When it comes time to pick a place for engagement photos, about half the time, the future bride or groom will ask “Hey, can we go to…” insert new and interesting location here. And unless it’s a million miles away, the blanket answer is “Yes please!” This is how I find spots to suggest to couples that don’t have a place in mind. My friends Michael and Katy dragged me out to Ridley Creek this way in May of last year, and I’d been itching to go back there ever since. When it came time to pick a spot for Emily and Brian’s e-session, I lobbied to go back there and they took me up on it. Yay!
Ridley Creek is a special sort of place. The park itself is really quite large, and is down near Media, PA. I haven’t explored it all by any means, but nestled all around the old mansion that can be, and often is, used for weddings is a bunch of stuff that makes for some great pictues. They have gardens… they have paths… stone walls and benches…
If you walk down the path, away from the manicured lawns and pristinely arranged gardens and fountain, you will find a small wooden bridge that spans a creek. So what dies Brian do? He goes in, of course! Generally speaking, I try to keep the couple as clean as I can durring these sessions, but hey… If they want to get wet and play in the creek, I am the last guy to argue! The lesson in this? Play! Play with your environment. You’ll have more fun this way, and it makes for great photos too.
A bit further down the path is what looks like the remains of an old stone dam. It doesn’t stop the water, and some of the trees around it have fallen, but it’s a beautiful spot to get some pictures, and although it’s not entirely secluded, it looks and feels like it is.
