Philadelphia Inquirer: Engagement Photography Story

After seeing engagement photos on this blog, the Philadelphia Inquirer called Allebach Photography for some of our engagement photos and how couples make engagement photography sessions their own.  You can read the article titled "A look that says that's us" on Philly.com

Oh and their slideshow is here where they display 2 photos from Amanda & Byron's Trocadero Theater engagement photography session.

Vintage Rockabilly Wedding - Leaked

Jeanette & Adam's wedding was a blast. So I just had to *leak* one photo (pre-color correction) from their Vintage Rockabilly Wedding at Stoudt's Brewery in Adamstown, Pa.  Don't they look amazing?

Nominate Your Wedding Planner for Best Wedding Planner

Did you have an excellent wedding planner?  Tell us about it. Nominate your wedding planner below.  They don't necessarily have to be an alternative wedding planner but if they plan a lot of alternative weddings let us know. They can be either day of wedding planners or full service wedding planners.  Tell us how your wedding planner was accommodating or helped you remain calm during your wedding. 

Oh and wedding planners, you can tell us a bit about your business (1 short paragraph please).

Use the comment section below.  We'd love to here your wedding planner story.

Steampunk: Reha & Ben's Wedding (Preview)

Reha & Ben tied the knot at the College of Physicians in Philadelphia.  Reha made all these amazing steampunk touches to go along with the wedding, including the lovely headpiece she is wearing.  More to follow...so stay tuned.

PS. Don't know what steampunk is? Check out Wikipedia's Steampunk Definition.

Long Island Roller Girls - Rolling Thunder Cats VS. Ladies Of Laceration

For my birthday, Elijah and I went to see the Rolling Thunder Cats VS. Ladies of Laceration in Long Island.  It was something I had been wanted to do for a while.  Jess one of our tattooed brides from 2009 was the head ref for the game.  We had a blast.  And as always Elijah made a lot of friends.  

If you aren't familiar with roller derby check out roller derby on Wikipedia.

Elijah at the Beach

Before we saw the Long Island Roller Girls Bout I took Elijah to the beach on Long Island.  I just had to share these photos - if they don't make you smile, check to make sure you have a pulse, you might be dead.

Oh and before you ask, I don't add lens flare in photoshop.  Add lens flare in photoshop is akin to McDonalds adding 10lbs of salt to make their fries edible.  I have lots of new lenses and some older lenses.  Some of my older lenses have character, such as this one, it adds major vignetting and lens flare when shot into the sun.  It's the same lens that took the fun Brides in the Snow pictures in December with the flare.

Monday Quick Links

Not all of our favorite photos end up on the blog.   Some of our favor photos are Facebook only.  So if you aren't a "facebook allebach photography liker" then you'll want to become one because you are missing out.  See 2 engagement sessions you missed out on (next time I'm not tell you).

Alicia & Jon's Eastern State Pennitentary Engagement Photos
Jess & Todd's Skippack Engagement Pictures

Lots of people have shown me link lovin' so I'm sending some back.

• Chelley (an Allebach Photography Bride) gave us some love and wrote about another wedding photographer who offered to airbrush her tattoos out
• Bridal Buds talks about Tattooed Brides & Piercings (Chelley & Dave's Wedding Featured)
• Check out Rock 'N Roll bride if you missed her in depth feature on our April Wedding (we posted last week)
• Poptastic Bride says don't cover up your tattoos and features some of our work
• The Pink Book Blog talks about our photos at TattooedBride.com
• VintageVintas mentions our Tattooed Bride photos but I can't read the post cause it's not English.
• Its a Jaime Thing Wedding Blog mentioned us in a post about Tattooed Socks...I know Tattooed Socks sounds weird you have to see the post - trust me it makes more sense

If you made it this far, I'd like to tell you about our May Wedding Photography Discounts
$200 off for tattooed brides
$200 off for roller girls
(no silly you can't combine these if you are a tattooed rollergirl)

Rock 'N Roll Bride - Amanda & Byron's Lakehouse Inn Wedding

I'm super excited to announce Amanda & Byron's wedding at the Lakehouse Inn is being featured on Rock 'n Roll Bride.  Kat from Rock 'n Roll Bride contacted me a few days ago after seeing the wedding preview I posted . She remarked that she loved that tattoos and wanted to know more about the couple - plus find out who made Amanda's wedding dress.

I've said it before but I'll say it again - my clients are amazing.  I think the Allebach Photography style scares away bridezillas, so I'm left with amazing and unique couples.  After the ceremony and the toasts, and speeches, I walk away from each wedding feeling like I got the privilege of seeing a highlight reel of their life.  It's an honor to take photos at each of our weddings. And Amanda & Byron were no different.  Their wedding was nothing short of amazing.  There was something electrifying about the way they interacted. The two of them seemed so comfortable with each other.  At the end of the day I said to my Gene, my 2nd shooter that this was a fun and easy wedding which is code for "I had so much fun it didn't seem like work at all".

The Lakehouse Inn was the perfect wedding venue and the staff was actually polite to the photographers (not to be expected), so kudos to them.  Light streams into each room at the Lakehouse Inn making it perfect to capture the photos I'm looking for. Check out their story and photos from their punk rock wedding at the Rock 'N Roll Bride.

PS. the post at rock 'n roll bride has 40 photos so I don't know if I will post the wedding here, since Kat did such a good job. So go check it out.

Engagement Photos : Barb & Adam : West Chester, Pa

Barb & Adam were just too much fun during their engagement photography session.   We first went to Ridley Creek State Park for their session and then an outfit change and onto West Chester, Pa. (Their engagement photos are in reverse chronological order because it is 12:46am.)  We roamed the streets of West Chester like vagabonds - really we were just thirsty so Barb & Adam got a Jones Soda and took a bunch more engagement pictures. 

Enjoy these photos.  I can't wait for their wedding.  Oh and be sure to check out their sweet tattoos :).

PS. Here is what Barb said after seeing the photos "OH MY GOD! I'm in love with these pictures.
thanks so much for sending me this link, you edited them really fast! I can't wait to share them with our families."

Jones Soda








Photographers of Alternative Engagements & Alternative Weddings

Check this out if you are not sure how to dress for your engagement photography session.
If you landed here because you want to see tattooed brides you are at the right place.  Call us at 610.539.6920 if you are interested in scheduling your own  tattooed wedding or engagement photographer.

The 6 Don'ts of an Opinionated Engagement Photographer

 

1. Don't show up sweaty. Cameras and sweat are a bad combo.  Lite makeup goes a long way
2. Don't show up in Khakis.  Good for work.  Bad for photos.  They create a phonomenom called - crotch eye.  My eye is drawn to your crotch because your pants are so bright.
3. Don't show up drunk - buzzed is fine - drunk is bad.  This goes without saying but I still had to say it.  If you need to loosen up take a xanax or I can take you to a old city philadelphia bar for 2 shots (not 12!).
4. Don't show up depressed.  What a confidence killer for your mate!  So don't listen to the Cure beforehand - as the Cure = Depression. 
5. Don't dress like a slob.  Jeans are great but make sure you look in the mirror before you leave the house.  If you have visible parasites or animals living in/on your body you may want to take a shower.  The only person that gets to be a slob is the photographer.
6. Don't show up thinking that the session won't be fun.  I carry a taser for these kind of people.  I shock them until they tell me they are having fun.

This list is 90% true and 10% sarcastic.  Whatever you were offended by was purely sarcasm.

In case you want to read tips I wrote for having a good engagement session (5,500+ people did so far) check out the slideshow below. An anonymous reviewer without the balls to list his/her name said "Yeah, these tips suck. They are said with confidence, but they’re just utter nonsense."

PS.  I will be posting some new tattooed couple's engagement photo sessions in the next week.  So check back shortly!  UPDATE: Here the tattooed engaged couple photos are.

Engagement Photography Hot Tips

View more presentations from Michael St. James.


PPS. Feel free to browse Engagement Photos or Tattooed Brides & Grooms

Rockabilly Engagement:: Adam & Jeannette

Adam & Jeanette a true rock and roll couple. This rockabilly photography session was a load of fun.  We found a secret location at Ridley Creek Park and used it for all it was worth.  I can't wait until their wedding at Stout's Brewery!  We tend to fall in love with our couples :)

The End - The Photo Session

i think i've reached that point
where giving up and going on
are both the same dead end to me
are both the same old song

i think i've reached that point
where every wish has come true
and tired disguised oblivion
is everything i do

please stop loving me
please stop loving me
i am none of these things

i think i've reached that point
where all the things you have to say
and hopes for something more from me
are just games to pass the time away

please stop loving me
please stop loving me
i am none of these things

i think i've reached that point
where every word that you write
of every blood dark sea
and every soul black night
and every dream you dream me in
and every perfect free from sin
and burning eyes
and hearts on fire
are just the same old song

please stop loving me
please stop loving me
i am none of these things
i am none of these things

i am none of these things
-the Cure