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My mission as a wedding photographer in Philadelphia is to help happy couples celebrate life's biggest joys with high quality photos and a dang good time. I believe the experience is just as important as the photos and that you deserve beautiful, lasting memories.

Hey!! I'm Gabriella.

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First Look Ideas for Your Wedding Day 

One of the more heavily debated topics I see in the wedding world is: the first look. To do one, to not do one, to do a first touch instead? Well, let me tell you, the magic of the first look moment truly knows no bounds. You can have a first look with whoever you want! 

The Unconventional First Look

Traditionally, first looks involve the couple stealing a private moment before the ceremony. But why limit it to just the couple? The possibilities are endless, and the emotions boundless. Case in point: a bride I recently photographed was wearing her grandmother’s wedding dress (!!!) so she chose to do a first look with her grandparents and let me tell you – we all needed tissues. 

Why I Love It:

We love first looks because they are such a wonderful opportunity to have some special downtime with people you love before the excitement of the day comes sweeping in. It can be with anyone who holds a special place in your heart: a parent, a friend, or anyone who is important to you. 

So, yes or no to a first look?

While I totally understand wanting to wait to see your person at the end of the aisle, I hear over and over that a first look before the ceremony doesn’t actually take away the magic of the moment. After all, when you lock eyes with your fiancé in the very moments before you say I do – everything else feels pretty unimportant. But regardless of whether or not you want to see your partner beforehand, there are so many opportunities to embrace this new tradition with people you love, and create super magical memories (and photos) as you do.

If you’re planning a wedding and found this blog helpful, check out some of my other recent blogs Why You Should Have a Something Blue Crew and Three Tips for the Best Engagement Session Ever.

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- AARON & LYDIA

“Gabriella is the BEST photographer and we could not have asked for anyone better to capture our proposal! I had intentions of interviewing multiple photographers, but after seeing her work and talking to her over the phone, I immediately booked with her. Her passion for photography is so evident. She goes above and beyond to make your shoot about YOU. She does a great job of taking control and guiding you with poses that you will love, and her candid shots are unbelievable. She had a smile on her face the entire time and we felt like a close friend was there doing this for us. Would recommend her 100 times out of 100!

Gabriella was absolutely amazing. She made the photography session so easy and effortless. Her personality is so warm and inviting, she made us feel so so comfortable during these pictures. Gabriella went above and beyond for us and I’m so grateful my significant other found her as a photographer. I would highly recommend!”

"SHE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND"

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- ALEX & MIKE

“Gabriella is not only an amazing photographer, but she is an amazing person! She was incredible to work with and made everything from our engagement photos to our wedding day extremely easy. She really understands your vibe and does everything she can to help make that come true! My husband is extremely camera shy, but he was so comfortable with her and the photos were amazing!”

"SHE IS AN AMAZING PERSON"

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- KEVIN & RIYA

“Gabriella is the BEST photographer and needless to say she went above and beyond our expectations! She was hired by my fiancé for our surprise proposal and she did a phenomenal job at capturing every single detail of it. She made our lives easy by understanding us, our personality, the way we wanted to be captured and she did just that! From showing us every beautiful inch of Longwood gardens to telling us about different poses to capturing the beauty and essence of nature! She made my dream come true with these beautiful pictures. We spent 2 hrs with her and there was sign of rush of ending the session and it was more like whatever we felt in the moment which is what I truly enjoyed. She sent us our sneak peak pictures the day off just several hours later and needless to say not only did our jaws dropped but every single person who viewed those pics while asking who the photographer was! We proudly share her information with every member of our family and friends because she truly deserves the best❤️ Thank you Gabriella for capturing the most beautiful and intimate moments of ours and We can’t wait to work with you again!”

"SHE MADE MY DREAM COME TRUE"

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- BRANDON & NASIA

“Gabriella captured our special moments perfectly! She photographed our proposal, Holud night before the wedding, and wedding day. She was very easy to work with and always communicative and responsive. She was able to handle a 300 person wedding with ease and always got the shot. I've only seen the sneak peek from our wedding weekend but I am already in love with the pictures. She truly captured the joy and happiness of the weekend through her photos, which I will treasure forever. She is also just a genuinely kind person, which makes working with her even better :) Highly recommend.”

"TRULY CAPTURED THE JOY AND HAPPINESS"

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- MELISSA & JOHNNIE

“Gabriella was absolutely amazing!!! Words cannot even describe how perfect she was, but I’ll try my best. Right from the beginning, I knew she was the one. She was so caring, calming, organized, and just a genuinely happy person. She made me feel even more excited for my wedding. She was so helpful throughout the entire process right down to the big day. AND THE PICTURES - OH MY GOD. They are absolutely breathtaking and she definitely tells the story of your day in the most perfect way. She captures every precious moment while having a smile on her face the whole time she’s with you. I can’t say enough amazing things about her. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone looking to have the BEST photographer for any occasion. We had such an amazing experience with Gabriella and we can’t thank her enough!”

"WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE HOW PERFECT SHE WAS"

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