Bar & Bat Mitzvah Photography
Rachel is amazing. Her shots aren't just "pictures" - they capture the emotion and the life of the subject and the moment. Truly special photography. - Tylan G.
Celebrate the big moments and milestones
This is a moment like no other, a day of celebration and affirmation as your child assumes the rights and obligations as a Jewish adult. This is the baby you held in your arms, the toddler who sang out loud and spilled her snacks in the backseat of your car, the little guy who came in from playtime with muddy knees and a wild grin. This is your middle schooler, celebrating friends and struggling through the growing pains of early adolescence. This is the moment your child becomes a bar mitzvah, following the commandments of the Torah and accepting that responsibility in the presence of the friends and family whom you hold most dear. You won’t want to miss a moment. And neither will we.
We’ll be right there to capture and preserve this important milestone and joyous occasion. We will be with you for formal family portraits, for your child standing on the bema in his tallit, for her holding the Torah. We’ll celebrate at your reception, catching each special moment: her grandparents kissing her cheeks when they join her to light a candle, the way he grips the sides of his chair during the Hora, the loving words you choose to say to your new young adult as you reflect on the life they’re living.
You probably remember the way your wedding day passed in a flash, and this day will be no different. Our photographs give you a way to keep and treasure every precious moment of this fleeting day in your child’s growing up. From prints to frame to canvases to hang on your wall to memory books and heirloom albums, we provide beautiful keepsake products to help you celebrate and cherish this momentous occasion through all the years to come. We know how much you cherish your child, and our images will show it. We are honored to be entrusted to put your memories right in your hands.
We celebrate with you as your child is called to the Torah. As an event photographer, it is our honor to preserve this joyous and momentous occasion with lasting, beautiful keepsake artwork.
About Your Mitzvah Photography
New for 2023, we are excited to introduce our all-inclusive mitzvah photography packages. We work as a two-person team, giving you wonderful coverage for the don't-miss moments that happen throughout the day. You'll wind up with a beautiful collection of images, both from the moments you knew about and the ones you didn't. We have a wonderful time with the kids and families we serve, and we are proud to share our high work ethic and our commitment to an excellent final product. Our five-hour mitzvah package is $3200 and includes the finished set of digital images at both full-resolution and social-media-ready sizes. We also do offer carefully curated printed artwork and albums for families who would like to preserve their memories with custom printed products they can cherish over time.
Our Mitzvah Photography Process
Consultation
We will discuss the details of your upcoming event, and I'll answer any questions you have about what to expect from us and our images. We love to photograph these fabulous events, and we can't wait to hear the details of what you're planning.
Your Special Day
These big moments can pass in a flash. We'll work hard to capture all the details that matter most to provide you with photos to look back on in the years to come. We promise that our love for our work will be evident to you and your guests.
Editing
After your celebration, I'll custom-edit your photos, highlighting all the joy and happy tears!
Your Finished Images
Once your images are ready, we will provide a digital gallery and download code, and you're welcome to download and keep whatever you'd like.
I’ve been out on shoots with Rachel. She has amazing gifts. It’s not just her photographs that are beautiful, but the way she arrives at the end result, stunning image after image, is a thing of beauty itself. Her ability to connect and make others instantly comfortable shines through in each picture. Rachel has that special “something” that cannot be taught. High recommendations for this talented photographer. - Patti G.
A world-class photographer, and a pleasure to do business with—a truly great combination! - Leslie C.
Our Mission
It is our honor and purpose to tell your story in beautiful keepsake artwork. We will craft images that capture the unique little details that make you YOU, and we’ll show you the beauty and joy of your family relationships. We’ll help you relax and enjoy yourself so that your images show your truest and most authentic self. After your session, we’ll offer you a selection of carefully curated products to preserve your images, including archival photographic prints, heirloom albums, and wall art that will last a lifetime. We stand behind our work and our products and are proud of our signature experience. Our goal is a happy client, every single time.
Collections
Our mitzvah packages begin at $3299 for five hours of coverage and the finished set of digital images. Our additional products and services have been carefully curated and priced to give you an outstanding experience and heirloom keepsakes. We are happy to customize a package to your individual needs and are committed to exceeding your expectations.
Keepsakes & Wall Art
We work closely with our labs to produce handcrafted heirloom artwork from portrait, mitzvah, and wedding sessions. We choose our vendors as carefully as you choose yours, and we guarantee or finished artwork so that you can feel confident that whatever you choose will still look beautiful for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
So many reasons! We know how hard you’ve worked on every detail of your celebration, and we don’t want to miss a thing! It’s also insurance for you; we have plenty of shots and plenty of angles, and you’ll get a full and complete story of your day. We also each carry two cameras with different lenses, giving us a wide variety of images and plenty of extra backup on the off chance that we have any trouble with equipment.
As far as your imagination can take us. We love to travel!
Yep! We’ll go over a shot list with you before your event, and we’ll make sure to capture what’s important to you in the way of formal pictures. The rest of the time, we’ll be catching both the details you’d expect and the little moments that you won’t realize we’ve photographed until you see your images. Your pictures will take you right back and you’ll get to relive those special moments again and again.
Yes, and you should never hire someone who isn’t! We know how to take beautiful natural light images AND we have a full kit of both on- and off-camera supplemental lighting. We want to make sure your images are perfectly lit no matter what the weather or the setting might be.
Yes! We have a network of talented professional photographers who will shoot for us in case of emergency. It has never happened, but it’s good to know the backup is in place! If an emergency means we’re unable to be at your event, we will still do the editing and finish work so that your images match our style and look like you expected.
No, I provide photography only. I want to do the best possible work for you at the highest possible quality, and that means that I focus on just one thing at a time! I want to give you beautiful photos that you will preserve in your album and on your walls, and I don’t want to miss a thing. That said, I have worked with some incredible videographers and am happy to give you some recommendations!
Oooh, you’re our favorite. Most people hate having their picture taken, and we are committed to making it fun for you to work with us! Most of our clients wrap up their sessions and events by saying, “That was more fun than I expected it to be,” and we love that. We have lots of tips and tricks to get you looking and feeling relaxed, and we take our time to make sure we capture beautiful images that leave you feeling good about your time with us.
First and foremost, we believe that photographs are meant to be seen. We want them out in your house, in your hands, in your daily experience. Also, technology changes so fast, and we don’t want you to look around in ten years and realize you can’t open your images anymore. Printed photographs are why we know what our grandparents looked like as newlyweds. We want the same for your family in later generations. This is also why we choose our labs so carefully. We only work with labs that are exclusive to professional photographers, using careful construction and archival papers and inks so that your artwork lasts. Our labs guarantee their products so that we can guarantee yours.
As soon as you know you need a photographer! While it’s always worth checking to see if we’re free at the last minute, it’s not uncommon for clients to book us a year or two ahead of their event dates and months before their portrait session dates.
Nope! Nobody wants a photo of Uncle Jim with one eye closed and food in his mouth. We carefully curate our images to present you with photos that you’ll be proud to display and share and keep. While you’ll have plenty of images to choose from, we’ll only deliver those that meet our high standards for image quality.
No, we only deliver fully finished images. Unedited files are like cake ingredients at a bakery. The finished product is what you hire us to produce, and we put time and energy into delivering the best images we can offer.
With pleasure. We support you, whoever you are, whoever you love, and however you’re celebrating, and we can’t wait to tell your unique story. Love has no limits.
Our products and packages are carefully curated and priced according to their value, so the short answer is no. That said, we want you to have exactly what you want, so we’re happy to create a custom package just for you. No matter what you choose to spend with us, you will receive our signature service and will receive heirloom products and images that will last for a lifetime.
Mitzvah Pictures
Action Shots
Posed Portraits
Details
Rachel is amazing. Her shots aren't just "pictures" - they capture the emotion and the life of the subject and the moment. Truly special photography. - Tylan G.
Photography Resources
How to Create the Perfect Gallery Wall for Your Home
The Psychology of Holding a Printed Photo
Top 8 Reasons to Hire a Professional Photographer
About Rachel Smook Photography
I’m Rachel, and I’m a wedding, portrait, and Bar Mitzvah photographer based in Massachusetts and willing to travel as far as your dreams will take you. As the parent of teenagers, I’ve learned that everything is better with some humor thrown in, and I’ve also learned how FAST life goes by. Photography gives me a way to stop time, both for my family and for yours. I’m a sucker for the little details: those tiny fingers wrapped around yours, the way he looks at you when you come down the aisle, the way you laughed at that little shimmy she did on the dance floor. It’s the little moments that make the sweetest memories, and I’m a feelings junkie, so I am THERE for them. I believe that laughter is good medicine, that love is love, and that memories are worth keeping.
