I’ve met this beautiful family through one of our previous wonderful clients and had a blast photographing their little one turning one year old. We even had a cake smash session and she had a great time doing it. But I should let you enjoy the photos we created at Valley Forge Park.
The sun was kind enough to us on Monday at Franklin Square, just as Marina and Chris were, but the wind wasn’t too accepting of my light stand. I can’t wait to have these two in front of my camera very soon at the Merion in Cinnaminson. Enjoy the photos!
If one would not know that last Saturday Kristen and Zach had a rainy wedding day at Brandywine Manor House, one would not really know by the smiles on everyone’s faces. The atmosphere of the day was surely bright and quite hilarious at times, with many many laughs and tears along. When the couple absolutely enjoys the day, no matter what, we end up creating amazing photos to last a lifetime and beyond. And with such support form their amazing families no way the party wouldn’t turn out great.
Brandywine Manor House wedding
As hot and humid as June can be around these parts of the world, I gotta admit, the Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm made it a breeze to photograph the union between Samantha and Greg. At every step there was something to admire, from superb architecture to sculptures and paintings, in two words, a photographer’s dream.
After meeting their two beautiful german shepherds, you could feel they were eager to see their mom in the wedding dress, and they weren’t the only ones. Also today all my doubts that kids don’t love me are removed forever, all thanks to little Emily.
But I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.
Give me a spray can, some skateboards, some mummers if possible, a happy couple, and I’ll show you how my brain works. After dropping off my second pair of eyes, Georgi, at Barber Shop Denim where the guys were getting their shaves on, I headed to the Racquet Club of Philadelphia where the girls were getting their hair did. (did I lose you there?)
There’s the handsome fella, happy as ever. Can you blame him?
What did I say about those giggles earlier?
And our gorgeous bride putting the final touches on.
One of the proudest moments in a mom’s life, her daughter’s wedding.
And the wild Caitysmaids. 
Did I mention it was pretty hot outside? It’s always sunny in Philadelphia!
Dad’s turn to see his beautiful daughter.
After their first look Caity and Dave were ready to rock some cool spots at FDR Park.
Dave immortalizing their moment.
The ladies enjoying one last touch of the man.
Professional selfie, or regular photo, you decide. Do not try at home!
And here we are at , ready to tie, you know, the knot.
Emotions run deep, but we’re ready to party at this point.
Oh yea, I almost forgot the Mummers showed up and rocked some tunes.
No doubt last Saturday will be marked in my history as one of the most amazing weddings in Pennsylvania. And I didn’t even accept the after party invite with a 7AM end time.
We started chillin’ with Brittany at Rivercrest Country Club while stuffing our beaks with Sprite and a good dose of laughs. She was surrounded by the most genuine of friends and of course family, making candid photos literally a breeze. Of course I didn’t forget about her “cher” future hubster and popped over to Marriott to capture their manly prep. Guys being guys, put on not so matching colorful socks, sipped on some champagne and put on the rest of their clothes after, only to pose in the most masculine way guys can.
After Brittany’s warnings that the bridal party is a wild one, I set my expectations high, and disappointed was I not! I heard continuous laughs throughout the day, almost turning over a golf cart (my idea I admit) and lots of hugs and kisses they went on to cheer Brittany and Romain on their big adventure, until the wee hours of the morning. And what a party is was! Emotions ran high as Paul danced with his daughter Brittany, making the headlines of Daily mail co uk.
I can’t even attempt to describe it when photos will, so well, do it for me. (french traditions and all)
Guys, thank you for letting me be part of your love fest. Brittany and Romain’s love fest.
Morris Arboretum holds a special meaning to Jincy and Subin. It’s where Subin planned his surprise proposal a while ago, and I wholeheartedly agree with his choice. The arboretum is filled with love, the love of artists from all walks of life. We walked around the grounds, trying to not bother the painters with our own big clicky digital brushes. The creations you’ll see are the result of painting with light. “A photograph can be as striking and as haunting as a great painting or fine poem”
I even climbed a tree.
Jincy and Subin followed.
Bird watching or hubby starring?
Check out this arboretum engagement session!
Ali and Josh live in a wonderland of a park called as most of you Philly folk know, Valley Forge Park. We perused a few places along with Maya, their super playful doggy. As you will see below, she photobombed in a good way a few photos. Later we chased the beautiful May sunset until its last spark, and it shows in the rich colors.
I’ve been known to dog whisper sometimes, and Maya was very responsive to my super ability. 🙂
Valley Forge Park engagement
Check out Kristen and Zach’s Valley Forge Park engagement session as well if you liked Ali and Josh’s.
Looking for a truly unique venue for your special event? Welcome to Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens! Who else would be a better fit for expert advice in this case than Allison, the events manager at this unique venue, who sat down with me and gave you, our brides, some great tips for choosing their alternative wedding venue.
It’s true PMG has a style all it’s own, and it’s very eclectic! Whether you’re into folk art and want a Day of the Dead themed wedding, or just want a lot of color on your day, PMG adapts into a lot of different styles. We’re pretty loose with how people are allowed to decorate, so some people go all out and hang lantern lights and have tons of flowers, and others just bring in some candles. No matter what color you choose as your palate, it’s going to look good because PMG has literally every color of the rainbow present.
Estimate your guest list and budget.
PMG is an intimate venue. In a sense it’s great because you end up having those people that you truly want present on your special day; no second cousin’s girlfriend that your parents made you invite, just your closest family and friends. Having a smaller guest count also gives you more freedom to get some killer food, and since PMG doesn’t have a required caterer, you have the freedom to bring in anything from a high end caterer to a food truck!
Slow down and consider the logistics.
PMG has a lot of different areas, so there’s several ways that renters can utilize the space. That being said, we can definitely recommend what works and what doesn’t. What’s great is that we’re located right near center city Philadelphia, so it’s easy for guests to get here from their hotel, and then go out to an after-party. There’s also a ton of vendors (caterers, florists, etc…) nearby, so it’s easy to coordinate with everyone.
DJ or Band
PMG doesn’t have a required DJ that must be used, so you can bring anything from a band (on the weekends) to an ipod setup. Since the entire outside is tiled the sound is amplified, so music doesn’t need to be played loudly in order to be heard throughout easily the space.
Outdoor and indoor space
In many venues you’re either getting indoor or outdoor space, not both. At PMG, while the outdoors is the space that really takes your breath away, there are also indoor spaces to use. That way if it’s a cool night you can move indoors, or if it’s a beautiful day you can do it all outside. It’s up to you! The indoor spaces are also beautifully mosaicked and feature rotating exhibitions, so they’re great backdrops for your wedding.
Consider your catering needs.
We don’t have a required caterer, so you have the freedom to bring in any kind of food you’d like! We’ve had everything from mexican/asian fusion, to pizza trucks. If you’re lost, we do have a great list of recommended caterers. All of them have been here several times and do an excellent job (not to mention they have delicious food!). We don’t have a kitchen on-site so it’s important that caterers be flexible while working here, but typically after meeting with us they have no problem adapting to our unique venue.
Visit your potential venue more than once.
I strongly encourage all my renters to come and visit the space as much as they can! When you rent here you are given a year-long membership, so take advantage! Renters can bring their family and friends, or come do some planning with their vendors. The space looks different in all types of weather and different times of day, so it’s great to come back often to get inspired!
Talk to everyone associated with your venue.
I’ve been doing private events at PMG for four years now, so I know this venue like the back of my hand. If you’re stuck, just email or call me. I’m always happy to answer questions or suggest different ways to do things. It’s particularly important to keep in communication with me since we are such a unique place, and therefore have a lot of unique ways of doing things!
Check on requirements for religious ceremonies.
Here at Philadelphia Magic Gardens we welcome ceremonies of all types! We have no religious affiliation. We’ve had indian weddings, jewish weddings, LGBTQ weddings, even a wedding where three people married each other! Nothing is too traditional or too strange for us, we just love seeing people in love!
We thank Allison for her wonderful tips and invite you to visit this out-of-this-world place yourself. Don’t forget to share this with all your friends.
First wedding of the Spring at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Claymont happened in perfect sunny weather. Elise and Andrew were so easy to photograph and had a blast throughout the day.
Make up and hair artist Q Salon and Spa
Wedding Planner Laurie Buckman of Schleppers Concierge
Caterer Miss Rachel’s Pantry
DJ Moore Music
Brand of Dress David’s Bridal
Baker Carley’s Cakes
Always being on the cutting edge as a geek and photographer. New tools require testing and perfecting since in weddings there’s no redo, and the word oops has no place, not even as a joke. 😀
Max and Kali helped with my geekery and endured 25mph winds while shooting around the Piazza, all so our beautiful brides and grooms can take advantage of the new techniques and tricks.
Here are a few shots we snapped.
*No humans were harmed in the making of these images. 🙂
It’s that time of the year when we test out new lighting techniques and equipment to benefit our future brides. Along with the team at BoldLov, Sasha and Julie, I tried recreating some portraits I shoot for my brides in beautiful venues like Aronimink Golf Club. If you’re not outside enjoying this balmy day of March have a look and share the post with anyone, maybe someone getting married you know? wink wink.
As opposed to their awesome engagement session last fall, Daniel and Veronica’s wedding day was a rather chilly one, to say the least. They got ready at Lowes hotel in center city Philadelphia, and when we were all ready to rock, we had their first look on the 33rd floor of the hotel with superb views of the City of Brotherly Love. (I always dreamed of saying that)
We walked to the beautiful Crystal Tea Room which was minutes away and had our share of cold for the day already. The intricate architecture of Wanamaker building made for great photos with the love birds and the bridal party later. I can already say Finley Catering won me over and it’s only the second time I’m photographing in their knockout venue.
After delicious cocktail hour EBE’s Milan 77 delighted us with their great music and the party was on! Don’t believe me? Use your little mouse and scroll down, slowly. 🙂
Starting the year with a beautiful family to photograph, at 43 degrees, right before snowmageddon. What more can a guy with a camera want?
And what better than adding two cute boys in the mix, on the ever-so-amazing Longwood Gardens flowerland covered in patches of snow. Snow that the boys made sure to launch at each other frequently, sometimes even at my camera, on demand of course.
We enjoyed the warmth of the conservatory with its Orchid Extravaganza and concluded outside with the aforementioned snowball fight.
There is only one way Rob and Liz’s wedding is gonna unfold, and that is fun and energetic. And this guy cannot wait!
Enjoy the photos after the break!
Check out another Longwood Gardens engagement here.
I’ve always fancied the Waterworks, Philadelphia Art Museum area since the waterworks restaurant is one of my favorites in Philly. But fear not, that was not why Alyona and Maksym chose these beautiful grounds for their engagement photos. We ventured from Boat house row all the way to the Art Museum and basked in the warm September sun with smiles on our faces. These two are such a great couple, it was a no brainer creating their portraits.
Check out the photos and leave some love in the comments.
I love the area and its beautiful trails, and I didn’t just photograph around it but actually enjoyed biking through a few times.
Did I convince you why these lovebirds decided to have their photos taken here? Oh another factor was that their wedding is in January and we’re hoping for good weather. 🙂
But I digress and let you enjoy their photographs.
Well hello there, avid reader of my blog, are you ready for some cuteness? No I’m not posting youtube cat videos below, but sweet doggie Ruxin with his mommy and daddy, Kristen and Zach.
I love couples that bring their real characters in front of our cameras making it so much easier to photograph candid, true reactions. And they did that very well. (except a few tricks I always use :))
I gotta admit that being the owner of two bulldogs, every time I play with a small dog like Ruxin I wish mine lost a few pounds here and there. One downside of a small dog is their speed when playing. Speed is not our best friend when photographing, but I did catch him jumping and running, before the sun went down.
We all enjoyed on of the last colorful days this fall offered in the Valley Forge Park for their engagement photos.
Scroll through and leave your thoughts in the comments.
Let me take you on a biking adventure in the next few minutes. And not any kind of adventure, but one that has a happy ending. You get the sarcasm here right? I’m far from talented when it comes to English writing. Stay for the photos maybe? (cough).
I’ve had some luck this season with the weather but adding a super sweet couple like Caity and Dave just blew my expectations away for a chilly fall afternoon at Belmont Plateau Philadelphia.
They rode bikes, read to each other on a picnic blanket, opened champagne and even impersonated Red Ridding Hood, if Dave would’ve agreed to play the big bad wolf. 🙂 All of this under the beautiful backdrop of Philadelphia skyline, transforming every minute into a gorgeous red hot sunset.
I can only imagine how fun their wedding is gonna be next year. Can you feel the excitement yet? Huh, huh? 🙂
I will just focus on one area where I feel all bride and grooms can benefit from – Top 5 reasons EVERY bride should do a bridal photo shoot.
1) The comfort of knowing exactly what you will look like with your wedding dress on a few days before your wedding. Most of the time we suggest that our brides have their hair and make up trial done on the day that they take their engagement photos. While we still stand behind that suggestion (since most photographers will appreciate that you had professional hair and make up done for those pictures) it is still difficult to imagine what you are going to look like with your wedding dress on. You will be incredibly relieved to know how your hair, make up, dress, shoes, and accessories all worked together- it is like a dress rehearsal before the big day.
2) You will find areas of your dress that might still need altering. When you go in for your dress fittings, you only spend about 20-30 minutes max in your gown, and most of that time is spent standing in front of the mirror while your seamstress pins the tiny details & imperfections. It is a completely different experience being in your dress for about 2-3 hours. You move in the dress, sit down, lay across the bed, and you’ll begin to notice different areas where the dress is gathering incorrectly, or falling down a little, and tiny areas where the lace is behaving strangely. You’ll be so thankful that you had a final fitting where you could address these issues because they will drive you crazy on the day of the wedding.
3) You will feel more relaxed and comfortable on the morning of your wedding knowing that the photographer has already captured plenty of beautiful portraits of you. The morning of your wedding you won’t feel like there will be as much pressure on photos since you had already gotten a lot of them out of the way. This is also a great way to help you feel more comfortable in front of the camera, since that will happen a lot on your big day! Same goes for more traditional weddings where there’s no time between the ceremony and reception for bridal party and bride & groom portraits. I this case we can have a session anywhere after the wedding, with our own makeup artist.
4) Different Backgrounds/Change of scenery, hard to travel to on a wedding day. Most of the time our brides get dressed and ready in their hotel room which may not always be the most glamourous background for photos.(pizza boxes left around won’t help either) The pre-bridal shoot will give us the opportunity to take your photos in either a studio, or a private outdoor setting that allows us to control both the lighting and background.
BONUS TIP. Get creative & use the images. We like to recommend that our brides take a moment aside with their dad before he walks them down the aisle. This is the perfect time to give him a beautiful picture of you in your dress with a card expressing how much he means to you. You could do the same for your mother, grandparents, etc. This is a nice way to share your feelings for that special person and create a nice keepsake for them to remember your wedding.
This session I did after the wedding for Alyona and Maksym was photographed at the beautiful Longwood Gardens. Makeup and hair by the talented Nikki Brennan.
What do you get when photographing two beautiful people? That’s more of a statement than a question, so you tell me after the break ;).
So many familiar traditions, brought back great memories from my home country of Romania. After their ceremony, along with their fun bridal party, we stopped by City Hall for the iconic Broad street photo and The Union League building later.
Alyona and Maksym, both of Ukranian descent, chose to have their wedding at Golden Gates restaurant in Northeast Philadelphia, and they were thrilled with this venue. From decor to the tasty food and amazing deserts, everything turned out wonderful, and we had a great time with them.
More images from their beautiful styled session the next day in the next post.
Alyona and Maksym| Golden Gates Philadelphia wedding