Personal Events
Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, baptisms, First Communions, and birthdays — photo and video.
The milestones a family actually frames and keeps. Spoonbill covers Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, baptisms and christenings, First Communions, and birthday parties — the ceremony, the celebration, or both. Nine years living and shooting in Israel taught me how to work quietly inside a service and stay out of the clergy's way; the same patience carries into a church, a backyard, or a banquet hall. You book the parts you need — the ceremony, the party, or the whole day — and the price follows the coverage.
Every event we cover includes
- Ceremony coverage at the synagogue, church, or venue
- Posed family portraits before or after the service
- Celebration coverage: speeches, dancing, candle-lighting, the room
- Edited gallery within two weeks
- Optional simultaneous video with a second shooter
Starting points.
Every Spoonbill project ends with a custom quote. These tiers give you a starting point for the conversation. Final pricing is set once we've talked through the specifics — every job is a little different.
| Coverage | Photo or video | Both | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar/Bat Mitzvah — ceremony | $650 | $1,170 | Service + family portraits · ~2.5 hr |
| Bar/Bat Mitzvah — celebration | $1,000 | $1,800 | Reception party · ~4 hr |
| Bar/Bat Mitzvah — full event | $1,300 | $2,340 | Ceremony + celebration · bundle price |
| Baptism / christening — ceremony | $500 | $900 | Rite + family portraits · 2 hr minimum |
| Baptism / christening — full event | $1,000 | $1,800 | Ceremony + reception · bundle price |
| First Communion — ceremony | $650 | $1,170 | Getting-ready + Mass + altar portraits · ~2.5 hr |
| First Communion — full event | $1,100 | $1,980 | Ceremony + reception · bundle price |
| Birthday party | $500 | $900 | Party coverage · 2 hr minimum |
Event coverage is $250/hour with a two-hour minimum per block. “Photo or video” is single-medium coverage; “Both” adds simultaneous photo and video with a second shooter (+80%). Ceremony and celebration are separate blocks — book one or both; the full-event price already includes the bundle discount. Standalone reception or party blocks for baptisms and communions are quoted at the same hourly rate.
A 50% deposit confirms and locks the date. Remaining 50% due the day before the shoot.
What makes this work different.
Cultural fluency
Nine years living in Israel and shooting mitzvahs in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, plus baptisms, communions, and family celebrations across South Florida. I know what to capture and what to leave alone.
Respectful in any house of worship
Quiet on the bimah or at the altar, respectful with timing, careful with photo restrictions where they apply.
Family-first
The portraits with grandparents and the small moments between siblings end up being the images families come back to. We make time for those, not just the choreographed shots.
Photo and video, one team
Want both? A second shooter captures video alongside the photography so neither medium is an afterthought — the +80% covers the extra person and the edit.
What people ask before they book.
How much does Bar or Bat Mitzvah photography cost?
Ceremony coverage (service plus family portraits, about 2.5 hours) starts at $650; reception coverage (about 4 hours) at $1,000; the full event at $1,300. Add simultaneous video with a second shooter for +80%. All photo coverage is billed at $250/hour with a two-hour minimum.
Do you photograph baptisms and christenings?
Yes. A baptism or christening ceremony with family portraits starts at $500 (a two-hour minimum at $250/hour); add a reception block at the same hourly rate, or book the full event for $1,000.
Do you cover First Communions?
Yes — getting-ready at home, the Mass, and altar family portraits, starting at $650 for the ceremony block; the full event with the reception is $1,100.
Can you photograph a birthday party?
Yes — birthday and milestone-party coverage starts at $500 for a two-hour block, billed at $250/hour beyond that.
Can I get photo and video together?
Yes. A second shooter captures video at the same time as the photography; that runs +80% of the photo price for the same coverage, and it includes the edit. Single-medium coverage (photo or video) is the base price.
Tell us about your event.
Send a note with scope, dates, and what you have in mind. We'll come back with a quote within one business day.