When it comes to planning an engagement session, choosing the right location is essential. After all, the location will be a major part of your photos and will create the perfect backdrop for your special moment. Whether you want a romantic stroll through a park, a fun adventure, or a classic cityscape – the possibilities are endless. Before you make any decisions, it’s important to consider what type of engagement session you’re looking for and what style of photos you want to end up with. Once you have a vision in mind, it’s time to start exploring some potential locations. When it comes to choosing a location for your engagement portraits there is a wide range of beautiful and unique locations. Here are a few tips to help you find the perfect spot and make your engagement photos truly special.
Choosing the Right Location for Your Engagement Portraits :
01. A Place of Meaning
If you are overwhelmed trying to select a spot for your engagement session, my number one piece of advice is to pick a meaningful place. By picking somewhere meaningful to you and your partner, your engagement photos will be that much more special. For example, Matt and I planned our engagement session in NYC where we got engaged and lived at the time. Looking back at those images brings back a flood of happy memories and reminds me of that time early in our relationship.
02. Your Wedding Venue
Capturing your engagement photos at your wedding venue is a great choice as you can see the property and envision what it will look like on your wedding day. It also allows us to discuss certain spots you want pictures taken on your wedding day! I think it also eases some nerves and intensifies the excitement of your big day as you explore and take in the scenery!
03. A location with an Activity
Fun and interactive engagement sessions are not only a great time and a blast to photograph, but it creates wonderful memories! You might be thinking, what exactly do you mean a place with an activity? Think apple or pumpkin picking, a picnic in a flower field, strolling through the city, staying in a boutique hotel, sailing on a boat, toasting champagne on a rooftop, riding in a vintage car/vespa, drinking coffee or wine at a bistro table of an outdoor cafe, or even a gondola ride in central park. There are so many options! You will not only have a wonderful time and create lasting memories, but you will have unique portraits from your adventures together.
It is important to note, that while I am beyond happy to travel to the perfect location to capture your engagement session, there are some locations that will incur a photo travel fee and may also require a photo permit fee from the establishment, which is the responsibility of the client.
If you are still having trouble thinking of the perfect spot to plan your engagement session, here are some of my favorite locations around the Philadelphia, PA area and beyond.
Estate & Garden Locations
If you love lush greenery, natural beauty, colorful flowers, and historical estates these locations check all the boxes and provide a truly stunning location for any engagement session!
City Locations
There is something about downtown locations that I love. The city offers so much variety in scenery and provides ample locations, often historic, for engagement portraits.
American Swedish Historical Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC
New York City
Central Park
Park Settings
If you prefer quietness and tranquility as well as natural beauty, a park setting is a great option. With trails to walk, fields of grass, and often woodland areas, parks are a lovely location!
Neshaminy State Park
Knox’s Quarters Valley Forge National Park
Beach Locations
Who doesn’t love the beach? If you are drawn to the water, or just love the idea of you and your partner walking together down the beach at sunset, then you will love a beach engagement session!
Cape May, NJ
Spring Lake, NJ
I hope these tips helped you narrow down potential locations for your engagement photos. However, if you need extra assistance, as your engagement and wedding photographer, I will help you brainstorm and find the perfect spot to host your engagement session!
Amber Dawn Photography specializes in light and airy, natural, and romantic wedding photography. With a penchant for estate weddings, Amber strives to create timeless images that reflect the romanticism in soft hues, capturing for posterity the many facets of the love that is the reason for the celebration. To view more of Amber’s work, click here to view her wedding portfolio. If you are interested in learning more about working with Amber, please connect with her today!
Interested in viewing what some of these popular locations look like? You can view gorgeous weddings and engagements that I’ve had the honor of photographing at these locations on the blog!
Fall Engagement At Curtis Arboretum
Garden Wedding At Curtis Arboretum
Timeless Cairnwood Estate Wedding In Bryn Athyn, Pa
Dreamy Cairnwood Estate Engagement
Glen Foerd On The Delaware Engagement In Philadelphia
Classic Engagement At Rodin Museum In Philadelphia
Classic + Elegant Philadelphia Wedding At Water Works By Cescaphe
Timeless Longwood Gardens Engagement
Old City Philadelphia Engagement Photos
American Swedish Historical Museum Engagement Session
Old City Philadelphia Engagement Session At Lokal Hotel
Romantic Jersey Shore Engagement
