Elkins Estate Wedding Photography Guide: Hailee Rawson Photo

This Elkins Estate Wedding Photography Guide covers photo locations, timelines, coverage, second photographers, and tips for beautiful, candid wedding photos.

If you’re considering getting married at Elkins Estate, you’re probably already drawn to the same things I was when I first photographed a wedding here: the architecture, the gardens, the history, and the fact that the entire property feels completely different from almost anywhere else around Philadelphia. The venue itself is ideal for a wedding in so many ways, and even better, it is perfect for a wedding weekend where your guests can stay onsite and continue the celebration with you.

Elkins Estate is one of those venues where you can have a wedding that feels elevated without needing to make the day feel overly formal, or without having to travel to Europe. It is absolutely a European vibe without the extra travel.

After photographing a wedding at Elkins Estate, I can confidently say that it is one of my favorite Philadelphia area venues for couples who want their wedding photographs to feel artful, editorial, and emotional while still looking and feeling like them.

If you’re planning an Elkins Estate wedding, here’s what I would want you to know before your wedding day.

Where is Elkins Estate?

Elkins Estate is located in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia at 1750 Ashbourne Road. It’s a fairly easy drive from the airport making it perfect for out of town guests.

The estate is a 42 acre historic property centered around Elstowe Manor, a 1898 Italian High Renaissance mansion. The architecture is genuinely impressive, with stunning interiors, marble throughout the venue, painted ceilings, and pretty gardens for photos. My favorite part of the property is the white and gold ballroom and is perfect for Elkins Estate Wedding Photography.

One of my favorite things about photographing here is that you don’t have to choose between beautiful architecture and beautiful outdoor portraits. You get both. There is SO much variety here that no two weddings look the same.

What are the best photo Elkins Estate Wedding Photography locations?

One of the biggest advantages of getting married at Elkins Estate is the variety of photo locations available right on the property.

The architecture

The architecture at Elkins is one of the first things I want to take advantage of on a wedding day.

The grand staircases, marble, windows, doors, balconies, and historic details give you opportunities for photographs that feel more editorial and composed. The inside is fun for trendy flash photos, but the golden ballroom also makes for stunning portraits.

If you aren’t planning on a first look, the groom’s suite and the bridal suite make stunning portait locations to keep you separate.

The gardens

The gardens are the perfect location for Elkins Estate Wedding Photography. If you want more outdoor photos, the large lawn, and small lake are perfect for golden hour photos. This is where I like to let things loosen up a little and do more fun posing and candid interactions.

Rather than keeping you in one pose for twenty minutes, we can walk, talk, move around the property, and let the photographs happen along the way.

The balconies and terraces

Elkins also has some really beautiful elevated viewpoints. It’s perfect for first look, formal photos, or even wedding party photos and makes for some fun drone photos.

How much time should you allow for wedding portraits at Elkins Estate?

This is one of the biggest things I would talk through with an Elkins Estate couple before creating their timeline.

The property is beautiful enough that I don’t want your portrait time to feel like we’re racing from one location to the next, but it’s also very large.

If your photography is important to you, I would rather build in enough time to photograph you naturally and intentionally than try to squeeze everything into fifteen minutes.

That doesn’t mean you have to spend your entire wedding day taking photos, instead we can talk about what locations are a priority for you and potentially breaking portaits up into smaller portions throughout the day. Because the property is so large, and if you want a large variety of locations, I would recommend at least 30 minutes.

For most couples, I like to think about the photography as part of the flow of the day rather than a separate event that takes you away from it.

Do you need a second or third photographer at Elkins Estate?

Because Elkins Estate is such a large property, I highly recommend having at least a second photographer, and for larger weddings, even a third. There is simply so much happening throughout the estate that multiple photographers allow us to be in more than one place at once without making your day feel like a production. While I’m focused on you and your partner, another photographer can be with your family and wedding party, documenting cocktail hour, or capturing the details and architecture throughout the property. A third photographer can give us even more flexibility, especially during getting ready and cocktail hour. It’s not about taking more photos just for the sake of it. It’s about making sure the people, places, and little moments that make your wedding yours don’t get missed.

What kind of wedding photographer is best for Elkins Estate?

If you love candid, emotional photos but still want beautiful, editorial portraits, we’re probably going to get along.

My style is documentary and editorial with a whole lot of fun mixed in. I’ll help you look good and make the most of Elkins’ architecture, gardens, balconies, and beautiful light, but I’m not going to spend your entire wedding directing you. A lot of my favorite photographs happen when nobody is thinking about the camera. The weird little moments, the huge laughs, the dance floor chaos, your people being your people. Pretty photos, real moments, and a little bit of fun.

How much does a wedding photographer cost for an Elkins Estate wedding?

Wedding photography pricing around Philadelphia varies based on experience, coverage, number of photographers, albums, film, and overall service. If you’re looking in the $7,000 to $10,000 range, you’re generally looking at a more comprehensive photography experience rather than entry-level coverage.

When comparing photographers, don’t just look at the starting price. Look at their full galleries, experience with larger weddings, how they work with planners, how much direction they give, and whether you actually love their work. Elkins Estate is a large venue, and you want to make sure you have a photographer who knows what they are doing. If you are interested in learning more about Elkins Estate Wedding Photography from a photographer who has Elkins Estate experience, inquire HERE.