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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- kristen & jared

“Hiring Gabriella as our photographer was the single best decision we made on wedding day. Because we had an intimate elopement at town hall, it was important to us to capture the small details and intimate moments in a way that we could look back on our day and feel like we are reliving it. Well, Gabriella’s work does just that. She exceeded our expectations and we could not be happier with our gallery. She gave updates and clear expectations along the way so that we were never left wondering what next steps were, and was timely with getting sneak peaks and the full gallery back to us. We are an introverted couple who is not used to being in front of the camera, and Gabriella was super patient and made us feel at ease throughout the whole day. Her communication style is to be seriously commended. She also went above and beyond to scope out of the venue and found the perfect spot for us to do our private vows in. We don’t have a single negative thing to say about our experience. If you are considering working with Gabriella for your special day, do it!!

"THE SINGLE BEST DECISION"

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- RYlie & ryan kelliher

We LOVED working with Gabriella for our Wedding photography! From our first video call, she made us feel totally at ease about the whole process, and it was clear she had a ton of experience. We do not consider ourselves very photogenic, but Gabriella got AMAZING pictures from our Wedding and an Engagement shoot. She’s fun, friendly, professional, and everything you need in a Wedding photographer (or for any other event). Cannot recommend her highly enough!

"SHE MADE US FEEL TOTALLY AT EASE"

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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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