News and Events Archives - Neon Velvet Studio

2026’s Best Photographer In Philly Suburbs? 👀

Posted on January 20, 2026February 4, 2026 by cassieadmin in and Business Is Good, News and Events

Neon Velvet Studio has been nominated for the fourth year in a row!

Is Neon Velvet Studio the Best Photographer in the Philly Suburbs? Montco Happening wants to know!

a graphic, white text on abstract red and purple. text reads: We need your vote! happening list 2026.

vote for the best photographer in Philly suburbs and Montgomery County, PA — it’s a major award!

I’ve been a finalist for the best photographer in Philly suburbs for several years now, as voted on by locals, past clients, future clients, and friends! This year, can we take home the prize of Best Photographer in Montco?

Want to be part of the winning team?
Vote here for Neon Velvet Studio
and be sure to follow all the instructions.

photo of a beautiful boudoir photo album open to a gorgeous romantic couples boudoir photo, on red satin sheets surrounded by roses. Photo is by Neon Velvet Studio, an LGBTQ boudoir studio in the Philly suburbs serving the best photography in town to queer people and our allies!

Robots can’t vote, but I’m not your mother, so if you’re a robot that’s between you and robogod.

If you’re wondering why your vote is important to me, I listed some reasons I care in last year’s post! But here are a few new ones for the new year:

✧ This local contest drives hundreds of eyes to my website every year, and that’s just as a nominee! Imagine what a win could do! Small local businesses need all the help we can get, and this is a free and easy way you can support me and the work I do for my clients and for my community.

✧ The voting process involves a few steps and a few minutes of your time. Some people—no matter how much they love my work—won’t do that, so every vote really counts and I appreciate any and all help to spread the word!

✧ It feels more important than ever for LGBTQ+ artists and queer-owned businesses to be represented and visible for our community and for our allies!

✧ In an increasingly AI slop-filled world (I am a HATER), human-made art matters more than ever. I build my sets by hand, nurture my client relationships manually, write every stupid blog post and email you read! Everything you see and think is silly is all me, baby. Every mistake I make? Organic. I retouch every image lovingly by hand, like I’ve been doing since the early aughts. I take pride in my craft and joy in my process and I will not be outsourcing that to a plagiarism machine that poisons communities, raises our utility bills, and guzzles potable water.

✧ I’m a one-woman show*! In a given day I’m photographer, editor, curator, administrator, social media team, book-keeper, set designer, fabricator, craft services, dj, videographer, stand-up comedian, stylist, florist, laundry service, cleaner, blogger, content creator, graphic designer, and more! *thank god I get to outsource hair and makeup to trusted professionals

✧ I’ve been a Montco resident since I moved to the Philly area in 2002, which officially means I’ve been here more than half my life! I love being part of the community here, and the more people who know about me, the more I get to meet and make gorgeous photos of!

✧ 2025 was stressful and tumultuous and 2026 is off to a roaring (derogatory) start; a win would make me feel very appreciated for the queer joyful work I’m putting into the world.

✧ I argue with bots in the comments on my instagram posts and try to convince them to pay me money. I’m told this is very entertaining.

✧ I have a sweet elderly dog who loves guests! The more people who love Neon Velvet Studio, the more friends he gets to meet, and the happier he is! Don’t you want to make a sweet old pup happy?

✧ Reason #10 is the free space on a bingo card. I just wanna make people feel great about themselves. I invest a ton of time and energy gladly into doing it. Maybe you can invest a little time back and vote for me?

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.

It’s silly but I don’t have many recent photos of myself! Here’s me with my painting ‘Santa Cipolla’ from Gold Door Gallery’s 2025 Heart of Gold fundraiser group art show! You can vote for Hannah’s gallery and boutique tattoo removal shop below because she’s nominated too!
PS—Gold Door is hosting their annual charity fundraiser on February 7th 2026!

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

Deleted Scene Tattoo Removal
Gold Door Gallery
Echo House Studios

Are you a nominated friend? Message me and I’ll add you above too! Let’s spread the love 🖤

I will leave you with our local blessing: go birds (next season)

Build your dream boudoir session now!

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What Clients are Saying

“The studio atmosphere and beautiful set made me feel comfortable and creative, with room to play around and indulge in finding poses and character moments.”

― Kate

“I had the most wonderful day at Neon Velvet Studio with Cassie. This was my first boudoir experience and I am so grateful to her for making it extremely warm, welcoming, and low pressure! I was so worried about looking awkward in my photos and Cassie was incredible at helping me with body and facial … Continue reading Taylor →

― Taylor

No Tricks, Only Treats! A Special Spooky Boudoir Sale

Posted on September 15, 2025September 15, 2025 by cassieadmin in News and Events

A Special End Of Year Boudoir Sale for You

If you’ve been here awhile, you know I love rewarding my regulars. My VIPs. My reasons for living.

You also know I hate doing Black Friday sales, because your inboxes are flooded and I want to be on a sofa eating pie instead of working.

So this spooky szn, I’ve found a way to satisfy both goals: A Halloween Sale for all your spooky boudoir (and other occasions too!) needs!

If you’re a hauntingly familiar fave client, this one’s for you.

Haunt my Studio!

Everyone who books a solo deluxe session for a 2025 date is eligible for a big discount on a 2026 boudoir photoshoot! That’s it, that’s the sale!

$200 off a 2026 themed mini session (themes tbd)

$550 off a 2026 solo deluxe or couples session

Because my love for you spooky sweeties is eternal.

Start Your free Consultation!

The Grim details

To be eligible for this special offer, you must have already completed or scheduled your 2025 solo deluxe session, or you need to do so now! Session must be completed by December 31st, 2025 to qualify for a 2026 session discount.

Have a mini session on the autumn calendar? Want to upgrade so you’re eligible for the sale? Get in touch! We can probably make this happen!

You don’t need to rush to book your discounted 2026 boudoir photoshoot, but you can if you’d like to start a payment plan. Let’s chat about your options!

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. Dates permitting, solo deluxe sessions can sometimes include special themes! Please inquire if this interests you.

Themed mini sessions will be a specific set based on your preferred session date! Some are simple, some are elaborate, all are fun!

Your 2026 session can include rain room when it returns, special fantasy boudoir sets, holiday sessions, and more, You don’t need to choose or schedule right away if you want to space your sessions out.

Start Your Consultation!

The Spooky Boudoir Sale’s Fine Print

**Fine print: Can’t be combined with other offers, discounts, contests, or promotions. Non-transferrable. For solo deluxe sessions scheduled between 1/1/25-12/31/25. For sessions in the Neon Velvet Philly boudoir photo studio home base only, unless otherwise specified.

2025 Invoice must be paid in full before 2026 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

“The studio atmosphere and beautiful set made me feel comfortable and creative, with room to play around and indulge in finding poses and character moments.”

― Kate

Want to be a Boudoir Brand Ambassador? Applications are Open!

Posted on August 8, 2025August 9, 2025 by cassieadmin in and Business Is Good, News and Events

Brand Ambassadors have more fun

You’re obsessed with boudoir. I get it. Me too, honestly! You love that it’s fun, empowering, versatile, and infinitely personalizable—it can be sexy, funny, powerful, or sweet! It can be masc, femme, or somewhere in between.

For 2026 I’m launching the first boudoir Brand Ambassador program for Neon Velvet Studio, and I’m looking for a few bold babes who love boudoir photos, content creation, and uplifting others to help me grow my studio and community! In exchange for your promotional work, you get a totally free boudoir session in 2026, including all the luxury pampering you’d get with a paid boudoir photoshoot—hair and makeup styling, wardrobe, and posing guidance!

What does it mean to be a brand ambassador for a photography studio?

First and foremost, you love Neon Velvet Studio! You vibe with my artistic aesthetic and core values. You want to help represent Neon Velvet Studio out in the world!

You encourage community. You hype up others for being their gorgeous authentic selves. You want to shout from the rooftops about how boudoir can be a transformative experience on the self-love journey.

Your responsibilities will include sharing your photos and being informative and enthusiastic about your Neon Velvet photoshoot experience. This can include instagram posts and reels, TikTok and YouTube shorts of video/behind the scenes content and outtakes, participating regularly in the private Facebook community, and writing a blog post about your experience! There’s more you can do too, but this is the minimum.

This is a one year appointment, beginning in January 2026 and running through December. Each boudoir Brand Ambassador will help me test new studio setups, mini session themes, and exclusive promotions. I pick the details, but you’ll get a chance to customize your experience; if you hate Valentine’s Day I’m not gonna put you in pink and hearts! This is a mutually beneficial thing. I want us all to enjoy the experience.

Who can apply?

I know this sounds insufferable, but as these will be people I’ll be working closely with for an entire year I’m going to be making the decisions on ✨vibes✨. Anyone who feels excited about the info presented here is encouraged to apply. Maybe you’re at the beginning of your self-love journey, or maybe you’re a confident cutie. As long as you’re passionate about uplifting others, you don’t need boudoir modeling experience. You do need to love social media though, because that’s where I need the most help.

If you have any special skills or experience you think would be relevant or beneficial I encourage you to brag! I love getting to know people.

NV Brand Ambassadors Must:

be over 18 at the time of application

sign a full model release

understand that your photos/videos will be shared publicly online in my portfolio, social feed, and marketing materials

align with Neon Velvet Studio’s values and represent them publicly

be LGBTQ+ or a strong advocate and ally to the community

be body-positive and gender-inclusive

be active on social media (even if you don’t have a huge following)

participate in the NV online community

commit to at least 1 boudoir session in 2026 in the greater Philadelphia area (and ideally be based in PA, NJ, DE, NY, or MD)

not currently be affiliated with another photographer as a brand ambassador/employee/work associate/etc. (this is just to prevent confusion! If you’ve been a brand ambassador for another photographer in the past you’re still welcome to apply and explain the circumstances in your application)

NV Brand Ambassadors do not have to:

have modeling experience

have a particular body size or shape

be a cis woman or present in a femme way

be influencers

NV Brand Ambassadors Must Not:

be racist, homophobic, fat phobic, or bigoted. No TERFs, no SWERFs, no fascists.

When Will Brand Ambassadors Be Announced?

Great question. I don’t know. It’s my intention to reply to every applicant, and I will be accepting applications until 8/31/25. How long after applications close will depend on how many people apply!

form above not loading? Please click here

love u boo <3

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

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 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.

2025 Heart of Gold Fundraiser

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

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

“Working with Cassie is like working with your badass friend who hypes you up no matter what you’re doing. Cassandra has helped me advertise both sides of my personality with comedy headshots and spicy portraits. I always feel so comfortable in their studio and I always appreciate their direction! Sometimes I feel lost or intimidated, … Continue reading Oliver D. →

― Oliver 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 have worked with Cassie numerous times. And every time she impresses me more and more. She is so creative and fun to work with. Whether it’s her project idea or mine. She knocks it out every time. She is one of my top favorite female artists!”

― Ashlie F.