A Jewish wedding in Paris

In March 2023, I traveled to Paris to photograph a wedding. Some years ago, I had the chance to shoot photos of the future bride, Emmanuelle, when she was celebrating her bat mitzvah. It was an honor for me to come back to Paris and photograph her wedding with Alon, her fiance.

In France, weddings generally take place in synagogues and not very often in outside chuppahs. This time I could appreciate the stunning architecture of the « Rue des Tournelles » synagogue, near the Bastille neighborhood. Situated in the Marais district, which used to be a hub for Jewish life in Paris, this synagogue has a rich history dating back to the late 19th century.

Once the religious wedding was celebrated, I had the pleasure of accompanying the bride and the groom through the picturesque Place des Vosges. This place, so famous for its red bricks on the walls and its square shape, is the oldest place in Paris. It is also a five-minute walk from the beautiful synagogue. Cobblestone paths, elegant arcades, and lush greenery, creating a romantic ambiance perfect for newlyweds. What a chance: the Place des Vosges is a must!

Yekev Psagot, a dreamy wedding destination in Israel

As the sun rises over the scenic hills of Israel, casting a golden glow upon the terraced vineyards, a mesmerizing tale of love unfolds at Yekev Psagot. Nestled in the heart of the Judean Hills, this enchanting winery is a breathtaking destination for couples seeking a great venue. For wedding photographers searching for a dreamy locale, Yekev Psagot offers an unrivaled setting, where love and nature harmoniously unite. This remarkable place between Jerusalem and the desert is situated on the edge of Route 60 which starts from Jerusalem and crosses Samaria. We are here at the heart of the Binyamin region (the access is through the Shaar Binyamin industrial zone). Located 15 minutes from Pisgat Zeev, the venue is facing the desert. 

Yekev Psagot is surprising in the sense that it is both very charming and highly exotic. The chuppah is surrounded by the desert, which creates a comforting atmosphere for couples seeking a picturesque backdrop to break the glass. The style is quite rustic thanks to a superbly renovated stone building that looks like a southern European hacienda: it can accommodate up to 500 guests! The caterer is great (everything is Kosher LaMehadrin), and the wine lovers will enjoy the full-bodied Psagot wines (I would recommend trying the Psagot Sinaï !).

As a wedding photographer, Yekev Psagot is a unique place for a wedding in Israel and it unveils boundless opportunities for artistic expression.

Street Photography in Jerusalem… and elsewhere

A few days ago, a friend contacted me to tell me about a « Street Photography » contest and to offer me to participate 😀 On the one hand, I mainly photograph weddings or bar mitzvahs… but at the same time when I go abroad, I know that the street is an inexhaustible source of inspiration. You need to have your camera in hand and something happens… So I had to dig into my archives and find images taken in Jerusalem of course, but also in Paris, London, Tel Aviv and Rome. Here is a selection that I had fun reviewing.

An unknown wonder in Israel

Here is a place that is not in tourist guides. A few minutes from the Dead Sea, hidden behind a large salt mountain of a few kilometers is the Nachal Pratzim. After leaving Ein Bokek and the foothills of Mount Sodom, you have to go through a bumpy road (a dirt road) before seeing this unusual landscape: small white chalk mountains of blinding clarity.

These mountains were formed by water since traces of erosion are present everywhere. It is a narrow gorge formed by flowing water eroding sedimentary rocks. And the rocks are pretty soft like chalk! It is undoubtedly one of the most surprising landscapes that I have seen in Israel and I wanted to share some of my images here. Given the heat, it is better to avoid July or August but also the stormy periods of winter. FYI, these photos were taken in March 2022. For any visitor to the Dead Sea, this is definitely a must! (special thanks to our great guide Florent Salama!)

How to make matzot? A Jerusalem story.

An explanation with photos.

Yesterday, in Jerusalem, I participated in the baking of matzot, the unleavened bread that Jewish people eat during the Passover holiday. I was really happy to have been part of this wonderful experience and to have been able to take these photos at Jerusalem’s Yeshiva Merkaz HaRav located in the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood. I was privileged to be part of a great team!

All the steps you can see here, from kneading to baking, have to be completed as quickly as possible. The dough must always be worked in such a way that it remains unleavened. And everything must be perfectly cleaned between each step. In Israel and in the Jewish world in general, Passover can be described as a cornerstone time of the year. A family moment but also and perhaps more importantly, a time of passing on a tradition. Like this dad who makes matza with his son. Pesach Kasher veSameach! Happy Passover!

Where to organize a country wedding in Israel?

I have recently had the opportunity to photograph a wedding in a lovely place nestled in nature. In a haven of peace located between Petach Tikva, Rosh HaAyin, and Hod Hasharon. The place is called Derech ha-Teva which means « the way of nature ». There are many venues in and around the beautiful Israeli countryside. I’ve not been privileged to visit them all but here is an example of an outdoor Israeli wedding. I discovered a place in the middle of the fields and, as a photographer, I enjoyed it immensely. Please feel free to take a look at the pictures and at some of my tips! I certainly hope these tips will be helpful to any bride or groom planning an outdoor wedding in Israel for their special day.

1. Make the most of the unique features of the venue.

In the location we were at, I had the great opportunity to use a real tractor. To create an atmosphere of « a wedding inside the farm », I requested the newlyweds pose on top of it!

2. Take advantage of the golden hour.

The chuppah usually takes place just before nightfall so we can take advantage of the sunset and have some great pics with the last rays of the sun. Anyway, here in Israel, light is really powerful and we have to exploit this nice opportunity.

3. Focus on the details before it’s too late.

I made sure to photograph the tables and the decor (the benchers, the tables, the waiters, etc.) before rushing to the family pictures. Families put so much thought, effort and time into the decoration and detail, and so it is important to get this on camera. The bride’s bouquet and dress are a highlight!

4. Give a great place to the environment.

Often the chuppah is in the midst of nature, amongst trees which serves as a perfect location for some shots. The use of a wide lens offers some great solutions to highlight nature.

5. Never underestimate the power of black and white.

We are inside nature. We have great colors. Nevertheless, some pictures will appear better in black and white, especially portraits: well, this is something pretty hard to explain! Very often black and white photos are more powerful in terms of emotions.

6. And for sure… always be there at the right moment!

The rule is to be here, there, and everywhere without being noticed. A good photographer always needs to have fast legs!

Street Photography in Tel Aviv

When I’m in town, it’s usually for a wedding or a bar mitzvah. And when I take my camera equipment with me, I try to spend time in nature – have a look at my desert photography – or to discover the history of a specific place. I rarely go to Tel Aviv, but I wanted to practice street photography in this city for a while. I’m not going to compare here « modern Tel Aviv » to « ancient Jerusalem » and anyway, all tourist guides already do it! « The two cities are light years away from each other » I once read in a Lonely Planet guide! I won’t elaborate on this cliché. Even though we are in the capital of the start-up nation and in the city with the highest rate per capita of vegans in the world, Tel Aviv is full of great places for a photographer to discover. The Bauhaus architecture reminds us of the German Jews exodus in the 1930s: Tel Aviv is full of these rounded buildings with minimalist shapes (and we can see some in Jerusalem as well). But we are in the Middle East and the lively Shuk HaCarmel appears as a colorful reminder of it. Neve Tzedek streets are the haunt of bobos and tourists: we often forget that in some of these houses, major characters in Israel’s history have stayed: Rav Kook (first Chief Rabbi of Palestine) and Shmuel Yossef Agnon (Nobel Prize of literature) lived in Neve Tzedek for a while. The sea is very close. And Jaffa as well. I couldn’t visit the tree-lined Sderot Hen – a treat for walkers – or the surroundings of the Bimah Theater but I keep them for some other times. For street photographers, this hectic city which is only 110 years old (!) contains nothing but surprises. And with certainty, there is one thing in common between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem: the two cities are under construction!

Photographing the desert in Israel

The word for Desert in Hebrew is « Midbar ». This word exactly means: « the place where the word came ». Actually, it has a very deep meaning. I prefer expressing myself with pictures rather than with words. There are many stunning places in the Negev desert, from Sde Boker to Eilat, from the Makhtesh Ramon to Nakhal HaBsor. We are only two hours (OK perhaps a bit more!) from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, and these vast places are certainly among the most beautiful in Israel. I now understand why I have heard that more and more young couples wish to get married in the desert 🙂 The desert is a place of fulfillment and definitely a great source of inspiration for photographers. Now the Corona is coming to an end in Israel, now that people are dreaming of a getaway, I suggest that you consider going to one of these places in this beloved Negev!

Black & White Jerusalem

The famous song says « Jerusalem of gold, of copper and light ! ». But can’t we see Jerusalem in Black and White? That’s the experience I wanted to share walking around the Jerusalem walls. I’ve always photographed Jerusalem’s Old City in colors, and I wished to think about it in Black and White. Here is an attempt to tell some of the stories of Jerusalem through shades of grey. And you, do you prefer Jerusalem in colors or Black and White?

A charming town in Israel : Mazkeret Batya

Mazkeret Batya is a small, relatively unknown town in central Israel. It is a quiet place situated just a handful of miles from Rehovot.

Mazkeret Batya (Batya’s souvenir) is a testimony to the tremendous courage displayed by the pioneers. It was in that place in 1883 that eleven pioneers from Russia – eleven farmers – arrived to work the land. They were part of the Hovevei Zion movement (« the Lovers of Zion »), one of the earliest movements in modern Zionism.

This settlement in Ottoman Palestine could not have come without the efforts of Shmuel Mohilever – a Russian Rabbi – and the financial help of French Baron, Edmond James de Rothschild. The yishuv’s name was originally Ekron but it soon became Mazkeret Batya. Batya, or Betty, was the Baron’s mother and he decided to name the town in her honor. Mazkeret Batya represents one of the first attempts to organize Jewish agriculture in Palestine. The first Jewish settlement was Rishon Letzion, established in 1882.

Today, Mazkeret Batya is an absolutely charming town with a population of 10,000. The main street, where the historic houses are located, is lined with orange and lemon trees. The imposing synagogue was donated by Baron de Rothschild and recalls the great synagogues that can be seen in Europe (at the moment, there is some construction work being done). A small museum tells the story of these incredible pioneers who had to dig wells when they arrived in order to find water. Everything had to be done! Everything had to be built! And remember, neither soil nor the climate was the same as it was in Russia. The traces of this past are still present in Mazkeret Batya. The well is located in the center of the city, overlooked by the water wheel. The original streetlamps in the main street are still there. The museum introduces us to the faces of these pioneers and their personal belongings, as for example the tools they had to use. For lovers of nature, Tel Gezer’s geological park is situated a few kilometers from Mazkeret Batya. It has one of the most beautiful panoramas in Israel!

Meet me at the Jerusalem market!

It is THE market to visit in Jerusalem. An inspiring place to see and feel. A market of a thousand colors, of a thousand flavors. It is Mahane Yehuda which means « Judah’s camp ». I wanted to share here some photos of « the Shouk » (the market), a place cherished by Jerusalem residents. Despite the pandemic and the tourists not being here, the market remains visited and this is really good news (someone takes our temperature at the entrance, I must add). Unfortunately, the restaurants are closed, and my favorite hummus (where hot hummus is served) as well. Many Jerusalem residents regret the Shuk’s gentrification but, personally, I think it remains a lively place with nice shots one can take every time (OK, that is just a photographer’s point of view !) Next to the halva merchant who proposes you to taste his creations, oriental pastries with flowing honey are waiting for you. Next to the fruit merchant who opens glittering pomegranates, there is a queue at the bakery. And so on, and so forth. This visual description would make me forget the smells of spices… In short, if you live in Jerusalem and that you’re bored of staying at home, come and have a breath at Mahane Yehuda. As for the tourists who, I hope, will come back very quickly, a visit to the Shuk always remains a must!

A journey to Gush Etzion

It all began one sunny day in September. Florent, our guide had arranged to meet us at Neve Daniel. 30 minutes south of Jerusalem, Neve Daniel is the highest point of Gush Etzion. It’s a lovely village which offers a great vantage point of the region. In addition to the local vineyards, we can see the town of Beitar Illit (the largest town in the region together with Efrat) and the minarets, symbols of the surrounding Arab villages. We are here 900 to 1 000 meters above sea level. During the summer you can enjoy a nice breeze while in the winter you will see snow.

We head to the small yishuv of Kfar Etsion, which houses the Gush Etzion museum. This newly renovated museum tells how during Israel’s War of Independence in 1948, members of local kibbutzim fought for the survival of their villages (the Kfar Etzion kibbutz was founded in 1935) and especially to establish the link between this region and the city of Jerusalem: the museum visit is essentially based on a fascinating film which traces the epic of these fighters and… For sure, I won’t reveal everything except that it’s simply a must-see for anyone visiting the region! We come out moved by this less famous story and were captivated by the strategic dimension of these villages all around.

We then made our way to Alon Shvut. At the entrance to this community of 3 000 inhabitants, we discover the Gush Etzion vineyard created by Shraga Rozenberg in 1995. It all began with a blackberry bush… and today, it’s an award-winning vineyard that focuses on quality. We discover the vats and the machines for the wine production while superb bunches of grapes arrived on-site to barrels waiting to be filled… Anyway, it was soon mealtime. Our cheese plates went perfectly with delicate wines such as the red « Spring River » or even the delicious Gewurtztraminer! Now I understand why I heard that this winery was something of a miracle.

Our heads were full of beauty, history, and nature however there were still so many more places to visit. We crossed into the forest dedicated to the three boys (Eyal Ifrah, Gilad Shaer, and Naftali Frenkel, hy’’d) and we arrive at a superb viewpoint (dedicated to Ari Fuld hy’’d) which gives us a unique opportunity to contemplate the beauty of this Gush Etzion nestled in the Judean mountains. What a great place for a photographer! By leaving in the direction of Tekoa we now discover a fabulous desert landscape: this small yishuv in the middle of the desert is located in front of the fortress of Herodion. So surprising to think that we are 16km from Jerusalem (Har Homa is 25mn from here). Our journey will end in this stunning place which was born from the madness of King Herod (First century before CE). More than the vestiges of the past, Herodion offers us a unique 360° point of view on this magnificent region unfortunately not visited enough by tourists and not well enough known by the Israelis themselves.

Many thanks to Dany Lord Sinclar and to our guide Florent Salama!

Wedding inspiration in Israel, wedding inspiration close to Jerusalem

 A wedding in a winery? Yes, it’s definitely possible!

It’s a place I discovered between Kokhav Yaacov and Ofra. It’s called Sha’ar Binyamin, and we are 15 to 20 minutes from Pisgat Zeev.

Ok, at first sight, what you see around looks more or less like an industrial zone but there’s something you wouldn’t imagine inside: there’s a winery! We are in Psagot Winery, one of the greatest wineries in Israel, and at the same time, we discover a hacienda in the heart of the Samaria hills! The whole venue has just been renovated for events: stones and wood, the decoration indoors and outdoors is neat. The place blends into this natural decor. All around, vineyards and the desert sand. Can we dream of a nicer place for a chuppah outdoors? A place that will amaze your guests… Everything seems fresh here! So if you’re planning a wedding or a bar mitzvah outside to enjoy an astounding view, if you like the desert atmosphere, if you intend to organize an event in an inspiring place full of character, and… if you want to be close enough to Jerusalem, I think that is definitely the place!

I forgot something important: among many award-winning wines, you can’t leave the place without tasting the fruity Psagot Sinai wine: delicious!

Here is a selection of photos I made at a wedding. Enjoy!

A countryside wedding in Israel

 It is something beautiful and simple at the same time. Sheer pleasure for a photographer!

A Kallah with her best friends in the middle of the fields and near the desert. We are in Ofra in the heart of Samaria, a couple of kilometers from Jerusalem. I’ve just finished the photos of the makeup session at the bride’s home. Friends of the bride who are already super excited tell me that they have a nice place in the yishuv, so I let myself be guided…

They take me among the clods of straw … and next to the horses !!! As a wedding photographer, I couldn’t imagine I’d get the vibe of the farm and the wedding photoshoot altogether! I am delighted. These are rare photos! Photos with an authenticity that is also a real source of inspiration.

What a pleasure to participate in this Simcha! The next images will come very soon …

The starry night

We had the chance with two friends of mine to photograph the starry night! Where? This will be kept secret 🙂 Here is a clue: somewhere in the Negev between Yeruham and Dimona. And not so far from Beer Sheva. These pictures were pretty hard to get because of the strong wind and – of course – the long time of exposure. The result is here!

A Bar Mitzvah in Mekor Chaim, Jerusalem

This is the reason – in my humble opinion – the Mekor Chaim synagogue is one of the best choices for a Bar Mitzvah in Jerusalem (aside from the Kotel!). This synagogue situated in the Mekor Chaim street (number 12) is built on the model of Tunisian synagogues from the past. The Mekor Chaim neighborhood is situated between Bakaa and Talpiot. This synagogue is a jewel! The brightness is exceptional, the blue atmosphere is stunning, the decor is luxurious. I have no interest other than sharing my experience… but what I do know is that when I’m there for a photo shoot, I enjoy so much the wonderful light! This is a French-speaking community but the place is open to all. If you want to organize a Bar Mitzvah in Jerusalem, whether you are Ashkenazic or Sephardic or of whatever tradition, this synagogue with magical colors is a fantastic spot. I forgot something important: a big Mazal Tov for Eyal, a super nice hatan Bar Mitzvah whose simcha blends wonderfully in the bluish atmosphere of the place! And you, reader, what do you think?

A Bar Mitzvah at the Kotel during Hannukah

I had the privilege to have my first Bar Mitzvah from Los Angeles 😄 I had already some from New York, but no farther! Despite the rainy weather in Jerusalem, JB (that’s his name) had the chance to celebrate his bar mitzvah at the Kotel… and during Hannukah! And JB loves doughnuts as well! Mazal Tov to JB and his wonderful family! May we all meet in “semachos” in Israel 😀 More pictures at the Kotel? Go to the Bar Mitzvah section!