Kristy Hoadley Proudly
celebrates all people & love
Your Guide to
Engagement session Locations
Choosing Your engagement session location
in and Around Philly
Welcome and congrats on your engagement! I'm so looking forward to our time together during your engagement session. I truly believe engagement sessions are an essential part of the wedding process—which is why I include them in my wedding collections. An engagement session allows me to get to know the two of you better, the nuances of how you interact with each other, what your most flattering poses are, how I navigate lighting, and more.
It typically takes some time to warm up and get comfortable in front of a camera. Engagement sessions are the perfect solution for calming any nerves and feeling like a pro on your big day (we promise to have you warmed up and laughing in no time). Ultimately, this will make an instrumental difference on the wedding day since we'll have already had this opportunity to get to know each other.
Now, we can begin thinking about locations. I have put together the following locations by type. The best part of preferred locations is there is NO TRAVEL FEE. If you need help deciding, as always, I'm just a text or an email away.
Serving Philadelphia, NJ & NY
Locations
PLANNING YOUR SESSION
Choosing your location
I love when couples choose engagement session locations that really compliment their personalities and things they like to do together. If you both are foodies and love trying new restaurants and bars, we could do your session downtown at a rooftop bar overlooking the city!
I have categorized these location recommendations based upon the style of location. Just let me know what kind of vibe you are going for, whether it be coastal, classic, urban, organic, or whatever. Together we’ll be able to find the perfect location.
Engagement sessions can take place anywhere from immediately following a proposal to just a few days before the wedding. I’ve found that there isn’t a “good” or “bad” time to take your photos. I normally plan sessions based on a particular “look” a couple has in mind, spring flowers for example, or based on schedules.
Sessions typically last about an hour to an hour and a half and begin sessions about two hours before sunset. It is best to shoot when the sun is lower in the sky to avoid harsh shadows and bright sun patches, which is why it is extremely important to be on time to our session.
Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens ($300) March-October 1
Valley Forge National Park ($75 permit fee)
18th Century Garden ($175 permit fee)
Masonic Villages, Elizabethtown, PA
Tyler Gardens, Newtown ($100 permit fee)
Terrain at Styers
Philadelphia & PA
Grounds for Sculpture ($12 per person)
NJ Botanical Gardens at Skylands ($200 permit fee)
Deep Cut Gardens
Van Vleck House & Gardens ($300 permit fee)
Erlanger Garden at Monmouth University ($150 permit fee)
New Jersey
Vail Mansion, Morristown
Princeton University
Parque Ridley Creek - Hunting Hills Mansion
Villanova University
Skylands Manor ($200 permit fee)
Nemours Estate ($20 per person)
Tyler Gardens, Newtown ($100 permit fee)
Erlanger Gardens at Monmouth University ($150 permit fee)
Curtis Arboretum
Winterthur Gardens & Library ($25 admission fee each)
The following locations are in & around Philly, NJ & DE. Couples must acquire all permits and entrance fees.
NEMOURS ESTATE
The Second Bank of the United States ($175 permit fee)
The First Bank of the United States ($175 permit fee)
Waterworks ($150 permit fee)
Logan Square
Trader Joe's Parking Garage Roof Top
Franklin Social at Renaissance Hotel
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Philadelphia Free Public Library
American Swedish Historical Museum ($100 permit fee)
Philly City Hall
Merchant Exchange Building ($175 permit fee)
Rodin Museum ($100 permit fee)
Navy Yard
Cira Green
Rittenhouse Square
Logan Hotel Bar and Balcony
The W Hotel
Most center city locations require permits.
Couples must aquire all permits.
Most center city locations require permits.
Couples must aquire all permits.
engagement | Philadelphia underground bar
Grace & Anthony'S Philly Bar Engagement
VIEW THE GALLERY
Engagement | Tyler Gardens
Sequoia & Patrick's WINTER engagement
VIEW THE GALLERY
Permit Applications
As a Philadelphia wedding photographer, I understand the difficulty to efficiently find the links to applications for permits in Philly. So, I've gathered them all here for you.
South Steps & Lawn — $150 permit fee; $25 application fee https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations-weddingpermits.htm
The Second Bank of the United States
Front steps - not available due to construction thru March 2025 — $150 permit fee; $25 application fee https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations-weddingpermits.htm
The First Bank of the United States
$150 permit fee
https://www.phila.gov/media/20230516171951/Wedding-and-photo-application-rev-05.10.23.pdf
Waterworks — Fairmount Park
Outside Garden Area ONLY — $100 permit fee
Scroll down to Group Photography. Click “Learn more about private group photography & purchase permit”
https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations-weddingpermits.htm
Rodin Museum
$150 permit fee; $25 application fee
https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations-weddingpermits.htm
18th Century Gardens
Museum Grounds & Interior — $60/hr during open hours; $100/hr during closed hours
https://www.americanswedish.org/rentals
American Swedish Historical Museum
Rear of the building — $150 permit fee; $25 application fee https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations-weddingpermits.htm
Merchant Exchange Building
$150 permit fee; $25 application fee https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations-weddingpermits.htm
Washington Square Park
