Indie Girl Photography, Philadelphia

Sylvia Sepulveda became enamored with vintage pin-up photography because of the props. A frequent thrift-store shopper, she had planned to start a blog about her purchases but found that taking and editing their pictures was more satisfying than writing the posts. She turned her lens onto human subjects shortly thereafter and now generates inventive and sensual snapshots at Indie Girl Photography. Sylvia doesn't shy away from whimsical impulses both during and after her shoots. Based on the dialogue between her and the client, she suggests poses that can result in simple, flirtatious portraits or playful, old-timey advertisements. Her retouching finesse then works two types of magic, serving to add backdrops—ranging from a retro kitchen scene to a patriotic battleground—as well as remove sources of insecurity, including blemishes, stretch marks, and mismatched shoes. She deftly adjusts lighting and angles to flatter clients of all body types, and she pairs outfits that clients bring from home with her own stock of accessories, such as a vintage aviator hat or a video camera.

Apart from her boudoir-style shots, she experiments with fantasy and alternative styles. Her galleries display models cast as robots, angels, and superheroes, among other supernatural roles.