David McShea
My love of photography started when I realized the happiness photographs can bring to other people, even strangers. To have the ability to capture a moment and the opportunity to catch emotions all with a single click is empowering. Whether its an intimate moment at a wedding, a subtle reaction of a newborn, or just taking life's details and turning them into art, all facets of photography appeal to me.
A little more about me:
A chemical engineer by trade, photography has always been a love of mine ever since I was a teenager. After 10 years of working in the chemical industry, I felt that the decision to go into photography shifted me in the right direction. I reached a point in my life where I realized it was important to follow my passion instead of the money.
A great photograph of family or friends or just a special moment tends to be one of life's most treasured possessions. Providing that photo is the allure of photography for me.
Unlike some of the larger photo studios, when you work with McShea Photography, you will meet me face to face for our consultation, and you will be able to reach me by phone or email or text with whatever questions you have leading up to your wedding day. If you hire me…you get me. I believe it’s important to meet my clients before the wedding not only to make sure I know what they are looking for but to establish a relationship with them. After all we will be spending a lot of time together on your wedding day. My 150+ reviews that I've received on The Knot and Wedding Wire are what keep me going. Throughout the entire process from our details meetings to the final turn around of the final photos, I take great pride in making sure you are happy with everything from beginning to end. I do not consider a wedding complete until I receive that delighted review from the bride and groom.
Way Too Much Info:
One of the more valuable things I got out of college was getting matched up with a roommate that was really into photography as well. Not taking a Reactor Design course.
My oldest daughter, Paige, is every photographers dream. Takes me 15 seconds to get a good shot of her smiling. Wish all my baby photo shoots went that way. Our youngest, Sara, is a ham and never wants to make a normal smile. EVER!.
My favorite movie is Swingers, but Shawshank is a close 2nd.
I live and die by the Phillies and still have baseball cards from my childhood in my basement.
I love riding my bike to get around in the city and love seeing more and more people commuting to work on their bike.
My wife and I would live on the beach in a perfect world.
On average we have about 6-7 different boxes of cereal on our fridge. We are cereal freaks.
I have never turned down having a BBQ and I’m always on the hunt for that perfect burger.
I love that in a set of say 10 photos I can pick out my top 5 and someone elses favorite might not even be one of the 5 I pick.
I’ve run the Broad Street Run the past 15 years and at this point, my goal is to not be worse than the previous year.
I will admit that I’ve teared up at a clients wedding before.
My wife and I are eco-conscious enough that we have a worm composter in our basement.
I’m getting to do something that I’ve always wanted to do (besides getting shoot photography for a living) by fixing up an old house from the late 1800s in Cape May Court House down the shore. Maybe in another 20 years, we'll be finished with the work.
Always feel you should over tip taxi/Uber drivers.
We live in Brewerytown in Philly and love watching the neighborhood blossom. Meeting new neighbors and being a helpful part of the community is so enjoyable and rewarding to us.
And I think it’s not right having to pay $5-6,000+ for a wedding photographer (and this is coming from someone that did just that for our own photographer 10 years ago…still feel ripped off) just to get some decent pictures of your wedding. When I see other photographers label their pricing as "investment" it makes me laugh. If you want an investment, buy some stock or real estate. If you want a photographer that is always trying their best to provide the exact photos that a couple wants on their wedding day, then I'd be happy to help.
