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Weddings

About

We are a husband and wife team established in the early eighties, we have enjoyed shooting both photography and video throughout all of Monmouth and Ocean county,and southern Jersey. We allow you to choose just a brides album, online proofing, with proofs on DVD. Full day coverage starting at $995
Never an hourly charge. You can also make a custom package to suit your needs exactly. We have traditional mounted albums, or the more popular collage style custom designed albums. We have clone parent albums and mini albums. These are exact copies of the brides album. Our videos shot with high def cameras and are edited to Blu-ray DVD and come in three different classes basic, edited, and deluxe edited these start at $1495.If you book with us and get a package with photography and video we give you the full resolution files to print as you wish. We do engagement beach photos and if you book video too we do a beach shoot to mix in with your dating photos when we edit. Our online proofing allows your family and friends to view and purchase photos online.We also have super low budget deals for last minute open dates(under four months from date of wedding).We also shoot files only jobs as well as unedited videos to help people through these economic times we now face. winter discounts from Dec 1 to March 31st. We are fully insured and members of PPA. GIVE US A CALL WE'LL GET RIGHT BACK TO YOU WE PROMISE!

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Frequently asked questions

What primary photographic style do you identify with?

Photojournalism

What photography items do you offer?

Albums
Flush Mount
Matted Prints
Proofs

Reviews of Essence Photography and Video

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Ralph Sent on 12/13/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Value + Creativity X Service = Essence!

Tom was a rockstar! He just shot a large family portrait on the beach featuring family travel challenges and little kids to keep focused...The Essence team was professional from first click and continued to deliver on site bringing creative input to our shots and keeping time and money in mind. Worth the call, as we've used Tom since our wedding over 15 years ago!
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Kelli Sent on 04/23/2014
5 out of 5 rating
Tom was amazing, he worked so well with everyone and I gave him a huge list of all the photos we wanted taken and he was so helpful to get all the photos we needed. He was patient as w had a bridal party of over 20 people, he was creative in ways to take amazing photos-- the photos are absolutely beautiful! the turn around time for our proofs was so fast-- he worked with us however we needed-- I would highly recommend him and his wife as well. I wish we had used them for video as well, but we made a bad decision on that and went with a "friend" big mistake. Tom is professional and everything he does is top notch! We are now using him to help us fix our wedding video which is basically a terrible dark camera video. Tom works miracles and I know it will be just as beautiful as our pictures and photo album- thanks to him for getting the important shots of the bride walking down the isle, being introduced.. etc.. if it wasnt for those photos we would have no documentation of those memories- He is the best! and i cant say thank you enough!- Kelli and Dave Manzo
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Christie Sent on 10/14/2010
5 out of 5 rating
Tom and Shirley were great! They took lots of pictures and were very flexible. They had no problem taking pictures at different locations for us and they came out amazing! They were great to work with and would highly reccomend them to future brides and grooms!
M
Melissa Sent on 09/20/2010
5 out of 5 rating
I cant say enough good things about Tom... To start he gave me the best price around, and i mean the best. He stayed in contact with me all along up until my wedding date arrived. I was completely at ease with Tom and as all of us brides know it can be a tiny bit of a stressful time. He was wonderful at the wedding. Everything was great. My pictures were done about a week after i got back from my honeymoon, how aweseome is that?! And i literally cried (my husband got teary eyed as well) when i looked at the pictures for the first time. I was absolutely taken back by the quality and the moments he captured. I was just floored. Dont even think twice about using Tom... He is the greatest.
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Jennifer Sent on 09/04/2010
5 out of 5 rating
OUTSTANDING!!!! Words can't drescribe how happy my husband and I are with everything that Tom & Shirley have done in regards to the services provided for our wedding.

From day one we knew that what was going to be left after all of the planning and preparation of our special day was to be taken care of by New Jerseys best photographer & videographer. Having Tom and Shirley both being a part of our wedding day made them like family and I would not change anything in the world.

The Video....Spectacular! The Album....Breathtaking! The Photographs....Gorgeous!

Without a doubt Essence Photography should be at the top of everyones list for getting the professional quality of service a newly wedded couple needs...having them be a part of your event makes everyone go a lot more smoothly with no hesitations on whether or not they have been the right choice. Not only will Essence Photography remain in our hearts, but their work will remain in our home and with our family for generations to come, as well as with our friends whom we have recommended them to everyone we know for every event we can think of.

Essence Photography Thank You Thank You Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
J
Jessica Sent on 08/31/2010
5 out of 5 rating
To me, the most important decision I had to make was chosing a photographer. I wanted a photographer/videographer that could capture the wonderful memories created on my wedding day. Tom and Shirley were able to do that and more. The first meeting I knew I would chose them. They were very down to earth people and extremely flexible. I feel like they got to know us as a couple and what we wanted. Tom made my beach engagement shoot in October fun (even though it was windy and cold). He even got my husband to smile. They were on time for my pre-wedding pictures and wedding. They were very professional and not in the way at all during the wedding/reception. My husband loved the fact that we didnt spend the whole wedding taking pictures. My family and wedding party loved them too. I couldnt have asked for better wedding pictures, album and the video captures so many memories. Everyone was impressed by the album. I received everything in a timely manner, and not to mention the cost for everything was very reasonable.
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Lauren Sent on 08/06/2010
5 out of 5 rating
It was a pleasure to have worked with Tom and Shirley for my wedding. We loved all the pictures he took, before and during the wedding. Tom couldn't have been more accommodating and easy to work with. His easy going manner made picture taking so easy and enjoyable! Tom was also very creative with posed photos and captured some very special moments. The quality of his work and his professionalism were most admired.
At a time when people are price conscious, we felt his pricing for photography and videography were quite fair. It is also nice that Tom can offer a videographer service. I know from other friends it can be quite challenging to find both services from the same person.
We highly recommend Essence Photography. We would be happy to talk to anyone about his beautiful photography and his prompt correspondence with his clients.
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Anna Sent on 08/02/2010
5 out of 5 rating
I loved everything about Essence Photography and video. Tom and Shirley were extremely professional and my husband and I were extremely please with the quaility of their work, ESPECIALLY because it rained. They managed to get some amazing photos despite the weather. They were not obtrusive and they were extremely professional and polite to all of our guests.

I would highly recommend them!
M
Pat Sent on 07/30/2010
5 out of 5 rating
My daughter in law could not have made a better choice when she chose essence. The wedding day did not present the best conditions for pictures. It rained off and on...beach pictures were out of the question!

We have amazing pictures on line and can not wait to see all of the proofs on CD!

Tom and Shirley know their stuff and took advantage of every opportunity to give my son and his wife a life long photo memory.

The parents of the bride are overwhelmed with their options for Christmas gift giving.. and I am overwhelmed by the pictures that truly captured the emotion of the families and our children on this wonderful day. I do not know how the bride and groom will ever select pictures for the album!!!!!

I knew that we made the right choice in choosing essence during the reception. I glanced out the window at Jack Bakers and saw the beautiful Sunset I thought - that would make an amazing backdrop... I looked for Tom and Shirleyto give them a heads up and finally saw them out on the dock taking pictures of Anna and James!

I am not even 1/3 of the way through the online pictures and I am thrilled!!

I would recommend essence without reservation. They truly made lemonade out of lemon weather. The MOB and MOG are thrilled with what we have seen so far....we wish we could give 10 stars!!!!

Pat Burns

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Rebecca Sent on 12/08/2009
5 out of 5 rating
Tom and his wife Shirley did a wonderful job capturing all of the special moments of our wedding day, without being intusive. They did a package deal for both the photos and videography. They were friendly, helpful, punctual, and very easy to work with. Their price was also reasonable. We were very happy with them and would highly recommend them to other couples!
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Essence Photography and Video frequently asked questions

Essence Photography and Video offers the following photography styles:
  • Photojournalism
Essence Photography and Video offers the following photography materials for weddings:
  • Albums
  • Flush Mount
  • Matted Prints
  • Proofs
Essence Photography and Video is recommended by 92% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.6 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.7 in average response time, 4.7 in flexibility, 4.6 in value, 4.5 in quality of service and 4.5 in professionalism.
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