Allow me to introduce Trish, Tom, and Seydou…
Trish and Tom met a couple of years ago through a mutual friend. It’s a very good thing they hit it off because they began running into each other all the time.
They live right across the street from the Philadelphia Art Museum and we spent time wandering around the area close to their house and even kind of recreating the would-be proposal. They brought along their sweet-as-pie pup, Seydou (a name Tom received while he was in the Peace Corps).
We started at the azalea garden along Kelly Drive by the Art Museum for some greenery and get some shots at just the perfect time of year for those vibrant flowers.
The four of us then crossed over to photograph by the gazebos above Waterworks and behind the Art Museum. This was actually where Tom intended to propose to Trish. He had it figured out that they would take Seydou for a walk and he would drop down on one knee right there. But it was January and Trish was adamant about not dealing with the cold just to walk the pup. They braved the cold even on this day – it was windy and chilly but these two were total troopers.
Just like with Kate and Sean’s e-session, this area wasn’t just beautiful but meaningful. They have this beauty right outside their door. I loved that this was the place they chose for their pictures.
So we dropped off Seydou and continued our journey. We got to Bridgid’s. This was the very first place Trish and Tom met and ultimately the place Tom would propose. If he couldn’t get her out to the gazebo, he’d get her to Bridgid’s, even though they had eaten there just a few nights prior.
This area of Philly has some great little nooks and crannies. I found this awesome brick entryway that I just had to use.
You may not feel a prison is the most romantic place but the architecture and landscaping at the Eastern State Penitentiary is fantastic. And we happened to get there around golden hour so the sun was completely on our side.
We got our way back to their place to end the session.
Trish and Tom are moving to Virginia in August for Tom to go to medical school. They’re looking forward to something new and exciting but they can’t help but miss this beautiful city where they found each other. I can’t wait for their New Year’s Eve wedding this December at Philly’s Radisson Plaza Warwick Hotel. Despite the cold, I promise you they’ll be there and it will be stunning.
“Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.”
~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry