Reviews - Ira Casel Photography

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These are the words of real clients (and event planners), collected from Google reviews and from their emails to me. I hope their thoughts will help to give you a more complete understanding of the kind of photographs I will create for you, what it's like to work with me and the kind of attention and care I will give to you and your family.

Working with Ira was an amazing experience. He is both warm and professional at the same time. He had a deep understanding of what would be important to our family. His photographs capture the beauty and raw emotion of our celebration. - MARIELA MARKELIS DYBNER

We were so lucky to work with Ira! We had the best experience both on our posed photo sessions as well as candid time during my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah. Ira had a perfect vision of capturing my daughter’s personality and attitude as well as every special moment for the big event. - JULIA KANTOR

I love working with Ira on the Bar and Bat Mitzvahs I produce for my clients in and around New York City. He is easy-going and flexible and I am always thrilled with the images our clients receive. I recommend him whole-heartedly! - LINDSAY LANDMAN

Ira is not only a wonderful photographer who will capture all of the best moments of your event, but he is THE nicest guy. So easy to work with and a keen eye. He is amazing. I could not recommend highly enough. It sounds cliché - but look no further. - VICKI CAPLAN

Ira was fantastic to work with. He took headshots for me and was responsive, quick, socially distant and the end result was just what I was looking for. I highly recommend Ira for any of your photography needs. - PAUL STERN

We used Ira to photograph our children’s B’Nai Mitzvah. We couldn’t be happier with our beautiful photographs! Ira was easy and fun to work with. We will use him again for our youngest child. - RONIT HOROWITZ

I have had the pleasure of working with Ira on two of my daughter’s Bat Mitzvahs and will definitely use him for number 3. He did an incredible job capturing the magic of the day both on the bimah and at the celebration. Looking at his pictures makes me want to do it all over again. - NICOLE FUTORAN

Ira was so easy to work with; he was very accommodating and made us all feel very relaxed. He captured great moments between family members and gave memories in photos that will last forever. - JOLIE FELDMAN

In a class by himself. Experience, professionalism, attention to detail, communication- he's got it all, AND he is a wonderful person with a big heart - a quality which ultimately makes him an extraordinary photographer. He pursues and captures the subtleties of emotional moments, which can only be done if you feel it yourself- the pride in grandpa's eyes, the touch between husband and wife, the overflowing energy of friends just so happy to be there in that moment. An amazing choice x 2 bat mitzvahs. - TARA STRAUSS

Ira's pictures are artistic and beautiful. He really captures the emotion of the day in a way that most others do not. Looking through his pictures instantly brings us joy! - JENNIFER BRICK

I had a wonderful experience working with Ira, who was able to schedule a socially-distanced, outdoor session on short notice. Ira was a pleasure to work with and a true professional. - ROBERT KRAVETZ

Ira was a pleasure to work with and truly captured the essence of our special day. We could not be happier with the photos. Highly recommend! - ERICA MURPHY

We used Ira for both my son's bar mitzvah in 2016 and my daughter's bat mitzvah in 2019. He was very easy to work with and our pictures were amazing. I would highly recommend him! - LAUREN STADTMAUER

We used Ira for our daughters bat mitzvah. We were so happy with final results and all the beautiful photos that we will have forever. Ira was so easy to work and always professional. I would highly recommend! - JANINE FERDINAND

Ira was the photographer for my daughter's Bat Mitzvah and her photo shoot prior to her big day. Ira was wonderful to work with in every way- he made my daughter feel comfortable, he was creative, flexible and a pleasure to deal with all around. We couldn't have been happier with all his pictures and are so grateful to have had him with us to help preserve the memories of the special day. - RISA KUDLER

Ira is a wonderful photographer! He shot both of my children's Bar Mitzvahs and he has an amazing way of capturing a moment. I am a huge fan of candid photos and Ira does not disappoint! - JENNIFER ASHKINAZE

Ira was fantastic to work with from beginning to end. Our pictures were amazing. We can't stop looking at them. We can't wait for Ira to shoot our next two Bar Mitzvahs! - ILYSE SHAINBROWN

Ira Casel’s photography is extraordinary! He is such a pleasure to work with and really gets what is important to the family! His pictures were beautiful and I will cherish them forever! Working with him is like working with a friend who really gets you! Call him! - HARRIET HESSDORF

The minute I met Ira at our initial interview for my daughter's bat mitzvah, I felt at ease with him. He is a wonderful person and so easy to get along with. And...even better...he's an amazing photographer! His pictures really captured all the fun our family and friends had at the bat mitzvah. He was so popular he's actually in a few of their pictures! We have since used him for our annual holiday cards and will be using him again for our son's bar mitzvah. Cannot recommend him more! - MARIT HALPER

We used Ira for our son's bar mitzvah and our daughter's bat mitzvah and both times he was amazing! Ira makes everyone feel so comfortable and he really captures the essence of each event. He is incredibly talented and we feel so lucky to have such beautiful photographs to look at and enjoy forever! - NEALY TROLL

We used Ira for both my son's bar mitzvah and my daughter's bat mitzvah. On both occasions, we found Ira to be the consummate professional. He was extremely easy to deal with. One of Ira's best qualities as a photographer is that he blends into the event and is unobtrusive. Ira truly excels at the candid photos - he took some wonderful pictures at both of our events, capturing unique moments and portraying those moments in a very creative manner. We highly recommend Ira. - JODI MOSKOWITZ

Ira Casel is an amazing photographer! He has photographed our family twice for the bar mitzvahs of our 2 oldest sons. Ira is friendly and easy going. He makes everyone feel comfortable and captures the most wonderful moments. He blends into the scene of the party so you barely know he is there but somehow, he documents it all. I highly recommend him! - MICHELE METSCH

Ira is the best. He is professional, kind, reliable and a pleasure to work with. He has a gift at capturing the small moments that make for the big moments. He is a fantastic photographer and I would use him again in a heartbeat. - JULIE POTISCHMAN

Ira was the photographer at both of my sons’ bar mitzvahs. He is fantastic to work with— professional, extremely reliable and completely easy going. Ira takes beautiful and candid photographs without being imposing or commanding. Besides being a great photographer, he is just a really nice and honest person. I highly recommend Ira! - SUZANNE GOLDEN

Ira is an amazing photographer and so easy to work with. We used him for my daughter’s bat mitzvah and are using him again for my son’s. We just received the pictures from our photo shoot and I couldn’t be happier with the results! - BETH SONNENBERG

Ira is an extremely talent photographer and such a pleasure to work with. He manages families and situations and real-time event moments adeptly and delivers gorgeous product (he is also brave as he jumps into the middle of the scene and gets the best shots!). Our family has recommended him again and again. Hope he'll move on to wedding photography when our bat mitzvah age kids get there! - BETH KITZINGER

Ira photographed both of my kids’ mitzvahs. He is a pleasure to work with. The final photos were amazing and the album he did was beautiful and clean. I will now have these amazing photos forever. - SHELLY TEPPER GROSSMAN

Ira Casel is awesome. He creates photographs that are not only fun but technically perfect. His mastery of lighting shows in his portrait level execution. His easy-going nature creates a relaxed atmosphere. Because he connected to the emotional moment he was able to capture incredible shots of my daughter and family! I’m so glad I chose Ira! - GERALDINE BIEN

We used Ira twice and both times he was an absolute pleasure to work with. He made it fun, and the photos were fantastic. Highly recommend Ira Casel Photography! - AMY JANAY

Highly recommend Ira. He photographed my son’s and daughter’s mitzvahs and the pictures were superb. He is extremely professional and easy to work with. The mitzvah process can be stressful but Ira manages to make the picture part extremely smooth. From the pictures the morning of the event to making sure he captures the perfect shot at the reception, he gets them all. - MARC BERGER

Ira captures amazing moments at your event! So easy to work with. Best decision you will make. - LYNDA HELLER

We worked with Ira for both our sons’ bar mitzvahs and could not have been happier with the results. Not only does he take beautiful photos but he is a pleasure to work with. Ira manages to be everywhere without you even realizing it and captures those special moments in between the posed photos that our family will always cherish. - STACEY GREENBLATT

Ira Casel photographed both my son’s and daughter’s bar and bat mitzvahs. The pictures are beautiful and Ira catches the little moments and glances that make your event truly special. Ira is a pleasure to work with from the pre-mitzvah photo shoot to working on the final album. Thank you, Ira, for your gorgeous photographs....you are a true professional!!! - STEPHANIE BUSHELL

Ira was the photographer for both my son and daughter's mitzvahs. My third child's mitzvah is in October 2020 and the first thing we did when we got her date was to lock in Ira. Ira Casel is not only an extremely talented photographer whose gorgeous photos tell the story of the event in a beautiful and touching way, but he is a kind, funny and warm person that makes all subjects feel comfortable and themselves. His photos are beautiful, whether they are portraits or candids and they truly are treasures! OMG the pictures are stunning!!!! Thank you for perfectly capturing our day Ira you are truly the BEST! - DIANNA SNYDER

Ira is a fabulous photographer. He handled a casual photoshoot in advance of our special event, the results of which were gorgeous, and then pre-service and our party. The photos perfectly capture our family and the beauty of our event. - MICHAEL SAPHERSTEIN

Ira is such a pleasure to work with. His photographs are stunning! We’ve used him for both mitzvahs! - KIRSTEN FARRON

When it came time to choose a photographer for our eldest’s bat mitzvah, Ira was immediately at the top of my list. Not only did he take pictures of my girls when they were younger that I already loved, I had also seen several friends' photos that he had taken at their simchas and was absolutely blown away by emotions that each picture captured. I knew that was what I wanted for our simcha and Ira did not disappoint! Photo after photo showed the joy my girl had that day as well as happiness of all of our friends and family. Two years later, we of course just used Ira again for our younger daughter's bat mitzvah. He really captured it all - the playfulness, the happiness, and always, the love that's in the room. The only "struggle" I'm having now is narrowing down which pictures to choose!!! - STACY MERKEL

I am so thrilled with the wonderful, vivid pictures Ira took of my son's Bar Mitzvah. My eyes welled with tears when I saw the final product. Ira managed to capture ephemeral, incredible moments - the joy, the love and the vibrancy of the evening radiated from all the pictures. Additionally, he is a pleasure and fun to work with. From the beginning we felt like we were in good hands. We are so happy we chose Ira as our photographer. Now those priceless moments will always be there for us to revisit, thanks to Ira. - MICHELLE WEISS

OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!! LOVE! Thank you!! Can’t wait to see all of them! - BETH METZENDORF

It was truly a pleasure to work with Ira Casel. From the time he arrived, he effortlessly integrated himself into the party with both family and guests. As a result, his photography captured the special moments between people and the joy of the celebration. - ALLISON & MARK ZINGALE

You captured the moments of the day in a unique, artsy and fun way, which was exactly what we wanted. You seamlessly blend into the party, but at the same time, whenever we needed you always seemed to be there! We also were so pleased with the results of the casual portrait session weeks before the actual event. Thanks again for making our occasion so special! - JONI & BRAD TAYLOR

Ok, it’s official. We are completely awed at your eye, your skill, your time management, your flexibility, and of course, our photos!!! These photos are magnificent and beyond anything we could have expected. You’ve captured our daughter, and our family dynamics, in ways that defy the circumstances and pressures of the day for all of us. I have no idea how you did it but we are absolutely thrilled!!!! Thanks so much!! - JOHANNA GINSBURG

We would like to thank you for the exquisite pictures you took at our daughter's bat mitzvah. It was wonderful having Ira photograph our daughter's bat mitzvah. He managed to take one wonderful picture after the next with none of us even knowing he was there. He captured the warmth of the event and somehow everyone looks good in nearly all of the pictures; best of all, he captured special moments without being intrusive! We will have great memories and now great photographs, a rare combination. - BETH ZELNICK KAUFMAN

Ira's photos really captured the joy of my son's bar mitzvah. They are beautiful and iconic: each photo stands alone as a piece of art in itself, as well as being part of the story of the day. - LAURA LINDBERG

Beautiful pictures Ira! You did a great job of capturing the feelings of the moment and the spirit of the day. Not only is each individual photo a piece of art, but the collection masterfully conveys the story of the day. Thank you also for providing us with black and white photos which help round out the photographic depiction of this special day. From beginning to end, you were a pleasure to work with. Thank you! - SUSAN & ALAN STEINBERG

We are so pleased with the work Ira Casel did for our daughter's bat mitzvah. He was incredibly pleasant and professional to work with. Ira made sure that he captured all the important family pictures, but also took many gorgeous artistic shots and fabulous candids. We are so thrilled with the results! As soon as we get a bat mitzvah date scheduled for our younger daughter, we will be calling Ira right away to make sure he is available. - MIRIAM & ADAM RUCHMAN

I can't tell you how pleased we are with Ty's Bar Mitzvah photos! They are beautiful! You captured every single special moment, as well as all of the candid shots that show just how much fun we all had. Your attention to detail and eye for creativity are amazing. I loved the photo of my Manolo Blahnik's...on and off my feet! We are so happy that we had the chance to work with you! I am not sure that anyone else could have captured the bar mitzvah in the special way that you were able to. I will gladly refer you to all of my dearest friends and family! I look forward to seeing you again...maybe for a family photo shoot! Definitely for the next big party/event! - SUSAN & BILL GOULD

Thank you so much for the amazing photos of the girls’ bnai mitzvah. It was a pleasure working with you every step of the way and we can't wait to use you again in five years for the next bar mitzvah! - TRACY & JOE DANKSY

Ira, we love our new photographs. The pictures you took of our three girls are displayed in our living room. We have a lot of art but I have never received so many compliments! I smile every time I see your work. - LUCILA MCELROY

Once again, we were thrilled with our holiday shoot. It's always such a pleasure working with you and look forward to "photo-documenting" our kids every year! They enjoy it too. - ALLYSON HAUSNER

We are blown away. I am really speechless. Your pictures of Zac are so beautiful! You completely captured his curiosity, joy and essence. And you captured our joy with him. You tell such a happy, beautiful story. Thanks. We feel like rock stars. - RACHEL & CURT FRIEDBERG

I was really impressed that he took the time to meet with us before our photo shoot at our house and get to know us a bit first. While taking pictures he was spontaneous, accommodating, fun and really kept my girls engaged and smiling. - COLLEEN GRAZIOSO

Ira is wonderful! Very professional and beautiful photographs! - LAUREN PAXTON

Ira was a pleasure to work with. From the initial phone calls all the way to the end. He is very professional, responsive and was very accommodating since we had to change our event a couple of times due to the pandemic. His work is beautiful, he’s able to capture the important moments without pressuring you to create them, he knows where to be at the right time, they’re effortless images. I would highly recommend Ira for any important event. - SANDRA CIKLIK

We are so thrilled with the pictures we received from our son's Bar Mitzvah. Ira did a fantastic job and captured such beautiful moments. He was extremely professional and responsive and we love the pictures. I love that he also took so many pictures, making it was easy to find pictures where everyone looked great. Highly recommend! - DANIELLE ROSENBERG

Ira's pictures are pure art. The pictures he has shared of our daughter's bat mitzvah were simply breathtaking and I can pay no higher compliment. Booking Ira was the first thing I did 3 years ago when we got our date and it was my best decision. He "got" her immediately, realizing she wasn't an instagram ready "ham it up for the camera" kind of kid and was able to capture her personality organically and beautifully. Ira was flexible with us given that our daughter's original Bat Mitzvah had to be rescheduled due to COVID, and then broken down into 2 parts (a ceremony and a forthcoming party). His pictures speak for themselves and he is responsive, a terrific guy to be around and professional beyond measure. I would give Ira my highest possible recommendation and if he's free on your date- don't hesitate! - TALIA AUSIELLO

Ira is a complete pleasure to work with and did a fantastic job on both my daughter’s bat mitzvah and pre-mitzvah. He captures your child’s spirit and every beautiful detail of the environment. Stress about other things, because Ira will do a wonderful job and make things easy for you. - JEANNE GORDON

Ira is a master photographer who captures the moment with a startling visual and emotional nuance. Generous with his time and meticulous in his effort to deliver the best and most moving images, Ira is responsive to his clients' individual needs, expectations, and challenges and is especially good with kids. He knows how to get even the most attention and camera-averse, as mine are, to relax and enjoy the experience. I can't wait to ask Ira to document another special family event. - JULIA SEREBRINSKY

We used Ira to photograph our son’s bar mitzvah and our daughter’s bat mitzvah. We love working with him. He is truly a professional and the quality of his photos to capture these beautiful family events is why we wouldn’t even consider anyone else. He is extremely easy to work with and we look forward to working with him again in the future. - STACEY LIPP