Roof top in Old Havana, Cuba

Photo: Rooftop in Old Havana, Cuba

Thank you for visiting my website.

I'm based in Sleepy Hollow in New York's beautiful Hudson Valley, and in the mountain and art community of Taos, New Mexico.

I'm a global photojournalist and bring my story telling approach to capturing sophisticated weddings, mitzvahs, and life celebrations.

This story-telling background has spanned four decades writing and photographing stories from some 56 countries for global publications, foundations and agencies. These include The Financial Times of London, New York Times, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and U.S. AID.

This work has included documenting health, agriculture, education, and environmental stories in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America.

An ongoing personal project is documenting the ordinary lives of Cubans while cycling and hiking in remote mountains and seaside villages across the island. I was honored to be the recipient of Arts Westschester 's 2023 Larry Salley Photography Award for this work.

Portions of this ongoing work have been published in Professional Photographer magazine, CubaSeen magazine, and Canada's national newspaper, The Globe & Mail.

Drawing on this background, I approach weddings and events taking relaxed, beautifully lit photographs that capture the emotions, action and beauty of the day.

I’ve been fortunate that my wedding photography has appealed to visually sophisticated clients—movie and broadcast executives, filmmakers, marketing and advertising professionals, a professional sports team owner, philanthropists and foundations, and a former U.S. President.

Among publications, my wedding photography has been featured in The New York Times' Vows column, Sophisticated Weddings magazine, New York Weddings, Destination Weddings, Well Wed, and Westchester Weddings magazine.

My wedding photos have also been selected for nearly fifty global WedAwards. And my clients have been kind to write well over 100 five-star Google reviews.

For dessert, I've also enjoyed ski photography from the Rockies to the Alps, and photographing 'disappearing landscapes' globally. My work has been exhibited at the Jacob Burns Film Center, the Rockefeller Brothers' Coach Barn at Kykuit, the Upstream Gallery in Hastings, New York, Teatown Preserve, the Greenburg nature preserves, and several cafes.

In a profile Professional Photographer magazine stated: Todd Shapera is driven by a passion to capture the inner beauty and resilience of individuals just about everywhere on earth. He is linking disparate worlds through photography."

I earned a M.A. from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and a B.A. from Vassar College.

Please contact: Todds429@gmail.com or 914-631-8353.

Photographing A Connecticut Farm Wedding

Photographing A Connecticut Farm Wedding

Indigenous music on the lawn in Midway, Belize.

Capturing Afternoon Music In Mayan Belize

Documenting daily life in a remote, thatched-hut village for Ecologic Development Fund