About

Welcome

So there was this moment when I was in school, where I stood outside the group and waited for someone to say “hi”. Maybe I was too shy, too eccentric, didn’t have the right clothes, didn’t have my shit together, didn’t like “their” music and I wondered why I had to play by their rules….and I waited…

I can’t help but believe the reason you are reading this is you’ve had that feeling once or twice in your life. Or maybe your life has been consumed by this feeling.

In the end, what I do isn’t about photography, photos or tattooed brides…it’s a passion to show everyone their story is important. I don’t pretend to run a normal wedding photography business or think that this is normal.

Some people apologize for not being cool enough or for not having tattoos. Then I realize they are my kind of person.  All I ask is that you show your true colors.

Your story matters. Your story is worth telling. So let’s take some photos….

xoxo,

-Mike

Meet Mike Allebach

I can tell you about how much I love photography but I won’t.  I love people more.  Getting to know people and hearing their story and what makes them unique is my passion. My favorite clients are the ones I’d hang out with (it’s amazing how my clients end up being those kind of people).

Be Yourself
The uniqueness of my photos comes from the uniqueness of my clients. And I believe I have the best, most unique clients in the world. People let down their guard around me which allows me to the wonderful images you view on this site.

Let me explain, I’ve photographed couples on a concert stage, in abandoned warehouses, with fire whips and breathing fire, in craft beer bars, on the top of earth moving machinery, in water balloon fights, throwing paint…all the usual kind of stuff.

Some of Allebach Photography couples are heavily tattooed but we photograph anyone who gets what we do. Every person and every couple is unique. I think my photos reflect that.

So…Why do I photograph Tattooed Brides?
In my heart I’m instinctively inclusive, always looking for ways to draw others into the circle and make them feel wanted, heard, and appreciated. It’s my punk rock ethic. I think that everyone deserves to love, be loved and we should all live a story worth telling full of tragedy, failure, love and grace.

Tattooed Brides
When I started photographing tattooed brides, no one was showing off wedding photos with tattooed couples in them.  Tattoos were something to be covered up and hidden. One of my tattooed brides was told by another photographer that she met with “I’ll airbrush out your tattoos for a fee.”   She lost the deposit she put down and went with me.  I’m glad that I could be a part of the revolution that Ariel of Offbeat Bride and Kat of Rock n Roll bride helped create.

Giving Back
I believe whole-effing-heartily in what I do.  Every year I lead and organize the Philadelphia arm of the Help-Portrait, an organization that allows less fortunate people to get photos around the holidays.  Together we have taken & printed photos of 1,000 homeless & low income people at no cost to them.

My photography has also supported adoption through The Heart Gallery, a volunteer organization that allows professional photographers to take amazing photos of kids who need families.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope to speak with you soon and learn your story and photograph what makes you unique.

And here is the lame Allebach Photography bio you probably were expecting [but our editor left in sarcastic remarks in for your reading pleasure]:

We love taking pictures [no surprise there]. We’d love to take your photos [redundant, writing style of a kindergartner]! We mix photojournalism, candid portraits and creative photography approaches to capture the most beautiful weddings in Philadelphia, Pa, Bucks County, Pa, Montgomery County, Pa and Worldwide [really? sounds like mumbo jumbo - just write "kick ass wedding photographers"]. Whether you are planning an outdoor wedding at the Morris Arboretum in Chestnut Hill or an extravagant wedding in Center City Philadelphia or at the Drexelbrook in Drexelhill, Allebach Photography can handle your wedding photography needs [yawn].

Find out why Allebach Photography rank at the top and among the best Philadelphia wedding photographers [No need to brag - I can name at least three other photographers who are better than you].

To schedule an appointment or engagement photography session please contact them at 610.539.6920 or by filling out our contact form. [Ya think?]

Allebach Photography serves Philadelphia, Bucks County, Chester County, Lancaster County, Montgomery County, Lehigh Valley, Radnor, Villanova, and the Mainline. Allebach Photography also serves the following areas Doylestown, Haverford, Ardmore, Bala Cynwyd, Bryn Mawr Berwyn, Rosemont, Devon, Gladwyne, Paoli, Malvern, Merion, Narberth, St. Davids, Radnor, Strafford, Villanova, Wayne and Wynnewood. [What is this crap? Just delete it!]

We specialize in Wedding Photography and Engagement Photography in Philadelphia, the Mainline, Montgomery County, Bucks County, Delaware County, Doylestown and Chester County. Allebach Photography also has Engagement Photography, Family Photography and Portrait Photography in the Philadelphia area (Center City, North Philly, West Philly & South Philly). [No need to be so specific - Delete all listings of towns]