Tom Spader Photography

Emily and Josh 5/25/09

2009-06-01T03:40:00.000-07:00

Josh and Emily Halu, now honeymooning in Jamaica, just finished a whirlwind week. Josh just graduated from West Point and two days later he's married. In the family there was also a dental school graduation and more and more. I was amazed how well everyone was holding up, calm and smiling. The couple got married at the Hilton in Short Hills. Josh had his buddies from the Army be the saber bearers, which made for an excellent exit from the ceremony. Lots of tears and laughter all day. They are off to Alabama where Josh will learn to fly for the USA. Best of everything to them!

Music Images

2009-02-07T12:59:00.000-08:00

Off to a meeting with some music people and had to throw together a printed portfolio in a few hours (since all my stuff in online), so thanks to the local CVS who bailed me out with their print station, ha! Hopefully this will be the connection to a summer of lots of live music photography. These were printed in a verticle 8x10" format. enjoy

Got a last minute meeting with some music people and had to throw together a print portfolio in a few hours. Thanks to the local CVS and their prints station, ha! ... and 35 prints are ready to be shown in a few hours ... with hopes that this will be the connection to a summer of lots of live music photography.

2008-11-12T13:49:00.000-08:00

While I'm not much of a blogger, as you can see, I did want to offer up a quick look at the latest album design. This is a link to the ALBUM. I get a lot questions about the Albums and there are so many choices ... this is the more popular size and style. This one is designed to be a 10" x 10" Panoramic layout. That means the 10 inch square page often uses a full 20" x 10" work area incorporating both pages for the design. Some pages stand on their own while others use the full 20" spread. The company I'm now using has the smallest seam between pages in the business. This album will also have a high grade dark brown leather cover. although black has been the color of choice lately. The pages are a board-style, meaning they do not bend and have very little flex to them. This album is slightly larger than the standard 18 page (36 side) book. This one used 20 pages and 40 sides to tell the story. This album is in the $1200 range. There are at least 15 different colors available and some different sizes too. I offer this as most couples use this size and style. Parent and smaller albums are available. Different cover and page materials greatly effect the price. thank you for looking.

Late sumer music festivals

2008-08-22T19:48:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of shooting Vigin's Vfest in Baltimore (thanks Mark for the hook-up) ... and Point Pleasant Beach's own DeLeo brother's (Dean left) with the Stone Temple Pilots. A totally solid set. Bob Dylan and NIN and Kanye were all head-liners but, STP and Paramore killed it. There's a full gallery of the show in the music section of my site and some crowds shots .. which make the show for me. Vfest Slideshow.

Also shot the Van's Warped Tour in Englishtown, NJ. Little bummed that the Bouncing Souls stopped in Camden, but we'll catch them later this fall. That show was good stuff and a very photo friendly day. Low stages, cool security and good images everywhere you turned. Full Slidehshow is HERE.

Busy

2008-08-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

I guess summer's on the Jersey Shore are as hectic for those of us that live here as those trying to pack in two weeks worth of fun into a one week vacation. Updates have been slow in coming, my apologies, but I have been busy. A few things to check out would be the four new wedding slideshows posted in the gallery section, the links are below, just click the photo. These four are very different ... one laid back surfer wedding, one country club, etc.

Blondie

2008-06-18T06:21:00.001-07:00

I had the honor of shooting Deborah Harry and Blondie at the historic Count Basie Theater last night. She may be in her sixties, but she is still putting it out there. The band was tight and she looked really good. The images won't be on the street for a couple of months and will appear in the new magazine 40-74.
I shot a dance theater in the present issue of 40-74. The top two shots are mine.

Bamboozle Concert

2008-05-18T18:54:00.001-07:00

I shot the final day of the Bamboozle East Coast Concert at the Meadowlands recently. Eleven hours of shooting, but I had a blast. Coheed & Cambria and Panic at the Disco headlined ... and, there were killer photos to made everywhere I turned. Check out this 70 photo slideshow and it will give you a good feel of what it was like to be there ... not just those on stage, but in the pit and against the wall. Enjoy the Show

Come'on Spring ...

2008-04-11T19:25:00.000-07:00

Spring is desperately trying to take hold here in NJ. I found this new flower on one of the local cherry trees and while it was pretty, it really came alive when I shot through it into the sun's reflection off a nearby pane of glass. Bring on the warm weather.

Album Page Samples 10"x10" Panoramic Layout

2008-03-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

The kids are coming ...

2008-03-18T18:58:00.000-07:00

Just bought another Canon 5D camera body and have been shooting a little bit of everything. Been doing a lot of test shots and really like it. I'm also getting together some children's portraits and will be launching into some shooting options/sessions. I'm shooting them in their environment. No studio and minimal lighting. I'm also putting together some maternity shots and newborns. While I set this up I will be looking for some "expecting" couples that are looking for photographs of themselves together and the soon-to-be mom alone. I will gladly shoot the session at no charge. I would also like to shoot the baby as early as possible after delivery. Not the type of shots the hospital offers, but emotional, artistic shots and again no charge as I put this all together. So, if you expecting and are excited about photography, contact me. tomspader@comcast.net

"Hey, what do you do all week?"

2008-02-17T19:48:00.000-08:00

Well, I think somewhere in my bio area I mentioned I was a fulltime photojournalist for a large newspaper here in NJ. We've recently had a big push for online content at the paper and are posting a lot of photo galleries. I'm not going to go into the newspaper vs. the internet debate as the future will show the winner, I will say that the newspaper combined with the internet as gotten a lot more of my work off the cuttingroom floor. While a few short years ago I'd shoot a job and get one, two, maybe three images into print. While that still holds true today, the internet has opened doors where now the out-takes of the shoot, not always the duds, but ones that didn't fit the page layout or tie in directly with the story now have a new life, the internet photo gallery. (Click on the photo for the gallery).

This was shot at a kid's gymnastics program. There wasn't a written story and it ran as a small photo layout. These 3 years old and their moms had a blast running, jumping, limbo'in ... just an all around good time. These kids will grow up fast, so it was nice to see the parents spending some real quality time with them.

This next group of photos was shot at a local elementary school on their 100th day of the school year. These kindergarteners where asked to dress up as if they were 100 years old ... pushing the number thing I guess.
Some pretty funny stuff going on .... like when asked what will you be doing when you're 100, one kid said he will "bury himself." Another good hearted assignment and with jobs like this I am grateful for the internet. The paper only had room to run one small photo in the paper which makes sense as it was a small story, but the images were fun to shoot and it's great they had a second chance at life.
The above photos are a couple of linked galleries to the Asbury Park Press where I spend my weekdays. I will only link to galleries that are a little more on the lighter side. Photos of people's misery, a sometimes large part of my day, can stay in the ink ... after all you came here through a happy wedding photo site. Check 'em out if you have the time.

Albums for 2008

2008-01-19T16:35:00.001-08:00

I finally found an album company that I'm happy with. They offer all the same options of past seasons, plus an much faster turn-around time. Their quality is excellent. They will handle all printing, proof books, leather bound and hardcover albums and canvas prints.
A sample of one of my latest layouts is above. It is not the full album, but some of the highlights to show some of the options available. This album is incorporating not only a digital page design process, but also the bride wanted an artistic touch added to almost all of the photos. This is always an option and sometimes adds a more romantic feel to the images. Some of the black and white photos have been processed to resemble film techniques used years ago. I avoid using the latest trends in processing because they can be just that "trends." I believe you'll want your album to be timeless and not running with whatever fad was "in" at the time. Fads come and go, romance is forever.

Best of 2007 Slideshow

2007-12-12T05:15:00.000-08:00

As the 2007 Wedding Season comes to a close, it's time to look back and to plan ahead. With that in mind I've put together a 5 minute slideshow with some of my best images of 2007. I know you're busy and if you're starting to plan for your 2008 event there's a lot to do. I'm hoping that if you got as far as my gallery page, you're at least interested in my work. The "Best of 2007" will give you an overview of my style of photography and a general idea of what you can expect if we decide to work together.

I'd also like to take a moment and suggest that whether you use me or not, you shouldn't just look at any photographer's portfolio. That will only be the best of the best. You should also take a look at the day to day work that they've produced. This is why I offer the many gallery/slideshows of most of the weddings I've done in past year. But, for that quick look, check out the "Best of ... slideshow." It was fun to put together and I hope you'll enjoy it. PS I did not add music to it so you can play the music of your choice. Thanks, email me if you have questions.

Not 24

2007-10-08T15:09:00.001-07:00

Well, not all brides are 24, but they are all unique. I had the pleasure of shooting a non-twenty-something wedding at the Brant Beach Yacht Club on Long Beach Island last weekend and it was a blast.
I stopped by the house for a few prep photos, even though it was not in the plan and I'm very glad I did.
The bride was a hoot. I was grinning the entire time I was shooting. The ceremony was quick, but nice and the dance floor was packed all night. Yes, yes the old folk boogie.

Flying Feet II

2007-09-23T05:48:00.001-07:00

I had the opportunity to work as a second-shooter with LBI based photographer Ann Coen, www.anncoen.com. Shooting like this is a lot of fun as I get to shoot in a much more behind the-scenes-style, which is what I do best. So, as the day unfolds, Ann took care of the shots she needed and my job was to complement her work with details and different angles.

There was a lot going on while Ann did her thing. The sandy feet was shot with a 300mm while Ann shot with a medium length lens getting the full couple in the shot. Since most of the shots in their album will be of the couple I felt a detail shot without their faces, would help bring it all together.

In the second shot, the expression on the bride's face was so genuine while she watched her new husband get his posed shots done I was glad I was in position, again with the 300mm. That look, totally unposed and unaware she was being photographed told the story of the entire day for me.

Flyin' Feet

2007-09-11T05:31:00.002-07:00

While not a photo for your wall, these type of "detail" shots work really well in your album in capturing the feel of the day.
Kids having fun at a wedding is almost as traditional as the cake cutting. They get to dress up and go a little crazy and just be kids.
These flying feet of a dancing 5 year old are a nice alternative to the usual frilly dress shots that will also be in the album. This shot also demonstrates the use of a side light. The light source (flash) is set up out of the way on a light stand or clamped to a secure part of the room and fired with a wireless radio transmitter. While I do try to shoot with just the available light in the room for a real look to the event, sometimes you just have to bump it up a bit.

Glowing groom this time ...

2007-09-08T05:30:00.001-07:00

Worked Long Beach Island again yesterday and I am finally happy to say that the groom looked to be the happiest person in the room. Usually, we go on and on about the bride, how beautiful and how she was glowing ... not to take anything away from yesterday's bride, she was all that and more, it's just that it was such a pleasure to see the groom so chill and smiling the entire day.
I met up with him hours before the ceremony (smiling) and got a few beach photos with him and the boys. The ceremony was also on the beach ... with an incoming tide that was slightly overlooked in the planning stages, close call (like 5ft.) and the reception was at the small, but really nice Brant Beach Yacht Club on the Barnegat Bay. Anyway, the groom was glowing the entire time. She was too, but through the lens he was ready to burst. I don't think I got one photo of him not grinning ear-to-ear. During their first dance (above) that was his expression the enitre 3 minute song. I wish them a lifetime of that smile.

Break in the action

2007-08-24T20:11:00.001-07:00

I shot the NJ State Police graduation today in Toms River, NJ. There were the usual speeches etc., but during the moment of silence for those that fell in the line of duty, this one soon-to-be trooper seemed genuinely moved by the moment. I converted the color shot to BW, it just seemed to work better. It was a nice human touch to a rather stern ceremony.
Now, I say "Break in the Action" as the title for this post, as I have a week with only the jobs of the daily newspaper in front of me. A normal 40 hour week may not seem like a break, but the upcoming late summer-fall wedding season is about to break loose. So, yeah this is break time. I have 13 weddings jobs between now and mid-November. These are mostly still photography gigs, but there's a handful of video tossed in to keep it interesting. Oh yeah, that is the first mention of video on here. I do full documentary film style video along side photographer Ann Coen when I'm not shooting stills. I've been told we make a good shooting team. I work a lot of her photos into my final video piece and we stay out of each other's way. You be the judge ... follow the links off the front page for a taste. Stay tuned.

Kid's Portraits coming soon

2007-07-28T05:28:00.000-07:00

In the near future I will be offering portrait sessions. More often than not, the camera will be aimed at the kids.

Being a parent of three kids I know how fast they change. I also know that the photos you get sent home from school or the ones you try to get with your point-and-shoot camera are usually not what you want.

In these photo sessions I will come to you. I will make images of your kid in their world ... doing what they do ... wearing what they wear, just being themselves. Twenty years from now, are you going to remember them in a frilly dress or wearing a tie ... or are you going to remember them in a tee shirt and blue jeans?

Stay tuned, coming soon.

Not Just Weddings

2007-07-27T05:40:00.002-07:00

Most of the wedding gigs are on the weekends. The rest of the week I'm still making pictures. As I mentioned, I'm a full time newspaper photographer which has me shooting (including the weddings) sometimes seven days a week, often over 1000 per day. Even on the "off" days I'm in post production working the photos, building galleries and more often than not, trying to stay ahead of the curve with the constantly changing digital world.

While this blog is set up primarily for information on my Wedding Photojournalism, I will be updating during the week with images and situations I feel sheds a better light on what I'm all about.

This image was made as a state champion softball team gets ready to travel to Texas from NJ to compete in a national tournament. My job was to try to show the intensity of their workout. While most 16 year old girls are hitting the beach and hanging out, this group had their game face on.

Hey, and as far as the Weddings go, maybe this girl is a future client, ha.

Accepted to the WPJA!

2007-07-26T07:21:00.002-07:00

I just got word that I've be accepted to the Wedding Photojournalists Association. This is big for me as their standards are very high and you have to go through a review process before they even consider you for membership. It took three weeks of to hear from them and I was getting a little concerned that I didn't have what it takes in their eyes. Click their logo on the upper left and check them out. You'll see some amazing work.

Normally, I'm not a big joiner of organizations, this is the only group I'm a member of at this point, but this group has raised the bar so high that I'm proud to be on board. They review your portfolio and will not even consider you for membership if any more then 20% of your displayed work (usually your web site/portfolio) is "set up" or staged in any way. This means no "look at the camera," no "smile", no "hold the flowers like this," no "look over here," during the dance. This means the story is told as it unfolds.

Anyway, I am honored to be part of the WPJA and hope to live up to their standards for my clients. I want the couples that I shoot to know that my style is that of a photojournalist. You get "Your Day" documented, from start to finish, in a photographic story, as it happens ... one frame at a time. Check their site and check my site and you'll see what this is all about.
Thanks, Tom

Welcome ...

2007-07-26T06:08:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the Tom Spader Photography Blog. I will be updating this with info of my work.

I am presently the head photographer for one of the Gannett NJ Newspapers. My work can be seen daily in the Ocean County Observer, based out of Toms River and the Asbury Park Press, Gannett's prize NJ paper, based out of Neptune.

Twenty years in the daily newspaper world has seasoned my photojournalistic skills and I am now using them to document the wedding day of selective couples looking for that non-posed, non-set up, formal type of wedding photography. The years shooting everyday, capturing moments as they happen, has prepared me for this growing trend in wedding photography. View my gallery and you'll see what I am talking about.

My wedding work has become my passion. It's such a pleasure to shoot at events were you are welcome. As a newspaper photographer, you are usually not very welcome, to the point where threats of violence, arrest and a lot of "please don't take my picture" are the norm. But, those years working that attitude has taught me to be in the right place at the right time, know my equipment and to always be ready. It has also taught me to see every scene as it own slice of life that can be captured, with an artistic touch, and shared for years to come.

That's a brief intro to where I'm coming from. Check my site. Contact me if you think I have what it takes to document "Your Day, as it happens, one frame at a time."

Thanks, Tom