So many of our amazing couples are not just awesome people whose wedding plans have been thwarted by the COVID-19 pandemic , but they’re also medical professionals who have faced extra hurdles getting to the altar. One of the “bonus” obstacles that Caytlin faced included never being allowed to come back to Pennsylvania from her residency for her engagement session because of program travel bans. We had at least three other plans for sessions that got interrupted before we finally had a chance to meet in person – just a few weeks before their upcoming wedding at One North Broad!
So when the good news came through that Caytlin & Greg were not only able to travel back for a session, but they wanted to pepper in a little neighborhood-y vibes into their Elfreth’s Alley engagement session, it was bound to be an amazing shoot! Add in a perfectly beautiful spring Sunday morning, a near complete absence of tourists around the historic district, and a couple that clearly loves to laugh together as much as they love each other. . . we had the recipe for an amazing engagement session!
Beginning in Elfreth’s Alley, I was bracing myself for an onslaught of tourists! Just the previous morning, we were shooting Heather & Justin’s first look here when there were tours of 15-20 people coming through every fifteen minutes and someone walked right through the video of their first moments together. But here I was the next day with a completely empty Elfreth’s Alley, which gave us the chance to capture the iconic little street with its timeless cobblestone and beautifully restored historic houses.
We knew we were going to finish the session over near the Second Bank, because these two had to head over to the Hotel Monaco for check out, but we weren’t in a rush to hit the most recognizable parts of the Old City Philadelphia. So we had time to pop in at the gardens at Christ Church, which were beautifully in bloom, and stop along the way for some of the classic, yet quiet Philly architecture. Roaming the city with a couple and just shooting in little nooks along the way is my favorite way to fall back in love with Philly and has led to some of my favorite engagement sessions over the years!
But there was no way we could wander past the iconic Merchant Exchange Building or the Second National Bank without stopping for some of the more memorable Old City Philadelphia engagement photos that our couples have come to love in our portfolio. So knowing we only had about fifteen minutes left before these two had to disappear for check-out, we made quick time at the Merchant Exchange Building, paused for some fun, playful portraits in front of the beautiful, yet underrated Carpenters’ Hall, and wrapped up for some classic portraits from the Second National Bank. No matter how many times I shoot in this neighborhood, I never get tired of capturing Old City engagement sessions!
And in just a few short weeks, we’ll be back with Caytlin & Greg for their wedding celebration day. Although these two had their official wedding ceremony already, we know that the long-awaited party will be one for the record books!
