Your Guide to the Best DC Engagement Photo Locations
There are hundreds of beautiful, interesting and historic places for engagement photos in DC and many rules and regulations as well. To help you choose the most meaningful place for your DC session, I’ve created this guide to dozens of the best DC engagement photo locations with no red tape and 20 amazing locations that require a permit but are worth the price of admission. Costs range from $130 to $500 depending on the location and it may take a week or two for the permit to be approved. To make things easy for my clients, I handle all necessary applications for permits so you don’t have to.
Locations for engagement photos in DC that do not require permits:
- Home Sweet Home: If home is where your heart is and you love the look of your space or the feel of your neighborhood, why not have your shoot where you live? A lot of my Washingtonian couples identify with their neighborhood and feel deeply connected to the local culture and residents. Your favorite coffee shop, local park, or backyard all make for fun spots to get great pics. I’ve photographed artists surrounded by artwork they love and couples reliving memories of where they met, and those intimate backdrops always make photos more meaningful. Alternately, if you used to live in the DMV and are having a destination DC wedding, you may want to consider booking your favorite DC hotel for the weekend of your engagement session. We can start our session in your hotel room before heading out to explore the surrounding neighborhood.
- Upbeat and Urban: Pick a special area in DC or Baltimore and take a walking tour. Start at a favorite restaurant or bookstore, then explore the rest of the neighborhood. One couple I worked with was obsessed with Milk Bar so we photographed them getting cake there and then walked around City Center for the rest of the session. Getting photos as the sun sets, then enjoying a bit of nightlife at a bar make for a great collection of photos. Some clients love the murals and graffiti in the city and we focus our session around the best tags and wall art. A few people who love the look of the Metro have asked me to photograph them on the platform and train, which is an exciting and unique way to show your love of the city.
- Back to Nature: There are numerous gorgeous gardens in DC proper as well as in the greater DMV. Many of these places require permits. You will find my favorites with their requirements below. For garden and park engagement photos in DC or the greater DMV with zero hassle or fees, I suggest The pocket parks near Lower Senate Park, Market Square in Old Town Alexandria, or Georgetown Waterfront Park. Most neighborhoods tend to have pocket parks that will get us some nice foliage too. The Canal Trail in Georgetown is lovely as well as Meridian Hill Park, Yards Park, and some parts of Rock Creek Park. Further afield lies Great Falls Park in Virginia and Maryland. If you are willing to trek out further, there are many beautiful wineries in Virginia where you can raise a glass and get nature-filled photos in the same session.
- Hobby Centered: Whether you are an art lover, a bibliophile or a baseball fan, there is a museum, bookstore, or ball park that is perfect for your session. I’ve photographed couples in bowling alleys, at sites with political importance and at the National Gallery of Art and the Portrait Gallery, which allow professional photo shoots. If you have a hobby you love, let’s showcase it in your engagement session.
- Where You Got Engaged: Why not revisit the place you popped the question or said “yes”? These spots bring back wonderful memories and always bring an extra bit of romance to a session. And the same goes for first date locations.
- East Coast Destinations: The East Coast is full of fabulous places for adventure photography. I’ve done engagement sessions in NYC and all along the seaboard. One of my clients is an equestrian and we traveled to Assateague Island to photograph her and her partner with the wild horses. I’ve done sessions in hotel rooms, on boats, family farms and cabins in the woods, and I’m always excited to explore new places.
- Your Next Vacation: If you’re already planning a vacation before your wedding, that location may be the perfect picturesque place for your photography. I travel anywhere in the world and travel fees are based on time and distance.
- Celebrate the Seasons: From photos full of Spring cherry blossoms and pumpkin patches brimming with fall color to ice skating rinks at the holidays, choosing a location that shows off the seasons is a great way to add interest to your photos. Check out the list below for DC permit and fee information.
- Put Fashion First: Got an amazing dress or well-cut suit? How about a favorite outfit that shows off your personality? Finding a place that works as a backdrop or runway for your look will set you up for fashionable photos.
- Don’t Forget Fido: Adding your dog to the day will give you plenty of photo ops and sweet moments to be captured. I’ve even had couples bring their parrots and other pets. No matter where you go, bringing a furry friend can make your session even more enjoyable.
A few of the places I love for DC engagement photo shoots include neighborhoods with lots of local flavor and university campuses with elegant architecture and gorgeous gardens.
Neighborhoods & Campuses: No permits required
Old Town Alexandria – nationally designated historic district with charming backdrops
Georgetown – beautiful neighborhood with Federal style architecture and cobblestone streets
Capitol Hill – DC’s center with dozens of historic sites and Union Station is right there too
Dupont – cosmopolitan neighborhood with restaurants and bars
Chinatown – The National Portrait Gallery and the Chinatown arch are just a few of the attractions in this area
City Center – unique and modern, this pedestrian-friendly mixed-use development of luxury brand stores and artisanal restaurants has interesting architecture and rotating outdoor art exhibits
Eastern Market – bustling market near the Capitol Hill area has been around for over 130 years
Union Market – discovery destination for food, fashion and art
Nats Park / Navy Yard – home to baseball and brewpubs in the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood
Howard University, DC – colonial buildings and manicured lawns in the Shaw neighborhood
Gallaudet University, DC – 1863 campus with 10 historic buildings and sprawling grounds
George Washington, DC – in DC proper with rotunda and fountains
Georgetown Campus, DC – stunning architecture in the heart of historic Georgetown
American University, DC – 84 acre campus with walking trails and labyrinth
Catholic University, DC – park-like campus with spring/summer gardens in the Brookland neighborhood
Palisades, DC – fun waterfront neighborhood with Potomac views on the Capitol Crescent Trail
Tenleytown, DC – second oldest neighborhood in DC with murals, upscale cafes, and is close to the National Cathedral’s “Bishiop’s Garden” (These gardens do require a permit)
University of Maryland – full of trees with fall and spring color
Graffiti & Murals in or near: No permits required
Black Lives Matter Plaza – for photos with a large mural painted on public street
Rhode Island Ave – near the metro stop with large updated murals
Culture House in DC – a completely muraled 15,000 square foot church
Madam’s Organ – in Adams Morgan, DC (2461 18th Street NW) and others funky spots nearby like this (2270 Champlain St NW)
Blagden Alley Love mural – frequently photographed rainbow love mural
The Dupont Metro murals – from 5 generations of artists
Eastern Market – murals of varying sizes throughout the neighborhood
Watermelon House in Logan’s Circle – 11th Street & Q Street NW
Picasso Esque mural – boy giving girl a flower, at 1737 Columbia Rd NW
The Greek Spot – jazz mural in blue tones
No matter where you decide to have your fun photo session, I hope you’ll reach out and get on my schedule. After 100s of photo shoots in the area, there is no one who knows more about engagement photos in DC and I can’t wait to make your session unforgettable.
List of Locations Requiring Permits for DC Engagement Photos
Here are some of the most picturesque places in the DMV that are worth the price of admission.
Gardens and Parks
Bishop’s Garden – at the National Cathedral in DC with beech and oak forest – requirements
Brookside Gardens – award-winning 50-acre garden with butterflies, Japanese maples and cherry trees in Silver Spring, MD – requirements
Meadowlark Gardens in Vienna, VA – lovely manicured gardens with low permit fees – requirements
US National Arboretum in DC – extraordinary 450-acre arboretum with beautiful backdrops for every season – requirements
The National Mall in DC – a national treasure with trails to DC’s most famous monuments Silver Spring, MD – requirements
Constitution Gardens in DC – wonderfully maintained parklike setting overlooking the Washington Monument – requirements
Hillwood Museum in DC – five miles from downtown, with seasonal gardens, mansion and elegant buildings – requirements
Lower and Upper Senate Park in DC – location overlooking the White House that looks lovely day or night – requirements
Tidal Basin – exceptional location year-round known for its profusion of Spring cherry blossoms – requirements
Museums and Galleries:
The National Portrait Gallery in DC – requirements
National Gallery of Art in DC – requirements
National Museum of Women in the Arts in DC – requirements
Longview Gallery DC – requirements
Hillwood Museum and Gardens – 13 acres of lush gardens and a conservatory – requirements
Historic Sites:
*Capitol Building & Upper Senate Park – requirements
*Lincoln Memorial – requirements
*Jefferson Memorial – requirements
*DC War Memorial – requirements
Kennedy Center Rooftop Terrace – requirements
