Video: Lens Friends Brings the Lights, Camera, Action!

Tucked away behind a narrow driveway along Huntingdon Pike is the Valley Courtyard. There are numerous specialty shops ranging from day spas, hand-made clothing shops and fine dining restaurants.

The one place that separates itself from the rest, however, is Lens Friends.

The exclusive studio at 2531 Huntingdon Pike offers a ‘Do-it-yourself’ approach to digital photography where the customers become the professionals. Not only is this concept unique to Lower Moreland and Huntingdon Valley, but store owner Kara Raudenbush’s idea is the first of its kind anywhere. 

Raudenbush and her partner Rick Richeal have over 40 years of professional experience under their belts, but now they’re turning all of her knowledge over to the customer. They provide everything one would need for a photo shoot like high-end digital cameras, lighting, backdrops, props etc., but now moms, dads, friends or classmates are the ones behind the camera.  Customers can also use their own equipment to go along with the Lens Friends props.

“When they see what we are offering them, they’d rather use what we have,” Raudenbush said. “It really works quite nicely because we have everything lined up; with the lights, white balances; these things are important in digital photography.

“It’s very empowering to come in and be the photographer and take the pictures,” she added. “I think people really enjoy it. When a young lady comes into our studio, and she’s on the shy side, but within 5 seconds she’s in the background ‘Voguing’ and they really come out of their shells.”

Lens Friends opened on Feb. 8 of this year and it’s already been featured on NBC 10 and Phillyburbs.com for its uniqueness and one-of-a-kind type shop.

“The first of its kind, that we know of, in the area or anywhere,” said Raudenbush, who first met Richael while working for Davor Photo located in Bensalem over 20 years ago. The two traveled up and down the east coast taking portraits for many years.

“After 20 years we have backgrounds, props, extra lighting equipment, all kinds of stuff that we have collected,” Raudenbush said. “I approached (Rick), and said, ‘What do you think, instead of breaking this stuff out once or twice a year, what if we put it on the floor and let people do it themselves?’”

And that’s exactly what the store is now. The studio is filled with great equipment and props for kids of all ages to enjoy.

“Primarily it is people with children," Raudenbush said, who also specializes in headshots. “We’ve had Brownie Troops in to do parties for their badges. Teenagers, 16, 17, they come in for a party. They come in and photograph for an hour or an hour and a half.”

Lens Friends does a good job of bringing a party to lift ... literally. The shop had a special shoot with live baby chicks in May, and there's an upcoming event with a live litter of Golden Retriever puppies in July. It’s also a venue that can make for a unique and entertaining birthday party.

“We try to connect people with things that they cannot do or won’t do for themselves or on their own,” Raudenbush said.

Raudenbush enjoyed her work with family portraits, but two years ago she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a chronic disorder of the central nervous system. Not knowing how it would affect her livelihood in the long term, Raudenbush needed to come up with a way to keep her passion of photography in her life.

“At the time, I wasn’t able to work, I had some complications from the disease,” Raudenbush said, who has since made tremendous strides fighting the disease. “I had time to think, ‘What can I do with all of this equipment? How can I stay in photography and keep it a part of me if I’m not able to work because of this disease?’ And this idea came to fruition.”

The process for a session is quite simple. The customers comein, take the pictures, have them uploaded on a computer and then can have them in their hand a short period of time after. 

“We ask the folks for their 20 favorites,” Raudenbush said. “We go in and tweak them. We crop them, bump up the contrast, maybe change the color just a tick. Then we send them the pictures on an online store, or they can also get them in-house, which is cheaper.”

For information on sessions and studio time, please visit the official web site or call the studio at (215) 938-9801.