There’s something incredibly special about photographing couples during the newly engaged stage of life. The excitement is fresh, the smiles are effortless, and every moment together feels electric. That’s exactly how Shannon and Emily’s engagement session felt!

Their Philadelphia engagement photos at Rittenhouse Square were filled with laughter, golden hour sunshine (after a rainstorm, no less!) and the kind of genuine connection that makes photographing couples so much fun.

How Shannon & Emily’s Engagement Session Came to Be

I first met Shannon while photographing a wedding earlier in the fall – shoutout to Mackenzie and Leo for having such an amazing wedding party!

A few months later, Shannon entered my winter giveaway … and she won! That’s how this engagement session with Shannon and Emily came to life.

It was so fun reconnecting with Shannon and finally getting to meet Emily while capturing this exciting chapter for them.

A Rainy Start to Their Philadelphia Engagement Photos

When planning engagement photos, weather is always a bit of a wildcard in any season. The forecast for Shannon and Emily’s session called for rain on and off throughout the day, which had me keeping a close eye on the radar.

Sure enough, as soon as I parked near Rittenhouse Square, it started raining immediately.

Thankfully, I always keep two clear bubble umbrellas in my car for situations exactly like this. Rain can actually create some really romantic engagement photos, so I knew we’d still be able to make it work even if the drizzle stuck around!

Perfect Golden Hour Timing at Rittenhouse Square

But then something magical happened.

Out of nowhere, the rain stopped … and right on cue, the sun came out just in time for golden hour in Philadelphia!!

A few minutes later, Shannon and Emily rounded the corner into Rittenhouse Square to start their session. The timing could not have been more perfect!

Thanks to the earlier rain, the park was quieter than usual, which gave us plenty of space to wander through the pathways and capture relaxed, intimate moments. The soft golden light filtering through the trees created the dreamiest backdrop for their engagement photos. It ended up being the perfect evening for an intimate couples photo session in a usually non-intimate space!!

“We’re Awkward in Photos” (Spoiler: They Weren’t)

Like many couples before their engagement session, Shannon and Emily warned me that they were awkward in photos. Almost every couple says this before their session, so I wasn’t surprised!

After just one simple photo prompt, they instantly relaxed. Within minutes they were laughing, smiling, and being completely natural around each other!

Awkward who??? 👀

Shannon & Emily crushed their session by simply being in love <3

Walking Through Rittenhouse Square for Candid Moments

We spent the session strolling through Rittenhouse Square, stopping in different areas of the park as the sunset light changed. Instead of stiff poses, I gave them easy prompts that encouraged movement and interaction—things like walking together, whispering jokes, and stealing quick kisses. The result was a series of natural, candid engagement photos that captured their personalities and connection beautifully!

Moments like these are often couples’ favorites (mine, too!) because they reflect how they actually interact together in real life 🙂

Planning Engagement Photos in Philadelphia

Philadelphia offers so many beautiful locations for engagement sessions, and Rittenhouse Square is one of the most popular spots for a reason.

The park features:

• Tree-lined walkways
• Historic architecture
• Beautiful fountains
• Cozy city vibes

And during golden hour, the light filtering through the trees creates a romantic atmosphere that’s perfect for engagement photos. For newly engaged couples planning a session in Philadelphia, it’s a location that offers both urban charm and natural beauty in one place! 🙌🏼

For more engagement session inspiration, check out Golden Hour Engagement Photos at Valley Forge Park and Rainy Engagement Photos in Old City Philly and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.