Most Instagrammable Spots at the National Cherry Blossom Festival

Where to find the most Instagram-worthy spots at the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Best places in DC for Cherry Blossom Photos, Take Cherry Blossom Photos like a Pro!

Don’t get stuck in the bottleneck of tourists - come check out the best spots to take photos at the National Cherry Blossom Festival, no matter the crowds. Here are my favorite spots for the most instagrammable photos of DC’s cherry blossoms. Enjoy the photos below, and don’t forget to check out my cherry blossom fine art print shop!

South side of the Tidal Basin

Check out both sides of the Jefferson Memorial along the water (bathrooms available there too!). Low-hanging branches on the east side of Jefferson yield stunning, artistic photos highlighting both the cherry blossoms and our national monuments.

Tidal Basin Paddle Boats

There’s nothing more adorably iconic in DC than the swan paddle boats floating peacefully on the Tidal Basin. They are located on the east side of the basin, just off 14th Street.

Capitol Building - Mall Side

In one direction you’ll be able to photograph the Capitol Building, and in the other direction, the National Mall and Smithsonian Castle peeking out over a cluster of cherry blossom trees. You’ll want a telephoto lens for this, the museums on the Mall are pretty far away from this spot.

FDR Memorial

The least crowded side of the Tidal Basin during the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the FDR Memorial has dozens of trees sprinkled throughout. You’ll also have spectacular views of the Jefferson Memorial from this (west) side of the basin, and the ground slopes so you can stand up higher than the crowds and easily take great photos.

Walk from MLK Jr Memorial to the Jefferson Memorial, and on your way you’ll discover the location for iconic photos of the National Cherry Blossom Festival with the Washington Monument in the distance. It’s extremely easy to avoid getting too many people in your photos thanks to the basin’s curve in that spot. This area is gorgeous any time of day, from sunrise (below) to sunset.

Kutz Bridge on Independence Ave

The north side of the Tidal Basin has the most space to walk around, and gorgeous views across the water of the Jefferson Memorial, and the pink cherry blossom trees in all their glory. Stay to the west of Kutz Bridge and you’ll see the Japanese Lantern (first cherry blossom tree memorial) and a wide-open grassy space - that’s your spot!

There are tons of low-hanging branches so you can get those crisp, detailed close-ups of the delicate cherry blossoms. These branches also offer a spectacular backdrop for portraits (see below: yours truly!)

Small Pond across the street from the Tidal Basin

Between Independence Ave SW and Kutz Bridge is a small pond (separated from the Tidal Basin by Kutz Bridge) completely surrounded by cherry blossom trees on one side. Plenty of low-hanging branches make it easy to photograph individual blossoms, or step back a few feet and artistically frame the Washington Monument with pink flowers.

MLK Jr Memorial - view of the Washington Monument

Staying on the north side of the Tidal Basin, you’ll have great views through white and pink cherry blossom trees of the MLK Jr Memorial. The Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument are visible too, by turning in other directions.

BONUS!

Smithsonian Castle's Enid A. Haupt Garden on Jefferson Drive SW (entry on Independence Ave).

When the magnolias are in bloom just before the cherry blossoms reach peak bloom, the entire garden is pink. It’s breathtaking and while it can attract crowds, not everyone knows about it, so you might get lucky and have the garden almost all to yourself like I did.

Cherry Blossom Sunrise with your Pup!

ONE PREMIUM SPOT REMAINING!

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Cherry blossom photos at the Tidal Basin in Washington DC are nothing short of spectacular! Sunrise cherry blossom sessions are always pink, dreamy, light-filled, and fun! Natasha and Kyle came to DC last year for the cherry blossoms close to their wedding anniversary, and they brought their adorable puppy with them to be part of their photos.

I often get asked by couples and families, Can I bring our dog to our photo session? The answer is almost always - YES! The only exception would be if our location doesn’t allow pets, but I hold most portrait sessions in parks and gardens where man’s best friend is allowed to come out and play!

We hold the majority of our cherry blossom photo sessions at the Tidal Basin in downtown Washington DC. Most sessions took place at sunrise or around 9 am - morning has become increasingly popular to help avoid insane crowds. I’ve been holding photo sessions at the cherry blossoms in DC for over 15 years, so I know all the best spots for crowd-free, flower-filled photos you’ll never tire of looking at.

DC Cherry Blossom Peak Bloom Engagement and Anniversary Photos at the Tidal Basin

Cherry Blossom Mini Sessions
ONLY TWO SPOTS REMAINING!

Donal and Fernanda visited DC from Ireland! Our session that year almost got rained out, but the sky turned a beautiful shade of blue just in time for them to dance and giggle their way around the cherry blossom trees. We even saw a precious mama duck with her ducklings.

Magnolia Madness! Where to find a pink dreamland in Washington DC

Where are the best places to photograph magnolias in Washington DC? When do the magnolia trees bloom? Where to go to see flowering trees in downtown DC? I have all the answers!

Tucked away behind the Smithsonian Institution Castle is the Enid A. Haupt Garden, which has a magnificent display of pink flowering magnolia trees every spring. This breathtaking garden blooms in late March, right before cherry blossoms reach their own peak bloom. The magnolia trees surround the parterre garden, just inside the wrought iron gates on Independence Avenue. On either side, you can explore the Moongate Garden and the Fountain Garden. Your photos will be stunning from every angle!

If you’re planning to photograph the magnolia trees in DC this spring, be on the lookout for them - they only last a few days! The best time to avoid crowds is sunrise, right when the garden opens, but evenings just before sunset (when the garden closes) can also be quite pleasant.

View of the Smithsonian Institution Castle

The Washington Monument peeking through the magnolia trees at the Enid A. Haupt Garden

Washington DC magnolia trees in bloom

Entrance to the Moongate Garden

Smithsonian’s Sign of the Dragonfly Exhibition

Dragonflies hover over the pond in the Moongate Garden, making delightful reflections and fun subjects to photograph.

Take a walk away from the National Mall

You’ll find plenty of quaint, colorful corners as you explore Eastern Market, Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle, and more!

Fine Art Prints available

Brighten your walls with a touch of pink and liven up your home or office space! Fine art prints of these photographs and more are available in my shop.

ONLY TWO CHERRY BLOSSOM PHOTO SPOTS LEFT!

Here is one of my favorite families to photograph - they’ve come back several times over the years, and I’m honored they keep choosing me to be their family photographer. Here’s a peek at their cherry blossom photos last spring.

Interested in booking a cherry blossom session? Only two spots left for spring 2024!

Your cherry blossom session will include candid and classically posed photos, shots of the whole family as well as individual kids, parents, and more! Most sessions are one hour, but please inquire about my mini sessions (available starting this winter).

National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC

Sneak peek at what the cherry blossoms will look like during peak bloom at the Tidal Basin! Check out my cherry blossom wall art in my online shop.

Spring is just around the corner in our nation’s capital! The cherry blossoms will soon bloom around the magnificent Tidal Basin.
Here’s a shot of the Jefferson Memorial during last year’s peak bloom.

Photographed with my Canon 5D Mark II at f/13, 1/640 sec.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial sits across the basin from Jefferson, with the Lincoln Memorial just behind it.

Photographed with my Canon 5D Mark II at f/9, 1/320 sec.

Magical Cherry Blossom Maternity Session at Sunrise

ONLY TWO SPOTS LEFT!

SUNRISE CHERRY BLOSSOM SESSION

We met at the Jefferson Memorial at 6am, the night sky just starting to turn pink with the first rays of cherry blossom sunlight. The Tidal Basin was still and glassy, perfectly reflecting the deep blue night sky. A magical morning for celebrating new life. Congratulations you two!

~ Sneak Peek at their epic engagement ~

Hannah & Joe's Cherry Blossom Portrait Session

CHERRY BLOSSOM ENGAGEMENT - MINI SESSIONS

Three mini spots remaining - save yours now!

I absolutely adored watching these two together as I photographed them around the cherry blossoms - romantic, easy, and happy to let me take their photos well past sunset for some fun nighttime shots.

The Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival is the perfect location for engagement photos. This year I’m offering full engagement photo sessions, and mini sessions as well! They are nearly sold out, so book yours early! Mini sessions are scheduled for Saturday during peak bloom, and our rain date is the next day, Sunday, at the same time.

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CHERRY BLOSSOM PHOTO SHOOT FAQs

What if it’s overcast?
Mini sessions are held mid-afternoon when it’s nice and bright, so we’ll still have plenty of light on even the cloudiest of days. And, as a perk, you might get a deep blue, dramatic sky!

Isn’t mid-afternoon too bright for good photos?
Nope! We don’t shoot at noon, we shoot from 2:30-4:30, in what I like to call pre-sunset light. It’s hard to take a bad photo at the cherry blossoms, and after nearly 16 years of photographing around the Tidal Basin, I know the best time of day for our needs, and the best locations for crowd control (see below).

I’m worried about crowds if we don’t take photos at sunrise.
On peak bloom weekend, yes, there will be TONS of people. However, after 16+ years of photo shoots during cherry blossom peak bloom, I’ve selected the ideal spot for our mini sessions: wide spaces to allow more room to work around people walking, away from the main path (so more people sitting to picnic rather than constantly walking by), and trees on all sides, not just along the Tidal Basin, to give us several backdrop options while still photographing the cherry blossoms.

What if we take photos before/after peak bloom?
These are what I call my Priority Sessions (vs Premium). Peak bloom means 70% or more of the cherry blossom trees are in full bloom. Before that, you’ll have fewer blossoms overall, but some trees may reach peak bloom before the majority. You’ll still get beautiful, pink, flower-filled photos, even days before or after peak bloom. My priority session clients are always THRILLED with the results.

Early Morning Cherry Blossom Family Portraits

CHERRY BLOSSOM MINI SESSIONS!

During your family portrait session, we’ll prioritize getting that frame-worthy family portrait, but we’ll also have time to take lots of other combinations - mother+kids, father+kids, just the parents, just the kids, individual portraits, and more!

This beautiful family drove up for the National Cherry Blossom Festival and arrived on a picture-perfect morning during peak bloom. In the days leading up to their session, we spent days texting about everyone’s outfits, something I *love* to help clients with to ensure a timeless, elevated look and elegant portraits they’ll treasure for generations.

For photographers, check out my Family Portrait Pose Guide!

We hold the majority of our cherry blossom photo sessions at the Tidal Basin in downtown Washington DC. Most sessions took place at sunrise or around 9 am - morning has become increasingly popular to help avoid insane crowds. I’ve been holding photo sessions at the cherry blossoms in DC for over 15 years, so I know all the best spots for crowd-free, flower-filled photos you’ll never tire of looking at.

a Dreamy, Pink, Light-filled Cherry Blossom Engagement Session

Aswitha and Mayur were a delight to photograph at this year’s cherry blossom festival. We spent an hour and a half running around the Tidal Basin on a chilly but beautiful morning just after sunrise during peak bloom. Aswitha’s graceful poise and cherry blossom-pink dress paired with Mayur’s easy smile and affectionate gaze at Aswitha were a photographer’s dream to work with. Congratulations on your engagement and I wish you all the best as you plan your big day!

We hold the majority of our cherry blossom photo sessions at the Tidal Basin in downtown Washington DC. Most sessions took place at sunrise or around 9 am - morning has become increasingly popular to help avoid insane crowds. I’ve been holding photo sessions at the cherry blossoms in DC for over 15 years, so I know all the best spots for crowd-free, flower-filled photos you’ll never tire of looking at.

Winter Family Portraits at the Lincoln Memorial

It was a chilly afternoon, but Brent and Kimberly’s beautiful family were all smiles. We had so much fun running around the Lincoln Memorial grounds with tree-lined sidewalks, a beautiful reflecting pool, and of course, the majestic monument in the background.

Sunrise Cherry Blossom Family Portraits

I had the pleasure of working Corene and Cody at Christmas last year for their family photos - including brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles, and grandparents! This spring it was just the two of them and their kiddos. They are a picture-perfect example of how to elegantly coordinate colors and outfits for cherry blossom family photos. I just love the soft pastels everyone is wearing, and Corene’s dress is gorgeous!

I mentioned in an earlier post about needing to reschedule due to cold weather at the cherry blossom festival; this family had to do the same! Fortunately, my schedule takes into account unexpected bad or freezing weather during the extremely in-demand cherry blossom season, so I always have room to reschedule as needed and families get the date that works best for them.

Book your cherry blossom photo session early - only a few spots left for spring 2024!

October Engagement Session in Washington DC

Engagement sessions are a fun way to get used to being in front of the camera, get to know your wedding photographer, and have fun capturing loving memories!

Last week I spent a beautiful autumn afternoon with Bao & Alex down at the National Mall. We started at the Lincoln Memorial and ended up at the Tidal Basin. My Classic Engagement Session allows enough time for multiple locations and an outfit change. Most couples choose one casual outfit and one more formal outfit for each location, so they come away with a variety of photos to use on save the dates, wedding announcements, guest book, and wedding website.

How They Met

Bao and Alex met on Hinge during the pandemic. Alex said, “at some point I realized that if I could spend the rest of my life with her it would be such a blessing and I'd be the luckiest guy ever.”

Alex says, “Bao is one of the most caring people I've ever met, and she's got a great sense of humor. She has a balance of knowing when to take life seriously and when to let loose and just have fun”

Their Love Story

Bao knew she wanted to spend her life with Alex once she realized how easy and effortless it is to be with him. “He integrated into my life so easily and gets along so well with my family and friends.” 

Bao loves that “Alex is incredibly thoughtful and caring. And he can always make me laugh!”

How He Proposed

On Bao’s birthday, they went to a nice restaurant they’d been wanting to try. Alex planned the event far in advance. He coordinated with the restaurant - he would propose after they brought out a birthday cake. They all sang for her and Alex got down on one knee afterwards – she was definitely surprised!

Bao says the best thing about being with Alex is, “how he makes me feel; grateful and happy for our lives together.”

How did you hear about Lincoln Photography, and what, in particular, made you want to work with me?

Yelp!  Your reviews were great, people had some really kind things to say about you, and we like your style after checking out your site.  

“Everything in life is better with Bao. She's always got my back, knows how to lift me up when I'm down, and enjoys the ride when life is high.”

— Alex

Cherry Blossom Maternity Session, Washington DC

Brenda and Jose came to DC for the National Cherry Blossom Festival last spring for maternity photos with their son. We spent a beautiful hour at sunset on the west side of the basin where crowds aren’t as thick, and where you’ll find lots of low-hanging branches perfect for portraits!

We hold the majority of our cherry blossom photo sessions at the Tidal Basin in downtown Washington DC. Most sessions took place at sunrise or around 9 am - morning has become increasingly popular to help avoid insane crowds. I’ve been holding photo sessions at the cherry blossoms in DC for over 15 years, so I know all the best spots for crowd-free, flower-filled photos you’ll never tire of looking at.

Looking to book a maternity session? Email me!

Graduation Portraits

Brooklyn was honored with a prestigious art award at the Capitol, and her whole family was flown out from Ohio for the event. I had the pleasure of photographing her on the National Mall, and together we coordinated each fabulous outfit for our various locations. Some of my favorite spots for photos on the Mall are the Enid A Haupt Garden, the Reflecting Pool, and the Lincoln Memorial.

Completely Unposed Family Portrait Session

Brooks and Shana had a special request for their fall family portraits - that their photos be completely candid. Normally I capture a variety of candid and classically posed, with instructions on how to sit or stand and interact so they look completely natural. B & S wanted minimal direction, and had a blast playing with their two boys. They tickled, chased, and hugged their way through their portrait session, and I just love the result!

Want to book a family portrait session? I’m currently booking fall in DC and October 14th weekend in Nashville. Once you book, I’ll send along instructions on how to prepare, what to wear, and offer guidance on coordinating outfits.

Rooftop Surprise Proposal in Washington DC

“Our love is resilient. We both know life is not perfect and we are not perfect.

Through the ups and downs of life, we both just want the other to be happy, but more importantly, we want to be there for each other
in the good and bad times. We know the commitment we have made to each other and we always put that first.”

– Dylan

I recently read that the greatest compliment a woman can give a man is the desire to have and raise his children. The questionnaire I send to my engagement photo session clients includes the prompt, What is the best thing about being with him/her?

As I wrote this photo feature for my website, Sonali’s response got me misty-eyed:

“I cannot wait to one day have our kids have this kind of role model to look up to. It’s the most inspiring thing to have someone in your daily life who genuinely makes a difference in other people’s lives. Dylan is incredibly passionate about his work; it motivates me to work hard, but also find purpose in it.”

How They Met

Dylan had noticed Sonali in grad school at GWU, and one day when they both happened to leave class late, Dylan seized his opportunity and ran after her. They had their first conversation on the metro; a simple, but life-changing encounter.

Sonali saw Dylan waiting for the same train and decided to approach him. They immediately connected. Dylan had something that naturally made Sonali feel safe from the minute she met him: “I barely knew Dylan, but I knew I could rely on him.”

“Just as my metro stop was approaching…Dylan asked for my number. He texted me a half hour after I got home (the longest 30 minutes of my life). Two weeks later, we went on our first date and now it’s been 3.5 years together with a wedding in December!”

When They Fell in Love…

Dylan knew Sonali was the one when they ended up spending six straight hours talking - on their first date!

“As much as I wanted to listen to her, she wanted to listen to me. Sonali always put others before herself and her kindness always came through whenever I spoke to her. It also doesn’t hurt that when I see her, I find myself not being able to look away.”

Sonali says, “Something that constantly reminds me of why Dylan is my “one” is his love for family. Family is everything to me, and he always goes out of his way to do the little things for them. He has the purest of intentions for me, he has this go-with-the-flow personality (something my Type A self is trying to learn), and never says no to having an impromptu dance party with me.”

How He Proposed

Sonali and Dylan now live in Florida and Texas, but Dylan wanted to propose in DC because of how much it meant to them as a couple; it brought them together. Dylan invited Sonali to a work conference (not actually taking place). She knew how much his new position meant to him, so she didn’t think twice about the trip.

That’s when Dylan called me to be his photographer. As he described his vision for their proposal and engagement with excitement and confidence, you could hear in his voice how much his soon-to-be fiancée meant to him, how much he loved her.

Together we fine-tuned timing and location details. Dylan had chosen 101 Constitution Ave, a spectacular DC rooftop I’ve photographed before, with a perfect view of the heart of DC - the National Mall, Capitol Building, museums, and gardens. He’d coordinated a private driver and worked with the event coordinators at 101 to set up a table with flowers and champagne on the private rooftop. Dylan told Sonali they had a nice reception that afternoon, so she got dressed up for the occasion.

Dylan did a fantastic job of keeping his proposal a big surprise until the last second. Sonali says, 

“A private ‘company’ car came to pick us up and of course, all of my Olivia Pope dreams were coming true. His ‘boss’ even called him about said ‘event’. Once on the rooftop, I saw tables being set up and started walking towards them.

Dylan pulled me back and said, ‘Babe, this is us.’ I was utterly confused and said, ‘No, Dylan, the event is over there.’

I turned around and there was Dylan, dropped to one knee, reminiscing the last three years of our lives together.

He asked me to marry him. Nothing else mattered in the world.”

Their Engagement Celebrations

Dylan had a weekend full of surprises for Sonali. He had planned a celebratory dinner at one of their favorite restaurants with their siblings and best friends from home, and 30 of their closest friends from around the country. Last but not least, instead of Dylan flying back to Houston, he flew back to Jacksonville where Sonali is from so that they could see her parents.

“101 Constitution Ave’s staff were amazing to work with and it was a great bonus that Rachel had done a photo shoot there before so she knew all the logistics of the location.”

– Dylan

How did you choose your engagement session location and outfits?

Sonali:

My friends, mom, and sister-in-law were a huge help in this. I always opt for black clothing, but everyone kept pushing me to wear a light color. I thought they were just tired of my boring clothing choices. Later found out that it was actually Rachel’s advice to wear lighter colors for the pictures! I started searching for ideas thinking this event is a big deal to Dylan and I wanted to dress nice. Dylan also had bought a new suit so of course we had to coordinate (something he knows I love!). Everything else was Dylan’s doing, but it makes complete sense as to why it had to be in DC. 

Of working with Lincoln Photography, Sonali and Dylan say…

Sonali:

Dylan was the one who found Rachel to photograph one of our most memorable moments. I will say that these pictures are my most cherished and I cannot wait to show our future kids someday. Thank you so much Rachel for being so easy to work with, and always keeping up with us as a couple.

Dylan:

I heard about Rachel through just combing the internet for DMV photographers and noticed her pictures are great. Rachel was absolutely amazing. She spent the time with me going over how I was going to propose and she gave great advice on the layout and even the color of the suit I wore to make sure It went well with the setting. The pictures were stunning and she made taking pictures so much fun. I'm so grateful to Rachel for beautifully capturing, up to this point, the most important moment in my life.

“Our love and bond is the most unexpected. We are so different in personality and interests, but our core values are completely aligned. I enjoy learning from our love and him. I never want to stop growing and building this life together because I truly think we have the rare balance of supporting each other in everything while also pursuing our own goals.”

– Sonali

“As much as I wanted to listen to her, she wanted to listen to me. Sonali always put others before herself and her kindness always came through whenever I spoke to her. It also doesn’t hurt that when I see her, I find myself not being able to look away.”

— Dylan

“I cannot wait to one day have our kids have this kind of role model to look up to.

— Sonali

"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same."

–Emily Brontë

Engagement sessions are a fun way to get used to being in front of the camera, and to get to know your wedding photographer before your big day - one less thing to worry about at your wedding! During my engagement photo sessions, I always give plenty of direction so you aren’t left wondering what to do. You don’t need to know how to pose for engagement photos; that’s my job! Many couples I’ve worked with tell me first thing: we are really awkward in photos! I’ve never found that to actually be true with just a little posing guidance from an experienced photographer to bring out your natural, happy smiles. Together we’ll create loving images filled with real emotion that you’ll treasure and enjoy sharing with your family and friends.

ONLY TWO Sunrise Cherry Blossom Photo Spots left!

Claire and Damon booked their sunrise session early last year - and it was such a good decision! We ended up rescheduling once due to absolutely frigid morning temperatures at the beginning of the season, and they were able to pick a later date that fit their schedule and still captured spectacular blooms. Damon Bowe is an amazing photographer himself in Washington DC, so I was honored he asked to book a session with me. I normally help families coordinate outfits for a coherent and elegant look to their portraits, but with Damon’s trained eye, he didn’t need any help at all - and I will certainly be taking inspiration from his twin’s matching pink outfits he chose as I guide future clients through their portrait process.

Book your cherry blossom photo session today before spots are gone!

A Dreamy Charleston Afternoon

Charleston is one of my favorite cities for photography - whether I’m shooting a waterfront wedding, an intimate engagement session in the historic district, strolling along photographing the unique architecture for wall art, exploring plantations, or teaching a composition class - there’s never a dull corner. Here are some of my favorite shots from recent trips.

Rooftop Proposal

Colin and Isabel had their first date at the rooftop bar of Hotel Hive in downtown DC. They met in DC, and now both live in other states. They were planning a trip to DC for the Fourth of July, and Colin wanted to propose in that special place. After, their friends came up to surprise Isabel and they had a wonderful celebration together. The next day, Colin and Isabel booked my classic engagement session, which allowed us enough time for multiple locations around the Tidal Basin, National Mall, and Lincoln Memorial, as well as an outfit change.

Interested in booking photography at your proposal? Email me! You’ll be in expert hands.