News and Events Archives - Neon Velvet Studio

My Gift to You: An Exclusive Birthday Boudoir Sale!

Posted on March 14, 2025March 14, 2025 by cassieadmin in News and Events

A Birthday Flash Sale?

cute pink birthday boudoir photoshoot of a rainbow haired tattooed woman wearing a birthday hat and holding a noisemaker

You’re invited to be the star of the birthday boudoir party! This limited-time discount is to celebrate my birthday, but you can use it to your advantage. Now is the perfect time to schedule your own birthday photoshoot if your special day falls between May and November! Or to celebrate any other occasion that makes you want to be camera-facing.

Why am I doing this? I wasn’t really feeling my milestone birthday in 2024, so I’m going big this year and want you to join me.

Introducing Muse Sessions!

Introducing Muse Sessions, a special gift for my VIP mailing list subscribers in celebration of me, your favorite Aries menace, in this, the month of my birth!

Muse Sessions are a buy-one-get-one-nearly-free opportunity to get two entire photoshoots for only a little more than the price of one! Why?

Because seeing your beautiful face just once isn’t enough 🙂

Start Your Muse Session!

a beautiful athletic Black woman with short hair wearing lingerie and waist beads, posed on a green velvet sofa, surrounded in glowy light and plants in a boudoir photoshoot at Neon Velvet Studio

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.

The details

Book one solo deluxe session for May/June/July/August of 2025 and get a themed mini session in August/September/October/November of 2025 for only $250! That’s over $1100 in savings, holy cow!

Two sessions, two dates, two looks, two sets! Because you’re so nice you should treat yourself twice. We’re grown now; it’s time for medium treat behavior.

Solo Deluxe vs. Themed Minis

Both sessions include all the goodies detailed on our “What’s included in a luxury boudoir session” page—hair and makeup, wardrobe assistance, pose coaching and more! Both sessions include a video chat image reveal and our signature masterful retouching.

Solo deluxe sessions are a little longer, allowing for more looks/outfit changes during the session. The package comes with more edits, and a discount on any add-ons including albums, prints, and collections.

Themed mini sessions will be a specific set based on your session date! Some are simple, some are elaborate, all are fun! If you’re a returning client and the theme for the date you’d like to book is one you’ve done before, I’m happy to discuss alternatives for you so you can have some thing new to you!

If you’ve had trouble choosing which style of session you want in the past, this is the promo for you because you just get both!

Start Your Consultation!

Celebrate a milestone, a birthday, or any occasion with Neon Velvet Studio this year! 🖤

photo of an LGBTQ person with short dark hair. They're wearing a long and long-sleeved black Wax Poetic Clothing dress peppered with tiny white stars. They're seated in a pink swivel chair in front of some windows and pink fuzzy plant life. birthday boudoir photo date!

Can’t wait to see you for my birthday! xoxo, your favorite Aries (maybe?)

The Birthday Boudoir Sale’s Fine Print

**Fine print: Can’t be combined with other offers, discounts, contests, or previously scheduled sessions. For sessions booked in the month of March 2025 for the date ranges listed above. For sessions in the Neon Velvet boudoir photo studio home base only, unless otherwise specified.

Invoice must be paid in full before 1st session; if you want a longer payment plan you can use Affirm/Klarna buy now pay later! All your options can be discussed in your free pre-booking consultation.

What Clients are Saying

“I’ve worked with Cassie several times now for my business and every time I’m blown away with the images she captures! Each time I think it’s the best shoot we’ve ever done… until the next one, and then THAT’S the best one. She always makes me and our models feel comfortable and confident, she pays … Continue reading Johanna S. →

― Johanna S.

2025 Heart of Gold Fundraiser

Posted on February 12, 2025February 12, 2025 by cassieadmin in News and Events

Photo of a queer person in a beanie and a hoodie that says "You've got an enemy in Pennsylvania" grinning to the left at several heart-shaped art pieces on a black wall.

Most of you know me here for my work as a photographer. But in my leisure time I’m also a mixed media artist and painter! I’m mostly a self-taught artist and mostly paint for fun. So it’s always such an honor to participate in art shows as a painter. On February 8th I joined the 3rd annual Heart of Gold fundraiser, contributing my newest painting for the silent auction.

Gold Door Gallery in Hatboro has been hosting Heart of Gold since the gallery (which shares walls with Deleted Scene Tattoo Removal) opened. The annual fundraiser’s proceeds benefit different lovingly chosen organizations and foundations each year. Hannah’s receptions are always filled with nice people and tasty snacks, and I make a few new friends among the artists and art admirers at every show.

If you’re unfamiliar with the idea, Heart Shows are art shows where all the artists work on heart-shaped canvases/surfaces. Heart, get it? Philly has a bunch, hosted by various galleries and orgs. They’re often around Valentine’s Day, drawing artists of all styles, levels, and notoriety. 2025’s only unifying theme was the canvas, so Heart of Gold had a great variety of mediums and moods on display.

This year I picked up canvas blanks for myself and two fellow artist friends. After a few thumbnail sketches I decided to do a pop culture homage. That’s how I started on this Tanya McQuoid art, in honor of the White Lotus character played so impeccably by Jennifer Coolidge. Santa Cipolla, the diva of Palermo!

Gif of Tanya from The White Lotus saying "Show him the core of the onion"

photo of a heart-shaped canvas painted in bright tropical colors with stained-glass style shapes. it depicts a blonde woman wearing oversized sunglasses and a pink robe and scarf. she has a golden saint icon halo and behind her is a blooming white lotus in front of a field of oceany blues and greens. an artistic rendering of tanya mcquoid played by Jennifer Coolidge, painted by Cassandra Panek. Acrylic on canvas, 2025 — *Santa Cipolla, 2025. acrylic on canvas*

It’s rare that I’m timely on anything but it was fun to get this finished and hung in time for both the gallery show and The White Lotus s3 premiere! Hannah was also kind enough to include a few of my romantic art pieces on the sale table. If you see anything you like, my Valentine’s cards and other prints are available here.

Image of a table at an art show featuring several prints, Valentine's Day cards, and business cards

My piece is one of a dozen still for sale if you’d like to b uy art and contribute to a good cause at the same time. The 2025 beneficiary organization is the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention! There are some really cool pieces by artists from Philly and the surrounding area available.

And if you love to see behind the scenes videos of the painting process, here you go:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cassandra Panek, Neon Velvet Studio (@neonvelvetstudio)

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.

Free Professional Headshot Photography for Trans Artists

Posted on January 26, 2025January 26, 2025 by cassieadmin in News and Events

with trans inclusive and LGBTQ friendly Photographer Cassandra Panek

What’s Going On?

With the support of Wax Poetic Clothing I’m hosting a day of free professional headshots for trans and non-binary writers, artists, creators, and makers in Philadelphia! If you’re a trans realtor or something I’m not going to turn you away, but my headshot style is a little funky and a lawyer or executive probably won’t be getting the right vibe.

Come get a new headshot and/or network a little, say hi, and shop Wax Poetic Clothing’s racks of new clothing and sale items!

Why am I doing this?

To spread a little joy and light to my friends in the trans community. You matter. Your art matters. I can’t hire you all or buy all your art and books, but I can do this to help you on your professional journey! From each according to their ability, etc.

Who Am I?

I’m Cassandra Panek (she/they), the owner of Neon Velvet Studio! I’m a queer artist and trans inclusive and LGBTQ friendly photographer based in Philadelphia. If you click around on this site you’ll see my primary work is boudoir photography for queer people and our allies, but I also do bespoke branding work and a few other things like fashion lookbooks (which is how I met Johanna of Wax Poetic Clothing, our other host!) and food photography. I’m a little silly and had to work really hard not to title this Headshot Photography Gay. Want to read more about me?

hi! I’m Cassie!

Where’s The Studio?

Wax Poetic Clothing’s studio is located on the 4th floor of the Bok Building in South Philly! (It’s accessible by elevator; please check out Bok’s website if you have specific accessibility questions, and if the site doesn’t have an answer email me and I’ll try to find out)

When is the Event?

Monday, February 17th, 2025 from 1pm-4pm. Appointment times will be scheduled, but please come early or stay late to chat and socialize!

What Else Do I Need To Know?

If you only want to come by and say hi or browse Wax Poetic Clothing’s pop up shop you can do that! If you’d like headshots please use the form below to sign up. Sessions are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis; if they fill up I’ll create a wait-list.

Form above not loading? Please click here!

Can’t Make it?

If you can’t make it to this date but you’re interested in more events like this, you can sign up here for my mailing list!

Questions?

I’ll be posting about this on instagram and bluesky; please drop any Q’s you have and I’ll answer!

What Clients are Saying

“I’ve worked with Cassie for maternity photos, headshots, and boudoir. In each of these very different contexts she made me feel both comfortable and creative, and the end products were beautiful representations of me.”

― Kora P.