Michael and Kayla’s Sunny Philadelphia Engagement Session

It’s hard not to share the beautiful love stories with you, that we get to document at every turn, being in the wedding photography profession. Case in point: Michael and Kayla’s love tale, which we recently documented with our camera, is one that we couldn’t keep to ourselves and couldn’t wait to share! Photographing couples announcing their love to the world is something that sprinkles our donuts! And this is the story that is sure to float your boat as it did ours!

The pandemic has forced thousands of brides and grooms to alter their wedding plans, this couple included. The momentum of excitement and joy leading up to the day has been replaced with anxiety and dread for many, however, this couple instead of being sad, disappointed, confused, frustrated, and angry reworked their wedding plans more efficiently to be back in the saddle. No doubt, the uncertainties stung them as well to think about what could happen between now and then. But they decided to have an awe-inspiring engagement photoshoot in the meantime. And we love them for this! Kayla and Michael were sweet and playful and so much fun to photograph!


We headed somewhere picturesque!


The Philadelphia couple chose their home city to tell the tale of their love and it’s easy to see why! Boasting a rich history, iconic architecture, and park galore, Philly is a treat to all your senses. When it came to picking out the most photogenic place in Philadelphia for the photoshoot amongst a cartload of engagement photo locations, this park took the cake.
 

If you are in Philadelphia you can find incredible hidden gems of architecture and stunning green spaces for incredible Philadelphia engagement photos! The star-crossed couple wanted wide open space and sun-soaked portraits so we found the perfect spot for just that. We’re always up for some fresh air and a new location! Who doesn’t love old historical parks and buildings! Nature’s magic, our imagination, and their affection together took Kayla and Michael’s engagement photo session to the next level. With every click of our camera the incantation went on to transform the day into a book of memories to cherish forever and a day! Every picture tells a story!

 
No rule says that your engagement session location has to be meaningful thanks to something that happened there previously. If the location hits the right chord in the hearts of yours and your beloved and the light is good there, we encourage you to go for it! The place will become meaningful to you once you’ve had your session there =) That’s what Michael and Kayla did, we couldn’t appreciate their choice more. The park they chose for the photo session they had fallen in love with it through online photos and it did not disappoint! Quaint and charming all year round, the location they decided had the perfect balance of natural landscapes, rustic fountain, and quiet paths. Every single element from historic stone walls, dramatic steps, mature trees, and charming florals to majestic building added to the allure. Perfect in every way, this outdoor location did perfect justice to their love story. Ahead, you will see how beautifully the outfits they donned for the session fit the location and vibe of the place as well. 

 
The laid-back attire of the bride-to-be was everything LIT

With flowers in bloom and love in the air, how could our soon-to-be bride go wrong with a light spring-approved breeze blue one-piece short dress complete with barely-there ruffles cap sleeves and draw-strings on the neck bringing tons of warmth to her sunny engagement photos? She decided to ditch high heels and slipped onto flat slide sandals, adding a hint of gray with a bow-like detail on it that not only matched the vibe but also flaunted Kayla’s beautiful pedicured feet! Speaking to the season, the plain cotton sundress with its subtle color was giving her a sweet look without clashing with the greens and browns of the natural backdrop. Another perk, a cute short dress looks good on camera, pretty much no matter what. They flow with air while adding femininity, movement, and a little extra romance to the couple's portraits. And who doesn’t love that? She wore her short wavy balayage hair down, and her black nail paint added to the magic! Her pretty face needed no makeup and a simple bracelet and of course, her engagement ring was everything she desired to don for the shoot in the name of jewelry! Michael’s beautiful fiancee was beaming from head to toe during the session – not worried about her hair or dress and whether or not she needed to pull it down a little farther. Her outfit was complimenting her toned figure and complementing her finance in the best way possible! We love the easy elegance of Kayla’s style - from her soft waves to her barely-there makeup, the whole look exuded such relaxed, understated natural beauty that you almost wonder, did she just wake up this way?

The groom-to-be too embraced a natural look

Kayla’s fiance rocked a cream-colored cotton round-neck full-sleeved T-shirt with a pair of blue denim and it couldn’t get better! His devil-may-care engagement photoshoot attire was completely in sync with the location without conflicting with the woods. So simple, but still so dashing! His natural beauty just radiated, and we were swooning, for sure. Beyond perfect for an engagement photo session amidst florals and foliage! His dark blue denim popped against the woodsy background adding a new dimension to the photos. His brown hair in a spiffy buzz cut and his pretty-boy goatee reminded us of Brad Pitt circa Mr. & Mrs. Smith (we are a fan!). And he completed his look with tan-brown leather toe chukka boots, blending well with his casual engagement outfit as well as the springy background! His lightning smile was the only accessory that Michael donned. Breaking all the clichés, Michael owned his look!

They say bringing 2 outfits to your engagement session is necessary to bring variety to the engagement portfolio. But after shooting Kayla and Michael’s proposal story we don’t agree! They rocked their laid-back outfits and the cute poses along with natural elements were enough to ring the changes! Adding an “out-on-a-date” feel, their single outfit engagement photoshoot was far cry from mundane! They looked amazing on camera and we loved shooting’em in their plaint and comfy engagement photoshoot attire!

 
Now let’s talk PHOTOS!

We are happy to take you on the photojournalistic journey of Michael and Kayla! Maybe it was a gorgeous location or maybe it was just the good vibe coming out of the couple, our professional and affordable engagement photographer couldn’t help but take photo after photo of’em! The engagement shoot was the first time the couple was being professionally photographed with one another. Our photographer took the wonderful opportunity to show the newly-engaged couple what their love looked like from the outside: the way they laughed together, held one another, and interacted with each other. Our professional engagement photographer in Philly started with some static and easy poses so that they could get a hang of posing in front of a professional camera and it was bewildering how naturally they fell into photo-worthy poses! After capturing some foundation poses, they moved ahead to collecting gems for the treasure trove of memories to cherish forever and a day! The sunlight breaking through the trees added a dreamy note to our couple's leisurely stroll through the park.

Whether it was a portrait capturing their romantic and intimate moments or a click seizing their hugs, our Philly engagement photographer did a phenomenal job! We all know showing off some public displays of affection always makes for a sweet photo! And our engagement photographers in Philadelphia found the perfect frame every time they kissed or cuddled. From dramatic steps, time-tested wooden structures, majestic fountains, and cobble-stone houses to clear blue skies, rough terrains, young flowers, and wise trees, man-made elements and nature-made elements both joined hands together to create the perfect frame for our beautiful couple’s one-of-a-kind spring engagement photography. They love each other and it’s so evident! Not only the background but also our photographer installed the foreground wonderfully. We love the kissing shot of the couple with magenta blooms juxtaposing the greens in the foreground. Talking about kissing couple photos, how can we not talk about the couple portrait shots on the charming stone steps with the wooden hut-like structure in the backdrop, on the bench, one with everything else blurred except them kissing, and the wide shot with the historic stone estate in the background! We also adore the duo’s kissing picture at the entrance of the building, near the 3-tiered rustic fountain, and on the patio!

 
Photos, that stand out in the crowd

Almost every shot taken by our wedding photographers in and around Philadelphia was cut above the rest, however, the ring shot of Kayla’s beautifully manicured hands embracing Michael from his back takes the cake. After all, this ring is what started everything! Both - the distant click with Kayla hugging Michael from back and the close-up shot where Kalya is pecking on his bae’s cheek are the captures that are not going down to our subconscious minds any time soon! The wide-angle picture where the love birds are standing between two mature trees which seem to be creating an arch for the couple with their branches and sharing a kiss is something that can right away take one to another world! 

 
Our fave shots?

“If he kisses your forehead, makes you laugh, admits his mistakes and says he's sorry, makes an effort, holds your hand, works hard, and attempts to understand you, then, believe it or not, he's quite perfect.” Maybe because we believe in this cute love quote but we are in love with the portrait where Michael is kissing Kayla’s forehead! Besides that one super cute picture, every single snap that captured the innocence on the couple’s face and natural emotions of the couple belong to our list of favorite engagement pictures. We couldn’t get over the photographs where the sweet couple is sharing sweet nothings while sitting on the lush grounds and where they are lost in each other! The snap where they both are posing hand in hand with the pillar of the wooden house in between is flattering as well, adding distinctively old-world charm to this couple's architecture-centric engagement image. Looking back on a joyful shot like this one is sure to make them feel all warm and fuzzy inside as they're flipping through their engagement photo book. The surroundings had a really striking effect on the photos that captured their relaxed moods in the comfort of each other’s arms while taking a romantic stroll of the place. Capturing Kayla sitting on the thickest branch of an old tree while Michael is standing beside her was indeed a must-have shot! Our soon-to-be-married couple’s million-dollar smile never left their faces during the entire shoot and that tells a lot about the happy couple!

 
Pretty snappy stuff!

Shooting weddings and wedding-related events like engagement is not just our profession. It’s our bag instead! Our wedding photographers are heavily influenced by the beauty found in nature and can capture their couples all day long. They bent over backward to nail this balmy summer engagement session in Philadelphia perfectly. Nature did its part incredibly in the backdrop and the sun weaved its magic too! The location itself set the breathtaking stage that helped this couple ace their pics and our talents to exhibit the chemistry between our Philly couple in the most adorable way. It may have taken some maneuvering, but they got some of the best, romantic, fairy-tale shots, they’ve ever had the pleasure of taking. Dream! We must say that the early spring engagement session of this Philly couple is the last word in laid-back! And we are pretty much sure that their wedding day photoshoot too will be cool as a cucumber!

Michael and Kayla were a pure delight to capture! While we’ve known both of them for a few days, it seems that we have been friends for years. After spending that time getting to know one another, we can confidently say that they are MMIH! We absolutely cannot wait until their wedding day which is falling in the coming fall season.

 
If you were on the fence about whether or not should you have an engagement photography session then we are pretty much sure after taking a look at this charming couple’s remarkable engagement portfolio you aren’t anymore. Nothing can beat the excitement of getting prepped up in those natural colors and getting the remarkable engagement photos clicked!