A Hard Rock Bat Mitzvah

October 11th, 2011 by Elizabeth Beskin | Share Blog

The Hard Rock Café is slowly becoming my favorite Bar Mitzvah venue.  It reminds me of the Dezerland venue of years ago.  It’s all about pure rock and roll – and what 13 year-old doesn’t want to party among rock stars?  It even provides a shot of nostalgia for the adults.

We’ve photographed Bar Mitzvahs at The Hard Rock Café a number of times, and at every occasion the venue offers a completely new experience for both the kids and parents alike.  This time, the venue was decorated by the talented folks at Shine Events.  Matt and his team not only planned the entertainment, they put their special flavor on the entire party.

One of the best things about hosting a Bar Mitzvah at The Hard Rock is the fabulous photo opportunities available in Times Square.   Check out Chloe and friends (below), at a Bat Mitzvah we photographed last weekend, with the Times Square backdrop.  The location, the décor and the entertainment all came together to create a cohesive whole, and a Bat Mitzvah Chloe will always remember.

What I love about photographing families during their children’s Bat Mitzvahs is the look of pure joy on everyone’s faces as the party kicks into gear.  It’s priceless – and great material for the photographer.  Capturing these heightened moments is what great Bar Mitzvah photography is all about!

Bar Mitzvah Photography Testimonial

September 28th, 2011 by Elizabeth Beskin | Share Blog

Beautiful photography that reflected all the special and unique elements of our bar mitzvah. They were creative from start to finish in planning the timing of the photos, to incorporating a range of pictures including our family trip to Israel a week prior, to the painstaking work of perfecting the book. The book has all of the most current benefits of digital photography with the quality of the finest leather bound traditional bar mitzvah albums, the attention from start to finish was personalized and Elizabeth, the owner became a friend by the time we were done!! Don’t hesitate or spend your time scouring the city, this was my 3 rd child and we used top photographers for all but no one gives the personalized attention to detail that you get from elizabeth, her photographers, and staff!

Photography for a Mad, Mad, Mad Hatter Mitzvah

April 11th, 2011 by Elizabeth Beskin | Share Blog

What does it take to create a unique and interesting mitzvah event?
Many people would answer that question with: a big, juicy budget.  While a generous budget may pave the way, I have to say that I have seen outstanding creativity in the production of one mitzvah this winter that was not done on a large budget. Read the rest of this entry »

Trends in Bar Mitzvah Photography

February 1st, 2011 by Beth Baynum | Share Blog

Bar and Bar Mitzvahs are among the most rewarding jobs we do here at 5th Avenue Digital. They are universally happy occasions, mostly free of drama, capturing families exuberantly enjoying this important milestone.  Even after all these years of photographing Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, it’s truly a pleasure to work with parents and planners on these events.

When it comes to Bar and Bat Mitzvah photography, some traditional elements remain unchanged, such as family portraits, bema shots and photos of the candle lighting.  However, other aspects have changed and new trends are on their way to becoming new traditions. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s new in Bar Mitzvah photography. Read the rest of this entry »

A Reflection on the State of Event Photography

January 3rd, 2011 by Elizabeth Beskin | Share Blog

If you’re like me, ripping off that last page of the calendar is a time of reflection, an opportunity to take stock of your business and in some cases, the people in your life.  When I look back on this year I am truly grateful for the people I get to work with on a daily basis and to those who have trusted our company with preserving the memories of their special events.

We continue to pursue our goal to create a company that provides a quality product with exceptionally responsive service.  The wonderful news is that our planners and clients who work with us are recognizing the value we offer them, and our company continues to thrive in an environment where most photography businesses falter under the weight of intense competition and shifting consumer needs.

Our YouBooth photo booth has proven to be the most successful product we created this year.  It stands out from the other free standing photo booths because it does it all: high quality prints that pop out in seconds, simultaneous transmission to A/V screens and the ability to customize back drops and branding on the prints. Read the rest of this entry »

Sustaining Success in a Weak Economy

August 26th, 2010 by Elizabeth Beskin | Share Blog

5th Avenue Digital recently hit its two-year anniversary.  There were no celebrations – we’re too busy working!  But the occasion gave us a reason to pause and think about how far we’ve come in the two years we’ve been operating as our own entity.  I thought our blog readers might be interested in what’s happened since separating 5th Avenue Digital from Sarah Merians Photography, and what we’ve done to keep our business viable in this weak economy.

Over 10 years ago, while still a part of SMP, 5th Avenue Digital started by doing corporate photography, and we continued to focus on this segment after the split.  However, we soon realized we’d need to expand beyond this rather narrow market.  The companies officially separated shortly before the start of the economic meltdown.  Subsequently, the corporate work (particularly with our larger clients, Lehman Brothers and AIG) dwindled drastically.  We knew then that we’d need to regroup, find ways to reach new market segments and develop new offerings, if we were going to survive.
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A Bar Mitzvah Goes Hollywood

May 19th, 2010 by Elizabeth Beskin | Share Blog

If you can’t bring the Bar Mitzvah to Hollywood, then bring Hollywood to the Bar Mitzvah!  This is exactly what Robin Lathrop and Suzan Salmon, the extraordinary planners at By Robin, Inc. www.byrobin.com, did for a client’s recent Bar Mitzvah.  They made Noah, the Bar Mitzvah honoree, the star of his own Hollywood production, inviting all his friends and family to share in the fun of “He’s the Man” Film Premiere.

As the photographers and videographers for the Bar Mitzvah, 5th Avenue Social collaborated with By Robin, Inc on some details that helped give the party even more of a Hollywood feel.  We love working hand-in-hand with our clients, providing solutions and ideas that enhance their events.  In this case, we were true creative partners. Read the rest of this entry »

Making a Mitzvah Stand Out – From Cake to Photography

March 1st, 2010 by Elizabeth Beskin | Share Blog

Everyone wants their child’s B’nai Mitzvah be uniquely special, from the service to the cake,to the  photography.  Conversely, thirteen year-olds are all about fitting in.  They want their celebrations to be different and fun – but not too different, and mostly fun!

Read the rest of this entry »