Album Page Samples 10"x10" Panoramic Layout

The kids are coming ...

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?"

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

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

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

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

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

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 ...

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

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.