Although Rachael Spiegel has been photographing bar and bat mitzvahs for 23 years, around 10 years ago, she decided to focus her photography on only that. Today, she is known as one of the only photographers in the United States, maybe the only one, who exclusively shoots b’nai mitzvahs.
“Something about b’nai mitzvahs feels like home to me,” said Spiegel.
Spiegel, who resides in Gaithersburg, grew up in Baltimore, going to Jewish day school. She said growing up with a mother who was a bar and bat mitzvah planner inspired her to focus her camera on the same thing.
“The best thing is, because I am my own boss, I am able to choose what I photograph, and I am absolutely in love with bar and bat mitzvahs,” Spiegel added. “It is an absolute delight to capture that for families.”
Having attended Syracuse University for photojournalism, Spiegel has also covered breaking news and professional athletes.
“When I specialized [10 years ago], I was the only photographer in the country that specialized in bar and bat mitzvahs,” Spiegel explained.
She still might be. She has photographed more than 250 bar and bat mitzvahs over the years, exclusively in the DMV area.
“I absolutely love what I do,” she said.
