virtual events. What kind of growth have you experienced to date?
MJ: Being entertainers with a tremendous amount of experience in audio and visual production in a pre-pandemic world, the transition to virtual events was pretty seamless. As word started to spread about the unique virtual mitzvah experience we were providing, we saw a dramatic increase in clients looking for creative ways to still celebrate their child during this pandemic.
Scott: We’ve now surpassed 150 virtual mitzvahs attracting clients all over the globe, spanning four different continents. With minimal live events happening in NJ, our first quarter of 2021 is projected to be the company’s best Q1 in its history.
What was the transition like, going from a hyperlocal entertainment company to working virtual events all over the world?
MJ: We spent much of the month of April 2020 speaking to our clients, truly brainstorming and trying to understand what families were looking for. Our passion and desire to deliver remarkable mitzvah entertainment never changed, and we quickly realized that clients all over the world really just wanted the same thing during this time.
Scott: We are so incredibly thankful to be able to help families all over their world celebrate their child becoming a mitzvah. Over the last 10 months, we’ve learned so much. I'm extraordinarily proud that we figured out how to successfully create an organic and engaging experience that truly allows guests to feel a part of the celebration (as close to “in real life” as possible) and creates a true sense of community.
The Virtual Simcha™ by Xtreme Event Group is an all-inclusive, interactive and engaging experience for your family and friends that gets as close to live and in-person as possible.
What has been the biggest advantage of doing mostly virtual events?
Scott: It’s been incredible to be able to witness the impact we had had on so many families. We’ve seen many families at first saddened and disappointed by their need to cancel or rethink a live, in-person celebration for their child.
A virtual event can be more remarkable than one can ever even imagine. Families can invite family and friends all over the world to participate (when it may normally be unrealistic for them to attend in person). We bring joy, positivity, celebration to each and every event allowing the love to truly radiate through the screen!
MJ: As a company, we can now easily take our passion to other markets outside of New Jersey. In a relatively short amount of time, we built a solid reputation in major markets throughout the United States and Canada and have forged strong relationships with temples, event planners, vendors, venues, and clients alike.
What has your biggest challenge been?
Scott: With virtual events, you rely on so many independent factors that are beyond anyone’s control. We’ve helped our clients navigate through all of the bumps, hurdles, and obstacles that this pandemic has thrown in their way.
MJ: As you can imagine, life throws curveballs (well beyond anyone’s control), and we’ve seen it all during this pandemic. From severe weather causing widespread power and internet outages to family members get sick or contracting COVID-19, we’ve put in place systems, processes, and best practices to ensure a remarkable and seamless experience for all of the amazing families we work with.
Virtual events like Zoom mitzvahs are here to stay for now, but what do you envision for your business as the world returns to in-person events post-COVID?
Scott: Hybrid events are the future. There is really no reason why family and friends halfway around the world can't feel engaged or part of a virtual experience happening in tandem with a live event.
MJ: We constantly talk about what the mitzvah entertainment industry will look like over the next five years. One thing that we know won't change is society’s desire to connect.
As human beings, it’s our innate nature to want to hug, hold and embrace, so I don’t think virtual will ever truly replace a live and in-person experience. However, I think everyone now is much more comfortable with technology. Future live events will absolutely incorporate some form of a virtual component that didn’t exist pre-pandemic.
Ready to plan your child’s Zoom bar or bat mitzvah? Get in touch with us to learn more about The Virtual Simcha™ package we offer.