philadelphia | Allie Skylar Photography

Upper Merion Christ Church Wedding | Clair and Philip | Philadelphia Wedding Photography

Published on August 24, 2017 by allieskylarphotography@gmail.comLeave a comment

philadelphia-bridgeport-christ-church-wedding-potography-photo_0517

Clair and Philip are pure joy. From the minute our day began, they radiated. Clair and Philip had their ceremony and reception at the historic Christ Church in Upper Merion. It’s a hidden gem located in Bridgeport, with the highway suspended in the air nearby. The old sanctuary has a warm glow and well worn pews which creak as curious heads turn to watch the bride. The reception hall is a blank canvass. Clair and Philip, with the help of their families, opted for a DIY wedding, and their romantic and airy theme was perfect for this hall.

If I am being honest, I cry at every wedding. And it’s not pretty. How can I help it, though? Weddings are BEAUTIFUL. A true celebration of life and love and family. I usually spend a year communicating with my couples. I discover their favorite TV shows, how many pets they have, and the fears and excitements about getting married. And then I witness their hard work pay off on their wedding day. It’s hard not to be invested.

However, I have never cried more at a wedding than at Philip and Clair’s in July. The tears started flowing the moment Clair and her father shared a first look, continued through Clair’s perfectly timed grand entrance, and into the night as the couple slow danced with stars in their eyes.

As a vendor, I must say that I am biased in thinking that I have the best couples ever. But it’s hard not to believe that when they treat you with such love and warmth. Clair and Philip, it was a joy and an honor to be a part of your day. Wishing you the very best in your lifetime of happiness! Continue reading “Upper Merion Christ Church Wedding | Clair and Philip | Philadelphia Wedding Photography” →

Season’s End | Christmas break at Rothman Rink

Published on December 22, 2016 by allieskylarphotography@gmail.comLeave a comment

There is a lot to be said about 2016. For the most part, people seem pretty displeased with it. I can’t blame them, really. It was an incredibly tough year. But a year that was so hard was also the best my business has had. I’m not really sure how to process the year; I’m conflicted with my feelings about it. I traveled to Europe, photographed more weddings than I imagined, photographed a greeting card line, met some incredible people, but…. I also had squirrels claw through my living room ceiling, got whiplash from a 5 year old, and got my identity stolen. Complex. That’s the only way I can describe it.

Now that the shooting season is done, I’m furiously editing, sleeping, and trying to embrace the holiday spirit. The absolute weirdest thing about this job is the lack of presence. What I mean by that is I am planning constantly. Planning with couples about dates and moments that are months, even years away. I am always looking ahead and before I know it, another year has passed. In my mind, it’s still October. Needless to say, I have had a difficult time feeling festive.

I met up with my shooting partner Elizabeth and we rode the R5 into the city. We stopped at Macy’s for their Christmas Light Show (a must if you are in Philly!), explored Christmas Village, and went ice skating at Rothman Ice Rink. Towards the end of ice skating, Elizabeth and I were taking photos and the ice was just reflecting the most dreamy light. I stopped a few people and asked them if I could take their photo. It’s the season of giving, after all. Yes, photography is my job, but in the end, there is nothing I want more than for people to have their memories.

I’ll be doing a lot of reflecting over the next couple of weeks and posting some of my favorite 2016 moments. But, other than that, I will be making it a point to be present.

rothman ice rink in Philadelphia rothman ice skating rink in philadelphia rothman-ice-rink-piladelphia-photo ridley-creek-state-park-wedding-photo_3000 couple kissing at rothman ice rink in philadelphia

Kiss Book Wedding Album vs Artifact Uprising | Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer

Published on September 27, 2016 by allieskylarphotography@gmail.comLeave a comment

Photography is a dying art. Yes, I am a photographer, and yes, you have read that correctly. There may be a new photographer (or enthusiast with a good camera) on every corner, but the actual art of photography, or preserving memories through photographs, is slipping away. I have been working a lot on my mindset recently, which is how this blog post came to be. I had, somewhere along the way, fallen into a trap of mental thought that viewed a new booking/client in terms of a bill I could pay or a good I could purchase. I am only human but this way of thinking is not reflective of who I am. Each booking, each wedding, each unique moment belongs to someone. I am just lucky enough to have the skill and know-how and desire to capture it. But since I have been attempting to change my mindset away from the analytical and towards the passionate, I have wondered….. is that enough? Is it enough to simply capture a moment? Then what? Do those moments stay on a hard drive or locked in a cabinet on a USB never telling their tale?

Photos– memories!– need to be shared and enjoyed. My duty as a photographer is not only to capture a memory, but to showcase it so that it can tell its story. This has gotten me thinking about printing and album design, something that is foreign now but was once an industry standard. I want my images to be displayed— I want my clients to want to display them!!! What’s more, I want it done right!

Nearly all of my clients end up with their wedding photos printed in some capacity, whether through print or album, as I greatly encourage this and stress the importance. I use two main companies for album printing, Artifact Uprising and Kiss Albums, and I love them both due to their simplicity and timelessness. So for the sake of informative review and in hopes of saving the printed photograph, I will be sharing photos and opinions about each album!

First up, Kiss!

kissbook-wedding-album-review-photo_2527 Continue reading “Kiss Book Wedding Album vs Artifact Uprising | Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer” →

Newtown Square Engagement Session | Malia and Chris

Published on June 15, 2016June 15, 2016 by allieskylarphotography@gmail.comLeave a comment

philadelphia engagement photography_1542 Growing up, summers meant lots of time outside. My siblings and I would come home filthy each day, and we all knew one thing— TV was off. Now, there was an exception to this rule. On rainy days, when we couldn’t go outside and the threat of sibling bickering was at an all time high, my sister and I just needed to pull the Anne of Green Gables VHS from the shelf, and my mom would make the pop corn. We would lay with the fan on high (no AC back then— at least in my house) our eyes glued to what is and always will be one of the best stories ever written.

So wait, why am I telling you about this? It has absolutely nothing to do with Malia and Chris and their lovely engagement session, right? I promise you it does! There is a point, so keep on reading! Continue reading “Newtown Square Engagement Session | Malia and Chris” →

Anthropologie Product Shoot | Philadelphia Brand Photography

Published on April 24, 2016April 24, 2016 by allieskylarphotography@gmail.comLeave a comment

For the last few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to shoot for my local Anthropologie for use on their social media. It’s been a focus of mine to capture not only details of their product, but to highlight their branding as well. Each week I approach with new eyes and the most challenging part has definitely been trying to create a new feel each week despite being in the same general location. Here is some of the work I’ve done over the course of this collaboration.

Continue reading “Anthropologie Product Shoot | Philadelphia Brand Photography” →