Full-Day City to Park Adventure for Fall Engagement Photos
It’s autumn in Washington, DC. This means leaves are falling onto cobblestone streets in Georgetown, sunsets are resting warmly on the trees surrounding the National Mall, and it’s time for a fall adventure in the great outdoors. What’s special about the DC Metro area is its offerings of both city and nature options for a couples adventure. Follow along for this couple’s full day of exploration for their fall engagement photos!
Washington, DC to Shenandoah Fall Engagement Photos
Lizzie and Brad wanted to celebrate all of it–a shared love for the city of Washington, DC and all the adventures they’ve had both there and in nearby places like Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. Going the adventure session route for your engagement session eliminates having to rush allowing for greater enjoyment of your locations. We planned for a half-day fall photo session that lasted from the afternoon through sunset catching all of the best light!
We really were led by the light following the unexpectedly hot sunshine on this November day that prompted getting ice cream from a nearby food truck! It’s important to keep in mind that when shooting during the day at high tourism sites, that you can expect both bright light and people present. That’s why I’ll always recommend a sunrise engagement session particularly during the hotter and more crowded months of the year.
But, in this case, we chose the afternoon because it was still beautiful and on our path to sunset in Shenandoah which was the final destination of their fall engagement photos. We did find pockets of shade as a break from the direct sunlight under the shadow of the Washington Monument. There these lovebirds took a moment to kiss, cuddle and play in the grass.
Fall Engagement Photos For A Couple Just Being Themselves
Spending their time together walking the city streets and exploring the great outdoors is just something that these Washington, DC natives do. Incorporating both activities into their session was the perfect combination for experiencing the day in a way that mattered most to them.
We started in Washington, DC, meeting at the Capitol and moving down towards the Washington Monument. They regularly spend a lot of time in the city walking around places like the National Mall so I was just a third wheel capturing them on a relaxing day date! The fall leaves had just started to turn on the trees along the mall creating the perfect background to their fall engagement photos.
I just loved working with Lizzie and Brad because they’re such go-with-the-flow kind of people who love being silly, giggling and just having fun interacting with each other. Our personalities really clicked! They are very chill and we all just had a great time hanging out and laughing together.
When You Know You Know: Getting to Your Dream Engagement Session Destination
We continued to follow the light looking for epic sunset photography that only a location like Shendandoah could provide. I suggested the park for its high viewpoints fit for watching the sun go down past the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Going from DC to Shenandoah on the same day, it’s important to factor in traffic and travel time (the park is about 75 miles outside of the city) to make it in time for sunset!
Lizzie and Brad switched into different fall engagement shoot outfits for the park adding in jackets for extra layering options and a variety of looks for their session. The couple loves being in nature and going on hikes, always looking for adventure outside of DC’s city walls.
We visited more than a few overlooks, played around in the expanse of Big Meadows, then went on a mini hike for some even bigger views at the Stony Man Mountain overlook. The overcast sky produced pretty purples and blues as the sun fell behind the mountain finishing off a perfect day for fall engagement photos.
Let’s start planning your own fall engagement session in the city or the great outdoors!
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