Old City Philadelphia Engagement Session | E + M

I had the pleasure of shooting with Elly and Matt for their Old City Philadelphia engagement session! I am just swooning over the colors of this stunning street and the smiling faces of the happy couple. I love keeping these sessions fun and full of character. These moments are timeless and that’s exactly how I want to capture them for my couples!

Elly and Matt met through mutual friends at one of Philly’s favorite hangout spots, North Bowl. After that Saturday night, they’ve been inseparable ever since. Just a few years later while on a ski trip in Lake Tahoe, they had the dreamiest proposal. Elly grew up skiing with her family her whole life, and Matt has played ice hockey since he was a kid, so their love for the outdoors has been a big piece of their relationship. Each morning they woke up to watch the sunrise and take a photo together over the lake. On the last morning of their trip, Matt said to Elly as she was taking photos of the sunrise over the lake, “turn around and take a picture of this” and he was down on one knee.

For a lot of couples, the thought of being in front of a camera can be very daunting and this can often lead to awkward and less-than modelesque pictures. This is where an experienced photographer can help. Elly & Matt allowed me to do what I do best –  make them feel at ease and help them to be as natural as possible, letting their love tell the story.

If you’re wondering how to have the best time at your engagement session and get those fun and sweet photos of the two of you, it’s important we first choose a location that makes you feel at home, that’s familiar to you and that means something to you both as a couple. This makes the initial stage less intimidating, and it truly allows you to act yourselves because you know where you are and are familiar with what’s around you. Elly and Matt live together in Old Philly and have spent their relationship exploring the old city. 

We stopped at some of their favorite places: Lokal Hotel, Cobblestone Streets, Race Street pier, Cherry Street Pier, and take-out cocktails from La Peg– the perfect old city engagement session!

My second piece of advice is to keep things simple and honest to you as a couple. We don’t need elaborate outfits or props to try and distract from the important parts of the images… YOU. I always suggest wearing your favorite outfit that you would wear to date night or something comfortable depending on the location. In the old streets, Elly’s dress and heels were perfect for the occasion. She had the freedom to move and yet she looked and felt beautiful!

The most important thing is to remember this shoot is about you, so always do what you’re most comfortable with!

Getting to know my couples beforehand is so important to me! It helps me establish your personalities and what they want from their sessions with me. Elly and Matt loved sharing their love story, and their Old Philadelphia Engagement Session was the perfect way to showcase their love and relationship together. 

Adoring this session? Click here to check out this steamy Avalon engagement session!