Top 5 Engagement Photo Locations in Lehigh Valley

Located around 60 miles north of Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley is home to three gorgeous cities - Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton. It also houses two counties - Lehigh and Northampton Counties. This metropolitan is a part of the Great Appalachian Valley which is a limestone-dominated region. The Lehigh Valley gets its name from the Lehigh River and due to its location between two mountain ranges, the Blue Mountain and the South Mountain. The city of Lehigh Valley is located 80 miles east of Harrisburg and an equal distance west of New York City.
 

The Lehigh Valley has plenty of scenic landscapes and historic beauty. If you are looking for a place to have your affordable engagement photo shoot, the Lehigh Valley won’t disappoint you. Whether you and your partner are adventurous kinds or romantic or have an inclination towards history, the Lehigh Valley has something or other for everyone! There are various locations that you’ll feel are totally made for you, once you discover them! 

As far as historical locations go, you could head to the Burnside Plantation, George Taylor House, or one of the over 200 historic covered bridges for a true Lehigh Valley engagement session. If you are a museum loving couple, you have a lot of options there too! You could explore the Allentown Art Museum, America on Wheels, Da Vinci Science Center, and Mack Truck Historical Museum.

Your engagement photography session is a special event. It is all about you and your partner spending a day together, that is dedicated to announcing your love to the world! You would want to do it in style. In a style that speaks the language of love for both of you. A style that talks volumes about your personalities as a couple. For such a special purpose, you would need to shortlist your options. 

Well, to make things easier for you, we have narrowed down your search by listing out a few locations that you might want to consider for your Lehigh Valley affordable engagement photography session. Read on to explore more about the places that could play gorgeous backdrops for all your romantic photos. 

Jacobsburg State Park

The beautiful scenic location is 1,168 acres of sheer magnificence! Jacobsburg State Park is home to various historic buildings, rivers, and forests. It also houses a lot of walkways, which look superbly picturesque as you walk along with your partner, hand in hand. Towards a glorious future! The rocky river beds are like a totally different world - a little dreamy and a lot photogenic. You could stand by the riverside and pose romantically with your partner, looking heavenly! If dreams had a face - it would be this! The rocks are both small and huge and can be utilized in your engagement photography on budget accordingly. Water forms the most magical backdrops at all times. The reflection created by water and the depth created by it, make photos look stunning and full of life. You could play a little with water - waves, ripples, and droplets to add a unique dimension to photography. A little splash won’t hurt anyone! We know you have always been wanting a dreamy and affordable engagement photoshoot, but how about sprinkling it with a little bit of splash! Trust us, it will make it even dreamier and you would love it! And don’t even get us started on the greens that surround it! To sum the effect in three words - Scenic as heck! The bridges are our absolute favorites! We simply love how the Jacobsburg State Park engagement photography just lights up with romance on the bridges! It feels like time standing still just for you two. As if you are the only ones on this beautiful planet and all the beauty has only been created for you! You could also consider getting a prop like a blanket for your budget-friendly engagement photoshoot. You could spread it on the grass and pose sitting on it or drape it around the both of you cuddling romantically. The options here are unlimited and oh, so romantic!

Website: www.dcnr.state.pa.us

Address: 400 Belfast Rd., Nazareth, PA 18064

Fees or Permits: None

Lockridge Park

This gorgeous location is situated in the suburb of Allentown, Alburtis. It is a borough in Lehigh County and is home to one of the most beautiful sites of great historical significance - Lockridge Park. The Lockridge Park is an erstwhile humongous anthracite burning iron furnace, dating back to 1868. It was a major iron-producing site that transformed America into an industrial giant. The park was opened to the public in 1976 and since then, it has been one of our favorite photography spots! The park, as of now, is home to a museum, a picnic pavilion, glorious remains of the furnace structures, an old rail track, and scenic walkways around a pond. For your Lockridge Park engagement session, the most beautiful spot is against the stone walls. The walls provide a perfectly rustic backdrop to your romantic pictures. If you’re wondering what clothes to pick for this outdoorsy engagement session, click here for inspiration. The arches form the ideal frames to encompass all your love! You could pose walking hand-in-hand on the bricked or wooden walkways, as the stone walls add to the depth from behind! It’s typical Lehigh Valley engagement photography on a budget. Not just that, it’s an authentic and affordable Allentown engagement photography too! You could walk amidst the group of trees in the forested area of the park. Believe us, during the golden hour, photos taken around are something else! The subtle glow making its way through the trees, fall onto you in the most beautiful way. Rendering an enchanting look! The place looks super dreamy during fall, with fallen leaves and a lighter and cozier sun. Here are some great ideas to incorporate into your fall engagement session on budget. 

Website: https://www.lehighcounty.org/departments/parks-and-recreation/our-parks/lock-ridge-park

Address: 588 Thomas St, Alburtis, PA 18011

Fees or Permits: None

Bethlehem Steel Stacks

Located in the Southside Bethlehem, right next to the Lehigh River, lie the amazing Bethlehem Steel Stacks. The Bethlehem Steel Stacks was an erstwhile steel manufacturing plant for the entire country. The structure was erected in 1857 as the Bethlehem Iron Company, which later became the Bethlehem Steel Works. Closeby is the Sands Bethlehem Resort and the ArtsQuest Complex. A true Bethlehem local would know, but just in case you didn’t know, this steel plant produced steel that went into the construction of the George Washington Bridge, the Empire State Building, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Amazing isn’t it? The plant shut down in 1995. How about making this history-making plant a part of your Bethlehem engagement photography? Resting peacefully on the shores of the Lehigh River, the Bethlehem Steel Stacks is a marvelous place to shoot your affordable engagement photo session. The industrial vibes lent by this place are like what else in the city. You could begin posing against the stone walls which offer a traditional look and an old-world charm. The vintage structure and its broken windows have a unique story to tell. The historically rich feel provided by these is unparalleled. The steel stacks are a gorgeous piece of art! As a backdrop, they provide a great industrial look to your photos. The rusticity of them all is- breathtaking! As you and your sweetheart pose along the steel walkways, let the sun glow behind you softly, giving your Bethlehem Steel Stacks engagement photos a rare subtle golden-hued glow. The staircase makes for another photogenic spot to take romantic photos.

Website: https://www.steelstacks.org/

Address: 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA 18015

Fees or Permits: None

Cairnwood Estate

This historic 26,000 square foot home rests on 300 acres of gorgeous countryside in Bryn Athyn, in the suburbs of the Lehigh Valley. The home has been made in Beaux-Arts style and is a brilliant blend of classic Greek, French, and Roman architecture. It served as a private estate of John Pitcairn, who was a 19th-century industrialist. Did you know what brought this estate into the limelight? It happened right after the Cairns opened their private home for a marriage ceremony in the year 1896. The grandeur of the Gilded Age can be seen in specific details such as the carriage house and a 12-foot wrought-iron gate. The first impression of this place, as you go in, leaves you speechless! The manicured lawns are a treat for the eyes and a perfect backdrop for a dreamy Lehigh Valley wedding as well as engagement photography on a budget. Oh, where should we start from? Well, let’s see, maybe the outer look of the Cairn Estate! With a gothic style look, the home looks like a castle. And with no doubt in your mind, you’ll feel like a princess here! Huge windows on the stone structure make for an amazing backdrop. The estate is beautifully maintained and you’ll realize that the moment you lay your eyes on the lawns. Neat and lush, they are an ideal place to have a classic Cairnwood Estate engagement photography. The driveways and the walkways are beautiful spots to take romantic portraits, as you both walk hand in hand. You could even hire a vintage car as a prop! The cherry on the cake! The fountain in the lawns is the epitome of timelessness. You and your sweetheart could consider posing romantically in the lawns and use it as a backdrop, along with lush and blooming gardens. The outer walls of the home are made from red bricks and white stone, which we absolutely love as a backdrop! The balustrade also makes for a beautiful spot to click storybook pictures! You can look every bit like Romeo and Juliet being here on the balustrade! Being here is nothing short of a fairytale. And romantic engagement photography here lets you create your own fairytale.

Website: https://cairnwood.org/

Address: 1005 Cathedral Road, PO Box 691, Bryn Athyn PA 19009

Permits or Fees: Call Canyon Springs Golf Club for permit or fees related information. Travel fees are applicable. 

Manatawny Creek Winery

Along the banks of Manatawny Creek, lies the suburban winery, Manatawny Creek Winery. It spans a 90-acre family farm in Amityville and is home to a 10-acre vineyard. If you and your partner are wine connoisseurs or would like to announce your engagement with a ‘clink’ of wine glasses, this is the right place for you! The winery is nestled in Pennsylvania hills and dates back to the early 19th century. It is just a short drive away from the Lehigh Valley. We are swooning over the ruling color here at the winery and the wonders it does for photography. You could start by taking a walk along the 10-acre of grapes that are spread over three separate vineyards. You could also get a rug to sit on to give it a picnic-y feel! A throw or a blanket is another option that you can snuggle into for intimate portraits. Walking hand in hand along the trees is a classic Manatawny Creek Winery engagement photography. You could also ask for a picnic table that is available here for a more chillin’ kinda vibe! The lush rows of vineyards form a great backdrop with their green and brown hues. The lush trees and manicured lawns, all together look promising and become the most natural forms of backdrops for your romantic and affordable Manatawny Creek Winery engagement session. The deck is gorgeous and provides a great view of the gardens. The rolling hills, greenest of trees, and wooden flooring of the deck form perfect surroundings as you both pose. The Annex is another hotspot for some contemporary photography with a traditional feel to it. The architecture reminds of the good ol’ days. And the white latticework with a dash of purple color makes it one of our favorite photogenic spots! Did you know that it produces about 12,000 gallons of wine annually? Isn’t that amazing? A winery always has a different kind of vibe to it - of timeless elegance. As you sit across the lush greens, our affordable Lehigh Valley engagement photographer would love to click the romance that glows out of you both! The winery is a perfect place to enjoy a day of solitude and get photographed, while you do so. 

Website: https://manatawnycreekwinery.com/

Address: 227 Levengood Rd, Douglassville, PA 19518

Fees or Permits: None

Please note that permits and fees are subject to change. Please confirm the policies with the location before planning your session.