Mitzvahs, Uniquely Yours


I photograph a limited number of full Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations each year, and I'm especially drawn to celebrations that do things a little differently. The traditional dance party can be fun, but some of my favorite Mitzvahs I've photographed have taken place at a summer camp, a roller skating rink, at the Kotel, and coming up soon, at a parkour gym. If your child would rather celebrate by doing something they genuinely love than spend the night on a dance floor, there's a pretty good chance I'll be excited about it too.


Because I intentionally keep my weekend calendar selective, I prioritize full Mitzvah celebrations that feel like an especially good fit for my candid, documentary approach. Traditional receptions are absolutely still welcome, but availability for them is more limited. Priority for these events will be given to winter Bar/Bat Mitzvot. Please inquire for more details about your date's availability.


Bimah portraits and weekday celebrations at all times of the year are a different story! I'm much more flexible with weekday availability, so families looking for synagogue portraits are always welcomed to reach out.


My Approach: Candids Come First


It's always a pleasure to help others preserve memories of their significant life events and milestones, whether that be a Mitzvah, a baby naming, or something else that sparks joy. My goal in all of these is to preserve the authentic feelings of the moment, and this means that my approach is very documentarian rather than posed. At a reception, you'll rarely find me setting up a posed group photo; you're much more likely to see me sneaking candids of heartfelt moments or epic shots that define the evening's story.


Rather than championing orchestrated galleries, my coverage prioritizes photos as-it-happened and raw emotion.

Kate's Jerusalem Western Wall destination Bat Mitzvah. Photographed by Joey Rushfield of the DMV area.
Bar Mitzvah at Congregation Har Shalom
Hannah's Bat Mitzvah at Kraken Kourts and Skates
Zoe's B'nai Shalom of Olney, MD Bat Mitzvah. Photographed by Joey Rushfield of the DMV area.
Bar Mitzvah at Congregation Har Shalom
Bat Mitzvah at the Hilton in Bethesda, MD.
Bat Mitzvah at Congregation Har Shalom
Bat Mitzvah at Congregation Har Shalom
Leah's  Bat Mitzvah at Temple Isaiah in Scaggsville, MD.
Bat Mitzvah at Punch Bowl Social in Arlington, VA
Dylan reading from the Torah at her Bat Mitzvah at JCC of Greater Washington in Rockville, MD.
Bat Mitzvah at Beth El Potomac MD.
Yoav's grandmother holds him after his Bris at Ohev Shalom in Washington, DC.
Bar Mitzvah at Shadowlands in Gaithersburg, MD
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Testimonials
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Jessica F.

We had a terrific experience working with Joey to photograph our daughter’s Bat Mitzvah celebration. He was professional and responsive as we finalized the contract, but he really shined on-site at the event: Joey did an incredible job of capturing the spirit of the party through a mix of beautiful candid and posed photos. He always seemed to be in just the right spot to capture a key moment, and proactively found unexpected shots that proved to be some of our favorites! He far exceeded our expectations.

Kraken Kourts and Skates Bat Mitzvah
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"Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly now. Love mercy now. Walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, neither are you free to abandon it."

-Pirkei Avot