LOCATION IDEAS
URBAN. DC MONUMENTS. THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BEACHES. FIELDS. FLOWERS. PARKS. HOME.
What vibe are you looking for?
YOU GET TO DECIDE!
In the Washington, DC area, there are so many locations that we can use for photography. It’s really up to you to decide on the vibe you want. Here are some location suggestions based on vibe.
DC Monuments: If you live in DC, you should at least once get your photo taken with the monuments in them in some way. The most common places I photograph are the Lincoln Memorial (yay that it’s back open on top), the Reflecting Pool, the DC War Memorial, and the The Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Other places that are also great, though, are outside the Capitol, Library of Congress, and Supreme Court, Union Station and the area near it, Constitution Gardens, around the Smithsonian Castle, and the Kennedy Center. If you have room in your budget for a permit, the roof of the DAR Hall and National Cathedral are also iconic!
Urban Vibe: You can get an urban vibe easily walking around areas like Georgetown, Old Town Alexandria, and downtown Annapolis. All of them give opportunities for water, too!
Chesapeake Bay Beaches: There are so many options, but my favorite is near Edgewater, Maryland if you are near DC, and if you are in Southern Maryland, I have a place I love near Leondardtown. I’ve photographed families at parks on both sides of the Bay Bridge, too, and those are great spots as well, depending on the time of year with crowds and traffic. While it’s not really a beach, I also love North Beach, MD where I can get photos on small piers, sometimes photos in the small sandy beach, and in the sunrise garden. It definite has a bay feel still!
Open Grounds and Water: I love Jefferson Patterson Park in Southern Maryland for its versatility. I can get so many looks in a small area, but for clients outside of Southern Maryland, it can be a hike, but I promise it’s worth it! It has piers, beaches, historic homes, mowed areas, and unkept fields.
Parks and Florals: Green Springs Garden is one of my favorite parks to photograph at in the NoVa area. It does have a $30 permit, but I also love it for its versatility and the number of looks I can get there. If you want a smaller place with florals, there is a rose garden in NoVa, too, that is pretty… again with a small permit fee. Tudor Place in DC has a $200 permit fee, but it’s a gorgeous five acres and there’s so many vibes. It’s a unique spot! Brookside Gardens in Montgomery County has a $50 permit fee, and it is great for sessions, too. There are so many pretty places and opportunities for creative framing. Sometimes you can find some local floral fields, too, that allow photography. My favorites are Goldpetal Farms (sunflowers and zinnias) and Dixon Family Farm (lavender) in Southern Maryland and in Montpelier Farms (tulips and sunflowers) in Prince George’s County; both have permits and you have to keep up with their pages to see if they have anything blooming. Swann Farms in Calvert County also occasionally allow photography and has poppies and zinnias sometimes. Historic Londontown is also a favorite of mine, but there is a permit fee that varies based on if you are going during open hours or want private use.
Home: People often underestimate the value of just getting photos at home or having me tag along for things you love to do like getting ice cream, baking, painting, etc. You spent so much of your life there, and it’s so easy to weave in pets. I challenge you to consider your house as a location, too!
WHAT TO EXPECT –
LET’S CONNECT
After photographing hundreds of family sessions over the past few years, I have learned it’s essential to make sure you understand my style and process to ensure I am the perfect fit for your family. So step one after you email me is my client survey.
I’ll get to know about your family. Who will be at the session and what are you looking for in me as a photographer? What drew you to me?
MY STYLE: THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCATION
Once your date is reserved and you are booked, we’ll connect to start chatting about possible locations for your session. I love movement in my sessions, and I like locations that give me a few different looks to add some diversity to your portfolio. I’ll ask you about the vibe you want: rustic or a field, clean or fun urban, beach or water, or even in your home? Are there walking limitations? Do we need seating options? Are you willing to pay for a permit for a unique less crowded location? Some locations are better in the mornings while others are better in the evening. I do a lot of research to make sure you have the best light to get the best images for you and your family’s needs.
WARDROBE STYLING
If picking out outfits for photos takes you back to your high school days when you literally tried on everything in your closet and piled it on your bed but still felt like you had nothing to wear, you’re in luck.
I subscribe to a styling app that helps you plan every outfit for your session; you pick a vibe for the dress, choose two color schemes, and add the ages of the people in the session. It will generate outfit suggestions, and you can look for similar items in your closets at home or even purchase items through the links in the website! Remember the key is to coordinate, not match!
THE SESSION
The week of your session, I will be in touch to touch base about weather and time. Forty-eight hours out when there is an accurate forecast, we’ll confirm any issues. Hopefully, weather cooperates! Because Maryland weather is so finicky, I always try to book a backup date when you book.
Remember, I have a lot of movement in my sessions so make sure everyone has comfortable shoes. If kids are involved, I really let them lead, so try not to stress. Put a smile on your face, and be ready for fun!
DELIVERY
All images from our sessions are typically delivered within about three weeks of the shoot date via an online gallery. If you purchased the entire gallery, you will get a download code and be able to share your gallery with friends and family immediately.
If you chose a set number of images, you can choose to upgrade your gallery or you will pick your favorites and receive them in a separate email with download links.
All print orders are placed right through the website itself. If you have a print credit with your package, you’ll be able to enter your code and use that credit toward your purchase.
KEEPSAKES
I love to offer my clients a variety of ways to turn their images into keepsakes. Wall-mounted canvas prints to decorate your home, beautiful handmade albums and more.
Don’t just let your gallery live digitally. Print it. I practice what I preach, and I make an album of my family’s sessions and have them as art all around my house! What a special way to remember this season you’re in!
location inspiration
DC MONUMENTS
Because there is always construction or events in DC, you do have to be mindful and do a quick search to make sure there are no events that are problematic. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial, DC War Memorial, and Lincoln Memorials are my clients favorites.
Be aware: sunrise is your guarantee for the best lighting. I recommend doing it on a Saturday or Sunday morning before the time changes so sunrise is later. Evenings are also really pretty, but you have to be flexible with crowds.
location inspiration
URBAN VibeS
What I love about the more urban vibes is that we’re always on the go and moving, so it’s easy to reset kids who are having a bad day or opportunities to get a variety of looks in a very short time.
Walking around Old Town Alexandria, Downtown Annapolis, and Georgetown are my favorites!
location inspiration
Chesapeake BAY BEACHES
I love beaches on the bay for so many reasons; the sand often acts as this pretty reflector, I can get a variety of looks, and it often encourages a bit of play and fun with my families!
I also love how they are great for so many types of sessions: family, engagement, maternity, seniors. They are so versatile, which is the key for me when picking a location!
WARDROBE STYLING
WHAT TO WEAR
When picking outfits we recommend keeping in mind the word “complement” rather than “match.” Choose a color family, and don’t all match. Mix neutrals, color, texture, and pattern and keep the level of dress up or dress down the same for everyone!
FOR THE LITTLES
With the growth of online shops, shopping for your littles is more fun than ever! Again, I recommend choosing color families (neutrals, blues, etc) over perfectly matching outfits. Avoid characters or bold patterns.
If you’re looking for some inspiration or some of my favorite shops for kids, check out the link to my Pinterest boards below!
FIND INSPIRATION
If you’re looking for a little more outfit inspiration, I recommend heading over to my blog or Pinterest boards to browse outfit ideas for the entire family. Also, be sure to check out more tips when planning your family session.
