Near-infrared surface photometry of spiral galaxies

We present $K^{\mathrm{\prime }}$-band surface photometry of a sample of 31 inclined Sa-Scd galaxies, together with additional $J$- and $H$-band data for four of them. In this first paper of a series, profiles are presented, together with global and isophotal parameters. Our profiles are compared to similar $B$, $R$ and $I$ data collected from other sources. Three galaxies exhibit previously unknown small bars in their center, while in five others, such bars may also be present. Four objects present a narrow elongated feature in their center aligned with their major axis, which could be an inward extension of the disk. A few galaxies display very thin spiral arms. Color-color diagrams indicate that the extinction inside the four galaxies for which we have $JH{K}^{\mathrm{\prime }}$ images is limited to $A_V<2$.