Philly is full of cool spots to take unique engagement photos. Penn’s Landing is an iconic spot. It fits right into the historic architecture of Old City while offering a distinct setting for fun photos. I took Maddie and Syd’s Penn’s Landing engagement photos on film. These images have a carefree summertime energy that feels true to their relationship.
In this blog post, I share:
- What’s to Love about a Penn’s Landing Engagement Session
- Planning Your Penn’s Landing Engagement Photos
- More Tips for Your Engagement Session
- Choosing Your Philly Film Photographer
What’s to Love about a Penn’s Landing Engagement Session
Penn’s Landing is a great place for engagement photos because it gives you so many options for backdrops. Take a walk along the Delaware River, and you’ll get
- The Philly skyline
- The Ben Franklin Bridge
- Historic ships
- Charming gardens
It’s a recipe for a great engagement session!
I loved exploring Penn’s Landing for Syd and Maddie’s engagement session. We took advantage of everything the location offered to create a gallery of playful, sweet engagement photos. There’s a good mix of classic moments (walking hand in hand with the Moshulu behind them) and impromptu fun (hopping in the swan boat).
Another great thing about doing Penn’s Landing engagement photos? You can easily turn it into a date night. Make a reservation at your favorite Old City restaurant for after your session. It’s another excuse to celebrate your engagement and make the most of being dressed up.
Rittenhouse Square is another of my favorite places to take engagement photos in Philly. Check out these Rittenhouse engagement photos on film!
Planning Your Penn’s Landing Engagement Photos
The Best Time of Year to Do Penn’s Landing Engagement Photos
Spring
The temperatures are perfect for engagement photos in the spring. Philadelphia gets plenty of cool days, so you have flexibility with your outfit. The spring tends to be cloudier, but that diffused light can actually be nice for lighting photos evenly.
Summer
People love to do engagement photos in the summer. I get it! In a city like Philadelphia, there are so many events and beautiful spaces available. It can get hot, though. In July, you’re looking at average temperatures in the high 80s. Interestingly, July is also the wettest month. If you don’t want to think about sweat or rain in your photos, consider a spring or fall session instead.
Fall
Fall is probably my favorite season. Who doesn’t love an excuse to break out a good sweater? It’s also an ideal time to be in Philadelphia. Skies are clearest in September and October. You can soak up the sun and enjoy the breeze during your session. Temperatures average in the 70s by October 1.
Winter
Winter can be tricky, but I think it’s an underrated time of year. Fewer crowds make it easier to take pictures outdoors. And if you get a dusting of snow? All the better for cozy photos!
The Best Time of Day to Do Penn’s Landing Engagement Photos
Like pretty much any public location, the best time to do Penn’s Landing engagement photos will be soon after sunrise or shortly before sunset. I took these photos with Maddie and Syd not long before sunset. You can’t beat that beautiful golden glow.
More Tips for Your Engagement Session
What to Wear
Two rules to keep in mind when choosing an engagement photo outfit:
- Be comfortable.
- Be you.
The most important things are that you feel like yourself and don’t need to fuss at your outfit during your session. You’ll have the best time if you can move with more ease.
But what about color?
If you look through Penn’s Landing engagement photos online, you’ll see a lot of people choose neutral outfits. That’s great if that works for you! With the neutrals of the cityscape, though, bright clothes stand out in fun ways.
Maddie wore vibrant striped dress for these Penn’s Landing photos. It was perfect! It looked summery, moved nicely for photos, and stood out against the neutral backdrops.
How to Pose
Every photographer will tell you something different about posing for engagement photos. To some degree, I adapt my style to each client. My main goal isn’t to run through a list of poses with you; it’s to preserve your relationship with an image that’s authentic to you. I create space where you can be yourself to make that easier.
I dive into how I photograph weddings in more detail in this blog post.
Choosing Your Philly Film Photographer
I documented Syd and Maddie’s Penn’s Landing engagement photos on a mix of digital and film photography. All the images featured in this blog post are film photos.
I actually fell in love with photography in high school where I spent a lot of time in the dark room. Like, time I was supposed to be in other classes. I learned so much about the craft of photography because I couldn’t fall back on a lot of tools built into the digital process.
Film was a great medium for photographing Syd and Maddie at Penn’s Landing. This kind of photography is especially good at preserving that in-the-moment feeling. You really get a sense of the affection between Maddie and Syd as they interact.
Color translates so beautifully in film, too. All the colors feel alive and real, not oversaturated or desaturated. Everything, including Maddie and Syd’s clothes, the swan boat’s decorations, and even the green tugboat, feels real and tangible.
If you’re curious to learn more about film wedding photography, I shared what I think is behind the resurgence of interest in film with The Knot. Check this article here.
I also share questions you should ask a film photographer in this blog post.
Are you looking for a film photographer to document your engagement? I’m Theo, a Philly wedding photographer specializing in film. I’d love to tell your story with photos that are unapologetically you. Inquire with me here!
