Rain, rain, go away…

…and so it did just in time for this sunrise engagement session at the Lincoln Memorial! I swear it was Abbie & John’s joyfulness that made the rain stop so that we could capture these gorgeous images of them. The overcast sky hid a bit of the Washington Monument, but it added an intriguing moodiness to these images that I can’t help but love. This was also my very first time getting to have a session at the monuments since moving to Arlington. Holy cow, I am just so in love with how these turned out!

This location is definitely worth the $140 photography permit fee in my opinion. The fee also goes back to the National Parks Service to keep our parks/monuments looking gorgeous as always! If you’re wondering how to obtain a photography permit for the National Mall & Monuments, check out this information here. I always take care of the permit application for my clients so they do not have to navigate the application. All my clients need to do is pay the permit fee invoice and I handle the rest for them!

Abbie & John are so classy and I absolutely adore their personalities. I am SO pumped to capture their wedding this coming January because if we got these gorgeous images in just an hour, imagine what we can capture throughout their entire wedding day! They are truly such a sweet couple and I can’t begin to express what an honor it is to be a part of their wedding day at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA. Until then, I’ll be looking back on their session with adoration.

Want to book your own engagement session with the monuments like the Lincoln Memorial? Reach out to me here and let’s get your session on the books!

Construction at the Lincoln Memorial

As of June 2023, the Lincoln Memorial is under heavy construction and is expected to be until 2026. Due to this, I am recommending that all of my couples choose the Jefferson Memorial for their session location. The Jefferson Memorial has the same amazing “amenities” as the Lincoln Memorial, and there may actually be more pros compared to the Lincoln Memorial!

There is far less foot traffic as the Jefferson Memorial is on the south-east side of Tidal Basin (away from the main part of the National Mall), there are gorgeous marble columns like the Lincoln Memorial, and you can still capture the Washington Monument in the backdrop just across Tidal Basin (another perk–water in the background so we have vibes almost like the Reflecting Pool). Plus, the cherry blossoms and the fall foliage is absolutely stunning during their peak times! Check out more of my Jefferson Memorial sessions here to catch a glimpse of the beauty!