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About TOM and I
Lisa Cuchara, PhD, Master Craftsman* (PPA), Master Photographer* (PPA), Master Artist* (PPA), HonNEC*, and Tom Cuchara, Master Photographer* (PPA), Master Craftsman* (PPA), HonNEC*, are passionate about photography, both behind the lens and in the digital darkroom. They are also OM SYSTEM Ambassadors. They have diverse creative interests ranging from Nature, Macro and Night photography to Urban exploration, people, and creative editing.
In a world that rushes by in blinks and heartbeats, Lisa and Tom Cuchara love that they can slow time with their cameras. They weave wonder from pixels and light, balancing nature and soul as only true alchemists of imagery can. With a heart tuned to nature’s quiet chorus, they see beyond the obvious — catching the iridescent flutter of a hummingbird's wing, the secret stillness of dew-kissed flowers, the noble decay of forgotten places. Birds and blossoms, rusty relics, frogs with stories in their eyes — all become muses for her storytelling soul. Whether in the hush of a forest or the echo of an abandoned space, they don’t just shoot what it looks like — they capture what it feels like. A fieldwork sage and a digital darkroom poet, Lisa transforms ordinary moments into storytelling landscapes. Known for his calm presence, clear instruction, and passion for helping others grow, Tom is a trusted mentor and passionate photographer. Photography, for them, is mindfulness in motion — a way to inhale the world slowly and exhale its beauty through art. Their eyes catch what others miss, allowing their images to remember what time forgets.
Lisa, alongside her husband Tom, a fellow kindred creative spirit she met through photography, co-runs a studio sanctuary in Hamden, CT. Together they teach light painting, macro, still life, flowers, and the magic of post-processing — blending technique with imagination, offering not just instruction but inspiration. Their work has graced galleries, calendars, magazines like Wild Bird, ABA Birding magazine, Birder’s World, and Adirondack Life, and even the cover of a novel. Their books — Create Fine Art Photographs from Historic Places and Rusty Things and The Frog Whisperer — celebrate both texture and tenderness in photography, urging readers to see the world as a canvas of marvels.
Lisa and Tom are tireless educators and generous mentors, presenting across the globe in person and online. Their motto — “Creativity is contagious, pass it on” — speaks to their mission to spark joy, curiosity, and vision in others. Subscribe to their YouTube channel, sign up for photo tips and photo event announcements, and explore more offerings at www.LisaTom.Photos. So whether you’re looking to capture the shimmer of a dragonfly’s wing, the fleeting movement of a bird catching a fish, or master the mysteries of light and shadow, Lisa welcomes you to a journey where creativity blooms and pixels dance.
Because when you learn to see the unseen — like Lisa and Tom — every day becomes a work of art.
More about us…
We specialize in decorating homes with nature and UrbEx art. We enjoy taking "straight out of camera" photographs and equally enjoy creating ART from our photographs, both of which allow us to capture the moment as our mind's eye sees it. We have four-legged children (dogs, cats, red-eyed green tree frogs, other frogs, chameleons, and other critters) and a wonderful daughter.
We love sunsets and hot fudge sundaes and embrace the "'Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the number of moments that take your breath away" philosophy!
We love any chance to take photographs! Photography gives us superpowers, lol, we can freeze time. We love to Teach/Mentor/Motivate. We would love an opportunity to inspire you with our "Creativity is contagious, pass it on" philosophy and our “Don’t shoot what it looks like, shoot what it feels like” approach. We love to Teach/Mentor/Motivate. May our creativity inspire you to capture photons and manipulate pixels.
Tom and I are both OM SYSTEM (formerly Olympus) Ambassadors. Email us for camera/lens suggestions. We use OM-1 cameras https://tinyurl.com/lisatom-om-1. We appreciate you using our affiliate link for OM camera/lens/accessory purchases https://tinyurl.com/lisatom-OMD. We love the 30mm, 60mm, and 90mm macro lenses, we can help you determine which macro lens is right for you!
While Tom and I love our OM-1 cameras and their amazing computational technologies, we welcome ANY kind and brand of camera (from smartphones to dSLRs to mirrorless to film cameras) on our workshops.
Tom and I are both very active in many local and national photography organizations. We have presented programs at PPA, NECCC, Nature Visions, CanAm, CAP, PPANE, PSA, Greater Lynn, NHCC, and a lot of other camera and nature clubs across the New England region and around the country. We also judge photographic competitions and teach various photography and image editing workshops. We have had many successful gallery exhibitions, and our work has been accepted into various juried exhibitions. Our photographs have appeared in Adirondack Life, ABA Birding magazine, Wild Bird, Birder’s World, in calendars and on calendar covers, and on the cover of a paperback novel. Our images have won awards at the local, state, national, and international levels.
Tom and I have published two books with Amherst Media. The first called “Create Fine Art Photographs from Historic Places and Rusty Things” is about our HDR and light-painted images; it can be ordered from Amazon http://tinyurl.com/lisatom-urbex and is also available at brick and mortar bookstores like Barnes and Noble. Our second, one year later, is called “The Frog Whisperer: Portraits and Stories” http://tinyurl.com/lisatom-frogs.
We teach photography a variety of image capture and post-processing workshops and seminars, in the classroom and in the field. We are also OM SYSTEM Ambassadors and lead tours in the USA and abroad for Wildside Nature Tours. We have presented a variety of instructional programs and workshops for many conferences, camera clubs, photography organizations, garden clubs, and other organizations. Check out our photo and editing classes, our photo events and workshops, and view our photographs at www.LisaTom.Photos.
We are excited to have an opportunity to inspire you with our "Creativity is contagious, pass it on" philosophy and our “Don’t shoot what it looks like, shoot what it feels like” approach. We love to Teach, Mentor, Motivate, and Inspire, and hope that our passion and creativity will inspire you to capture beautiful photons and manipulate pixels with impact.
*Photographic Craftsman (Cr.Photog.) is awarded by the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) for service as an orator, author, or mentor. This degree shows that you have gone beyond the creation of images and dedicated your time to move the industry forward and encourage education. Cr.Photog. is one of the highest recognitions for speaking, writing, or mentoring on photography; it positions the photographer as an authority in the industry.
Master Artist degree is awarded by the Professional Photographers of America This degree is not merely a piece of paper. It means that Lisa Cuchara has met the standards of excellence set by PPA. She has been awarded the Master Artist degree in recognition of her superior photographic competence and enhancement of images with artistic techniques as demonstrated through photographic competition, advanced education, and service to the profession. In 2022, she was one of only 29 recipients. Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the world's largest nonprofit photography association, organized for professional photographers, by professional photographers, with 30,000 creative members in more than 50 countries. Cuchara’s Master Artist degree—and all the expertise it requires—illustrates her accomplishments and talent as one of a select few.
The Master of Photography degree is not merely a piece of paper. It means that Cuchara has met the standards of excellence set by PPA. She has been awarded this degree in recognition of her superior photographic competence demonstrated through photographic competition, advanced education, and service to the profession. In 2020, she was one of only 92 recipients. Cuchara's degrees—and all the expertise they require—illustrate her accomplishments and talent as one of a select few.
HonNEC is awarded for superior leadership in the operation of our Council and superior photographic leadership in the New England area. For achieving substantial and outstanding recognition in the field of photography through activities for a minimum of ten years through lecturing, judging, writing, and administrative activities in the New England area. Lisa received the designation of HonNEC “in 2015 For her outstanding dedication to New England Camera Club Council using her extensive organizational skills and knowledge to serve as its blog master, social media liaison, webmaster and executive board member; for her longstanding continued service in many diverse roles for local camera organizations; for her tireless efforts to promote the photographic arts; she routinely lectures for New England Camera Club Council and camera clubs and conferences in the New England area; she constantly provides formal and informal teaching leading classes in photography concepts in the classroom as well as in field workshops; for her role as a sought-after judge providing dynamic and constructive critiques; for her photographic achievements and exemplary exhibition records. With her commitment and vast knowledge of photography, Lisa epitomizes the concept of the dedicated professional.”
Tom received the designation of HonNEC in 2020, “in part for his expertise in photography and his willingness to teach and encourage others. For his numerous photography awards, recognitions, and outstanding contributions to many local, national, and international photography organizations. For his key leadership roles in his local camera club and as NECCC vice president and conference co-chair, speaker and presenter. For his ability to inspire through his contagious passion for photography in group and individual settings and through his published books.”
Photography by Lisa and Tom is our teaching side (we present photography programs to clubs, organizations, and conferences and we teach camera and post-processing techniques). We would be honored to hang our Art on your walls, email or call us to set up a photo session photographyByLisaAndTom [at] comcast.net or via phone at 203-288-8151
Check out our photo galleries here: photographyByLisaAndTom.com
All of the photos on our website and blog are available for purchase (prints, wall art, electronic, etc.). You can order images right from our galleries or directly from us. Licensing is also available for most images.
Master Artist degree is awarded by the Professional Photographers of America (PPA. on January 17, 2022. This degree is not merely a piece of paper. It means that Lisa Cuchara has met the standards of excellence set by PPA. She has been awarded the Master Artist degree in recognition of her superior photographic competence and enhancement of images with artistic techniques as demonstrated through photographic competition, advanced education, and service to the profession. In 2022, she was one of only 29 recipients. Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the world's largest nonprofit photography association organized for professional photographers, by professional photographers, with 30,000 creative members in more than 50 countries. Cuchara’s Master Artist degree—and all the expertise it requires—illustrates her accomplishments and talent as one of a select few.
HonNEC is awarded for superior leadership in the operation of our Council and superior photographic leadership in the New England area. For achieving substantial and outstanding recognition in the field of photography through activities for a minimum of ten years through lecturing, judging, writing, and administrative activities in the New England area. Lisa received the designation of HonNEC “in 2015 For her outstanding dedication to New England Camera Club Council using her extensive organizational skills and knowledge to serve as its blog master, social media liaison, webmaster, and executive board member; for her longstanding continued service in many diverse roles for local camera organizations; for her tireless efforts to promote the photographic arts; she routinely lectures for New England Camera Club Council and camera clubs and conferences in the New England area; she constantly provides formal and informal teaching leading classes in photography concepts in the classroom as well as in field workshops; for her role as a sought-after judge providing dynamic and constructive critiques; for her photographic achievements and exemplary exhibition records. With her commitment and vast knowledge of photography, Lisa epitomizes the concept of the dedicated professional.”
- Get to know us a little bit by viewing the "About us" tab
- Learn more about photography through our photo classes, workshops and tours. Photography by Lisa and Tom
- We are proud members of
- CTPPA -- Connecticut Professional Photographers of America
- PPA -- Professional Photographers of America
- PSA -- Photographic Society of America
- NECCC -- New England Camera Club Council (Lisa is their webmaster and blog editor, both of us are vice presidents and we were the conference chairs for 2018 and 2019, 2021 and 2022 conferences)
- NHCC -- New Haven Camera Club (Lisa is the program chair, Lisa was their webmaster and blog editor, for over 15 years and both Tom and Lisa have held the position of president)
- CAP -- Connecticut Association of Photographers, Tom is past president, and I have been on the board for many years)
