Top Ten :: Engagement Session Locations

This time of year our calendar for the upcoming year is filling quickly. With every new couple added to our flock, we have the fun task of dreaming up an engagement session with them! The biggest question we’re asked about engagement sessions is “where should we go?” and today we’re lining up our top ten, personal favorite, engagement session locations. There are endless places to photograph an engagement session especially in this unique area we live in. You can go from downtown Washington, DC to a country dirt road in 30 minutes. We just love the possibilities! So as we share our personal favorite spots for engagement sessions, remember that there are hundreds more locations out there. Be creative and adventures! Find something new! We don’t always photograph in these favorite spots, but when couples ask us “what are you favorite locations?” these are usually our answer. In no particular order, here are our “go to”, favorite spots for engagement sessions!

 

Note for couples and photographers: Many of the national parks and monuments require permits for professional photography. We always obtain the necessary forms and follow protocol. It’s good for the photography community as a whole to be in good standing with the staff of these historic parks and memorials. Please also be aware, that many of these locations are private property, and not open for engagement sessions to the public. In the rural and small town where we live, we have a lot of great friends who allow us use of their spaces, and we love them for it! However, we cannot advertise their address. Call it a perk of being a “Birds couple” 😉

National Mall, Washington, D.C.

If you ask us, there’s nothing better than strolling along the most beautiful city we know, stopping in famous places and hidden spots as we go. The reflecting pool is always a favorite of ours, but we also love to spend time at the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Constitution Gardens, DC War Memorial and everywhere in between! Permits are required for these, so plan ahead, but know it’s well worth the effort!

 

 

Historic Gardens in Southern Maryland

There are some incredible historic gardens in Southern Maryland. Spring and summer months produce gorgeous backdrops for couples to use for their engagement photos. We love all the color these historic gardens give us! These spots are usually very quite and tourist free, which is a huge benefit!

 

 

C&O Canal, Georgetown

This spot in DC’s Georgetown neighborhood is well known among photographers. And there’s a good reason why! It’s beautiful and diverse! In this location we can walk along the canal, taking in the beautiful and unique landscape, then hop up to street level to take advantage of the pretty brick row houses and manicured sidewalks. We’ll always love Georgetown, and the canal as an engagement spot is just about perfect.

Southern Maryland Rivers

There are a few different spots in Southern Maryland that give us a beachy, nautical feel and we just love working with a sunset over the water. Rocks, sea grass, sand, and waves are so simple and gorgeous. There are a handful of great spots we love to use along the rivers in Southern Maryland, so if you love to be near the water, one of these spots would be perfect for you.

 

 

Old Town Alexandria

Much like Georgetown, Old Town Alexandria is a very popular spot for engagement sessions. Cobblestone roads? Historic brick walls covered in ivy? Perfectly manicured row homes in gorgeous colors? Oh… and it’s near the water? Sold! There are typically permits required here, and this is absolutely not personal property, just sidewalks. Every photographer knows where the go to spots are located, and on a Sunday afternoon in the Spring you’ll see numerous groups of photographers and engaged couples walking through Old Town. At the best spots you might actually have to wait in a line of photographers, but it’s well worth the wait!

 

Vineyards

It feels like a new vineyard pops up each year, which we’re not complaining about! We don’t mind a good glass of vino, and we especially love the cozy feel the vines provide. You’ll most likely need to gain permission from the vineyard to use their grounds for a photo session, but in our experience they’re usually happy to agree… especially if you are a frequent customer of theirs 😉 There are tons of options for vineyard locations, but you’ll want to look for those with established vines, and shooting in the summer gives you the most lush backgrounds.

 

 

National Gallery of Art

Close to the National Mall, this museum’s exterior is stunning. It’s wisteria walls are beautiful even without the fleeting blossoms, and the surrounding gardens of the building are just as nice. What we love most about this location, is the ability to shoot even on a dreary day. There have been several occasions where a planned walk along the mall was derailed due to a downpour. Instead, we’ve jump up to the covered entry way at the museum and kept shooting! It’s a great place to capture classic DC marble columns that are very similar to those at the Jefferson Memorial, and we stay covered from the rain! Couples who want a DC engagement session without going the standard monument route might love the National Gallery of Art.

 

 

Tidal Basin, Washington D.C.

The cherry blossoms are beautiful, there’s no denying it. If you’re a DC couple you’ve probably tossed around the thought of “wouldn’t the cherry blossoms be great for our engagement session?” and we would agree. There is much work involved when it comes to preparing for, and scheduling a cherry blossom engagement session. We have to wait for the blossoms to actually… bloom, and then we have to give ourselves the best chance at a clean backdrop by heading to the tidal basin before sunrise. That’s right, the only real way to get a great engagement session at the tidal basin in DC during the peak of cherry blossom season, is to wake up with the sun and photograph before the masses arrive. There will still be a crowd, mostly photographers, doing the exact same thing. If cherry blossoms are your favorite, we say go for it! But… be prepared to wait, reschedule, reschedule again, and finally have your hair and makeup done super early in the morning 😉 They are beautiful though, aren’t they?!

 

 

Historic Homes in Southern Maryland

There are a handful of gorgeous, historic homes in our home town of Southern Maryland. Most of these properties do not allow outside photography, but thanks to our family’s history in the area, we happen to be related to a lot of people. Thanks to the generous nature of these family friends and distant cousins of ours, we’re able to gain access to these homes and their grounds at certain times of the year. Fall is especially gorgeous around here, so if you want vibrant fall colors, ask us about using one of these historic homes and properties for your session!

 

Southern Maryland Farms

Apple orchard?! Yes! Sign us up! This private farm is owned and operated by some incredible people who so kindly offer us use of their apple orchard a few times a year. In the spring we have beautiful pink blossoms, in the fall we have red apples hanging from the green leaves… it’s a gem of a location for sure! There are a couple more private farms in the area that allow us use of their fields from time to time. Another favorite is the quintessentail Fall session location… the pumpkin patch! Exclusive permission is always required at these private farms, but ask us about planning one here and we’ll reach out to our try and get your session on their calendar.