I have been taking photos for Daisy + Luis for a while now.  

Engagement photos. Save the date photos (I convinced them to stand in the Ramapo river). Their wedding in Costa Rica…I stayed with Daisy’s family and was treated like family. Pura Vida! Newborn Damian’s photos when he was just 11 days old –and he lifted his head up!

A few days ago we took photos for Damian’s 1st birthday which was today 12/30/2015 and today I get to share them with you! I wanted to keep it simple…just a plain turquoise backdrop, some balloons and a cake. We did have two cakes but Damian is a pro and nailed it the first time! 

Happy birthday Damian and all my love to Daisy, Luis and their families both here and in Costa Rica!

Best,

Thomas

New Jersey’s Best Baby Photography

We met for Molly & Jay’s engagement session at the NJ Botanical garden. We wandered through there on a gorgeous fall afternoon and they just had fun while I took photos. We ended the day at Shepherd Lake, a favorite summer time swimming hole for my boys and I. The sun was low on the horizon when we headed home.

Great couple and great day!

Best,

Thomas

New Jersey’s Best Wedding Photographer

Schedule a photoshoot with a family in Central NJ. Mom, Dad, kids all gorgeous. Perfect.

Then, I had a vision for a baby photo shoot that included a white tub and lots of granny smith apples. I called Michael the Dad. I had just landed in EWR off an SFO redeye. Packed the car before  I left so I could shoot the morning I landed. 

Michael: Anything you need for the shoot?

Me: Is your bathtub white?

Michael: (Quizzically) Yesss…

Me: Good, we are gonna need a lot of Granny Smith apples. Enough to fill that white tub after we add some warm water. 

Michael: OK, no problem. anything else (aren’t my clients great?)

Me: No…I mean yes, a hula hoop.

When I arrived there was food, apples a hula hoop, 2 excited parents and 2 excited kids. For the apple photos used one monolight bounced off the ceiling…was perfect. I love the way Meadow and Ivy’s eyes are so lucid! 

Outside used the sun as a back and used a monolight to really get bright, happy pix, with plenty of color saturation.

Then we went back inside for some more natural photos. Loved this set, love this family. Need to get them into some cherry blossoms this spring!

–Thomas

NJ’s Best Wedding phoitographers

Amanda was a graphic designer whose eye for design drew her to my work. 

Venue: The Gramercy at Lakeside Manor

http://www.thegramercynj.com/

Amanda brought along a red, heart-shaped umbrella just in case it rained and I loved it so much I bought it from her that afternoon. It comes with me now to EVERY wedding but only makes it into photos a few times a year. 

We had 2 photographers, great weather and a bride and groom excited to get great photos and willing to invest some extra time to ensure we got ‘em! 

Best,

Thomas

New Jersey’s Best Wedding Photographers!

With focus pulling you employ manual focus and long exposures. A good tripod is a necessity! The fireworks were 5s exposures, the Christmas tree 8 seconds. 

With fireworks I think the images are best if you start out of focus and slowly rack back to in focus. With my  Christmas tree I was also zooming the lens while I was racking focus to make the light trails change in size. 

Get out there and give it a try!

Best,

Thomas

New Jersey’s Best Wedding Photographers

Brandi and John had an amazing day for a December 13th wedding. It was 71 degrees –the wedding ceremony was held outside. Mother Nature clearly applauded their union as did their adoring families and friends. 

Wonderful people uniting to celebrate the marriage of people they love. I wish them all the best and hope to see them again for newborn photos…in a couple of years!

Best,

Thomas

New Jersey’s Best Wedding Photographers

Steven asked Jessica to marry him at the Warwick Valley Winery so they thought it the ideal place to shoot their engagement pix. Clearly they were right! 

Jason of the winery was incredibly gracious giving us access to their grounds and even riding up into the hills to say hi. 

The scenery, season, Jessica and Steve inspired me and I am really happy with these photos. When I shoot Jessica + Steven’s wedding next year we will already know and trust each other so expect more great photos.
These two are the best! 

Thanks for the pizza and hard cider guys!

Best,

Thomas
NJ’s Best Wedding Photographers

Lauren and Curtiss at the Highlawn Pavilion in 2013! Gorgeous couple, close family, fun friends, a great time even for a working man! To this day (Dec 2015), no bride has been a better dancer than Lauren! 

Lauren + Curtiss have since had a beautiful girl –Chloe!

Thomas

Best Wedding Photographers

Lise & Nick at Skylands Manor in Ringwood, NJ. Had a great time with these guys at the tail end of autumnal color in Ringwood. Weeding in just under a year in Bridgewater, NJ. Happy they made the trip out from Staten Island!

All the best, 

Tom

New Jersey’s Best Wedding Photographers

www.JerseyWeddingPhotography.com

A wedding on a gorgeous fall day on a yacht in the Hudson?! 
Hello, YES!

Donna + Mike have been amazing to work with since our first meeting over a year ago. Great people with great friends and family. An amazing night!

Here are all the vendors who had a hand in making this such a great wedding! Special thanks to 

www.JedSmithPhotography.com
https://www.facebook.com/jed.smithphotography
Without so talented a partner many of these photos would have never happened!!

Venue: Royal Princess Yacht 
www.facebook.com/RoyalPrincessYacht

Dress: Kleinfeld’s
www.facebook.com/KleinfeldBridal

MUA, Tim McKay 
www.TimothyGlam.com

Rings: Eli Adams Jewelers
www.facebook.com/Eli-Adams-Jewelers-184526378257216

Rented Jewelry
www.facebook.com/AdornBrides

DJ/Photobooth Gemini DJs 
www.facebook.com/GeminiDJs

Baker: Sami Cakes Boutique
www.facebook.com/SamiCakes.Boutique

Florist: The Portable Garden
www.theportablegarden.com

Colette Morales
www.coletteleeproductions.com

Make-up: Tim MacKay, https://www.facebook.com/timothyjamesmackay?fref=ts

Officiant (friend)
James Lynch

All the best,

NJ’s Best Wedding photographers
www.JerseyWeddingPhotography.com
www.JedSmithPhotography.com

All the best,

NJ’s Best Wedding photographers
www.JerseyWeddingPhotography.com
www.JedSmithPhotography.com

Jenna trusted me with a novel and unusual maternity photo concept. Unfortunately the weather was a little rainy and cool. Still she got in Ringwood Brook with me barefoot for a couple of photos I was calling”goddess shots”! 

Sun coming through the trees would have been nice…perhaps with my next maternity shoot! So thanks to Jenna for trusting me and getting cold. Thanks to her sister Jenna for helping style our “dress”. Thanks too, to Jay who watched all this craziness and not saying it was crazy!

Can’t wait to take photos of her beautiful baby in a few weeks!!

–Thomas

www.JerseyWeddingPhotography.com

NJ’s Best Wedding Photographers

Emily + Tyler had their big day in beautiful Morris County, NJ. Tyler’s face when seeing Emily enters the church is amazing so click-through for a look that just might give you the feels! 

Photographic highlight was the photo session at FDU campus in Madison. Brilliant couple on a brilliant day! Many thanks to www.JedSmithPhotography.com for being my partner that day!!

JERSEY WEDDING photography

New Jersey’s Best Wedding Photographers

Venue: Mayfair Farms - https://www.facebook.com/mayfairfarms

DJ’s: https://www.facebook.com/EliteSoundEntertainment (Corey, Mike & Eric)

MUA: https://www.facebook.com/IMpeccable-iMage-Inc-244566923033 (Irina)

Hairstylist: https://www.facebook.com/sheryl.courtney1 (Sheryl Courtney)

Florist: https://www.facebook.com/Metropolitan-Plant-and-Flower-Exchange-136754037003

Belly Dancer: www.facebook.com/YasmineBellydancer

Hurricane Joaquin threatened but had more bluster than bite. We were able to get outside briefly for a couple of photo sets. It was windy, a little chilly, but not too wet. 

Jackie was one of my most expressive brides ever –see the photos below. She has the range of Meryl Streep! Frank was quieter and sweet. Even making sure I was fed!

Loved working with these families and friends and hope to see them again!

Small wedding but big love!

–Thomas

www.JerseyWeddingPhotography.com

New Jersey’s Best Wedding photographers!

I have known Katy & Jordan for a few years now. Katy is smart, sweet and humble, Jordan has got a big heart, big appetite and a big sense of humor! Back on Halloween last year I shot their engagement session in a beautiful park in just under an hour. Fall colors were right at the peak so the photos were amazing!

It was a foregone conclusion that I would shoot their wedding so almost a year later I brought my partner Jed Smith photography along on the the long and scenic drive to Cooperstown, NY. 

Katy and Jordan trusted our vision and gave us a few minutes here ans there to spirit them away from the reception when the light and time was right. Their trust yielded dividends as this is amongst the most beautiful and poignant weddings we have ever shot!

Thanks and love to you both!

Katy & Jordan’s amazing vendors: 

The Barn at Hogs Hollow Farm 

http://www.lmtownsendcatering.com/hogs.php 

Hair and MU: http://www.timelessspaandsalon.com/

Florist
https://www.facebook.com/A-Rose-is-a-Rose-Florist-194981044967/ 

 DJ Mark Lavalley
http://www.lavalleygroup.com/ 

LM Townsend Caterers
https://www.facebook.com/L-M-Townsend-Catering-102292663147722

–Thomas

NJ’s Best Wedding Photographers

Have been passing these sunflowers frequently the last couple of weeks so got there this morning, just after sunrise, for some photos. 

Small personal projects like this are de facto meditation for me. A way to relax and reenergize my passion for photography. 

–Thomas

Took these Wednesday August 13th near Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park. 

Amongst the most beautiful night skies I have ever been awed by!! 

Best,

Thomas

I was at a medical imaging in dermatology conference near Yosemite NP. I was able to slip into the park every day for a few hours. My only regret is NOT catching a sunrise at Glacier Point. I have been lucky enough to have visited the park 4 or 5 times so I am certain to be back one day. Hopefully with my family! 

I would love to share the park with my kids. My parent taught me to appreciate the beauty in the world and I will continue to do the same with my boys!

Best,

Thomas

New Jersey’s Best Wedding Photographers

Great wedding at the Valley Regency in Clifton. Love, tears, laughter, family, friends, and great food. 

Flowers by The Blossom and Bee : www.facebook.com/theblossomandbee

The Valley Regency : http://www.valleyregency.com/

Mitch the Minister: https://www.facebook.com/MitchellMaged

–Thomas

www.facebook.com/AestheteStudios

Took photos of beautiful Adrianna in the town I spent my teenage years in –Carteret, NJ! Cooler still I was invited by someone I worked with and went on one date with “back in the day”. 

Anyway I had a great time with everyone and Adrianna’s 12 year old aunt Cameron was a huge help as Adrianna’s Mommy Kelly is still on the mend.

I think there were more outfit and scene change than any of my newborn shoots to date! I was invited to join the family for dinner (thanks Jonna!!) which was much welcome as I was tired and had an hour’s drive home.

Love to you all!

–Thomas

www.JerseyBabyPhotography.com

I came to Jessica + RJ’s wedding knowing them already from an engagement shoot in Manhattan a half a year earlier! They knew me and trusted me and I wanted to wow them again on their wedding day!

Amazing wedding in Paramus…portraits of bride, groom and bridal party at Lambert Castle in Paterson (the bride and I shared the rental cost). The cherry blossoms were at their peak!! Loved their post wedding selfie –look for i in their 100 image gallery

We found a beautiful wooded spot behind the venue and I brought along a few props included my famous, red, heart-shaped umbrella. 

Jess was so excited with the photos I gave her that she picked out the images for her album faster than any bride ever –a record which still stands today. Go ahead –see if you can beat her!!

–Thomas

Venue: Biagio’s Ristorante

www.biagios.com

Melissa + David’s wedding was a high energy affair at the the amazing Waterside (http://watersiderestaurantandcatering.com/) on the Hudson! 

Melissa and her sister jumping up and down on the bed before the wedding is about as much fun as I have ever seen a bride have immediately before her wedding.

David’s groomsmen were too generous with their supply of Hennessy –what a great afternoon and night!!

–Thomas

There is no more special time in your life than your wedding day, and you definitely don’t want to take chances on your mode of transportation. Whether you rent a party bus just for the bridal party, or for the entire guest list, you can rest assured knowing that your most beloved friends and family members will be taken care of in style. Trust Jersey Limo Bus for prompt arrival, courteous service and the best prices!!

http://www.newjerseypartybuses.com

Party Bus NJ

I spent a few hours in Carteret, the town I spent my teenage years in. I was hired by someone I worked with at the local Shop-Rite all those years ago. I will be back in July for new born photos! My thanks to Cory who helped me with lighting and gear (and snacks). 

Looking forward to seeing you all again soon!

–Thomas

Carteret Maternity Photographer

Was asked to take newborn photos of Nicholas –like I did for Dom some years ago. Nicholas needed some breaks in-between sessions and Dom was way more interested in having photos taken now, than he was a few years ago! Is was fun to take photos of these beautiful boys!! 

NJ Family Photographer

Courtney + Craig contacted me because they didn’t get many photos on the grounds of The New Jersey Botanical Garden the day of their wedding. I was excited to hear from them as I love Ringwood State Park, but had yet to shoot a wedding there! Here are are few image from the couple of hours we spent up there. Offering a 10% discount on Skylands Manor wedding photography for bookings through July 4th, 2015 –wedding can be anytime after that.

NJ Skylands Wedding Photographer