Portraits of musician Chelsea Reed in Philadelphia, PA. Huge thank you to Jinxed and Urban Jungle in South Philadelphia for allowing us to make amazing images in your space.
Whether you personally have the funds to continue purchasing right or not, there are things ALL of us can do to help small businesses at this time. Consider the following list. Considering sharing this with your family and friends. Not all of these ideas are limited to just photographers.
A Day in the Life session in Lancaster. Documentary family sessions are one of my favorite things to photograph. They're so natural and genuine. I can't imagine a better way to remember the little things with your kids, from saying good morning to play time in the park, bath time, super hero costumes, and afternoon naps.
For Chrissy and Mark's engagement session we started out at the place they met, Finn McCools! We then made our way over to City Hall and finally to the Philadelphia Art Museum for sunset.
Megan and Bobby got ready for their wedding at the beautiful Inn at Jim Thorpe, and had their ceremony and reception at Blue Mountain Resort. The view from the top of Blue Mountain is hard to beat!
Colleen Stepanian is a Philadelphia based documentary wedding and portrait photographer. Dana and Eddie had their engagement session in their hometown of Brooklyn, NY. It was a perfect mix of in-home portraits and exploring the streets and bars of Brooklyn.
Colleen Stepanian is a documentary and portrait family photographer in Philadelphia. Fairmount park in Philadelphia is a wonderful place for family photography sessions. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom in the spring. The trees, water, and pathways provide endless opportunities for family fun.
Madeline and Ian got married in the backyard of a beautiful family home that has been passed down for generations. Madeline’s mother Jane Good is an amazing interior designer. Thanks to Jane’s wonderful talent, their home was the perfect location for stylish and sentimental getting ready and portrait images. This wedding day was full of surprises, including a song performance by Madeline’s father and uncles, and then Madeline herself! They ended their day with the most epic sparkler exist I’ve ever seen. It will forever be one of my favorite days.
An in-home family photography session with a mix of relaxed portraits and documentary style imagery.
Steph and Will had their engagement session in their hometown, Morristown NJ. We spent a few hours getting a variety of images in nature and downtown! These two and their beautiful smiles make my job easy! Can’t wait to see them again on their wedding day!
Two amazing musicians get married in vintage style at The Chalfonte Hotel in Cape May, NJ.
An adorable family photography session in Conshohocken, a suburb of Philadelphia, PA. Their casual session started at Sutcliffe Park and ended at home for play time and bath time! To get the most out of your family sessions, adding personal elements and activities are key. And pets are family too!
Kate and Ben’s wedding will forever hold a special place in my heart. Their day began at the Renaissance Downtown Hotel in Philadelphia. They spent the early afternoon getting ready with their family and friends, sharing gifts and champagne, and ended with a surprise visit to Grandmom in her hotel room before heading out for portraits.
Philadelphia has plenty to offer in terms of portrait locations and it was so nice to be able to travel around with such a fun bridal party and take advantage of so many beautiful locations. From the grounds of the Second Bank, to Washington Square, and finally FDR park and the American Swedish Historical Museum, this crew rocked them all.
It’s not news to anyone that I can be quite emotional. It’s already an honor to be present on someone’s wedding day knowing I’m giving them images of moments they will relive forever, but truly connecting with my couples makes it that much more special to me and it’s that connection and level of comfort that allows magic to happen. I know I might sound like a broken record but I LOVE MY JOB.
Picture time!
I am able to write this now because I am not in a phase of mental exhaustion. I want to write this now because I know I am not alone in this artistic field, nor in my more or less abstract mission. It is not unique. If what I’ve written feels foreign and incomprehensible, that’s okay! I encourage you to keep reading so that you may have empathy for something new, and probably for someone you’re already very close to.
This wedding at the Kolo Klub in Hoboken New Jersey is one of my favorites to date. I come away from every wedding learning something new about the world, my couple, or myself. The bond that I witnessed between Danielle and MaryAnn is something that's even difficult for me to explain. The best way I can truly describe it goes something like this. You've spent your life figuring who you are, the world, how and where you belong in it, who in your life will be there by your side forever, and your dream for your future. Doing all of those things is exhausting and we all go through it. And then you find your person. Your partner in crime. Your match. Your best friend. And in the middle of all the imperfect parts of this life, this one actually is perfect. The feeling of that discovery, that bond, that completeness, and sense of eagerness to make it official was so apparent between them the entire day and night through the laughter, the tears, the eye contact in silences, and of course the dancing. I'm beyond thrilled for them both and honored to have been there on this day to witness what I can only describe as the ultimate love and sense of wholeness we all seek. I drove home from this day more lighthearted and thankful. I thank Danielle and MaryAnn for that, and all they had to do was be themselves. And now I'm crying so just go look at the pictures.
A casual and super fun summer wedding at The Inn at Millrace Pond in Hope, New Jersey. This venue is honestly the perfect location if you’re looking for a “backyard wedding” feel. Beautiful getting ready suites are only steps away from the ceremony location and the lush foliage all around with stringed lights is amazing for portraits. Can’t wait to visit again!
An engagement session with the perfect mix of beauty from Bartram's Garden, and the comfort of home in West Philadelphia.
A beautiful fall wedding full of artistic and vintages touches that started at WH Mulherins & Sons Hotel and ended with a ceremony and reception at the Fleisher Art Memorial in Philadelphia.
Anna and Nathaniel tied the knot at Graeme Park in Horsham, PA. They had the perfect wedding full of nature, flowers, and more emotion and deep connection than anyone can imagine.
A vibrant multicultural wedding at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown was perfect for Radha and Dan's Hindu and Christian wedding. They planned two ceremonies on their wedding day to incorporate all of their family's traditions and values, and it was beautiful.
Regardless of whether or not you have children or want children, each and every one of us has something to offer another person that will help them (and ourselves) grow in some way. It could be your child, your neighbor, your partner, your boss, or your grandparents. It could be a total stranger. It's the thing that you leave behind in every conversation and interaction with another person. It might be spoken or it might be a feeling or a specific energy. What is that thing? What do you WANT that thing to be?
Beautiful spring wedding at St. Alphonsus Church and St. Cyril Jerusalem Social Hall in Jamison, Pennsylvania.
A few of my favorites from Jen and Kyle's engagement session at Green Lane Park. "We're so awkward, what do we do?" We play games and chase ducks. Duh. See those smiles at the end? Definitely not awkward. So excited for their wedding in October!
This family session was a great mix of documentary style shooting and relaxed portraits. This is definitely one of my favorite ways to photograph families as it allows life and personality to shine through, while also leaving room, as the photographer, to give suggestions.
Getting married in your grandparents' backyard holds a unique and unparalleled charm. The towering old trees and viny greens were also the perfect backdrop for Samantha and Mike. Walking through their grandparent’s home, I couldn’t help but envision the little footsteps of generations before. Every corner is familiar, as if all of your family’s memories are present and whispering sweet nothings during the most precious day of your life.