Choosing a photographer for your child’s B’nai mitzvah is a daunting task. There are so many photographers nowadays at all different price points claiming to be able to capture your special day. Shooting a mitzvah is very different than photographing a wedding. At a wedding, the photographer interacts mainly with adults. At a mitzvah reception, your photographer must be adaptable when interacting with all ages…from two…to tween…to grandparents! There is a specific skill set needed for a mitzvah. Before hiring your photographer, here are some questions you should ask:
1. Have you photographed children? You’ll want a mitzvah photographer who can relate to children, especially ones in your child’s age group: 12-14. It takes a particular photographer who can dance with the older kids one minute and be a total goofball with the toddlers the next. Shooting the cousins is a perfect example of the variety of age ranges. Nothing is better than a great cousins photo with laughter and energy across the age spectrum.
2. Do you shoot a pre-mitzvah portrait session? As much as I love the dance floor photographs, I love the pre-mitzvah portrait session the most. You may want a photographer who can easily capture your child’s personality with ease. Does the photographer shoot in a studio or on location? Are the locations near you or near the photographer? How do they interact with your child during the portrait session? Will they take a few photographs that match your child’s interests or party theme?
3. What’s your preferred style of photographing an event? So, this questions tries to get a look into how your photographer operates on the day-of. Are they very hands on? Or do they shoot mostly hands-off photojournalistic? You know your child best. Some children don’t mind a photographer that follows them around, while others need space. Does the photographer require a shot list or do they rely on you to orchestrate the shots needed? I’ve been at events where the photographer is louder than the M.C.! A strong voice and confident personality can move the masses into a group shot. I’ve also seen quieter artists who capture the event from afar, trying to stay out of everyone’s way. Decide what style matches your needs and your child’s personality. For the most part, I am a mix of the two. I prefer to capture the emotion and events as they happen, but am ready to set up a group shot. I love a traditional family shot but then “let them loose.” My family formal shots end with a bit of “show-me-the-love” and interaction. These end up being my favorite moments. A photographer’s preferred style can give you confidence in their approach and how they will capture the essence of your child’s B’nai mitzvah.
4. How do they capture the Torah Rehearsal? The Torah rehearsal is one of the more challenging portions to capture due to the variety of challenges each synagogue possesses. Every temple is different. Most temples are dark and require proficiency in flash use. Take a closer look at the photographer’s temple portfolio photographs. Some photographers are masters at making the light look natural and pleasant, while less skilled ones’ photographs look, well, let’s say “deer-in-the-headlights-like.”
5. When will we receive our photographs? How soon before you get the photographs? How do you receive them? How many photographs will you get after the event? Do you provide an online gallery? How long do you have access to this gallery? What size are the digital files? How large can they be printed? Understanding the finished product is important so you are not caught off guard.
6. Is your business registered and insured? Believe it or not, anyone can shoot your event. There is no test, certification, or license to be a photographer. However, if a light stand falls and injures one of your guests, is the photographer insured? You’ll want to make sure you hire a photographer who is an accredited business in your state and has liability insurance.
7. How do you store our photographs? Let’s say you lose all the photographs from your event in a digital, viral-infested-hard-drive-meltdown fiasco. Does your photographer keep a backup? And for how long? Are you able to request the photographs 10 years later? Some photographers have event galleries that expire, so ask. I back up all events onto two hard drives, keep the hard drives in two separate locations, and store all galleries in the cloud indefinitely. Ask the photographer where the photographs will live.
So, before hiring your mitzvah photographer, get a little “behind-the-scenes” information that can help you decide if they are right for you. Good luck!