Philadelphia is such a fun city for taking engagement photos. It’s full of charming neighborhoods, cool cafés, and arts everywhere you look. A lot of people opt for Philadelphia engagement photos in Old City. Brittany and Joey took a different approach. For engagement photos that felt true to them, they thought it would make sense to meet up in their favorite neighborhood, Fishtown. Their cozy, fun photos are a great window into their relationship and the joyful wedding that’s sure to follow.
For Brittany and Joey’s Philadelphia engagement photos, we met up at Lokal. This boutique hotel has two locations in Philadelphia and one in Cape May, New Jersey. Brittany and Joey love the rooms at the Fishtown location, and it’s easy to see why. The sunny rooms are moody and modern with black accent walls and backsplashes. The minimalist furniture and warm wood create a relaxing space to connect with your partner. The patches of bright sunlight against the dark walls made it possible to create beautiful compositions too.
I loved starting Brittany and Joey’s Philadelphia engagement photos in a hotel. It was a great way for them to warm up to being photographed. Without worrying about strangers and onlookers, they could really be present with each other. It also gave them a chance to connect with me, which is part of the point of an engagement session with your wedding photographer. Now we know each other better, and they can feel all the more comfortable on their wedding day.
Photographing the first part of this engagement session at a hotel also captured the cozy feeling of a lifestyle session. Something about Brittany and Joey curling up on the couch together feels so organic. You can see how natural their laughs are. I highly recommend this approach to anyone who wants to ease into their engagement session. Another perk was that Brittany had a place for an easy outfit change before we headed out to explore the neighborhood.
Like I mentioned before, Fishtown was an ideal spot for Brittany and Joey’s Philadelphia engagement photos. Philly has their heart, and they especially love this neighborhood. They spend a lot of time exploring the restaurants and shops and attending events here. Fishtown is as colorful as the rest of the city, so I was excited to get out of Lokal and explore with Brittany and Joey.
No set of Philadelphia engagement photos is complete without at least one mural. Fishtown is home to plenty, including Ambrella’s “Conquer” candy heart mural. Her hearts can be found all over the city. The pinks and reds of this mural made a great backdrop for engagement photos. Brittany’s red dress tied into the palette nicely, too. The wall beside Goldie has colorful scene, as well.
Getting outside gave us a chance to do more movement-based poses than we were able to do in the hotel. Brittany and Joey walked, danced, leaned, and turned their way through Fishtown. The movement gives their photos a lot of life. You also get the flowering shrubs and a stronger sense of that springtime energy.
In addition to a variety of poses, heading from the hotel to the neighborhood gave us more backdrops to work with. The city is full of opportunities for cool compositions. The leading lines of the el add a bit of drama. The brick walls of big industrial buildings add scale and a minimalism that really draws your eye to Brittany and Joey’s interaction at the same time. The possibilities for cool photos around Fishtown really feel endless.
I like to say I’m the New Jersey wedding photographer for people who are marrying their best friends. That couldn’t be more true for Brittany and Joey. They’re high school sweethearts who have been together for a whole decade. After being through so much together, their comfort and intimacy really shines in these photos. Their wedding at Parker’s Garage in LBI is going to be an absolute joy to photograph.
Would you like me to take your Philadelphia engagement photos? Let’s document your love with warm, joyful photos that feel like you. Reach out to me here!
As a wedding and elopement photographer based in New Jersey, I specialize in capturing enchanting moments that tell the unique love stories of my clients. I am dedicated to providing LGBTQIA+ friendly services and take pride in embracing and celebrating the diversity of all couples.