Without a doubt, DC engagement session photo locations are some of the best in the US. Maybe I’m biased, but I absolutely love the combination of gorgeous DC architecture, rich history, and variety of both city and nature. With so many beautiful locations to choose from, our couples often don’t know which DC engagement session spot to choose for their own photos! Also, many couples worry that they’ve overlooked secret DC engagement session locations. Well, you’re in luck! The HBP knows all the best DC engagement session locations and we’re sharing them with you today!

Jefferson Memorial

The Jefferson Memorial is possibly our most requested location of all of our Washington, DC engagement session locations, and for good reason! Because it’s situated along the Tidal Basin, the Jefferson Memorial is the ideal place for DC cherry blossom photos. We offer a limited amount of cherry blossom engagement sessions each year, so get in touch early if you’re interested in booking one with us! Also, we’ll need to get a photo permit from the NPS. It’s $140 and we’re happy to fill out the paperwork for you!

WWII Memorial

Located on the opposite side of the Reflecting Pool from the Lincoln Memorial, this stunning memorial combines the elegance of white marble with some beautiful steel artwork and gorgeous architecture. We love this spot for a unique take on a classic Washington, DC memorial engagement session. It’s a bit of a walk, but it’s actually close enough so that we can shoot at both the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool as well! This is another location where we’ll need to get an NPS permit.

DC War Memorial

Believe it or not, this is actually my (Hannah’s) favorite spot of a DC engagement session! Often overlooked, this beautiful little monument is just a few steps from the Reflecting Pool but it’s tucked out of sight, which means it is generally tourist-free! We love this spot not only for DC engagement sessions, but also for proposals, elopements and wedding portraits! This is another location where we’ll need to get an NPS permit.

Lincoln Memorial & Reflecting Pool

At the center of all the classic DC engagement session locations is the Lincoln Memorial. It is a truly stunning site to see, isn’t it? This location is popular among tourists and locals alike. When photographing at the Lincoln Memorial, a sunrise session is a must. The Memorial is absolutely magical at sunrise and also almost entirely tourist-free on most days! This is another location where we’ll need to get an NPS permit, so just ask us and we’ll help you with the paperwork!

Georgetown

For a DC engagement session location, Georgetown has it all. From it’s waterfront park, to it’s quaint townhouse-lined streets, to it’s sprawling Georgetown University campus, there are endless options for beautiful photos at this spot! We personally love Georgetown University engagement sessions because of the beautiful campus architecture, but you really can’t go wrong in any spot in Georgetown!

Meridian Hill Park

Without a doubt, Meridian Hill Park is one of the hidden gems of DC engagement session locations. Located on the edge of the Adams Morgan neighborhood, this park is incredibly beautiful (and also huge!). At sunrise, this place glows! The unique architecture of the giant fountain at it’s center makes this a great spot for city dwellers who want a more nature-centric session without the hassle of leaving the city.

Union Station

Another one of our favorites, Union Station is a gorgeous location for a DC engagement session! This is one of the few locations that we actually recommend scheduling for weekends! Because it’s highly trafficked by commuters on weekdays, weekend sunrise sessions at Union Station are the absolutely best! An added bonus is that we’ve got a beautiful view of the Capitol Building right across the street, as well as a beautiful park! This location has amazing variety!

The Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center is another often-overlooked hidden gem for DC engagement sessions! With two really great spots for sessions within its grounds, the Kennedy Center is a unique and lovely spot for both sunrise and sunset engagement sessions in DC. We recommend sunrise for less people and for the gorgeous greenery on the ground-level surrounding the Kennedy. For a view from the top, we recommend sunset! We don’t even need a permit for this location – we’ll arrange permission with our contacts there in advance and you don’t have to worry about a thing!

Dumbarton Oaks

Technically, we’re not allowed to shoot professional, paid photography in the grounds at Dumbarton Oaks (which is such a bummer, because it really is so lovely!). However, the area surrounding Dumbarton Oaks is lovely (including the Dumbarton House) and Lover’s Lane! We recommend pairing this one with other spots in Georgetown (and a glass of wine with us afterwards!).

National Gallery of Art

How cool is it that the Smithsonian Museums allow us to photograph within the National Gallery of Art? This is such a fun spot for the couple who is looking for a little something different. This is also an awesome indoor location! No permit required here – just permission from their staff, which we’ll arrange for you! We recommend booking your session here in the winter, right at 10am (when they open!) on weekdays. Before the doors open, we’ll take advantage of the beautiful outdoor surrounding location!

Eastern Market & Capitol Hill Neighborhood

Another often overlooked area, Eastern Market has a “DC local” feel. We recommend sessions here at sunrise to make sure we have the entire area to ourselves! We love the quaint streets and lovely greenery. If you live on Capitol Hill, this engagement session spot is a must!

A few more spots to consider that we haven’t photographed at . . .

Rock Creek Park

Rock Creek Park is one of the few places on this list that we actually have not photographed at! However, we have hiked here and it’s absolutely beautiful! Spring and summer can’t be beat, and if you love fall colors, this is also a great spot!

National Cathedral Gardens

Um, hello! What a gorgeous spot, right? The National Cathedral Gardens are possibly one of the most beautiful locations for engagement photos in all of DC. And we have never photographed here! If you’re interested in having your DC engagement session here, yay! We’ll help you get the permit https://cathedral.org/photo-policy/

Yards Park

If you’re looking for an urban feel but also want a little nature, Yards Park is the perfect place! There’s parks, there’s cool buildings, there’s the Potomac River, there’s even an iconic bridge! We highly recommend this spot to adventurous local couples!

National Portrait Gallery

Another gorgeous Smithsonian Museum, we love this spot and think it would be fabulous for engagement photos! Get in touch with us if you want to schedule you’re engagement session there!