The candle lighting ceremony at a bar or bat mitzvah is a lovely way for a young adult to honor their relatives, friends and family members. For this Jewish mitzvah tradition, the bar or bat mitzvah usually says a few nice words about the people he or she wants to honor, then invites them up to light a candle. Candle numbers vary, but many Jewish web sites says that it's typical to have 12 or 13 candles, one for each year of the child's life. We love photographing Los Angeles bar and bat mitzvahs of all kinds, and documenting key traditions is just part of the reason. The Jewish culture is so full of love and community, and it is a privilege to be able to witness and photograph these time-honored events.