Post # 1

Member
2859 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: May 2011 - Bartram's Garden
Our e-shoot is coming up in a little bit over a month. We’d planned to do them in the mosaic garden on South Street, and then probably around the area.
But today, something hit me: I do NOT want to get my photos taken where there are a crap ton of people around. And South Street on a Saturday is BUSY. I’ll be so uncomfortable if there are a lot of people looking at me, and I know the boy will be, too. We don’t like to be the center of attention at ALL.
So I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for someplace in or near Philly where we could get engagment photos taken.
Post # 3

Member
2859 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: May 2011 - Bartram's Garden
Okay, I’m using this as a place to list my ideas, for when the boy and I discuss later.
- Eastern State Penitentiary
- Boathouse Row
- In front of these murals in West Philly
- Wissahickon Park
Post # 4

Member
89 posts
Worker bee
How about these (some might be cliche, but still good spots and depending on the time of day, might not be overly crowded)
South Street Bridge
Penn’s Landing
Art Museum Steps
Love Park
Franklin Square
Independence Hall
Are you going for historic or more offbeat?
Post # 4

Member
89 posts
Worker bee
sorry, didn’t mean to post twice!
Post # 5

Member
2859 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: May 2011 - Bartram's Garden
@mkeller323: Thanks for the suggestions. We’re definitely looking for offbeat over historic.
I considered all of the places you listed but they’re all downtown, and downtown = crowded. Every time I think about strangers witnessing our photo shoot, I break out in a cold sweat.
Most of the places I’ve thought of since posting this are parks, or other outdoor spaces. But I think I might have them done right in our neighborhood. There are so many cool murals and stuff in the Fishtown/Northern Liberties area.
Post # 6

Member
2788 posts
Sugar bee
What about Fairmount Park at Lincoln drive? The trails always look so intriguing and fun.
Post # 8

Member
482 posts
Helper bee
I live right by Manayunk and there are a lot of quirky little side streets, corners, murals, and buildings in the area. Falls Bridge is beautiful when it’s lit up and then you have the Free Library building right off of Green Lane. There’s an awesome mosaic mural on the building where Art Plus Science used to be. That walking path is totally adorable and you have the train tracks right there-which I drunkenly had a fab photoshoot at one night!
Post # 9

Member
85 posts
Worker bee
Could you change the day to a weekday? That’s our plan. Crowds of gawkers do not make for natural photos.
Post # 10

Member
112 posts
Blushing bee
The Naval Yard where the new Urban Outfitters HQ is. Unbelievably cool area with very dramatic backdrops of Aircraft Carriers on the water, and there will be nobody around. Wanted to get married there but it didn’t work out, so we will hopefully be doing our pre-ceremony shots down there.
Post # 11

Member
151 posts
Blushing bee
I did mine at Silk City Diner! It was a funky place which I loved!
I’ve always wanted to do mine around 30th street station because you can get the city background, and inside, you can get good pics sitting on the bench!
Post # 12

Member
1 posts
Wannabee
Hello! I was wondering if any sort of permit or permission was needed to have professional pictures (engagement session) at 30th st. station? I know for the mosaic garden you need to pay a fee…
thanks!!
Post # 13

Member
162 posts
Blushing bee
No 30th street station does not require a permit. I did a session there recently. You can see the photography policy on the amtrak website
Post # 14

Member
85 posts
Worker bee
I’d like to add our e-shoot location to the list of Philly area suggestions. Since our photos just went online today, I can finally reveal our location: Terrain at Styer’s.