08/07/2026
A mom called a few weeks ago about her daughter's Bat Mitzvah, and she asked me one of the most common questions I've gotten all year.
She said she was on a budget, she was comparing a few photographers, and she wanted to know why my prices were higher than the others when everyone seemed to be offering the same thing.
My honest answer was that I had no idea why the other photographers quoted her less. I don't price my work based on what anyone else charges, because I have no idea what they have to do to deliver on what they promised her.
She asked what I meant, so I explained it the way I'd explain it to all my clients.
First, I don't know how many years they've been doing Mitzvahs specifically. I've been doing this for over twenty years across all of South Florida. That experience isn't about ego. It's about knowing the room before I walk into it, anticipating what's about to go sideways, and quietly eliminating risk before you ever notice there was one. The more experienced your photographer is, the fewer chances there are for something to go wrong.
Second, I don't know what equipment they're carrying. And yes, every photographer will tell you the gear doesn't make the picture, and that's true. But a live event is unpredictable. When the lights drop for the hora and your kid goes up in the chair, the right camera in the right hands is sometimes the difference between having that photo and not having it. Working with limited gear means gambling with luck. I spend a serious amount of money keeping my gear current and well maintained, and I carry backups for everything. Not because it's fun to spend money on cameras, but because I never want a piece of equipment to be the reason a moment is missed.
Third, and this is the big one, reliability. A price that seems too good can feel like a win, but ask yourself why it's that low. If someone is cutting their rate just to book you and move on, that tells you something. Either they need the money badly enough to sacrifice value, or they're overpromising and hoping it works out. Neither one belongs anywhere near your daughter's Bat Mitzvah.
So here's the advice I'd give any parent, whether you hire me or not.
Start with portfolios. Find images you actually love, ones that reflect the vision you have for your day, and narrow it down to five photographers.
Then call them. Please call them. Do not just email for a package. Packages are not the real picture of what's being offered. Anyone can build a package that looks like a great deal, and to a parent who hasn't done this before, that package can quietly become the thing that stops you from getting what you wanted.
Call them because personality matters. A photographer can produce a stunning portfolio, and then you meet them and realize you can't stand them. By then it's too late. You're with that person for a year of planning, all day at your Mitzvah, and beyond. You have to like them. Their vibe has to match yours and your child's.
Once you've clicked with two or three, then talk money. Negotiate. Most experienced professionals price competitively and we know when we can make something work and when it isn't the right fit. Any responsible photographer will tell you honestly when it isn't a match.
I've had families come to me the second time around, after their first experience didn't go the way they hoped. Those conversations are exactly why I talk about this so openly. Nobody should have to learn this the expensive way.
Money is what you pay. Value is what you get.
Take your time, ask every question, and keep your expectations realistic. It won't guarantee a perfect outcome, but it will dramatically reduce your chances of a bad one.
And that mom? She booked me. And I could not be more excited to work with her family.
If you're planning a Bar or Bat Mitzvah right now and you have a question about the photography side, ask me in the comments. I'm happy to help you figure out the right fit, even if that turns out to be someone other than me.
