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April 18, 2023
Man in woman kiss on carved stone staircase beside tall magnolia tree
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Top 10 Best Outdoor Engagement Photoshoot Locations in PA

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.

Woman sits one step below man on large brown stone staircase | Tyler Gardens Engagement Session Photos by Lauren E. Bliss Photography

Architectural Photo Session Backdrop

1. F&M College Campus

Man twirls woman at the end of a pier over the water at F&M college in Lancaster PA

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!

Man holds woman up as they kiss in front of the water at F&M college in Lancaster PA
Man dips woman in front of brick building with white columns at F&M college in Lancaster PA
Couple sits on a wooden bench in front of manicured floral garden at F&M college in Lancaster PA

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.

Couple kisses in front of Hershey Theater front entrance| Hershey Theater Engagement Photo Session by Lauren E. Bliss Photography
Couple kisses in front of 250' tall radial brick chimneys at the original Hersey Chocolate factory in Hersey, PA | Hershey Theater Engagement Photo Session by Lauren E. Bliss Photography

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.

Couple holds hands and looks in opposite directions in front of woodsy park sunset | Overlook Park Engagement Photo Session by Lauren E. Bliss Photography
Man twirls fiance in a white floor length floral dress under a canopy of tall trees | Overlook Park Engagement Photo Session by Lauren E. Bliss Photography

Engagement photos in a field

4. Valley Forge Park

Philadelphia engagement session photos in a field

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. 

engagement session photos with puppy in a field
Philadelphia engagement session photos of a couple in a field

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!

Man and woman stand on a balcony that overlooks perfectly manicured green hedges and elaborate fountain at Longwood Gardens in Kennet Square PA
Woman looks up at her fiance while they stand in front of a long stone fountain with archway details and carved vases at Longwood Gardens
Man and woman stand hand in hand facing opposite directions in front of landscaped florals inside Longwood Gardens greenhouse display

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!

Man in woman kiss on carved stone staircase beside tall magnolia tree
Man and woman face each other and smile in front of a brown stone staircase | Tyler Gardens Engagement Session Photos by Lauren E. Bliss Photography
Man and woman walk hand in hand in front of a row of blooming cherry trees at Tyler Gardens in PA

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.

Couple sits on brick stairway and smiles at camera in front of live pink floral hedge in background | Conestoga House and Gardens Engagemnent Photo Session by Lauren E. Bliss Photography
Couple stands on brick pathway and smiles at each other with red flower window boxes in background | Conestoga House and Gardens Engagemnent Photo Session by Lauren E. Bliss Photography
Man leads woman up a stone staircase with historic Lancaster County mansion in the background | Conestoga House and Gardens Engagemnent Photo Session by Lauren E. Bliss Photography
Conestoga House and Gardens Engagemnent Photo Session by Lauren E. Bliss Photography
Couple kissing in front of Bulls Head Public House in Lititz decorated with Christmas decor | Dowtown Lititz Engagemnent Photo Session by Lauren E. Bliss Photography

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!

Two people sit at a white marble bar facing each other with two full champagne glasses in between them | Downtown Manayunk Engagement Session by Lauren E. Bliss Photography
Man holds woman up as they kiss under hanging rainbow umbrellas in a city street | Downtown Manayunk Engagement Session by Lauren E. Bliss Photography
Downtown Manayunk engagement session photos at a modern bar with Lauren E. Bliss Photography

9. Downtown Lititz

Couple kissing in front of Bulls Head Public House in Lititz decorated with Christmas decor | Dowtown Lititz Engagemnent Photo Session by Lauren E. Bliss Photography

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!

Black and white photo taken through a window of couple kissing at a table inside of Bulls Head Public House in Lititz | Dowtown Lititz Engagemnent Photo Session by Lauren E. Bliss Photography
Couple standing in front of large stone columns with stone building decorated with Christmas wreaths in the background |Downtown Lititz Engagement Photo Session by Lauren E. Bliss Photography

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!

Couple stands facing the Philadelphia Naval Yard while holding hands
Couple interlink arms while drinking from matching bottles of La Marca Prosecco at the Philadelphia Naval Yard at sunset
Couple kisses while sitting on a stone bench in front of a flower bed
Couple pops a bottle of champagne in front of the water at the Philadelphia Naval Yard to celebrate their engagament

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!

Meet    artist
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If there’s one thing we have in common, it’s our unwavering commitment to the details -

- the lush cascading bouquet, the elegant wax seal on your invitations, and the seemingly small moments that become dear reminders of your big day. But, most importantly, it’s how we thrive on connection.

I believe the best wedding photography experience happens when we’re connected. That means trusting your photographer, a level of faith I treat earnestly.   

You deserve a custom experience as breathtaking as your final gallery, and that’s what I’ll deliver.

and I can’t wait to capture it.
of a lifetime,
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