Relaxing Engagement Photos at the Philadelphia Art Museum

A man stands behind a woman outdoors, hugging her with both arms. They are smiling at the camera in a sunlit, open plaza with a large building in the background.

Engagement sessions may feel a bit tricky to plan and make decisions on at first, but trust me when I say – engagement sessions are meant to be one of the most relaxing parts of your engagement and the road to your wedding. I think a lot of couples go into planning their engagement sessions with the mindset that it’s going to be stressful and that the location has to be this extravagant or iconic place, but it doesn’t have to be that way unless you absolutely want it to be! 

Danielle and Ryan’s romantic summer engagement session is a perfect example of how Two17Photo can take any location, iconic or not, and curate the engagement session to reflect on you and your partner’s style. While Danielle and Ryan’s engagement session was at one of the most notorious art museums in the north eastern region of the country, you can’t really tell until towards the end of their session where we’re standing in the famous spot of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Most of this engagement session was spent in the parking lot of the Art Museum, because honestly, this area is definitely a hidden gem to take photos. We are skilled at finding locations and the perfect light in imperfect moments to create the perfect environment for your engagement photos. There’s no need for you to stress about finding and deciding on the “perfect spot” – when we can make ANY hidden corner (or parking lot in this case) a romantic spot for your photo session.

 

A man and woman holding hands and standing on a paved path in a sunny park with trees and grass around them.
A couple stands together outdoors, smiling at each other. They are dressed in blue and surrounded by greenery and rocks.
A man and a woman stand close together outdoors by rocks and greenery, both smiling. The man wears a blue shirt and jeans; the woman wears a blue and white floral dress.
A woman smiles at the camera while standing close to a man outdoors. The man faces her, and both appear relaxed and happy. Trees and grass are visible in the background.
A couple stands together outdoors next to a stone wall and blooming bushes, looking at each other and smiling.
A couple stands close together outdoors, smiling and touching noses, with the woman's hands on the man's face. Both appear happy and affectionate.
A couple poses together outdoors; in the first image, they face the camera and smile, while in the second, they share a kiss. Lush greenery is in the background.

 

This is why so many people put the importance of finding a skilled, professional photographer. They’re not only meant to give you the photos you’ve dreamed of, but to make the entire process – from location, to lighting, and even to timing, easy and stress-free. You’re going to have to coordinate and make a lot of decisions when it comes to planning your wedding, so let the engagement session be your way to decompress, relax, and just have fun with your partner! 

While I preach that your engagement photo session is meant to be relaxing, the reality is that if you’re someone who is not 100% comfortable in front of the camera, it’s going to be a little awkward at the start of your session. But that’s okay! It’s actually extremely normal to feel that way! The first 10-15 minutes of your session will most likely be the most awkward part of the day, but that’s just as we’re getting to know each other and figuring out how to interact together.! But not to worry, within minutes all the awkwardness will fade, and your photographers will just become a part of the background. Letting yourselves enjoy one another and just having fun is the key to a natural and beautiful engagement session. Even if that awkward feeling never completely fades away for you and you feel a little silly, own it! Imperfect and candid moments make for the best (and even romantic) photos, because you’re embracing your true self and of course, who better to be yourself with than your fiancè! Those awkward and silly moments are honestly some of my favorite photos at the end of the session. They are real moments of you and your partner, rather than all the perfectly posed moments. Letting real emotions and intimate moments shine through and occur naturally during your session is better than pretending that you’re comfortable and that’s honestly what causes awkward photos. During your engagement photo session, just let all the weight of your shoulders, relax, have fun and let your photographers do the work for you. I promise you, you won’t regret it. 

 

Two people hold hands and face each other outside a large beige stone building with multiple windows under a partly cloudy sky.
A woman in a blue patterned dress smiles while holding a man's arm. A close-up shows her engagement ring on her left hand.
A man and woman walk together beside a large stone wall, with the man's arm around the woman's shoulders. Both are smiling. The photo is black and white.
Two people standing on a textured surface; one wearing gray sneakers and jeans, the other in red sandals and a blue patterned dress.
A man and woman stand side by side outdoors, with the man’s arm around the woman’s shoulders. They both smile at the camera, in front of a beige stone wall and shrubbery.
A woman with curly hair wearing a blue and white floral dress smiles at the camera in one photo and looks down in another, both taken outdoors.
A woman wearing a blue and white floral dress poses outdoors, standing and twirling on a paved pathway with a building and trees in the background.
Close-up of a woman showing an engagement ring on her hand resting on a man's shoulder as they sit closely together.
A woman in a blue floral dress and a man in a blue shirt sit next to each other on a sandy surface, both smiling at the camera.
A man stands behind a woman outdoors, hugging her with both arms. They are smiling at the camera in a sunlit, open plaza with a large building in the background.
A man embraces a woman from behind outdoors in sunlight. The woman has her eyes closed and wears floral earrings and a blue dress; the man gazes at her.
A man hugs a woman from behind while standing outdoors. The woman wears a blue floral dress, and the man wears a dark shirt. They both look relaxed and content.
Two people embrace, with one person wearing a diamond engagement ring and a watch. Both are dressed in blue-patterned clothing.
A woman and a man stand together outdoors in sunlight, with the woman’s hand on the man’s chest. A large building is visible in the background.
A couple stands outdoors, embracing and looking at each other, with trees and a large building in the background.
A couple sits together outdoors on a stone surface, surrounded by greenery and white flowers. The woman wears a blue floral dress; the man wears a short-sleeve, blue button-up shirt.
A couple stands smiling in front of a neoclassical building with large columns and banners featuring portraits and the word "CASSATT.

 

I had a blast photographing Danielle & Ryan just having fun together during their summer engagement session at the Philadelphia Art Museum, and I look forward to reconnecting with them at their Franklin Institute wedding in a few weeks! 

To see some of our recent weddings, take a look at this Corinthian Yacht Club wedding, this Beachside wedding, and this Cape May Beach wedding video. 

Ready to reach out and discuss the plans for your own wedding? Send us a message here.

 

A woman and a man hold hands while walking outdoors with city skyscrapers and trees in the background.
A man stands behind a woman, embracing her as they both smile. They are outdoors in front of a large leafy tree under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Summer Engagement Photos, Philadelphia Museum of Art

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