About PCSI Photo
Paul Csihas
Lead Photographer
Paul goes by “Paul C-S-I” or “Paul Csi [pronounced as sigh]” for short.
With over 25 years of professional photography experience, Paul has captured thousands of corporate events, mitzvahs, weddings, and portraits across the Philadelphia area.
Paul discovered photography as a teenager while growing up in a family with deep Hungarian roots. What began as a fascination with recording history and storytelling eventually became a lifelong pursuit. Naturally shy as a teenager, Paul found that the camera gave him confidence and purpose.
To this day, he feels most like himself when he has a camera in his hands.
Working with Paul
When he’s behind the camera, Paul brings an infectious enthusiasm. He’s a calm professional who constantly anticipates moments before they happen. This approach, combined with an extensive knowledge of lighting, helps him create photos that feel flattering and real.
Paul thrives under pressure and is excellent at real-time decision-making. He values preparation, but when spontaneous moments happen, he quickly adapts.
Capturing the energy of an event is second nature to Paul. He is relentlessly focused on the action, moves quickly and never misses the sentimental moments. Real connection, beautiful light, and positive energy continues to inspire Paul.
Early Years & Hungarian Heritage
Photography has captivated Paul ever since he was a teenager growing up in a family with deep Hungarian roots. It began as a curiosity about light, storytelling, and human connection, but over time, became a lifelong pursuit.
When possible, Paul enjoys traveling to Hungary to reconnect with family, culture, and tradition. One of his favorite experiences is walking along the Danube in Budapest at sunset. This is a national pastime where the changing light, architecture, and diversity of people create moments that feel cinematic. These moments influence his photojournalistic approach.
Mitzvah Expertise
In the world of mitzvahs, Paul has built a trusted reputation. His deep understanding of Jewish traditions and study of the bible allows him to document each milestone with respect, creativity, and joy. Paul’s friendly approach helps every child feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera. By the end of the night, it’s not unusual for him to feel like part of the family.
His goal is simple: to help others relive their most meaningful days for generations to come.
Approach to Weddings
Paul brings the same ideology to weddings, where he understands that photography goes beyond capturing beautiful images. He is highly attuned to the dynamics between families, the emotional flow of the day, and the importance of staying calm under pressure.
When photographing a wedding, Paul approaches the day through the couple’s viewpoint. He focuses on what they will want to remember most years down the line. This perspective fuels his energy and commitment, even through the longest event days.
Even through 12-hour wedding days, Paul remains amped and ready for action.
Relationships
Photography is more than just taking pictures. It is about building real connections with everyone in the room. During a big event or headshot session, Paul wants everything to feel easy with genuine interactions.
Positivity and Thoughtfulness
A positive attitude is contagious. Photography can feel intimidating, especially when the spotlight is on you, so Paul leads with a friendly demeanor.
The little things matter. Paul listens to his clients’ concerns, so they feel supported and every moment is captured with intention. Clients can always count on him to capture the most special moments.
Other Passions
When Paul’s camera is in the bag, he loves cooking and woodworking. Before photography, he worked as a chef, line cook, and waiter. These experiences shaped his deep respect for service, teamwork, and attention to detail during events.
Paul also finds great satisfaction in woodworking. From building cabinets, restoring furniture, or collaborating on large construction projects, he has an appreciation for craftsmanship and working toward a shared goal.
Paul is also passionate about mentoring emerging photographers who are deeply curious about the art of photography.
Vlad
Photographer
Vlad began photography because he loves to capture the subtle, but meaningful moments that
often go unnoticed, but become lasting memories. For over 15 years, he has captured weddings, mitzvahs, and events with a people-first approach.
On the big day, Vlad creates a calm atmosphere and treats everyone with respect. Clients often
praise Vlad’s natural ability to make them feel comfortable during very stressful periods. He
believes that when people feel at ease, then they’ll appear more authentic on camera.
Vlad is a photojournalist. He has the talent to anticipate key moments before they happen, and
enough foresight to capture the in-between ones. When is comes to documenting raw emotion,
he remains unobtrusive. When necessary, he’ll step in with gentle guidance. This approach
results in photos that feel beautiful and true to life.
Outside of photography, Vlad’s world revolves around family. He loves spending time with his
growing toddler and finds peace surrounded by nature through hiking or gardening. In addition
to this, Vlad is passionate about sustainable living. He also enjoys other creative ventures like
working in his wood shop where he builds small furniture, garden beds, and coffee tables by
hand.
Michelle
Photographer
Michelle has spent well over a decade capturing weddings, events and portraits with a deep creative passion. Largely self-taught, she developed her craft under mentors in photojournalism, editorial, fashion, and lighting. These experiences made her a versatile photographer with a modern, artful style.
Michelle’s true strength is her ability to connect with people. She has a natural way of helping clients relax, feel like themselves, and enjoy the photography experience. Whether she’s documenting a romantic wedding day or a multi-day corporate event, Michelle brings warmth and emotional awareness to every interaction.
Clients tend to describe Michelle as honest, expressive, and full of life. These qualities shine in her personality as well as her photos! She approaches each project with intention and care. Above all, Michelle believes that great photography comes from trust, comfort, and real connection.
Diana
Photographer
Diana has loved photography since a very young age. After studying photography at Delaware County College, she continued to build her foundation through hands-on experience and mentorship.
Early on, Diana would capture street photography and graduations before transitioning to large- scale gatherings like mitzvahs and debutante presentations. Each year, she looks forward to documenting the annual Debutante Ball in New York City. These experiences shaped her into an attentive photographer who knows how to effectively communicate and stay present in the
moment.
Clients are drawn to Diana’s eccentric, spontaneous, and motivated personality. She is a people-first photographer that loves to capture raw emotion. Her time as a banquet server has helped her understand the event industry from the inside-out. Diana is an expert at adapting on the fly in high-pressure situations.
In her spare time, Diana loves to host dinner parties at home for friends, where she makes most food from scratch. She enjoys fixing bikes for others, spending time in the outdoors (when the weather is warm), and traveling to new destinations around the world.
Ashleigh
Photographer
Ashleigh began her photography journey in 2020 after deciding to take a chance on something she truly loved. She believes that photography should feel effortless and true to the people in front of the camera.
Known for her calm, friendly presence, Ashleigh makes even the most camera-shy clients feel comfortable. She knows when to step in with clear direction or demonstrate a pose, and when to step back and let meaningful moments naturally unfold. Clients often say they feel like they’re working with a friend!
Outside of photography, Ashleigh is an active, outdoors-loving adventurer. As a mountain person at heart, she enjoys strength training, yoga, pilates, and hiking in nature. She loves to travel and would gladly hop on a plane for a spontaneous trip. Her vacations to Mykonos and Milos in Greece are yet to be topped!
Passionate about both mental and physical health, Ashleigh brings positivity, balance, and creativity to everything she does. At home, she shares her space with a dog and two free-roaming bunnies, who very much run the house.