(as of Spring 2025)
One of the oldest cities in America, Philadelphia is rich with history and culture. From its waterfront parks, to architecture in historic Old City, to iconic City Hall, the sights are endless – and understandably popular for wedding and engagement photos. As a wedding and elopement photographer born and raised around the city, I’m thrilled to share all of the best engagement session locations in Philadelphia.
Old City
RACE STREET PIER
After a few changes over the last several years, as of spring of 2025 permits are required for every location along the Delaware waterfront, including Race Street Pier. This location is a great waterfront view of the Ben Franklin Bridge spanning over the Delaware.
ELFRETH’S ALLEY
To the best of my knowledge and extensive research, Elfreth’s Alley does not have a permit for standard engagement sessions. As a general rule, this location functions better as a quick stop than our home base for an entire engagement session (largely due to the tourism draw, as well as its residential status). Regardless, the oldest street in America boasts incredible architecture and cobblestone streets.
SASSAFRAS
If you’re looking for a great restaurant / bar scene in Old City, Sassafras is the place to go! While there was not a permit fee, it’s always best practice to contact a restaurant before taking photos on site to make sure you aren’t interfering with their regular service. We had permission to go early in the afternoon before the evening rush, so we had plenty of time and privacy. It’s also best practice, when there is no permit fee, to buy something while you’re there as a gesture of thanks.
COBBLESTONE STREETS
Some of the most iconic parts of Old City, Philadelphia are the historic cobblestone streets that line current functioning neighborhoods. They provide such a beautiful literal texture to photos, not to mention being a quieter part of the city (meaning, you can frolic down the streets for a moment without running into any cars)
Independence National Historic Park
While most parks in and around Philadelphia are managed by the Philadelphia Parks & Rec department, the exceptions are (for the most part), the Delaware River Waterfront managing the waterfront parks, and the National Park Service managing Independence National Historic Park. Each of these locations have different permit processes and requirements, so be sure to check whose jurisdiction the park you’re planning to use falls under.
Keep in mind that these regulations change somewhat frequently, depending on the current administration and seemingly many other factors. I try to take a look at their regulations and permit process at least annually to make sure I’m up to date on their policies.
Regular engagement sessions do not need a permit, as long as they meet all of the following conditions:
- Occurs in areas open to the public;
- Uses hand-carried equipment only;
- Does not require exclusive use of a site;
- Does not adversely impact park resources, values, or other visitors; and
- Is not likely to result in additional administrative costs for the National Park Service.
That being said, wedding portraits do need a permit.
I generally recommend the locations in and around Independence National Historic Park only from Mondays through Thursdays due to popularity for wedding photos, which do need a permit for exclusivity.
MERCHANT’S EXCHANGE BUILDING
Built in 1834, the Merchant’s Exchange building, once home to business exchanges for everything from cargo to stocks, was a booming point of commerce in Old City. Today, it is one of the most iconic landmarks in the city.
SECOND BANK
The Second Bank of the United States is another architectural wonder of Old City, Philadelphia. Today it is home to a portrait gallery of the founding fathers, and a gorgeous location for portraits.
WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK
This beautiful park is directly adjacent to Independence Hall. It boasts old growth trees and walkways that offer the backdrop of several beautiful buildings.
MAGNOLIA GARDEN
Popular during its bloom each spring in mid-April, the Magnolia Garden has graced the Independence National Historic Park since 1959. This park is intimate and a rare lush location in the city. It is available for wedding rentals.
ROSE GARDEN
Another intimate garden in Old City, the Rose Garden has a plethora of antique roses surrounding a cobblestone pathway. It is also available for small wedding rentals, but is a wonderful location typically for weekdays. The roses bloom between late spring into early summer.
Center City
Center City and its parks are mostly managed by the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department, with some interesting caveats. The best first-place-to-look is on their website, but not every location falls under their jurisdiction.
BROAD STREET & CITY HALL
One of the most iconic places for engagement photos in Philadelphia is standing on the median of South Broad Street, looking toward City Hall. Fortunately, this spot does not require a permit (though there may be a line!) City Hall also does not require a permit for wedding photos or engagement photos. Its architecture is a staple to Center City, and it has plenty of walkways and stairs to explore. You may have to be patient to time pedestrian traffic, but it offers an impressive and accessible backdrop.
(Interestingly enough, Dilworth Park, which shares a block with City Hall, does not require a permit for wedding portraits, but it does require a permit for engagement photos.
For Permits, Contact: rentals@centercityphila.org
LOVE PARK
The Tourist Trap to end all Tourist Traps (but all the locals really love it). Love Park is right next to City Hall in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia. Apart from the Love Sign (an obvious attraction), there are great views of City Hall and directly up the Franklin Parkway to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Love Park is also governed by the Parks & Rec department, as are pretty much all public parks in the city. If you happen to be thinking about eloping or having a super intimate wedding, the city offers Wedding Wednesdays throughout the warmer months. You can get married at the Love Sign, blocked off for you and your group, and an officiant is provided for a 20 minute block of time. It’s extremely cost effective, not to mention pretty badass (but I might be biased!)
Check out Emilia & Vinny’s Love Park elopement!
PARKING GARAGES
If you’re looking for a great view of the city, you can’t go wrong with exploring parking garages. There are several throughout the city that have great rooftop views (specifics are in the link above).
Rules and regulations for this can be vague. I have never reached out to a garage before to specifically ask, and I always have a few backup locations in mind (and communicated to my clients) if we ever photograph at one, just in case. Another challenge is that a lot of other photographers already know this industry secret, so occasionally there may be other people on the roof as well. That being said, there is typically plenty of space to work. This is an option that requires some flexibility, but the views are truly immaculate.
MAGIC GARDENS
The Magic Gardens are a private art park of beautiful mosaics located on South Street. It is an incredibly eclectic and immersive experience, taking up several city lots both indoors and outdoors. This is a popular tourist attraction and is perfect for couples seeking whimsy and color while still in an outdoor setting.
This nonprofit is not part of the Park’s & Rec department, so you coordinate directly with the organization to schedule. Permits are required, and have a very limited time frame from 9am – 11am on Mondays and Thursdays. There is a permit fee – reach out to them for the specifics on fees!
Rittenhouse
Rittenhouse is one of the best known neighborhoods in Philadelphia – and as soon as you set foot there, you see why. Historic brownstones line the streets, and the back alleys boast Philadelphia’s staple cobblestone streets
RITTENHOUSE SQUARE
While Rittenhouse Square absolutely does fall under Philadelphia’s Parks and Recreation department’s jurisdiction (meaning it does require a permit, technically), I have seen a lot of mixed feedback online about many photographers never getting a permit and never being asked. Take all of that with a grain of salt, and just know that technically it is required for the Square itself and there is always a possibility of being stopped or fined without one.
ADDISON STREET
On the other hand, there are plenty of beautiful areas of the neighborhood to explore just by taking a walk – no permit required. Addison Street is lined with cobblestones and dreamy string lights, an unassuming and unofficial pocket park that is a walking destination for locals. There may be other people strolling along, but there is plenty of room to use this street for portraits. Its quintessential charm is unbeatable.
Fairmount
PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART
An imposing building, visible from I76, Kelly Drive, and even Center City, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a city staple. You will always find people running up the “Rocky Steps”, admiring the view of the city from the top, and maybe even reminiscing about a Super Bowl Parade. As you might imagine, the PMOA is a popular location for photos – with good reason.
The art museum exterior does not require a permit for engagement photos, but the interior does. Keep in mind that you may be contending with other people here. That said, there are beautiful areas along the back and sides of the building that offer just as good of a view, typically with way less crowds. The Greek inspired facade is timeless and beautiful, and catches great light and great views of the city at all times of day.
On the other hand, the interior of the PMOA absolutely requires a permit, and with good reason. Protecting the art and both your experience, and that of their visitors, is paramount. You can find more information on policy for interior photography >HERE<.
WATERWORKS GARDEN & EAGLE PAVILION
Located directly behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art is the Waterworks Eagle Pavilion and Gardens. This park runs right along the Schuylkill river and includes the Waterworks venue. This is a popular location as well, and has a variety of interesting blooms and foliage throughout the year. While this park is truly right behind the art museum, it does require a permit and falls under Parks & Rec jurisdiction.
BARNES FOUNDATION
The Barnes Foundation is another beautiful art gallery that has lovely interior and exterior spaces. It is more eclectic inside than the Rodin Institute, though its exterior has a locally infamous walkway across a reflecting pool. Its lush gardens are a beautiful backdrop for any engagement photos!
Their permit process is also on a case-by-case basis, suggesting reaching out to them directly for more information on timing and pricing – but a permit is absolutely required to photograph commercially on site.
RODIN INSTITUTE
The Rodin Institute is located along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, near the PMOA and Barnes Foundation. The gardens out front are a very popular wedding and engagement session destination, with beautiful architecture and even a reflecting pool. There are different permit processes for the exterior and interior of the institute, but both require permits. On weekends, you will almost certainly find a wedding party taking portraits here!
SCHUYLKIL RIVER TRAIL ALONG KELLY DRIVE
You can find joggers, walkers, and picnic-goers along the Shuylkil River Trail, pretty much any time of year and any time of day. This trail follows the river on the western side of the city, up to Boathouse Row and beyond. For a brief couple of weeks in the spring, this trail bursts with cherry blossoms all the way along the trail. There are several parking points areas, though they can get competitive, and several entry points.
Technically, yes, this is part of Fairmount Park and therefore under Parks & Rec policy. This is another park that I see a lot of mixed feedback about online, though the Fairmount website also directs back to the requirement for a permit for engagement photos.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PARKWAY
The Parkway stretches from City Hall all the way up to the Art Museum, and is one of the most iconic views in the city (second maybe only to the view of City Hall from South Broad Street, and maybe the art museum itself). It is a bustling city road with lots of old growth trees along the sidewalks, and connects the most popular museums in the area. The Franklin Institute, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation, and the Rodin Institute are just a few of the big names in the area. While I wouldn’t recommend this for an entire engagement session, mostly due to versatility, it’s absolutely worth walking along the parkway if you already plan to be in the area.
To my knowledge, after researching extensively, there is no permit required for the sidewalks along the Parkway. If you want to be super safe you can always reach out to the Philly Parks & Rec department, but as it is not formally a park my understanding is that it is just treated as a public sidewalk.
WISSAHICKON PARK TRAIL (FORBIDDEN DRIVE)
Wissahickon Park Trail covers a lot of ground, and offers a lot of features. Beautiful walking trails take you through the woods and through a covered bridge (an eastern Pennsylvania staple). There are plenty of rock formations, streams and winding staircases (yes, you heard that right) to explore as well.
The mere scope of this location takes some planning to make sure you know how to get to the areas you want to visit, but a few quick Google searches (or Alltrails!) should help with that! Permits are required for this location via the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation department.
MORRIS ARBORETUM AND GARDENS
Philadelphia is home to some exquisite old-world mansions, many of which have been lovingly maintained and restored. The lucky ones have even kept some of the estate land that they originally owned. Morris Arboretum and Gardens has beautiful walking trails and gardens, as well as a beautiful estate. They are one of my favorite local wedding venues and the grounds have so much character.
There is a $275/hour permit required for all commercial photography at Morris Arboretum and Gardens. This is a steep price, but the grounds are worth every penny. Reach out to Morris Arboretum directly to handle everything.
WEST PHILADELPHIA
CIRA GREEN
While Cira Green technically falls under the domain of a parking garage roof, this University City park has been developed into a lovely green space overlooking the Schyulkil River into Center City. It is a trendy and modern park with beautiful light and beautiful views.
It also, at least as of my present research into blog posts and this FAQ posted online, does not require a permit for engagement or wedding photography, as it is technically privately owned and managed (re. parking garage), though it is open to the public.
BARTRAM’S GARDEN
Located in Southwest Philly, Bartram’s garden is another estate that has been lovingly maintained to offer a rural escape right in the heart of urban Philadelphia. They are the “oldest surviving botanical gardens in North America,” and are proud of their focus in horticulture. The mission and overall vibes of this space are immaculate.
Their permit process is managed internally, separately from the Parks & Rec department. Every permit is considered on a case-by-case basis, along with any necessary fees. From what I’ve seen online, they appear to be very accommodating and easy to work with.
Ready to plan your engagement session?
I’m so excited to photograph this special time in your lives! Whether we’re hitting any of these iconic engagement session locations in Philadelphia or heading out into the great unknown, I can’t wait to get to know your love story.
