Bridgewater Photographer Focuses Lens On Local Student Athletes

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Tom Zarcone's passion for photography began more than 45 years ago, thanks to a high school yearbook assignment.

"The yearbook staff said, 'Have a camera. Take some pictures of sports because you know the sports,' and I've never put one down since," said Zarcone to Patch.

That assignment helped set him on a path that now centers on local student athletes, family events and school communities.

Zarcone, who is based in Bridgewater and owns Zarcone Photography, is now the official photographer for the Bridgewater-Raritan Panthers and the official media partner for Bridgewater-Raritan High School football.

Zarcone Photography opened in 2019 and has grown through local sports, portraits and events.

Zarcone said his children attended Bridgewater-Raritan High School, and his son’s wrestling experience helped draw him more deeply into school sports photography.

He said he now photographs nine sports for Bridgewater and also does event coverage, including senior night posters and community events.

For Zarcone, the appeal of photography is rooted in preserving a single instant.

"I like the fact that you can catch a singular moment of time," said Zarcone. "There's that old cliché: a picture tells 1,000 words or 1,000 stories. So true. I've been touched by more photos than I've ever been touched by video or movies... Capturing everything in that split second to me is an art, a challenging ability that I love."

He said his focus on high school sports is intentional.

"High school sports is still pure," Zarcone said. "They still play kids that are not great. They still play kids that want to play, not because they're getting paid or they have an NIL or any of that, and there's still emotion in it."

That sense of celebration is what he said drives the business. Zarcone said he covers not only players, but also parents and fans during games and events.

"That's where the joy is. The kids are enjoying it. The moms and dads are proud," said Zarcone. "Let's celebrate a little bit of joy and kids having fun and doing what they like to do."

Zarcone said the business also handles prom photos, bar mitzvahs, family portraits and other local events.

For more information, visit zarconephotography.com or instagram.com/zarconephotography.

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