Your Philadelphia Engagement Session Location Guide
Planning your Philadelphia engagement session should be one of the most exciting experiences leading up to your wedding, and that’s exactly what I’m here to make sure of. This guide is intended to give you an overview of what goes into planning your session from a wedding photographer who has years of experience in the area. I’ll share all of my favorite spots with you, some insider tips on how to navigate them, and what to expect when we’re actually there.
Permits 101 for your Philadelphia Engagement Session
First thing’s first: for some of the historic sites, a photo permit is needed for engagement sessions. Don’t worry, you won’t have to apply for this on your own! Once we nail down a location, I’ll make sure everything is done by the books. However, your engagement session date may be dependent on how soon we can get a permit. Different locations have different policies and wait times, so I recommend staying open minded when it comes to scheduling.
Philadelphia Engagement Session Locations: Old City
One of my favorite ways to photograph an engagement session in Old City is to simply start walking and see where the streets take us. There’s so much character packed into this neighborhood that we don’t always need a strict plan, cobblestone streets, colorful doors, historic architecture, tucked-away corners, and little moments of everyday Philly life are all waiting around the next corner. It keeps the session feeling spontaneous and relaxed, and sometimes the photos we stumble into along the way end up being our favorites!
Old City Coffee
This location is perfect for my coffee-loving couples who want to incorporate that love into their engagement photos. Cafes like Old City add that lived-in, historic aesthetic that always photographs beautifully. And in this case, the aesthetic isn’t just for show–Old City has been around since 1985! Originally a one-woman operation (Ruth Isaac), there are now two locations in Philadelphia; one at the Reading Terminal Market and one on Church Street.
The Book Trader
Coffee shops and bookstores just go together, right? Right up the street from Old City is The Book Trader, a used bookstore originally established in 1975. Not only do they have rows and rows of secondhand books, but the second floor is filled with their ever-growing record room! You could be walking away with soulful engagement photos and new additions to your home library. A win-win!
Franklin Fountain
Do you really think I’d take you to Old City and not recommend we stop at Franklin Fountain for ice cream?! Dessert dates are the perfect way to add a sense of playfulness to your engagement session, and bonus points when the dessert shop is as aesthetically pleasing as this one. Don’t judge, I will be grabbing a cone, too!
Elfreth’s Alley
Sometimes strolling around outside makes for the perfect, natural, candid engagement photos. You don’t always need an “activity” to do in order to capture your love and relationship dynamic. For the couples who want to use Old City’s built-in architecture as their backdrop, Elfreth’s Alley is a no-brainer. The cobblestones and historic housing make you feel like you’re in another time period!
Royal Boucherie
This bistro may be one of the most beautiful locations Old City has to offer. In fact, couples frequently host intimate weddings here when they want a venue that needs minimal sprucing up! For engagement sessions, this is the first location I think of when planning for shots that require front glass windows; you two can sit inside, and I’ll be snapping away from the outside. When we’re ready for more variety, we can head to the Parlour Room or Garden Patio. And yes, we can absolutely browse their charcuterie selection while we’re there!
Khyber Pass Pub
When you’re ready to wind down with a beer or cocktail, Khyber Pass Pub is the place to go. This New Orleans-style pub has an extensive collection of craft drafts, wine, classic cocktails, and brown spirits. They even have an entire dance floor upstairs–they used to be known as one of the best music venues in Philly long before they were praised for their great food and beer. You can also rent out the upstairs for intimate weddings if you align with the aesthetic!
Washington Square/Rose Garden
Another favorite outdoor Philadelphia engagement session location, you can never go wrong with Washington Square. With 6.4 acres of open space this spot is perfect for frolicking or even planning a picnic for you and your love! Alternatively, The Rose Garden is located right down the street (in the same Independence National Historical Park as Washington Square) so we can head there when we’re ready for a change of scenery.
Betsy Ross House
This historical site is dedicated to honoring the legacy of Besty Ross, a legendary female figure in American history. The courtyard is particularly beautiful, but the house itself now doubles as a museum that you can visit and even book a guided tour. If you’re the type of couple who enjoy learning new things together, this could be the perfect date day destination!
18th Century Garden
This gorgeous flower garden will make you feel like you’re in a whole other world. Located on Walnut Street (between 3rd and 4th streets), 18th Century Garden is open from 9 am to dusk and admission is completely free. The gazebo is one of my personal favorite sites for engagement photos…or maybe even a surprise proposal!
Merchants’ Exchange
Last but certainly not least on our list of Old City engagement session locations is the Merchants’ exchange building, the oldest stock exchange building in the United States. Although you can trade stocks here anymore, it’s now the headquarters of the Independence National Historical Park. The architecture (Greek Revival style) is absolutely stunning, a perfect backdrop for your photos.
*This location requires a photo permit
Philadelphia Engagement Session Locations: Skyline Views
Moving away from Old City, there are plenty of engagement session locations in Philadelphia for couples who want a more modern backdrop. There are three spots in particular that I think offer the best skyline views in the city! Those are:
The Soccer Fields on Penn Park
The South St. Bridge Footpath
When we’re planning your engagement session, we’ll determine which location best fits your vision and makes the most sense if we’re planning for multiple locations!
Philadelphia Engagement Session Locations: Rittenhouse Square
Rittenhouse Square has everything you need for an all-inclusive weekend outing in Philly. The tree-lined park is perfect for picnics, sun bathing, and frolicking around with your love! The best part is that there are plenty of shops, restaurants, and other amenities right outside the park. We could easily spend the entire day here if we’re not careful!
PARC
If you want your engagement session to feel a little more Parisian, Parc in Rittenhouse Square is such a fun addition to the day. With its classic French-inspired interiors, big windows, and the beautiful park just outside, we can get a mix of cozy, candid moments and quintessential Philly portraits all within a few steps of each other. Please note Parc only allows engagement shoots on specific days and needs to be confirmed with them ahead of time.
Philadelphia Engagement Session Locations: Longwood Gardens
Over 1000 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows tucked away in the Brandywine Creek Valley? This location practically screams romantic engagement photos of your dreams. Not only do they have seasonal festivals and exhibits throughout the year, but they also have multiple indoor spaces that would make for a gorgeous ceremony and reception venues. For engagement photos, we have plenty of options; the conservatory, Hillside Garden, Meadow Garden, Pierce’s Woods…trust me, we’ll have a great time and even better photos.
*This location requires a photo permit
Tips for Your Engagement Session
Now that we’ve discussed all of my favorite Philadelphia engagement session locations, here are some tips that I recommend taking into consideration when planning!
First, especially if we’ll be running around Old City, I recommend bringing an extra pair of shoes if you’re planning on wearing heels. Those cobblestone streets will get you, and the last thing we want is a sprained ankle. On a similar note, I typically tell my couples to bring an extra bag for a change of clothes (and accessories!) so you can have a variety of looks for our session. As you can see, there are plenty of locations for us to visit, so changing outfits is a great way to make the most of our time together! We’ll think ahead and determine when and where an outfit change makes the most sense.
Although weekdays tend to be a little less crowded in popular areas, I know not everyone has availability during the week for their engagement session. So just a heads up, plan to be around lots of other people! We’ll do our best to carve out pockets of space for ourselves, but these locations are popular for a reason. If necessary, we’ll plan for small breaks to get away from the crowds and recharge for a few minutes in between locations!
Ready to Plan Your Philly Engagement Session?
Now that you’ve gotten an overview of what goes into planning your Philadelphia engagement session, it’s time to put that knowledge into practice! If you’re already a KHP wedding couple, we’re most likely already in conversation about the vision for your session. If you’re not already one of my couples yet, I would love to meet you. You can reach out via my contact form here, and I’ll be in touch shortly with more information.
Happy planning, lovebirds!
