Behind the Scenes: the Blog! - Page 2 of 2

Disco Diva? Strut Your Stuff in a Disco Photoshoot

Posted on April 2, 2024May 9, 2024 by cassieadmin in sets and themes

The Disco photoshoot of your dreams is just a click away

Two truths and a lie about Disco Nights

✧ Disco Nights is a neon boudoir fantasy, and part of the reason I chose Neon Velvet Studio as my studio name!

✧ Dolly Disco was my first TikTok to go a little bit viral!

✧ I got kicked out of Studio 54 in 1978.

Okay, sorry, that’s probably a pretty easy one to figure out, especially if you follow me on social media and saw my recent birthday posts!

Dolly disco, our disco mannequin mascot and savior — *in Dolly Disco we trust*

If you’ve spent even a minute on my site, you won’t be surprised when I say I love things that sparkle! I’m a t-shirt and jeans goth, but my photography heavily features prisms and lights and things that twinkle in dark moody spaces. I also love colorful lighting and set design! Once I spent several days turning a mannequin into a disco ball just so I could have a super unique prop!

I’ve got disco planters (hello, Disco Days!), disco curtain, and disco balls to pose with. The client closet has rhinestone dresses and bodysuits and mirror-silver pasties, and my hair and makeup artist can give you the glam makeover of your dreams.

All that’s missing is you!

disco glitz and neon glamour! Book your disco nights photoshoot now and be part of the party!

neon boudoir photography dark and moody disco photoshoot

A disco photoshoot featuring a glamorous blonde woman wearing green lingerie, parting curtains made of rhinestones and lit in cinematic pink and blue tones.

Disco Nights is Perfect For You If:

✧ Glitz, glitter, rhinestones, and disco balls are your native environment
✧ You’re willing to share the spotlight with our queen and mascot, Dolly Disco!
✧ Big 70s glam hair thrills you!
✧ Dramatic standing and leaning? POSE.
✧ Two words: Bisexual Lighting
✧ Is it you? Are you the drama?
✧ You’re already dreaming about which of multiple outfits you own would be perfect for a disco ball photoshoot
✧ You read the Throne of Glass series and Aelin was your favorite character
✧ You want to fight me a little for the above statement (it’s fine, I do too)
✧ Your record collection has its own zip code
✧ The plural of vinyl is vinyl
✧ You want to subvert expectations and bring some glam rock sleaze into the mix

glitter boudoir euphoria inspired photoshoot set

A heavily tattooed plus-sized woman with short platinum hair and glamourous makeup. she steps through a curtain of shimmering crystal beads. the lighting is cinematic, dramatic pinks and teals.

dark and moody 70s inspired disco ball photoshoot featuring disco mannequin Dolly Disco!

Ready to book, Disco Diva?

bonus: check out my roller disco playlist on Spotify

that’s all, I love you

Free Boudoir Prep Guide: 5 Quick Tips to Prepare for Your Session!

Posted on February 1, 2024February 4, 2025 by cassieadmin in FAQ

Are you excited about an upcoming boudoir session but not sure what you should be doing before you arrive to get the best results? I made a free boudoir prep guide to help! Or maybe you’re the kind of person who like to have a detailed, multi-point action plan, and you wanna know what to focus on before you’ve even scheduled your consultation!

Wherever you’re at in your journey, here’s a mini-guide to get you started, featuring five simple tips you might not expect to help get you glowing.

Download your free boudoir prep guide!

five tips to prepare for your boudoir photoshoot with Neon Velvet Studio! free boudoir prep guide

This focuses on simple lifestyle adjustments. I recommend implementing in the weeks before your session. They’re a great idea for long-term prep too if you’re into commitment! Personally I love setting a goal and keeping a streak alive. Catch me with my bujo habit tracker every day!

Either way remember: it’s never too late to get started. Even a few days of following these tips will be great for you and your results!

Want more tips? Join the VIP Facebook Community!

What Clients are Saying

“I have had the absolute pleasure of working with Cassandra multiple times and never in my life have I felt so empowered and comfortable with a photographer. The amount of detail and care that is placed in every aspect of the sets, lighting, down to the gallery curation is magnificent and there is never a … Continue reading Heather D. →

― Heather D.

Explore Your Dark Fantasy in the Dark Garden of Eden

Posted on January 20, 2024January 26, 2024 by cassieadmin in sets and themes

Star in your own dark fantasy romance

Did the Dark Garden set building post make you curious for more? Let me help you picture yourself in the Dark Garden of Eden.

A gorgeous plus-sized Black and Native American woman posing dramatically in lingerie. The living is soft, glowy reds and golds in a fantasy boudoir themed set built at Neon Velvet Studio

A dreamy romantic photo of a woman with long blonde hair in the Dark Garden of Eden limited edition fantasy set at Neon Velvet Studio! Photography by Cassandra Panek in Philadelphia, PA

Feel like Sleeping Beauty's own Aurora. Star in your own romantic fantasy with limited edition sets like the Dark Garden of Eden at Neon Velvet Studio! Photography by Cassandra Panek in Philadelphia, PA

Crown yourself queen of your favorite romantic fantasy with limited edition sets like the Dark Garden of Eden at Neon Velvet Studio! Photography by Cassandra Panek in Philadelphia, PA

a queer tattooed woman with short dark hair wearing a black lace robe posed dramatically in a lush red and gold glowy setting surrounded by fairy lights and tropical plants and roses

Will you be the hero or the villain in a dark romantic fantasy? Limited edition sets like the Dark Garden of Eden at Neon Velvet Studio! Photography by Cassandra Panek in Philadelphia, PA

It's okay to dream your life away, babe. Embrace your main character energy with limited edition sets like the Dark Garden of Eden at Neon Velvet Studio! Photography by Cassandra Panek in Philadelphia, PA

A curvy Black and Native American woman poses dreamily in a Dark Garden of Eden. Her eyes are closed and she is lit with reds and golds for a dark romantic vibe.

Be the queen of your fantasy romance with limited edition sets like the Dark Garden of Eden at Neon Velvet Studio! Photography by Cassandra Panek in Philadelphia, PA

Star in your own romantic fantasy with limited edition sets like the Dark Garden of Eden at Neon Velvet Studio! Photography by Cassandra Panek in Philadelphia, PA

Be the hero of your own dark romance with limited edition sets like the Dark Garden of Eden at Neon Velvet Studio! Photography by Cassandra Panek in Philadelphia, PA

A woman with long hair gazes longingly into a magic mirror. Star in your own romantic fantasy with limited edition sets like the Dark Garden of Eden at Neon Velvet Studio! Photography by Cassandra Panek in Philadelphia, PA

Are you:
✧ Corporeal (possibly involuntarily, because you’ve been cursed by a witch)
✧ Extremely into halloween, cosplay, or sweeping dramatically into a room in a floor-length gown
✧ Looking for any excuse to wear a crown
✧ Someone who looks at fantasy romances and thinks, ‘hmm, could be gayer.’
✧ Exploring your sensual side (ominous, possibly as a threat)
✧ Ready to risk it all for forbidden knowledge of the arcane
✧ A will-o-the-wisp
✧ A crone who Knows Too Much
✧ Lowkey obsessed with being a Fae Prince (in a very hot and genderqueer way)
✧ Afraid for your mother to see just which books you read last year (ahem, dark romance readers)
✧ Into the Dark Maximalism or Dark Academia aesthetic

If you answered yes to three or more of the above, it sounds like your butt belongs in the Dark Garden!

Set Building: Dark Garden of Eden

Posted on January 19, 2024May 16, 2024 by cassieadmin in behind the scenes, sets and themes

Maybe it’s because I’m a photographer and a set building nerd, but I love to see process photos of how a series of images or a set are conceptualized and created! Here’s the first inkling of the Dark Garden of Eden set:

As you can see, the inspiration was darkness, gold, and roses. Maybe you’re looking at this thinking, ‘Wow, Cassie really loves red!’ and in 2024 that’s probably true! But it still feels surprising to me because I so rarely shot with a heavy red influence until the last few years!

I wanted greenery but not too green. I wanted it to be lush and detailed but not chaotic. So I began building…

…and this is when the Eden portion arrives! I thought, ‘More gold!’ and started buying and painting toy snakes, a totally normal expense to have to explain to my accountant as a boudoir photographer!

https://www.tiktok.com/@neonvelvetstudio/video/7128810239994137902?_r=1&_t=8imjYMhyBze

It’s difficult to paint with one hand and video with the other. But the vibe continued to expand as I added light and tested how it would look with the prisms I like to use when shooting…

https://www.tiktok.com/@neonvelvetstudio/video/7129185240781786414?_r=1&_t=8imjcuZkGbu

… and here we are, after hundreds of red fairy lights, dozens of roses, yards of black lace and greenery panels!

A versatile and moody fantasy boudoir vibe for all my dark queens and kings (and queer-coded villains, I love you). It’s a little bit fairy tale, but the dark foreboding kind that suggests maybe you’re more witch than princess. It’s a set in which you can be your own dark romance.

Dark Garden of Eden returns for a limited time in my suburban Philadelphia studio June 2024 for your choice of a mini session, deluxe session, or couples session (bring a sweetheart or a friend, or if you’re into booktok tropes, a friend you’re hoping might become a sweetheart?). Prepayment plans are available! Come see what romantic vibes are in the air.

Are We Best Photographer In Montco?

Posted on January 16, 2024February 5, 2025 by cassieadmin in and Business Is Good

Neon Velvet Studio has been nominated for the Montco Happening Best Photographer category for 2024!

Last year we got the coveted ‘Best Photographer in Glenside,’ and this year we’re dreaming big and going for Best Photographer in County. Want to help? Vote here, and be sure to follow all the instructions. If you are a robot, please ask a human friend to vote on your behalf.

You might be wondering why this is important, and I’m sure everyone who gets nominated for awards cares about it for different reasons, but here are mine:

✧ It’s free advertising ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Can’t beat that.

✧ Something like 90% of my clients find me through referrals from existing clients. I love that, and this feels similar: People who know or have worked with me appreciating what I do enough they tell the world (or at least Montgomery County, Pennsylvania)

✧ If you’ve been following me awhile you’ll know I struggle with what to post on social media, and this is a bona fide Thing To Talk About.

✧ I think the little green Best Of badge will look really cute on my site.

✧ Doesn’t it just make you feel good when somebody tells you you’re the best at something?

✧ I like seeing LGBTQ+ and woman-owned businesses win things. Neon Velvet Studio is both!

Got more love to share? Here are some of our nominated friends:

Deleted Scene Tattoo Removal
Gold Door Gallery

Are you a nominated friend? Message me and I’ll add you above too!

Classic Boudoir Photos: Relax in The White Room

Posted on January 16, 2024January 16, 2025 by cassieadmin in sets and themes

This classic boudoir staple is here to stay!

When you think of boudoir photography, what comes to mind? There’s a 50% chance you thought of something light and dreamy, with a simple minimal background or a bright bedroom environment.

An implied nude boudoir photo of a heavily tattooed bearded Black man with large stretched lobes. the image has vintage color toning and he looks dreamy and thoughtful.

a fashion boudoir black and white of a pale woman with freckles, dark hair, and minimal makeup. elegant fingers cup her throat, and more reach for her parted lips in a boudoir photoshoot at Neon Velvet Studio in Philadelphia PA

an artistic black and white image of a muscular queer woman with her hair pulled up laying on rumpled sheets, her face hidden in shadow and light highlighting her back muscles

a soft black and white portrait of a slender woman in lingerie posed on white bedding with pillows behind her.

dreamy soft and glowy image of a pale tattooed woman with curled auburn hair framed in gauzy white curtained window with soft natural light in a boudoir photoshoot at Neon Velvet Studio

a non binary boudoir image of a queer person with short dark hair and tattoos. they wear dark red lipstick and black underwear, and are seated on white sheets. their chin is raised and they're looking at the camera.

black and white romantic boudoir photo, tattooed long-haired woman in black lace lingerie

bold portrait of an LGBT silver-haired tattooed alt model in bright turquoise lipstick and a black strappy harness in a sensual pose surrounded by white sheets

A slender white woman with teal hair, tattoos, and dark lipstick. she's kneeling on a bed of white linens, wearing strappy sheer lingerie and looking at the camera

A pale tattooed plus-sized brunette woman wearing purple lace lingerie, a black floral robe, and thigh high socks. she's kneeling in a gauzy white-draped window seat with one arm up and her head tilted back, framed in sheer white curtains with the window glowy behind her.

a woman with hair in a ponytail facing down on a bed. her butt is in the air and her hands reach toward the camera, bunching the sheets. image is black and white. A traditional boudoir photoshoot at Neon Velvet Studio

A tattooed queer Black woman with long straight blonde hair wearing a backless black bodysuit and black stilettos. she kneels on white linens, looking back over her shoulder toward the camera. behind her are gauzy white curtains. Classic boudoir light and airy

a curvy tattooed woman with auburn hair and red lipstick. she wears thin black strappy lingerie, and stretched out on a bed covered in white linens. her gaze is focused to the right of the camera and she pushed her hair back with her hands.

a heavily tattooed Black man in a classic boudoir photo with vintage color editing

classic boudoir black and white silhouette of a plus-sized woman backlit by sunny white curtains

classic boudoir photo of a curvy white woman in a bedroom setting with white curtains and white sheets

dark and moody emotive black and white boudoir photo of a slender white woman on the floor, leaning back onto a bed with white sheets in a boudoir photoshoot at Neon Velvet Studio

Do you dream of simplicity? Soft white sheets, gauzy curtains, the gentle light of an afternoon sun filtering through? A bright and airy boudoir set is a classic for a reason–it’s timeless, it’s minimalist, and it allows you to shine in a natural, neutral environment. And if dark and moody is your boudoir vibe, that’s easy too!

In this classic boudoir photo set you can dress up to set the mood or strip down and bare it all. A simple bedroom looks gorgeous with clean editing, vintage film effects, and classy black and white color toning. It’s perfect as an only set or second set, woven into your custom boudoir album alongside other more elaborate sets or features with vivid colors.

A bedroom setting is great for beginners because it’s soft and sensual and relaxed, and pretty much everyone has used a bed before! It’s easy to get classic boudoir poses in a literal boudoir (pardon my French). It’s an organic, comfortable setting for such intimate photos. It matches easily with timeless boudoir outfits; you don’t even have to pick out shoes (unless you want to).

Lastly, the set can be accessorized easily with fresh flowers or rose petals, a cozy cup of tea and a favorite book or comic. Anything goes if it helps personalize the vibe and make it about you.

Book your classic boudoir Photo session!

As always, consultations are totally free! Use the link above to get started planning your dream boudoir session. And if you want more inspiration, be sure to follow me on instagram at @neonvelvetstudio

Mini Sessions: Limited Edition Themes for 2025

Posted on January 10, 2024January 8, 2025 by cassieadmin in sets and themes

Mini sessions: Photography for all!

2025:

✧ Valentine Dreams, January 6-8 2025
✧ Burlesque! May 5-7 2025
✧ It’s Witchcraft, June 2-4 2025
✧ Flower Heaven, July 2025
✧ Neon Nights, August 2025
✧ Birth of Venus, September 2025

Start your consultation here!

a queer burlesque dancer posing with black ostrich feather fans in a boudoir photo session in Philadelphia PA with Neon Velvet Studio photographer Cassandra Panek

What are mini sessions?

Themed mini sessions offer all the great stuff of my deluxe boudoir photoshoot sessions (hair and makeup, wardrobe, pose coaching, and more!), but at a bite-sized duration and price. But they’re not just quicker, they’re ephemeral. Some of the themes are unique: they’re one-and-done, never to return again! Some themes will return annually, or with variations in the future. Catch them while you can!

Why Mini Sessions?

My clients have always been vocal about their love for my set building and immersive environments, and the mood it creates for them. 2023’s sessions taught me that my ultra-detailed themed sets need to be special editions, built for a week or two at a time then taken down(for my sanity), not offered all year! They often take up an entire room in my Philly studio homebase, and there’s no space for me to take other non-theme bookings around them!

Building sets with a finite lifespan in mind allows me to be more deliberate and more elaborate, creating an immersive romantic fantasy session for you! And it’s fun for me too; mini sessions let me try new things in my photography and art, with you in the starring role.

What’s Included?

All this great stuff from my deluxe photo sessions!
✧ Hair and makeup by a professional makeup artist
✧ Wardrobe styling
✧ Pose coaching and guidance
✧ Free consultation before your session
✧ Prep guidance so you feel ready and excited
✧ An image reveal appointment via zoom to pick your photos
✧ A few edits, delivered digitally
✧ The option to upgrade a larger digital collection, custom photo albums, and beautiful wall art!

romantic goth boudoir mini sessions! photography in suburban Philadelphia by Cassandra Panek

As always, payment plans are available for any session. For more information, schedule a consultation or begin your booking process!

Past mini sessions! See what themes you’ve been missing:

✧ Valentine Dreams
✧ White Room Classic
✧ Disco Days
✧ Disco Nights
✧ Leather & Lace
✧ Dark Garden of Eden
✧ Christmas in July
✧ Golden Gods
✧ Gothic Romantasy

Live your dark romantic truth with Gothic Romantasy! black lace, candles, and roses for all my goth boudoir kings and queens <3 mini session photography sets for a limited time

Past Themes:

✧ Hallowqueen! September 9-12 2024
✧ Bride of Dracula, October 22-24 2024
✧ Monochrome Red, November 4-6 2024