Are you planning engagement photos in PA and looking for the perfect outdoor session location to capture your love? I’ve shot hundreds of engagement sessions across the Keystone State and put together a list of my all-time fav outdoor photo locations. Whether your backdrop is a lush garden, a woodsy park, a romantic historical site, or a concrete jungle, you can’t go wrong with any of these spots! Below I’m sharing the top 10 best outdoor engagement photoshoot locations in Pennsylvania.
Architectural Photo Session Backdrop
1. F&M College Campus
This F&M campus engagement session was hard to categorize because it had a little bit of everything! I loved the architectural aspect of the campus buildings, walkways, and stairs that we were able to incorporate into Kayla and Cayden’s photos. At the same time, there was the added bonus of having water and beautifully landscaped gardens in the background. This is such a serene and versatile location, especially for couples whose love story began at F&M in Lancaster!
2. Hershey Theater
Aren’t Dana and Matt the absolute cutest?! Shooting with them at Hershey Theater and the surrounding area was so much fun! The historic Hershey Theater offers breathtaking architecture and timeless charm. The venue’s inspiring décor and manicured grounds are perfect for couples who want a clean and modern look for their photos while still giving a nod to the past.
Woodsy Engagement Photo Session
3. Overlook Park
Calling all sunset lovers!! Overlook Park in Lancaster County is one of the best outdoor engagement photoshoot locations for capturing blue skies, hills, woods, and picturesque trails. This location also offers panoramic views, perfect for catching that golden hour light.
Engagement photos in a field
4. Valley Forge Park
Still not over this Valley Forge Park engagement photo sesh with Shannon and Ben! I recently shared another post detailing their full engagement session in downtown Phoenixville on my blog. For the second half of their session, we headed to Valley Forge with their pup, Luna, to capture these romantic engagement photos in a field of flowers. So romantic, so timeless, so whimsy. SWOON.
Best Garden Engagement Session locations
5. Longwood Gardens
This list would NOT be complete without mentioning Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square! There are a whopping 1,077 acres of gardens to explore, from flower-filled meadows to elegant fountains. Every corner you turn is a photographer’s dream! We took full advantage of the fall weather and foliage during Jess and Casey’s engagement session in October 2021. The variety of poses and backdrops we were able to capture at this venue is endless!
6. Tyler Gardens
Okay… talk about a gorgeous couple! And Radha’s smile was just *chef’s kiss*. Radha and Charlie could not have picked a more stunning garden location for their PA engagement session. Tyler Gardens may be one of the best (if not the best) engagement photoshoot locations in Bucks County! It’s actually located on the Newtown campus of Bucks County Community College. It’s no surprise that Tyler Gardens is also a wedding venue! Classical architecture and dramatic stairways are surrounded by formal English gardens and ponds. April was the perfect month to photograph Tyler Gardens; the daffodils and cherry trees were in full bloom!
7. Conestoga House & Gardens
This next session at the Conestoga House and Gardens belongs in a magazine IMHO. Brittany and Matthew had the most beautiful late summer weather and sunset for their engagement session. The Conestoga House is truly a little slice of heaven in the heart of Lancaster County. The brick-paved walkway, gorgeous florals, and live hedges are what dreams are made of! The gardens surrounding this historic mansion are an enchanting place to capture your love story.
Best Urban Engagement Session Locations
8. Downtown Manayunk in Philadelphia
If you want an urban vibe for your PA engagement photos, I highly recommend exploring downtown Manayunk for your photo session! In this lively neighborhood of Philadelphia, you’ll find cobblestone streets, colorful murals, and brick buildings that create the most beautiful cityscape backdrop. We spent the afternoon roaming the streets and even popped into this chic bar for a celebratory champagne pic at the end of Rachel & Tim’s session!
9. Downtown Lititz
Who says you can’t shoot outdoor engagement photos in the middle of a Pennsylvania winter? There’s honestly nothing I love more than a December session! Adriana and James picked downtown Lititz as the backdrop for their photo session, and I’m in love with how their gallery turned out. Historic downtown Lititz is a thriving small town with a classic Americana feel. Picturesque streets, beautiful architecture, and quaint shopfronts decorated for Christmas were the cherry on top of this gorgeous winter engagement session!
10. Philadelphia Naval Yard
The Philadelphia Naval Yard is a National Historic Landmark and a historic shipyard on the Delaware River. This was my first time shooting a session at this location and I loved the mix of nautical and urban aesthetics; we were able to capture beautiful shots in front of the industrial waterfront and historic ships! Emily and Wes coordinated in matching blue tones and when that golden hour light hit the water? Game. over. And of course, we ended their session with a sunset champagne pop!
If you’re looking for the best places to take engagement photos near you, you can’t go wrong picking any one of these whimsy outdoor engagement session spots in PA. I’d love to help capture this milestone moment of your love story and share some of my favorite hidden gem photo session locations for your perfect engagement. My team and I are so passionate about capturing romantic engagement photos that will remain timeless tokens of your love for years to come! Reach out to learn more about our engagement and wedding day photography packages!
