Elisa and I had brainstormed different ideas and she loved the idea of having a Philadelphia Zoo Engagement Session! We started their shoot later in the afternoon when the zoo was empty. We picked an awesome time to go because they had an art installation of recycled materials sculpted into animals. Dan really rocked the pink bunnies! I have photographed there 2-3 times before and have been there with family. The grounds are beautiful and there are so many unique spaces to shoot. The Polar Bears never seem to corporate and take a dip in the water for us. I had an amazing time working with them and I am looking forward to their wedding at the Philadelphia Marriott this upcoming winter.
The Philadelphia Zoo, which opened in 1874, holds the distinction of being America’s first zoo. Set on 42 lush acres along the Schuylkill River in West Philadelphia, the grounds offer a genuinely varied backdrop: Victorian architecture, exotic animals, seasonal art installations, and one of the city’s most distinctive ornamental glass mural walls. Few locations pack this much visual texture into a single afternoon. For couples who want something unexpected from their engagement session, the Zoo delivers in ways a standard park or skyline shoot simply cannot.
These glass panels are right on the other side of the bathroom area but damn I love that pattern..
Giant Pink Rabbit…
Anteater….
Antellopes
Recycled car gorilla sculpture
Philadelphia Zoo Engagement
Elisa and Dan used this photograph for their Save the Date. She is a big Giraffe fan so I did not have to pull her leg when I suggested this as the cover. The Philadelphia Zoo is a magical place that I went to as a kid and continue to go there and photograph couples and surprise proposals!
If you are exploring engagement sessions at Philadelphia’s most iconic landmarks, the Zoo pairs beautifully with a follow-up session in the surrounding Fairmount neighborhood. It also makes a natural conversation starter for couples planning a Philadelphia wedding at venues like the Marriott, the Crystal Tea Room, or any of the city’s historic ballrooms.
Elisa and Dan were married at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. Their wedding day photographs are every bit as warm and full of personality as their engagement session here.