There are many great sections of Fairmount Park, but the 1,800 acres around Valley Green known as Wissahickon Park may be the most stunning. Ashley & Shay’s wedding took place here on October 21st 2018. The setting along the river stunning, and The Valley Green Inn had a cozy and elegant vibe. We could not get enough of The Wissahickon Valley Park with its incredible foliage at every turn.
Throughout the years, the Inn has been the focus of numerous paintings, postcards and writings, as well as the setting for many special occasions. T.A. Daily wrote in 1922 that, “The charm of Valley Green varies not only with the seasons, but with the day of the week and the hour of the day.
Its that time of year again!!! Family photos and what to wear is the dilemma du jour!
Textures and layers always look nice and add depth and detail to the photo. Knits, scarves and sweaters for the fall and winter portraits are great on camera!
Solids colors are best. Busy, loud patterns or logos will draw too much attention in your photos, so solids are always a safe bet!
Avoid clothes with fine, repetitive lines typically found on men’s dress shirts or suits. These detailed lines can be difficult for the camera to register and may appear as wavy lines instead.
Avoid wearing loud or fluorescent colors since it can be distracting when looking at a photos and the colors can reflect on your face. So, unless you want to be bright orange, it’s best to stay away from fluorescents.
IRON your wardrobe! I can’t stress this enough. Every detail will show up in your portraits, so be sure to iron out any wrinkles, remove lint and loose threads.
Don’t over-do accessories.
If you wear eye glasses all the time, feel free to bring them, but if you can do without your glasses or have contact lenses, this is a better option. Eyeglasses can cause a reflection of light or objects.
Everyone should dress in a similar-style, for example: All casual or all formal. Even the shoe styles should be consistent. In other words, don’t have some family members with closed-toed shoes and others with flip-flops in the same photo.
Shirts and dress colors should be within the same color palette or be complimentary colors, rather than everyone in identical colors. Identical colors tend to look too “matchy”.
Pants and skirts can be similar or identical in color, for example: light denim, dark denim, tan khakis.
Women’s clothing is more colorful than men’s clothing. I always tell Moms to start with picking a color they like best for the girls, then put the guys in a more neutral color. Super cute when Moms and daughters throw a splash of similar color with an accessory like a matching scarf or headband. Here are some great combinations!
Fall Family Picture Outfit Ideas
There are recognizable markers that trigger the “fall feeling” in each of us. With the weather cooling down, the leaves changing, and a trip to the pumpkin patch in the near future, fall is full of inspiration you can use for your outfit choices. If you are taking your family photos during the fall season, incorporate seasonal earth tones, rich maroons or burnt oranges. Wear layers and have fun playing in the leaves. Use the following Fall color arrangements and styling tips to guide your clothing selections.
Fall outfits are all about the layers! Plus, wearing layers makes for a quick outfit change too.
Take advantage of the colorful fall leaves and let them inspire your outfit choices.
Use fall accessories to add texture to your photos. Think big scarves and stylish boots.
Plaid shirts are a popular clothing selection for fall family photos. Think about dressing a few of your members in this season appropriate pattern.
So I have brought the outside inside to the studio. An autumnal scene with leaves and pumpkins.
Kids Only – Up to 2 Kids ($20 each additional)
Saturday October 12th and Sunday October 13th
15 minute sessions
$50
Special fall discounted product & print pricing to order from, images and packages starting at $99
Book today to reserve your desired time slot.
Special fall discounted product & print pricing to order from
If you want to include the whole family, please call to book our regular fall family portraits, available Sunday through Saturday. brianjamesphotostudio@gmail.com
In September of 2015, I was reading the Chestnut Hill Local and saw a new place space was opening in the neighborhood. I grabbed a few business cards and postcards and headed over.
I soon met the owner, Kara Hertzog at Nest, a play space that offers a variety of classes for children six weeks old to six years old. We became fast friends and a natural fit for my photography business. I have had the pleasure of working with Kara and her team for the past few years. It was an honor to be a part of the Nest team and so many families events at Nest.
We will miss you and thanks for the opportunities and memories!
As a parting gift please visit the gallery and download or order your pics!
On Sept. 30 at 620 Loft & Garden, an event space at Rockefeller Center in New York my dear friends Eduardo and Stephen were married. Dave & I were able to spend some special time with the happy couple as they got ready. I was so happy to capture some very special moments at the Palace Hotel and the walk to the gorgeous venue. #smevwedding
This large home at 7318 Boyer Street in East Mt. Airy stands out with its whimsical exterior, a mishmash of Victorian stick style and Queen Anne architecture. It all makes sense though once it’s learned that Frank Furness was the brains behind the design.
The 3,400-square-foot house was designed by the local architect in 1855 and built by Francis Innes Gowen & the Tourison Brothers as part of the Gowen Estate. The period architecture is evident from the get-go and the home’s bottom half is wrapped Wissahickon Schist stone.
Behind the front dutch door are hardwood floors, French doors, big bay windows, and original fireplaces, including one that features Henry Mercer tiles. There are also two side porches on this level, including a screened-in sunroom and an open deck off the updated kitchen that looks over the property’s big backyard.
His mom and dad brought him to the studio for his newborn session. With his gorgeous full head of hair, he was fast asleep and the perfect subject on this humid day in Chestnut Hill. Check out some of our favorites from his newborn session. He was born on June 30th, 2017
My adorable niece Julia was baptized this weekend and here are some of my favorites from our photo session. Her gown was made from my mom’s weddings dress. It was such a lovely day for this beautiful baby girl.
Christopher Plant’s KISMET, a Northwest Philly coworking center.
(Photo by Brian James)
If you’ve ever been referred to as a “coworking purist,” odds are you’re going to shudder when you read this next sentence: a Philly real estate developer just opened up a 6,000-square-foot coworking space in Northwest Philly called KISMET.
Christopher Plant, a Chestnut Hill resident who’s not a stranger to the local tech scene, launched the coworking spot on March 17 featuring an eclectic cohort of 11 companies/members: from marketing agencies and engineering companies to a college professor and a writer.
A self-proclaimed “fan of Indy Hall and Benjamin’s Desk,” Plant had done some leases before in that building — 12 West Willow Grove, a few minutes’ walk away from the Wyndmoor Station — as part of his work with Elfant Wissahickon Realtors.
“There was an old self-storage space that was not a best use and so I convinced the landlord to let me make a run at coworking,” said Plant in an email. “With my work in commercial real estate with a focus in Northwest Philadelphia, I knew there was a need for the type of space that I wanted to build.”
Desks line up at KISMET. (Photo by Brian James)
Full disclosure: We haven’t yet made the trek out to visit the space but — from the pictures — you could describe KISMET’s decoration as WeWork-y, what with its high ceilings, exposed airducts, polished surfaces and lounge-esque lighting. As usual, there’s a kitchen space and conference rooms, along with the ever-more-present indoor bike rack.
As for pricing, a floating desk at the Chestnut Hill space will run you about $350 monthly. Private offices start at $800.
WeWork-y, no? (Photo by Brian James)
For a quick look at the space, here’s a flashy “hyperlapse walkthrough” vid put together by Villanova, Pa.-based production company Creative Outfit.
Can KISMET make its model stick? Is Northwest Philly’s quarry of mobile workers sufficiently large to keep those fancy lights on? Plant says yes (because of course he does). And the slate of customers he has already signed up is a good sign.
“I believe that there will be a great market for a more intimate coworking model on the fringes of traditional business districts and quasi-suburban commercial districts,” said Plant. “That is where we see ourselves. We also want to have a robust calendar of programming and content that helps foster a deep and committed connection with our tenants.”
At first glance, it sure seems that KISMET has all the makings of being another corporate play on the bubbling coworking biz. Plant will be the first to point out that initial impression.
“Many will consider my move into coworking as another example of a developer keeping on-trend, but I think I come to this naturally,” said Plant. “I have always been a connector and this is all about that.”
It’s Fall and its still 80 degrees!! 
