Philadelphia Wedding Photographers

Tom & Amy at St. Patricks, Philadelphia

2008-07-19T23:27:00.003-05:00

I met Tom & Amy for the first time at their Engagement Session at Rittenhouse Square in Center City. From the time I met them I knew...I knew that their wedding was going to be special.

Tom came dressed minus the tie to the SnackBar while Amy got ready in a beautiful room at the Warwick Hotel just blocks from St. Patricks. I loved it. Park the car and everything was in walking distance. If you haven't been inside St. Patricks, it is a wonderful church (can't you tell from the photos?). After the ceremony we moved to the Trinity Center at 22nd and Spruce, again on foot...well not everyone traveled on foot - the wedding party was lucky they were pulled by horse and carriage.

Maybe you noticed but I kind of was obsessed with the red doors at the Trinity Center. They provided a beautiful backdrop for the portraits. The last photo of Tom was taken inside the Trinity Center during the Best Man's speech. I think we learned every deep and dark secret Tom had, sadly at his expense. By the looks of it I think Tom liked the best man's toast also.

The Better Half of Allebach Photography

2008-07-19T20:03:00.004-05:00

Rachel got her hair cut so we had a little fun. Kind of Punk Rock. Photos taken with Nikon D300 and pasted together in Proshow Gold.

Strobist Info:
Standard Clamshell Lighting
SB800 top 1/4
SB600 bottom 1/8
Shoot thru umbrellas.

What are you looking for in a Wedding Photographer?

2008-07-14T14:06:00.002-05:00

Allebach Photography would like to know:
What are you looking for in a Wedding Photographer?

What is most important?

Please comment.

DJ Chris Le

2008-07-13T21:31:00.000-05:00

I know this is a departure from our normal wedding photography but we hope to move to some more band and artist photography in 2009. Enjoy.

Tom & Teresa in Rainy Tyler State Park

2008-07-08T21:29:00.003-05:00

Tom & Teresa are getting married next month. They met me at Tyler State Park in Bucks County (Newtown) for a rainy engagement session.

It just so happens that Tyler State Park is where Rachel (my wife) and I got engaged. It's such a silly story. I planned a surprise birthday party...a month and a half before her birthday. I invited 2 of our closest friends and we she arrived we said "Happy Birthday".

She said "It's not my birthday".

Needless to say a few minutes later I pulled out a ring and asked her to marry me in a trembling voice.

Back to Tom & Teresa. It started with a light drizzle. We used Tyler's covered pavilion to take half of the engagement photos. Tom & Teresa were great sports about the rain.

We drove to the covered bridge in Tyler Park for the rest of our session. Tom and Teresa practiced their first dance while I attempted to sing their wedding song. I quickly quit while I was ahead.

From the photos you can't even tell it was raining but I got drenched walking back to the car in a down pore.

Elijah goes to Freddy Hill Farms

2008-07-08T20:54:00.004-05:00

Today we took Elijah to Freddy Hill Farms in Lansdale. He got to meet a few animals "birdie", "horsie", "doggie" & "llama". Plus he had his first Ice Cream Cone! I think he liked it.

Rachel and I tried out the batting cages on slow pitch. Apparently we need to brush up on our baseball skills. Elijah played a bat boy.

Tattooed Bride IV

2008-07-04T10:59:00.004-05:00

I thought I would post a few images from Tattooed Bride files. Looking to book a 2009 wedding? Call us at 610.539.6920 or visit http://www.allebachphotography.com

Renato & Bethany - Quito, Ecuador II

2008-06-21T12:38:00.006-05:00

Here is the second installment of Renato & Bethany's wedding in Quito, Ecuador. Check out the first installment here.

So dapper.

Toasty.

MMM Ecuadorian Ice Cream

My sister's lighter side

Father of the Groom.

Everyone danced for 6 hours nonstop.

This is how they put on a garter in Equador. Upside down!

The bridesmaids proudly display their garters.

Ecuador Photos II

2008-06-21T11:22:00.003-05:00

Elijah likes jugo de manzana

Street Performer in Quito, Ecuador

Nice Shot Rachel!

Public humiliation. Yes that is me.

Standard tourist photo with Rachel and Elijah.

Ecuador Mountains again. Use this for your desktop background (Free wallpaper).

Elijah likes rides

Mountains III

Add us to your Blogroll

2008-06-21T10:03:00.002-05:00

Blogger just added a blog list. So add us ( http://www.philadelphia-weddingphotography.com ) and see updates about us on your blog. For more info read http://buzz.blogger.com/

Renato & Bethany Quito, Ecuador

2008-06-18T01:32:00.002-05:00

Here are a few photos from my sister's wedding in Quito, Ecuador at Hacienda Villa Vieja.

The kiss.

The dance.

More photos coming soon.

Back from Ecuador

2008-06-17T23:35:00.004-05:00

We're back from Quito, Ecuador! We'll be posting photos over the next few weeks along with overdue engagement and wedding photos. The weather, the wedding (Renato + Bethany), the city and people were wonderful. Here are a few photos of our grand tour...wedding pics from Quito arriving soon.

Allebach Photography at it's finest at Renato and Bethany's wedding at Hacienda Villa Vieja.

Minutes before sunrise from my balcony at the hotel.

Elijah sitting on the center of the world. Hola.

Another great view in Ecuador.

View from the dock at the restaurant Hostería Puerto Lago near the famous Otavalo market.

From our hotel room in Quito, Ecuador. (Cotopaxi one of the highest volcanoes in the world I think). Taken at 300mm on my old zoom lens.

Oh and by the way this post was made listening to Coldplay's Viva la Vida, I know it will disappoint the punk rockers but I like it so far. [So what]

Destination: Quito, Ecuador: Closed June 10 - June 16

2008-06-09T11:22:00.002-05:00

Our office will be closed June 10 through June 16 for my sister's destination wedding in Quito, Ecuador. Guess who is the wedding photographer? You guessed it!

Tom & Kate: Philadelphia Engagement Session

2008-06-08T12:21:00.006-05:00

As we prepare to go to Quito, Ecuador for my sister's destination wedding, I've been trying to get all of our photos processed, backed up in triplicate and posted on the blog. Last night while I was downloading photos from our wedding at the Castle at Arcadia University, I saw National Treasure on TV. As I was multitasking (downloading photos & backing up). Then I noticed 2nd Street Philadelphia! I said to Elias, that's where we did the wedding at the Society Hill Dance Academy and Tom & Kate's engagement session at the Headhouse Farmers' Market.

Taste testing food at the Headhouse Farmers Market.

Farmer fresh!

Just Relaxing (in a graveyard).

I'm addicted to Philadelphia cobblestone. Do you sense a theme in the last 2 engagement sessions?

All in all we had a great time, Tom and Kate we're such a cute couple. The next time I'm near South Street on a Sunday morning, I'll be stopping by the Headhouse Farmers' Market. I'm looking forward to their wedding in August!

Alex & Sara: Philadelphia Engagement Session

2008-06-03T20:14:00.001-05:00

Alex and Sara. We've been friends of these two for quite a while. I've known Alex since my punk rock band days. He was always at shows. I would describe Alex as a music aficionado. Sara teaches middle schoolers in the Philadelphia school district so that's pretty tough. Together...well together they are just fun. We spent an hour or so walking around South Street, the edges of Old City Philadelphia and when it started raining we headed for the I-95 underpass parking lot (my new favorite photo location since the Tattooed Bride sessions). I'm addicted to good lighting and the I-95 parking lot is like working with a 40' softbox (reference for photography geeks). We tried to have Alex push Sara in a supermarket cart and then realized it belonged to a dweller of the bridge - I don't think he would have appreciated us stealing his cart.

In completely unrelated news this post was made while listening to two amazing cds I picked up last week. William Fitzsimmons "Until We Are Ghosts" (chill out folk music for fans of Imogen Heap) and Jesse Malin "Glitter in the Gutter" (the Replacements meet Bruce Springsteen).

Monday Fast Tips for Brides #23 - Cheat

2008-06-02T22:55:00.001-05:00

You may not get to enjoy your wedding food...so cheat. Have your bridesmaid or wedding coordinator wrap up 2 meals to go along with 2 slices of cake. After you are relaxing your hotel, enjoy your wonderful meal - you'll deserve it!

Photo of the Week: Cape May Zoo

2008-05-30T23:36:00.001-05:00

by Rachel Allebach

Shawn & Tammy : Wedding

2008-05-29T22:02:00.000-05:00

I think the photos speak for themselves.

These wedding photos were taken at Pennypacker Mills between Schwenksville, Collegeville & Limerick, Pa.

Wedding Photography

2008-05-28T23:40:00.001-05:00

Well...wedding season is in full swing. So that means that the blog is going to slooow down so that we can speed up. We'll be processing weddings & engagement sessions before we post them (sorry) So in the meantime please check these links out:

Monday Fast Tips for Brides #22 - Choosing Makeup or No Makeup Artist

2008-05-26T20:26:00.001-05:00

Over the next few weeks experts will be writing Allebach Photography's Tips for Brides! Here is the first installment.

To Hire or Not To Hire a Makeup Artist
There are many reasons to hire a professional for your special day. The main reason is to make sure you will look and feel your best and not stress in doing so. The best way to pick a makeup artist is to review their work. See pictures of their past brides and take note of how they do their own makeup. This is an important day and also a big investment for you so don’t be afraid to interview your artist. A good artist will understand and be willing to honor your requests.

So why do you need a makeup artist?

Let’s face it, on a normal day, you will never, ever wear as much makeup as you will wear on your wedding day, so sometimes this can be a little intimidating for a bride, especially if you don’t normally wear makeup! However, it is important to understand why we need to wear more than normal. Your professional photographers’ lighting is very bright and can virtually make your makeup disappear with every flash he takes. Also, artists know how to apply makeup to accentuate your best features and to work with the lighting in the room. The bottom line is you want to look great for the entire day. You will be paying top dollar for a great photographer, so you should also make sure that you look your best in those photos. These photos are your memories. You wouldn’t want to look back and say, “why can’t I see my makeup? Or why do I look pale?” Keep in mind if money is the issue you can almost always negotiate prices with an artist. Never be afraid to ask for a discount, or a package deal. Most artists will work with you.

So, what if you don’t want to or can’t afford to hire a professional makeup artist. Don’t be alarmed; it’s not impossible to pull it off yourself. With a little practice and a few trial photos to see how you are doing, you will be just fine!

Whether you decide to hire an artist or do the job yourself, just follow these simple steps and you will be on your way to a gorgeous complexion for your special day!

About 6 months before your wedding, be sure to start a good skincare regimen; Makeup remover, cleanser, toner, repair product (this is to smooth fine lines, tighten pores or lighten any discoloration), and finally moisturizer for morning and night. Also, once a week on different days you will want to exfoliate with a face scrub and apply a deep cleansing or hydrating mask depending on your skin needs. Don’t forget DRINK WATER from this point forward so your skin can be glowing!)

At the 3 month mark, make sure you have your eyebrows properly shaped so you can keep up with them.

One month before the wedding, (if you have decided to do your own makeup) take a trip to your local cosmetic counter and have a consultation with a makeup artist. Usually they require you to purchase 2 products, so I recommend buying your lipstick which you can use that day for touchups, and the foundation since it will be most important for your at home application. Ask the artist to map out what she did for you on a face chart.

Next step is to practice. Have a friend take some pictures to see how your work looks on the camera.

The week of the wedding, pack your makeup kit to include the following:

Tweezers, moisturizer, eye crème, makeup remover, q-tips, cotton pads, sponges, brushes, primer, foundation, blush, bronzer, eye shadow base (primer), eye shadows, eyeliners, waterproof mascara, highlighter for brow and cheek bones and any other items you find necessary for your day. (don’t forget your jewelry!)

Night before the Wedding be sure to get your rest!

Wedding Day! Try to stay calm and enjoy your day, it flies! You will be a beautiful bride whether you hire a professional makeup artist or you decide to take the job yourself.

Bridal Tips kindly provided by: Laura Martilotto Professional Make-up www.lauramartilotto.com or ph: 732.735.7414

Ben & Heather at Pen Ryn Mansion

2008-05-22T22:09:00.002-05:00

So I'm breaking our blog vacation briefly to post one photo from Ben (Rachel's Brother) & Heather's prom at Pen Ryn Mansion in Bensalem, Pa. Sunny, pouring rain, Sunny again. Well Ben & Heather arrived when it was pouring rain - Rachel, Elijah and I were waiting to snap a few photos. So we grabbed them for one minute and they stood in a corner outside just barely out of rains reach.

When Ben and Heather went inside, the rain slowed and a beautiful rainbow appeared.

Sidenote: the Seaturtles of Harleysville, Pa were the band for the night.

Dave & Melissa : Ridley Creek State Park

2008-05-16T22:53:00.002-05:00

We met Dave & Melissa for a wonderful engagement session in Ridley Creek State Park in Delaware County, Pa (Newtown Square). The park headquarters is a beautiful mansion with an English Garden providing a wonderful backdrop for our session. Dave & Melissa loved laughing and spent ~~some~~ most of the time chasing each other around or kissing.

Halfway during our session I saw a lizard on the cobblestone or what I though was a lizard. It's rather embarrassing so I'll spare the photos but the lizard ended up to be a plastic toy. I made Melissa hold the bright green "lizard" boy did I feel stupid

Anyway Ridley Creek State Park is still one of my most favorite locations...you feel like when you are there that you have stumbled upon a secret. That would probably explain why each time I'm there we see them setting up for a wedding.

During the shoot Dave & Melissa showed a perfect chemistry - something we don't always see. I think they are the type of couple whose friends say "they belong together."

Bride Alert: Bid on a Wedding for Charity

2008-05-16T22:45:00.005-05:00

The Omni Hotel at Independence Park is donating a dream wedding to Alex's Lemonade Stand. The hotel, together with a group of select vendors across the city, is auctioning a complete wedding package worth more than $50,000 to benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation in its battle to cure childhood cancer. The auction – entitled A Wedding For Alex - will begin May 28 on EBay.

The wedding will take place on July 18, 2009. The package includes a ceremony and reception for up to 135 people, a couture wedding gown, an all-inclusive resort honeymoon in Mexico, photography and videography, rehearsal dinner, bridesmaid’s dresses, beauty treatments, a penthouse suite – the works.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation is named for Alexandra Scott, a little girl with cancer who, at the age of four, set up a lemonade stand in her front yard as a way of helping raise money to cure all childhood cancers. Alex passed away in 2004, when she was only eight years old – but not before raising more than a million dollars for her cause. The Foundation that bears her name continues. It has raised more than $19 million and funded more than 80 pediatric cancer research projects nationwide.

The wedding will be located at Omni Hotel at Independence Park at 4th and Chestnut streets in the city’s historic Old City section. The wedding ceremony and reception will be held at the hotel’s acclaimed Azalea restaurant and includes everything from filet mignon to a premium open bar.

The Omni will be open for review on May 22 from 5-8 p.m. A more elaborate Open House will be held Monday June 2 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in which potential bidders can ask questions, learn more about Alex’s Lemonade Stand and see the Omni Hotel in its wedding finery.

When it’s all over, the couple will jet off to the all-inclusive Dreams Tulum resort on Mexico’s stunning Riviera Maya.

Complete information on every part of the wedding package can be found at the auction’s official web site - aweddingforalex.com.

What they teach us

2008-05-13T21:06:00.005-05:00

Somewhere along the road of life we forgot what it meant to live. Teach us what it is to live.

Wedding Photos below

Photo of the Week: Tom & Amy "The Kiss"

2008-05-12T22:58:00.005-05:00

Tom & Amy got married in Philadelphia, Pa at St. Patricks near their home (and near Rittenhouse Square). Oh, I'm sure you'll see more photos in the upcoming weeks but here is a favorite photo of mine.

Tom & Amy - Philadelphia, Pa