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Philly Photo • Cassandra Panek

@syntheticshadows

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Cassie 🏳️‍🌈 artist
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✨📸 @neonvelvetstudio
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Here’s a meme dump to soften my own bad news to myself.

I posted the other day and despite my despair then, things have in fact gotten materially worse! 🥳 my 9 year old work computer has yeed its last haw, and needs to be replaced. I spent 4 hours over 2 trips to the Apple Store trying to give it one last hurrah. It has no love left to give.

I agonized over posting this because I’m in a cycle where if I can’t do something perfectly I can’t make myself do it, then I finally realized: what is more perfect than my curated collection of memes?

So in a very William Carlos Williams way, this is just to say that Neon Velvet Studio needs you right now. If you’ve been thinking of a photoshoot, now is a wonderful time to get in touch because I desperately need the work in order to get this situation sorted.

How else can you help? The usual like/comment/share is always appreciated, and I’m open to other suggestions! Happy to answer any questions in the comments, xoxoxoxo taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @syntheticshadows

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a month ago

Can we have a little commotion for anonymous black and white photos again please because I am obsessed with them and want to make more in 2026 ✨

Also I keep getting messages from people that would love to work with me so I will repeat this publicly and often: you CAN. most of my clients are regular everyday hotties, and you can be one of them, so let’s goooooooo taken in Center City, Philadelphia by @syntheticshadows

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9 months ago

Unfortunately I do love explaining my candle budget to my accountant every year 😅

If y’all wanna guess how many candles I used yesterday shooting with @skadad13 I’ll go downstairs and count and maybe do a little 🏆 for the winner

#unfortunatelyidolove taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @syntheticshadows

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a year ago

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a year ago

Phew this summer is bringing heat and rain in ABUNDANCE, so stay cool and stay thirsty 😎

I’ve got time in my schedule for ONE more rain room session in July and a few more in August, so this could be YOU bby, comment RAIN for details ☔️ taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @syntheticshadows

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a year ago

Summer mini set announcement! 🥳🌊

If you’re on my mailing list you got this info weeks ago but I’m finally sharing it here: I’m building a rain room this summer!

The catch: I need a minimum number of signups to commit to building it, and yall need to trust the process bc I’m not building it to take sample shots, tearing it down, then building it again for sessions 😂 and I’m not going to use ai or another photographer’s work to promote my business, so here’s a photo of @ashaetch in some water to get your wet and wild summer vibes flowing.

Tag a friend! I’ve got a few more slots available, yes you can do a payment plan, details in my story/highlights! taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @syntheticshadows

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a year ago

We are still figuring out what to call it—Mount Olympus? Cloud Nine? Hera’s Haze? Just Like Heaven?—but the new mini set theme is here! Just like last year’s Golden Gods we are returning to sun-kissed celestial splendor with a renaissance art twist for the summer!

Which deity or fantasy figure do you most identify with 👀

Schedule now for the ✨summer✨ and help me cover bills from a partner getting laid off/surprise emergency car repairs/surprise uninsured emergency room bill and ambulance ride/a home repair bill that’s tripled in scope mid repair/my dog’s arthritis medication (it’s been a rough couple months chez moi as you can see)

Model @ladymeowmix
Hair/makeup @katherineviolettehmua

#renaissanceart #phillyartists #philadelphiaboudoir #boudoirstudio #femaleartists taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @syntheticshadows

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2 years ago

It is better that you should rush upon this blade than to enter this circle with fear in your heart. How do you enter? 🔮

Obsessed with how perfect @troykira @raquel.skellington and @mummydahlia_ look in our spiderweb willow mini dress!

Which color would you wear to be their 4th and call the corners?

#90snostalgia #thecraft #smallbatchfashion #womanownedsmallbusiness taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @syntheticshadows

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2 years ago

Look at my beautiful friends @amandavalentine and @ashaetch on the cover of @retrolovelymagazine special Valentine’s Day edition 😍

Our mutuals will recognize Amanda’s signature @travelingmysticphotography studio mirrors! We made these photos in autumn when I was renting Amanda’s studio space while my own workspace got some electrical upgrades.

I’m so delighted especially because Amanda, like me, is a workaholic and this is the FIRST TIME I’ve gotten her in front of my camera!

So 2025 best friends and/or couples boudoir, me and who and who? 👀

#montcophotographer #phillyphotographer #wlwart taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @syntheticshadows

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2 years ago

Happy Women’s History Month 🫀 taken in Salem, Massachusetts by @syntheticshadows

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2 years ago

One silly thing about me is I know auto sync exists to splice footage to a song but I insist on fiddling with it manually 😅 what can I say? I’m out here doing things the hard way by hand!

I thought I had more painting process video than this but it turns out most of the footage is blooper reel because Brian kept stopping recording when he thought he was starting.

But considering how bad I am at process documentation this is still a huge win. Shoutout to picking an underpainting color that is barely visible (but I promise it made a huge difference), to posca markers that didn’t want to mark, and to my emotional support cardboard making my workflow look super glamorous 😂

This premieres in person tomorrow night at @golddoorgallery and is available to raise funds for @afspnational so it could be in your very own home in time for The White Lotus S3 premiere!

#thesearesomehighendgays #jennifercoolidge #acrylicpainting #thewhitelotus #siamotuttigay #whitelotus #acrylic #paintingoftheday #paintingprocess #thesegaysaretryingtomurderme #tanyamcquoid taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @syntheticshadows

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2 years ago

✨varnish day✨ y’all I was so scared to varnish my first painting.

I made a total mess of it bc everything I read said not to pour directly on the canvas (which I’m sure is really great advice on larger pieces but hasn’t seemed to matter on things 11x14 and smaller yet!), so I got varnish absolutely everywhere by trying to pour it into a Tupperware lid. I was sticky for like 3 days. 😅

But here’s my newest painting for the @golddoorgallery Heart of Gold show this weekend! I got a sneak peek of some of the other artists’ works when I dropped off my and @metatarsalkinesis paintings (after getting her caught up on The White Lotus this weekend) and it’s gonna be a great show!

#thesearesomehighendgays #jennifercoolidge #thewhitelotus #whitelotus #siamotuttigay #acrylicpainting #varnishingday taken in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania by @syntheticshadows

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2 years ago