2026’s Best Photographer In Philly Suburbs? 👀

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?

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!

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.

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!


What Clients are Saying

“Getting boudoir shots was always on my bucket list, but getting them done with Cassie made the whole thing that much more special. She was super supportive and made sure I was comfortable with every aspect of the experience. I had a rough patch several months before my session (the passing of one of my … Continue reading Rommy D.

Rommy D.

“Is it silly to write my own testimonial? Maybe! But I’ve done self-portraits for years and hired other photographers too, and I believe that seeing lovingly crafted art featuring yourself is a transformative experience. Doing sessions for myself has made me love parts of my body I never expected to, and revealed the way my … Continue reading Cassie

Cassie

2025’s Best Photographer In Montgomery County? 👀

2024 best photographer in montco finalist badge from montco happening, Montgomery county's best photographer
it’s a major award!

Last year we were a top Finalist for best photographer in Montgomery County, as voted on by locals! This year, can we score a total win?

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:

✧ Last year’s posts about voting brought hundreds of new eyes to my work! Literally hundreds of people who might not have otherwise known about me. For a small local business, that’s huge. I’m so grateful for it, and for the chance to grow my network again this year.

✧ 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!

✧ I’ve been a Montco resident since I moved to the Philly metro 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!

✧ 2024 was a difficult and often demoralizing year and 2025 is already bringing its own complications; a win would make me feel very appreciated for the queer joyful work I’m putting into the world.

Photo of Cassandra Panek, owner and artist of Neon Velvet Studio. Image features a dark-haired white person wearing red, posing in front of a black wall that shows four monochrome red canvas paintings.

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

Deleted Scene Tattoo Removal
Gold Door Gallery
Joy Movement Arts
Reya Barre and Yoga

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

Build your dream boudoir session now!


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.

“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.

The Results Are In! Best Photographer in Montco is…

Have I been biting my nails for months, waiting to see who Montco Happening would crown best photographer for 2024 in Montgomery County?

Not exactly, but I have checked several times to see if results dropped without me noticing.

But the wait is over!

2024 best photographer in montco finalist badge from montco happening, Montgomery county's best photographer
it’s a major award!

I’m excited to announce that, while I didn’t win the whole deal, I was voted a finalist! So I’m not quite the best photographer in montco, but I’m one of them! I might even be the best boudoir photographer in montco; the list doesn’t get that specific. 🤔

Congrats to the winner, the other finalists, and the nominees! If you’re curious you can find everyone’s info at Montco Happening; we all do very different genres of work so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. And I also love being part of an industry that has so many creative woman-owned small businesses.

Thanks to my clients, friends, and everyone who took the time to vote or share and hype me up on this journey. I appreciate your time and energy and love so so much! I’m gonna take another try at the title next year, and in the meantime I’ll be here working on my craft! <3

Some things I’ve got planned:

✧ More themed mini sessions, announced ahead of time so payment plans can be accessible to more clients!
✧ An exciting collaboration & promotion with other local businesses, because teamwork makes the dream work
✧ A super special giveaway? 👀

If you want to be the first to know, be sure to join my VIP mailing list!

hate lots of emails? me too bestie. it’s RARE you’ll get more than 2 per month from me!

Lastly: congratulations to my friends at Gold Door Gallery in Hatboro for being a finalist in their category too!

Are We Best Photographer In Montco?

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!