One of my good friends reached out to me in early summer and said his brother was planning a proposal in South Philly. I was immediately interested in photographing his proposal! Little did I know this was to become one of my favorite proposals of the year …

The Proposal Plan

I got in contact with Adam, my friend’s brother, and asked what his plans were for the day. He and his now-fiancé, Steph, live in South Philly and frequent the Singing Fountain on their walks through the city. Adam booked dinner reservations for them on a Friday night in early summer. His plan was to propose in front of the Singing Fountain on their way to dinner, turning a normal date night into the most memorable evening!

The Big Moment

I arrived in South Philly super duper early – if you’ve ever been, you’ll know that parking is an actual NIGHTMARE. After circling and circling, I found a spot just big enough for my SUV and headed toward the square!

Then commenced my awkward “I promise I’m not a creep” loitering with two large cameras hanging by my sides, constantly checking my watch. I politely asked a woman and her daughter to move to the other side of the fountain. She smiled in understanding when I said “I’m photographing a proposal here any second!”

With the spot all clear, I took to taking pretend pictures of a nearby tree as Adam and Steph approached. Because of the small size of the square, I was pretty close to the two of them when he stopped her to say a few words. She immediately knew what was happening – it was so cute!! Adam got down on one knee and she said yes through happy tears and they embraced in the biggest bear hug I’ve ever seen!

Tangible Joy in South Philly

Almost immediately, Adam & Steph’s siblings and closest friends rounded the corner with shouts and squeals, jumping for joy. It was such a beautiful moment to witness!! The newly engaged couple couldn’t stop smiling if they tried, and laughter was bubbling out of every person present. The joy was palpable and contagious!!

I directed Adam & Steph through some engagement photos for a few minutes. They are one of the cutest, giggliest couples I’ve ever worked with! I moved quickly, making sure they had plenty of romantic photos to remember the moment without taking up too much of their time. When it was time for them to join their friends at dinner, I congratulated them and walked back to my car with a smile.

What a great freakin’ proposal!!!

South Philly Proposal