Christine & Dennis had a very cold and windy day for their Getting to Know You session. It was probably around 30 degrees and windy for their FDR Park engagement session in Philadelphia. They are a fun couple, completely unbothered by the weather, and down for all kinds of craziness. When we were walking down the dock right next to the water, Christine caught her heel in the deck and kept going shoeless like a pro. That kind of energy is what makes sessions like this so good.
In the back of the park, under the bridge, we found an old skate park filled with graffiti. It was incredible, one of those spots you forget is just sitting there in South Philadelphia. The contrast between the lakeside and the urban grit under the overpass gave us a range of settings that kept the session interesting from start to finish. We created a beautiful Getting to Know You session album and Save the Dates from the day. Christine & Dennis are so much fun. Their wedding this coming August at the Cathedral Basilica for their ceremony and Top of the Tower for the reception is one we are looking forward to.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park stretches 348 acres through South Philadelphia along Broad Street, a Olmsted Brothers landscape design from the early 1900s that most Philadelphians underuse as an engagement session location. The park circles two lakes and includes a boathouse, a gazebo, and the American Swedish Historical Museum, which gives backdrops that range from waterfront dock to neoclassical stone facade. The area under the Platt Bridge overpass holds an old skate park covered in graffiti, a completely different visual register from the park’s open green spaces and one that consistently produces striking portraits. FDR Park is at its most photogenic in fall and early winter, when the lake reflections are sharp and the overpass graffiti reads clearly against neutral light. Couples who want something other than the standard Philly skyline session will find it here.
She got her heel caught between the wood slats and thank goodness for her past cheerleading agility!
Christine and Dennis went on to celebrate at the Cathedral Basilica and Top of the Tower. For couples searching for where to get married in the city, take a look at our full guide to the best Philadelphia wedding venues.