Journal

Trash the Dress

Tom Sparks — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:48:15 +0000

A photo session that is very popular with some brides is a set called "Trash the Dress". These are photos taken in locations that you would never dream of taking your pristine dress before the wedding. Places that would cause undue wear and tear on your dress. This set with Raymie features a rather rumpled dress out at the Great Salt Lake of Utah. I don't know if the dress will ever recover from the photo shoot, but the photos and Raymie are beautiful.

Photographing Children Un-WPPI Party

Tom Sparks — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:52:44 +0000

I've invited a few friends for a mini-clinic on photographing children to my home-studio on March 9th. If you are interested in attending, let me know. Use the contact button to send me a note. The event is pot-luck beginning at 7pm. Hope to see you there. Please understand that space is limited.

Fashion Portraiture

Tom Sparks — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:30:45 +0000

I just had surgery. I knew I would not be able to shoot for a few weeks so I loaded up with lots of shoots before the surgery. One of my shoots was with Lyn. She is a beautiful model with lots of personality. These where shot in my studio at home.

Family Photography

Tom Sparks — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:36:21 +0000

Recently I had the opportunity to photograph my niece and my nephew as the visited Utah with their spouses. They wanted so photos of themselves as well as some with my children. I took them out to the Great Salt Lake at sunset and had some fun with them. When we got home the started goofing around as we got ready for a group shot of them.

Michael Crowe: Actor and Model

Tom Sparks — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:22:51 +0000

Michael came into SLC from New York City during the Christmas holiday and I got to spend a couple of hours with him. We shot at Gardner Village which was very quiet on New Years Day. There was snow on the ground and it was a bit chilly, but the restrooms where open and we did okay. It was nice photographing an actor. All I had to do to get his face to work was suggest a mood or a situation and he came up with some fun stuff.

The rest of the gallery is here.

Engagement session

Tom Sparks — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:29:39 +0000

Andrea and David just remind you why you got married. They have fun together. I love this shot from their engagement session. I don't know which will be their favorites, but it shows of the personality of this couple so well. They seem to enjoy each other and like to have fun.See my posting on my new blog.

New Hope Home/Help Portrait

Tom Sparks — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 04:03:10 +0000

I had the honor of being asked to go out to the New Hope Home for girls to take portraits of the girls and the staff in the home. I became involved with Help Portrait after my colleague, Rich Legg, gave a talk about giving service as photographers. Another photographer pointed me at Help Portrait which is a service organization aimed at providing portraits to people who could not otherwise afford it.

We got hair and make-up artists out to the home and then I photographed them. 6 girls and 3 of the staff. These girls are trying to learn how to cope with the real world and get the help they need to build character and social skills etc. After looking at their photos, one of the girls said to her counselor that she had always looked hard and unhappy, but today she looked beautiful and happy. She cried as she told her counselor that she did not know that she was that pretty.

Here are the portraits of the 6 girls that they chose as their favorites.

Belly Dancing: Scimitar at Gathering of the Tribes

Tom Sparks — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:11:34 +0000

I was fortunate enough to be invited to photograph the belly dancing at "The Gathering of Tribes" at the SLC Masonic Temple. Here is the group Scimitar. The light was a huge challenge but here are the results.

Ida

Tom Sparks — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:52:40 +0000

In August I photographed a trio of college students who were working on building their modeling portfolios. Ida was the tallest of the trio and I just love the sophisticated look she achieved.

Survey for photographers

Tom Sparks — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:48:08 +0000

If you are a photographer making income from your photography work would you take a moment to fill out this short survey. I will share the results when I get enough data. Loading...