A Note About Location

The locations featured below are some of my absolute favorites for on location photo sessions in the area.  They are each fun to explore and provide a variety of different background looks.  They range in style from rustic to urban to regal to homey. Take a look through the example photos to see which style fits you best.  if you have a location in mind that is not featured below, please feel free to tell me about it.  There are many additional possibilities and I am happy to look into other locations to find out if we need to obtain any permits or permissions.  Most of the locations listed below do require permission or permitting.  I am always happy to coordinate that between my clients and the location.  Any permit fees are added onto your session fee. 

The Barn

My clients love this out of the way location in Chester County for it's rustic quality and setting among wide open meadows.  It features an old stucco house, a painted weathered barn, gorgeous stone walls and rolling meadows of tall grasses and milkweed.  On several occasions it has also featured some curious deer.  It is a peaceful area without any crowds. I have an annual permit already secured that gives us permission to hold a session here without any additional fee.

The Manor

This property and park located in Ambler is a great, permit free location to hold an evening or afternoon session on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. The rest of the week it is almost always booked with weddings, however a sunrise session on a weekend morning can usually be arranged. The highlights of this location are a rustic old barn and manor house, a pond with a stone bridge and gazebo and lots and lots of open fields as well as beautiful mature trees. There is no location fee for the Manor.

The Farm

This old farm located in Valley Forge Park is always a popular location for a multitude of activities. Everyone loves it there, from people walking their dogs, to couples getting married to families holding photo sessions.  It's a really fun place to explore and has a very rustic quality.  It features meadows nestled into valleys, an old white stucco house, an old white and green painted barn, stone paths and a creek with a quaint arching bridge.  On weekends evenings we will share the location with many other people.  On weekdays we will only see a few other people out and about. I have an annual permit already secured that gives us permission to hold a session here without any additional fee.

The Preserve

Okehocking Preserve is a sweeping and hilly park located in Newtown Township. It has wide open, natural fields that stretch all the way to the wooded horizon. The property also features a picturesque and easily accessible creek for portraits waterside, or even in the water if you’re feeling adventurous! While most of the park features nature as the backdrop, there are a few ravel and dirt paths and a small area with some old stone ruins as well. The park is a popular spot on weekends and evenings and there is no permit fee for us to hold a session there.

The University

Eastern University, located conveniently in Wayne, is a great location for outdoor photo sessions.  It has a rustic feeling throughout the heart of the campus.  An old building with sweeping curved stone steps leads down to a pergola covered patio that sits beside a quaint pond.  This side of campus also features an old gate house and a refurbished working waterwheel.  One of the perks of Eastern University as a location for a session is the access to indoor restrooms.  While there are often students enjoying the area, it is rarely crowded. The permit fee for the University is $75 and permits take about 2 weeks to process.

The College

The campus at Bryn Mawr college is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen.  I like to describe it as Secret Garden meets Harry Potter.  There are beautiful gardens, sweeping lawns and amazing old stone architecture.  We will see students walking around, but it is unlikely that we will run into any crowds. A permit is required and costs $150.

The Field

We are so lucky to have beautiful locations like this magnificent, sweeping field in Upper Merion Township. With acres, and acres of view across the valley we can use the tall grasses and paths mowed among them as rustic and natural settings for portraits. The property also has an old field stone house, a white plaster over stone spring house and a really amazing, mature sycamore tree standing as a specimen near the buildings. I have an annual permit already secured that gives us permission to hold a session here without any additional fee.

The Grange

This historic property, located in a quiet neighborhood in Tredyffrin Township, gives us some great options in a relatively private setting. There is a really great old barn, an old metal foot bridge and some open space nestled among the trees. There is currently no permit fee required at the Grange but it is a popular venue for weddings, so accessibility is limited during the spring, summer and fall weekends.

The Homestead

This beautiful home and small farm operates in Lower Merion Township.  I personally love it so much I held my own family's photo session there recently.  It features an early American stone house, picket fences, a wildflower field, the ruins of a stone barn and a working barn with live animals! When the property is not being used for community events, it is available for photo sessions.  We might have a couple of other people on the property enjoying the beauty. The permit fee for the Homestead is $50 and permits take 1 week to process.

The Headquarters

Washington's Headquarter's in Valley Forge Park is the real deal.  George Washington himself worked here!  My clients love this location for it's mix of history, spacious natural settings, and interesting architecture.  It features an old train station with beautiful lines, the old stone house where Washington lived and worked and several of the iconic Valley Forge soldier huts.  It is one of the most popular and busy locations in the park for tourists, especially on nice weekend days and evenings. During the week, however, we would practically have the place to ourselves.  It also has a nice restroom building on the property. I have an annual permit already secured that gives us permission to hold a session here without any additional fee.

The Town

Phoenixville makes a wonderful backdrop for portraits with it's slightly urban feel.  It has great colors, buildings with amazing texture and a lovely walking path by the river with an old bridge.  While the streets are often busy with pedestrians, there are lot of brick alleys to use when we want a quieter image.  Bonus: after your session in Phoenixville you can walk to one of the awesome restaurants or cafes for a meal or snack! There is no permit currently required to hold a session in the Town.

The Train

The Wayne train station is just full of possibilities for portraits!  The stone walls, old railings, glass block windows and the sidewalks beyond are all great settings.  It is a working train station and the streets around are busy with vehicle traffic, so please keep this in mind.  If your children are young and mobile, this is not be the best option.  If everyone is street safe and grown out of the curious childhood phase, this is a wonderful option. There is no permit currently required to hold a session at the Train.

The Chapel

Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge Park is a favorite location for many people (myself included).  It has a mix of stunning stone architecture and expansive views across the valley. It is a popular location for weddings and an active church, so available weekend evenings during the spring and fall are limited.  It is also a very popular location for photo session and tourists on weekends so expect to be surrounded by people, especially in the fall. The permit fee for the Chapel is $250 and permits take 2 weeks to process.

The Mansion

Hunting Hill Mansion in Ridley Creek State Park is an amazing location.  The exterior of the mansion and the grounds and gardens are open to the public and are impeccably maintained.  While it is a highly popular location for people holding photo sessions, exercising or just hanging out, it's always possible to find a beautiful spot on the grounds to use as a backdrop.  The grounds do close frequently on fall and spring weekends for weddings.  I will always check the mansion schedule to make sure we don't have a conflicting date.  If possible, I recommend holding photo sessions at Hunting Hill on weeknight evenings or weekend mornings. The permit fee for the Mansion is $100 and permits take 3 weeks to process.

The Estate

Appleford Estate in Villanova is loved by everyone for it's beautiful old stone house and the well maintained formal and informal gardens that surround it.  The gardens feature a pond, a boxwood maze, beautiful flowers and quaint garden sculptures.  It also has walking trails through the woods on the property boundary.  Much like many of the locations above, it is a wonderful place to explore.  Appleford is often booked on weekends for weddings, but it is possible to arrange to hold a session there on a weekend morning, weekday or on a weekend when they don't have a wedding scheduled.  As a service to my clients I will contact Appleford to make arrangements. The permit fee for the Estate is $25 and permits take 1 week to process.

The Sycamore

If you love trees, tall grasses and unpaved tree lined roads, this tucked away location just a few minutes from King of Prussia is one to consider. With vast fields, groves of trees and the most incredible sycamore tree you’ve ever seen, it provides a neutral, yet stunning backdrop for your portraits. It’s a very quiet place and fun to explore. In addition to the beautiful scenery it has some really neat old buildings to see that used to be a functioning farm. However the buildings are not safe for occupancy so we won’t incorporate them into your photos - you’ll see what I mean if you choose this location! I have an annual permit already secured that gives us permission to hold a session here without any additional fee.

The Grove

This Lower Merion Township park is conveniently located for clients who live on the eastern Main Line. It has a beautiful mix of mature trees, open manicured lawn, landscape boulders and an old, very weathered house that can be incorporated as well. For families with young children, there is also a playground if you’d like to include some candid action photos in your session or take some time play after your session. There is no permit currently required to hold a session at the Grove.

The Park

This Tredyffrin Township Park has a lot of great settings, including a pond, walking trails, split real fences, large landscape boulders and open fields with tall grass. It’s a great option for young families as well as high school seniors and dancers. The permit fee is free, but does take 1 week to process.

The Pier

This old coal pier is along the Schuylkill River in North East Philadelphia. It’s an unofficial park that is open during daylight hours, but is not maintained, and has an abandoned feel to it. In spite of that it also has a vibrant feel due to the ever changing graffiti art that covers almost every square inch of the massive pier. The ground is covered with coal dust and a fair amount of broken glass and trash, so I do not offer it for families with young children. But it’s a beautiful and fun spot for anyone with a sense of adventure! There is no permit fee to hold a session at the Pier.

The Creek

This section of the trail alongside the Wissahickon Creek is a nice location for a senior photo session. It’s a fairly busy trail perched several feet above the creek, so I do not offer it for families. But for a senior session where we’re doing portraits of just one or two people, it’s a great option. There are lots of natural and rustic backgrounds with the creek, the gravel paths, and old buildings. There is a $50 permit fee and the permit takes about 3 weeks to process.

Personal Properties

Private property is an option for your photo session as well.  Using your home makes truly unique and personal portraits.  We can use the gardens around your home or find nice settings inside.  I have lots of experience in finding beautiful settings within your own property that make a beautiful backdrop for your portraits. If you have a family member or neighbor with a space you would love to use, we can reach out to them and ask to see if their property might be a possibility. If you know of a business with an amazing space or a gorgeous property in your community, I am happy to contact them to inquire about possibly using their property.  In my experience, most people are happy to help in whatever way they can. 

The Studio

My studio in Devon, PA is an indoor option for portraits. If you prefer a more formal or traditional look to your portraits or if you want to avoid the outdoor elements, the studio is a great options. I use solid color background and I focus on elegant and candid posing as well as natural expressions. If you have any props that you would like to incorporate in the session you are free to bring them along. Pets are welcome too!