Todd Shapera Photography

09/13/2024

Morning garden harvest on Vermont farm table - edible nasturtium and tomatillos.

Inspired by loving vibes on 's birthday...and sharing delicious moments.

Big assist - seed from

08/25/2024

A Mid-Summer Night's Dream!

(Paddling with , Layla, Ruby, Rico).

07/26/2024

"The Marsh Less Paddled"

3rd photo, inscribed bench on Lane Island meadow: "Don't go where the path may lead. Go where there is no path. And leave a trail." Emerson









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07/19/2024

Reflections, Fountains, And Beauty at Brenda and Dave's Summer Solstice Wedding.
Decor: Damselfly Designs
Band: Hank Lane Music - New York, NY
Venue: Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill with event coordinator John Glovack

07/12/2024

The Elektra energy on the dance floor at Ashley and Aaron's waterfront wedding moved us to capture our incredible wedding couple and their upbeat band in double exposure! Here are a few takes.
* Elektra Band from with
* Veue:
* Lighting:
* Groom's Mom:
* Planner:

Hair:
Makeup:
Gown:

Additional Catering:
Florist:
Initations: .studio and
Transportation:
Tent:
Rehearsal Dinner:
Sunday Brunch:
Second photographer: .photography
Wedding Painter:

07/02/2024

Shanghai Baby Bok Choy with Genovese Basil on our farm table.

Part of an ongoing still life series featuring harvests from the garden to our table.

Stylist: Moira Jo Trachtenberg
Big assist: Hudson Valley Seed Co.o

06/27/2024

Before her Bat Mitzvah even began, we knew Emma could dance all night!

Entertainment; Jimmy Dee Entertainment
Jimmy Dee Mitzvahs
Florals: Arcadia Floral Co
Ballon decor: Westchester Pop Stars

06/22/2024

Sharing a sea of joy and love from Ashley and Aaron's wedding last weekend at the American Yacht Club.
Lots more to come.

Planner:
Hair:
Makeup:
Gown:
Designer:
Bridal Shoes:
Band: with
Wedding Painter:
AYC Catering Manager:
Transportation:
Rehearsal Dinner:
Venue:
with
Second photographer: .photography

06/17/2024

Introducing Tanya and her lovely girls, Danny and his lovely boys and....the most lovely pooch, Kaiya.

Nearly a decade into their friendship and romance, Tanya and Danny formally blended their families with an intimate ceremony in Bedford, then celebrated at the J House Greenwich.

Garden photos: a Westchester home
Bride's Gown: Norma Kamali,
Makeup: Shira Karasik Aaron
DJ: (to come)

06/15/2024

Happy family and friends during an intimate, rehearsal dinner last night for and at .

Following dessert, and a thunderous rain, a New Orleans band paraded guests through shimmering, wet streets to a tented, welcoming party on the lawn!

All prelude to their big today at ! We're looking forward to capturing the full story!

Planner: , Sue Scully

06/13/2024

The mystical beauty of our garden arranged on our kitchen table with

On the vine, scapes seem to magically appear from thin garlic stalks like the neck and head of swans. On the plate, they bring mild garlic accents to baked salmon or pesto.

This image is part of my ongoing series featuring still lifes of crops harvested from our garden and arranged on our Vermont farm table.

For years, our garden has been inspired by our talented neighbors, the farmers at the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture with big assists from Hudson Valley Seed Co.

05/31/2024

Before her 'first look' with Matt, we stole a few dreamy moments with Olivia in the rotunda!
Hair/makeup: Glamazon Coifs, Em Katz Beauty
Bridal gown:
Florals: Forever In Bloom
Ceremony Musicians: Claudia Kohler Horne, Earl Maneein
DJ: Stylus DJ Entertainment
Caterinig: Abigail Kirsch
Mark Twain's Hudson River estate: Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill

05/27/2024

With palpable friendship, admiration, and love for each other, Olivia and Matt's dreamy first look danced imperceptibly into their second, third, and umpteenth looks - lasting throughout the course of their beautiful wedding day. With their godfather and godmother presiding during the ceremony, during heartfelt vows, a few tears mixed with all the joy.
Florals: Forever In Bloom
Hair/makeup: Valerie Lynn (hair) Glamazon Coifs
Em Katz Beauty
Bridal gown:
Ceremony Musicians: Claudia Kohler Horne, Deth Vi
DJ: Stylus DJ Entertainment

Catering: Abigail Kirsch
Mark Twain's Hudson River estate: Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill
Unflappable Tappan Hill event manager: John Glovak

05/05/2024

This weekend, the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture and Blue Hill at Stone Barns restaurant are celebrating their 20th anniversary. Five years before their conception, I had the privilege of writing a story in the New York Times about plans by David Rockefeller and his daughter, Peggy Dulany to preserve their 80-acre farmland in Pocantico Hills with their vision.

My stories appeared on July 4, 1999 in the NYT national edition under the headline "Study Center Planned on Rockefeller Land."

In researching the story, I spent time at the Rockefeller Archives learning fascinating details of how the Stone Barns was built from 1930-1933. John D. Rockefeller, his wife Abby, and son Nelson scrutinized every design detail to assure the project conveyed a "New England farm barn atmosphere" and rejecting design elements that struck them as "too sophisticated."

The 4 panels here contain highlights from the 1930's construction history.

The bucolic farm has brought a Vermont like feel to our community in Westchester County. It's a gift to be a neighbor and have access to such a treasure!

Here is a link to the full stories (perhaps only accessible to NYT subscribers)
https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/04/nyregion/study-center-planned-on-rockefeller-land.html?searchResultPosition=1

04/29/2024

April sunset dog walk in El Prado! Seasons in transition.

04/17/2024

03/28/2024

The Examiner Media's recent story “Developer Apologizes for Wrongful Tree Removal in Pleasantville" must be read as an alarming, cautionary tale for the Westchester communities that have been fighting to Save Pocantico Lake and Save Pocantico Lake

In response, I'm grateful that Examiner Media has published my column discussing some of the issues involving the developer's credibility and muddled plans to build 32 clustered McMansions at Pocantico Lake: https://www.theexaminernews.com/a-developers-errant-tree-removal-a-cautionary-tale-for-pocantico-lake/

03/14/2024

“in evening, when the whole world seems to have a glow for about ten or fifteen minutes…there’s something in the air.”
Georgia O'Keefe

03/12/2024

From in the Hudson Valley to deep in the of the . Happy with dreams!

02/15/2024

Imagining Georgia O'Keefe!

02/03/2024

On a recent visit to the Taos Winter Market, we gravitated to the booth of Chef Geronimo Romero.

While admiring, and purchasing, his plump prune and apple pies, we easily segued into conversation about local farming in and around the Taos Pueblo and the school programs he’s involved with through the non-profit A.I.R.E. (Agriculture Implementation Research & Education).

‘Come to our farm dinner next weekend,” Geronimo invited, “I’m grilling bison.”

Even for a vegetarian, his menu sans bison was mouth-watering: locally harvested and freshly ground blue corn, salad greens from Taos High School greenhouse, roasted carrot soup with local goat cheese, and Geronimo’s famous crème puffs with berries and chocolate sauce.

At dinner, we learned that A.I.R.E. was the brainchild of Micah Roseberry, who a decade ago founded Taos’ delicious Farmhouse Café and Bakery, and the Farmhouse School Lunch Program that serves 800 healthy school meals a day, using locally sourced food.

“We strive for sparkle in the eyes of kids” Micah told us. “Plant the seeds, pick the corn, make the pancakes.”

We felt fortunate to share our meal with Juanita and Valerie, a warm mother and daughter from the Taos, Pueblo. Valerie is a dedicated kindergarten teacher and Juanita runs a ceramic shop selling her art. Over our meal, they generously shared stories about tradition and life in the Taos Pueblo, and we shared stories and photos from our colorful garden in Sleepy Hollow, NY, that sustains us through summer and fall meals.

Photographing this special dinner was an unanticipated accompaniment, enhancing the flavor and connections of the evening.

Learn more about A.I.R.E. at airetaos.or

02/03/2024

On a recent visit to the Taos, NM, Winter Market, we gravitated to the booth of Chef Geronimo Romero.

While admiring, and purchasing, his plump prune and apple pies, we easily segued into conversation about local farming in and around the Taos Pueblo and the school programs he’s involved with through the non-profit A.I.R.E. (Agriculture Implementation Research & Education).

‘Come to our farm dinner next weekend,” Geronimo invited, “I’m grilling bison.”  

Even for a vegetarian, his menu sans bison was appealing: locally harvested and freshly ground blue corn, salad greens from Taos High School greenhouse, roasted carrot soup with local goat cheese, and Geronimo’s famous crème puffs with berries and chocolate sauce.

At  dinner, we learned that A.I.R.E. was the brainchild of Micah Roseberry, who a decade ago founded Taos’ delicious Farmhouse Café and Bakery, and the Farmhouse School Lunch Program that serves 800 healthy school meals a day, using locally sourced food.

“We strive for sparkle in the eyes of kids” Micah told us. “Plant the seeds, pick the corn, make the pancakes.”

We felt fortunate to share our meal with Juanita and Valerie, a warm mother and daughter from the Taos, Pueblo. Valerie is a dedicated kindergarten teacher and Juanita runs a ceramic shop selling her art. Over our meal, they generously shared stories about tradition and life in the Pueblo, and we shared stories and photos from our colorful garden in Sleepy Hollow, NY, that sustains us through summer and fall meals.

Photographing this special dinner became an unanticipated accompaniment, enhancing the flavor and connections of the evening.

Learn more about A.I.R.E. at airetaos.org

01/11/2024

I'm honored to be featured in the 20-artist exhibition "Climate, Nature, and Connection" at Shames JCC on the Hudson

My photograph features the imperiled Great Salt Lake taken in April 2023. The largest salt water lake in the Western Hemisphere is rapidly shrinking. In July 2022, the lake's surface area was 950 square miles, less than 1/3 of the 3,300 square miles in 1987.

For years, scientists have implored unresponsive Utah officials to take meaningful action to curb the rapid population growth and thirsty agriculture that are siphoning off precious water inflows to the lake. Drought and climate change have accelerated the problem, dropping water inflows to the lake 40% from their peak.

The impact on wildlife relying on the lake, including millions of migratory birds, brine shrimp, and water fowl has already been massive. Human life is imperiled, too. Toxic dust storms from the dried lake bed, are laced with copper, arsenic and other dangerous heavy metals.

Just today, local doctors published an open letter warning lawmakers about dire human health consequences from these toxic dust storms for two million people living in the greater Salt Lake City region.

Time for action is running out. Utah scientists warn that the lake faces imminent collapse, and could disappear within five years!

Thanks to Jillian Greenberg at Shames JCC on the Hudson for organizing and curating this exhibition, with help from the NYS Council on the Arts.

12/02/2023

A heartfelt cheer to Maya and Edward Manley as they celebrate two glorious landmarks-- their recent 60th wedding anniversary, and Ed's 85th birthday!!! Amazing.

And they remain shoulder to shoulder, strong, beaming together, and beaming in their enviable service to others.

This photo was taken on a recent fall cruise in New York Harbor that their Making Headway Foundation annually hosts for 200 children and families coping with pediatric brain and spinal cord cancer. The simple purpose of the cruise is to give these families facing these daunting health ordeals an afternoon on the water filled with beauty, joy, and a delicious meal.

And how fitting the iconic destination! For decades, the Manleys and Making Headway have been as welcoming as Lady Liberty in embracing children and families battling serious pediatric brain cancers. They've been doing it with passion, compassion, and galvinizing significant resources for medical, cognitive, social, and emotional supports. It's an inspiring legacy.

At a time of so much global need, a meaningful holiday contribution might honor the Manley's milestones and admirable service at Making Headway Foundation or www.MakingHeadway.org

11/30/2023

Six years after their first autumn engagement shoot, Amanda and Daniel returned to the Pocantico Lake trails with cute baby, Sam, and frisky puppy, Pepper.

Our date also marked the 5th anniversary of their autumn wedding at .

It seems they couldn't be happier with each other, and the beautiful and loving family they're building together.

And it felt so special to have this encore opportunity to capture them!

11/10/2023

Honoring six decades of holding hands by each other’s side — and the enviably kind and warm embrace you extend to multitudes of family and friends. Blessings, Anne and Jim, on your 59th anniversary!

11/08/2023

Lindsey and Oliver - Sophisticated, Stunning, Sumptuous!
(more to come)

Venue: Westchester Golf & Country Club, with Caroline Hay and Rachel Mouillesseaux
Gown: Caroline Castigliano at A Little Something White Bridal Couture
Florals: House of Flowers, Mamaroneck
Hair: Salon O Makeup: Lauramelissamakeup
Band: Ignitiontheband at Hank Lane Music - New York, NY
Cake: lulusbakery.co
Invitations: Minted Weddings Photography: Todd Shapera.

10/30/2023

When fifteen groomsmen serenaded Maria and Justin with their sombreros Ecuatorianos at the fountain garden, we knew their wedding day was going to be una gran fiesta!

Photographer -
Venue - Tappan Hill Mansion
Event Coordinator- John Glovack

Florist -
Dress - and
Maria makeup -

10/26/2023

𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘐𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢！
Photographer - Todd Shapera
Venue - Tappan Hill Mansion
Florist - Superior Florist Ltd.
Dress - Designer Loft Bridal and Aire Barcelona
Maria makeup - Perreux