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.

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.

Motherhood Photo Session: a Sweet Afternoon Mother-Daughter Portrait Session at the Cherry Blossoms

L&L drove down from New York on their first mother-daughter road trip and scheduled an afternoon cherry blossom portrait session to commemorate the happy occasion. We texted back and forth a few weeks prior to their session to pick out their outfits to coordinate with each other and to create an elegant, coherent look with the cherry blossom backdrop.

Motherhood portraits are quickly becoming one of my favorite types of sessions. I love showing the special bond between a mother and her first-born daughter. They often share the same expressions, smiles, and twinkle in their eyes that can easily be captured on film. Together, we create memories that can be carried on and loved through generations.

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.

How to Prepare for Your Family Portrait Session

Below are some tips on how to prepare for your session - what to wear, what to bring, and what to expect during & after your session.

What to Expect

Let me do the work. You don’t have to worry about posing or anything of that sort. You just need to focus on being together and enjoying the company of your loved ones.

Everyone looks best when they are having fun, so let’s have a good time interacting together! We’ll be sure to get classic posed photos of everyone, but most of the session will be action-shot oriented. I will pose you and call out directions as I take photos, and we’ll move around the whole area you’ve selected for your session so you have a variety of backdrops.

Little kids like to run around and rarely sit still for more than 1-2 shots. I know this, and work with them accordingly. If your little one isn’t a fan of a certain pose or action I’ve suggested, that’s ok! I will still have gotten good photos out of it, and we’ll move on to something he or she might like better.

Babies

Babies are curious and learning about the world, so they look everywhere - including directly at the camera, and directly away from the camera. That’s ok! I know how to work around it, and we’ll set up poses or actions that will allow me to see his/her adorable little face!

Don’t fret if he or she doesn’t look at me the whole time - some couples get tense and start arguing because they feel like their baby is not cooperating, or one feels his/her spouse isn’t helping keep the baby looking at the camera. They wear themselves - and the little one - out from constantly calling out his/her name, when simply waiting a few extra seconds will do the trick.

Even when a baby cries during most of the session, I’ve still been able to get *lots* of beautiful photos from those little brief little moments when he or she stops crying and looks up at you with wonder or a smile.

Props

It’s always fun to bring along props! Don’t hesitate to bring anything that truly reflects you and your children individually or as a family. For instance, I’ve had a family bring along a soccer ball for their two oldest children (8-11) who were on teams that year. Another family bought cotton candy and had fun eating it together. The list is endless!

Suggestions:
Favorite book, bikes, painting & drawing sets for your little artist, baseball mitts, favorite truck or doll, family heirloom (jewelry, toys, blankets, etc).

What to Wear to Your Family Portrait Session

Wear something you would dress in for a really nice dinner. You can also do a more casual look with jeans and a dress top.

I recommend sticking to solid colors (tiny patterns don't photograph well), and for women, using accessories like scarves or jewelry for accent pieces. Bold jewelry, scarves, and shoes photograph well!

Men

Think very nice dinner. That means no polos or t-shirts. Also avoid writing and logos, unless it’s your favorite shirt and there’s an inside joke about it that you both agree should be documented. :)

Please come clean shaven, if you don’t wear any facial hair. While I can easily remove any razor burn or cuts in post-production, removing stubble or a 5-o’clock shadow may need to be done by a retouching specialist.

Ladies

Don’t bring a purse, if you can help it. Unless it’s part of your props, or even your bag to carry your props in, you probably will not want to worry about where to set your purse as we walk around the location taking photos. You might want to bring a small lipgloss or lipstick with you, but most women I have worked with haven’t needed to touch up their makeup.

Most women I photograph choose to show off their beautiful locks - and I highly encourage this. To help you out the day of your photo session, try using a little hairspray on long bangs that might fall into your face from the side (don’t pile it on though, we want you looking natural!), or bring a backup hair tie in case there is some wind. Occasionally a slight breeze will blow hair in the way, but don’t worry, we’ll work around it and make sure your hair looks great in your photos.

Kids

If your daughter or granddaughter is wearing a dress, add on some tights or leggings. That way if she squirms or crawls around, and her little dress gets out of place, the photos are still useable. :)

Think Color Palettes.

Coordinate, don’t match. Choose colors that make you look alive and bring out the best in your features. If you are pale, stick to deep colors like navy, maroon, or forest green (not pale pink, white, etc).
Avoid having a single person in a contrasting outfit, meaning a very bright white or red shirt - they will stick out much brighter the rest of the group!

Try your clothes on first (everyone!) and double-check in the mirror. Look for any problem areas and choose outfits that flatter you from all sides. While bra straps, low-cut shirts, or logos can usually be edited out in Photoshop after your session, the extra work will delay your finished photographs, and may cost extra. Plus, you need to be comfortable and confident in what you’re wearing. If you love your clothes, you’ll be more relaxed and your photos will turn out even better!

What Kind of Photos Will We Take?

Classic family group portraits and unposed, candid full-family photos; group shots; just the kids; parent-kid groupings; close-ups and action shots; you name it!

I like to capture a wide range of photos so you have a variety to choose the images you love for your walls and sharing online. If you have a preference for classic or candid, just the kids, etc, let me know.

Getting to Your Photography Session

Please be on time! I’m a natural-light photographer, so the sun dictates how long I can photograph you. Please make proper considerations for traffic, hair delays, and kid emergencies! If you arrive 30 minutes late, the session is not extended, but, rather, ends at the regularly scheduled time. I want the BEST photography experience for you, and being on time achieves exactly this!

*Please note: Parking at the National Mall is difficult any time of year. If your session is taking place there, please plan to arrive at least 45 minutes early to your session to ensure you don’t spend session time finding parking and walking several blocks + across the Mall to our

meeting point. As a reminder, the metro also runs slower on weekends, usually scheduling trains 20 minutes apart. Please take this into consideration when traveling to the National Mall.

Pets

Can I bring my dog(s) to our family portrait session?

YES! Please do!

I always recommend bringing a friend along to watch over your pup while we take any photos of the whole family that don’t have your pet in them, or maybe while we are at a spot that doesn’t allow animals (like on the steps of a monument or museum).

Other

Family sessions are for...families!

“Quick Linkedin headshots" and all other shots not geared towards family will not be taken.

Why do Lincoln Photography family sessions only last 45 minutes?

Many photographers set family portrait sessions at 2-3 hours. Nearly a decade of experience photographing families of all sizes has taught me that this lengthy duration is not necessary and can prove counterproductive. Almost inevitably, children under the age of 10 lose interest, get tired, cry, or complain after 45 minutes. !

In the first 30-40 minutes that I am with a family, I am able to
capture a variety of poses, groups, and close ups with the
adorably dressed little ones. I spend a few extra minutes exploring fun and candid options and then the kids lose steam. I choose to stop my sessions there in order to provide you a better set of photos with less stress, and to save you money. I pride myself on high levels of customer satisfaction and I have found that my method produces the best results.

After Your Photo Session

After your session, it will take 1.5 - 2 weeks for your photos to be processed and uploaded. I’ll remove any photos with closed eyes, less flattering expressions. I’ll email you a link and password to access, view, and download your gallery.

Retouching includes sharpening, brightening, contrast adjustment, color correction, cropping if needed, and light blemish removal on close-ups only.

Your final retouched images will go into a downloadable high res gallery. Anyone with the link and password can download the photos and purchase prints. Prints are provided by one of the country’s leading professional printing companies, and ship directly to you!

Looking to book your family portrait session?

Start here! Or email me

Happy Family Portraits in Autumn at the National Cathedral

On the last beautiful day of autumn with flowers still in bloom, Kaitlin & Eric brought their three *adorable* children to the National Cathedral for their annual family portraits! We spent a fantastic hour running around the stone pathways of the Bishop’s Garden and frolicking in the flowers. I was thrilled at the older siblings’ readiness to show sisterly affection and grin each other for the camera. Even more adorable was how they held and cuddled their little brother! Picture-perfect <3

Bat Mitzvah Portraits at Beth El Congregation, Alexandria

Leah’s bat mitzvah was a smashing success, even during the time of covid. It was was postponed, changed locations, certain family and friends could no longer attend, and in the end, Leah had a beautiful ceremony outside of Beth El Congregation with her immediate family and closest friends in attendance. We took some fun portraits in the woodsy area nearby, check it out! Congratulations, Leah!

Autumn Family Portraits - the kids are growing up!

I had the pleasure of photographing these good looking kiddos last fall in Rock Creek Park, and they’re back again this year for some updated portraits! One of my favorite things about being a photographer is seeing how little ones change each year, and how they act in front of a camera - shy, energetic, playful, mischievous, the sky’s the limit! This happy bunch has been one of my favorite return clients, and they brought their dog this time, too!
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Fall Family Portraits in DC, with the dog too!

Sheila & Greg’s daughter Alexandra is just the brightest-eyed little munchkin I ever saw! And I was thrilled when they asked to bring their puppy to their portrait session - of course! The more, the merrier! Photographing families with their pets is one of my favorite things. Kids get to run around and play, forgetting about the camera and just being themselves, and fortunately many families I’ve worked with this fall season have brought their dogs!

Washington DC Family Portrait Session - a fun afternoon!

Every time a new family entrusts me with the task of documenting their children as they grow, I’m honored they chose me out of all the other photographers in the area (and there are a ton of good ones!). But what really brings a few tears to my eyes is when families come back year after year because they just *loved* their photos so much! This beautiful family (with three boys!!!) often travels the world but have managed to take autumn portraits with for the past several years running. This year we spent a gorgeous sunny afternoon at Meridian Hill Park. One of my favorite things to photograph during fall portrait sessions are the colorful leaves fluttering down around the faces of smiling children. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Bat Mitzvah Portraits

Eden celebrated her bat mitzvah this past weekend, an intimate ceremony with her family, and I joined them for portraits after! Congratulations, Eden!

Fall Family Portraits: Jessica, Chris, Jameson, and Camden

I’m honored this beautiful family has stuck with me through all these years since their engagement! It brings such joy to my heart knowing I’ve had the privilege of photographing their two sons, from maternity to their first birthdays and beyond! We met up at the flourishing Bishop’s Garden behind the National Cathedral in northwest DC. They even brought their two dogs, which made the session all the more fun! The small brick pathways, enclosed grassy courtyard, and wooden benches scattered here and there are the perfect setting for these two munchkins to run and laugh with their loving parents. Can’t wait to see you all again soon!

This little guy snuck up to observe our session!

Fall Family Portraits at the National Cathedral, Bishop's Garden

This gorgeous, happy family and I spent a sun-filled evening running through the brick pathways of the Bishop’s Garden at the National Cathedral here in DC. Their kids are all spirit and smiles, mischievously giggling and taking a quiet moment to enjoy the roses. Happy Autumn, everyone!

18 months Baby Portraits!

First Birthday Family Portrait Session in DC!

Couples who continually come back to me for portraits make me just the happiest - they’ve adored my work and artistry, and there’s nothing more rewarding as a photographer than hearing that. John proposed to Marie a couple years ago atop the Charlie Palmer Steakhouse overlooking the Capitol Building, and last year for the cherry blossoms we held an absolutely gorgeous, perfect sunrise maternity session.
Check out their epic proposal shots here,
and
their beautiful cherry blossom sunrise maternity portraits!

Happy First Birthday, Little Girl! A summer 1st birthday portrait session

Little Olivia has grown into a beautiful one year old! I got to see her when she was just a tiny newborn, and I’m honored her parents asked me to take her first birthday portraits as well! We spent a beautiful evening at Dumbarton House - they left their gardens open for guests to enjoy while places were closed for the pandemic. It’s become my favorite spot for portraits, or just to spend the afternoon reading a book. The vast grounds make it easy to stay at least 6 feet away, so we are always at a very safe distance while still capturing loving, unposed, family portraits.

Newborn during Social Distancing :: a ray of light comes into the world

With everything that has been going on, it’s been hard to find positivity, let alone envision the future. This beautiful mama was heartbroken there would be no photos of her first child’s first days on earth - until we worked out a wonderful system to keep everyone safe and at a distance, while capturing these precious moments that will never come again. Their cul-de-sac was private and empty. They put out a brand new, sealed, hospital mask for me near their front steps. We spent just 15 minutes, at least 10 feet apart, on their front porch and capture over 40 unforgettable photos. I used my sharp, L-series telephoto zoom lens to get up close and personal from so far away. This little baby’s smile and his parents’ love put a smile on my face and hope in my future.
❤️

Cherry Blossom Sunrise Family Portraits

There is a hidden patch of cherry blossom trees downtown, far from the iconic National Mall and Tidal Basin blossoms, that is just perfect for a small family portrait session, especially at sunrise before DC awakens. Last week, this beautiful family brought their little son out to discover the fallen petals and golden sunrise. I’m so thankful that we were able to capture their close moments as a family amidst all the distancing going on right now. Happy Spring, everyone!

Porch Portraits Washington DC

Experience your family portrait sessions in an entirely new way - from the comfort and safety of your own front yard!

In a conscious effort to keep everyone healthy and safe while continuing to deliver the high-quality professional portraits my clients are accustomed to, I've developed an entirely new photography experience: Porch Portraits

How Does It Work?

Your session will be held entirely outdoors on your own front porch so we can practice impeccable social distancing. Throughout your entire session, I'll remain on the sidewalk or across the street depending on the lens and angle we need. I only use Canon's latest professional L series lenses that allow me to take sharp, beautiful portraits at any distance, near or far.

Email me to your session and we'll coordinate your outfits and any props you might want via email prior to your session.

RL (at) RLincoln (dot) com

After your session, your high-res gallery is delivered via email. You'll receive a link and password with instructions to immediately download and share your photos. Your gallery never expires, so you can access your photos anytime. Anyone with the link and password can also view and download the photos, so your loved ones across the country or across the ocean can enjoy them as well!

Leave the Posing To Me!

My style is an unposed photojournalistic approach with a touch of editorial. I always give plenty of direction the entire time so you aren't left wondering what to do. In just 20 minutes we'll get a variety of shots of you and your loved ones, including a classic family portrait, individual portraits, just kids, couples, and more! You'll come away with a beautiful portfolio full of fun-filled candid shots and classic group portraits.

As we continue our lives in a very different way in the coming months, you won't have to miss out on documenting those special moments that make your family unique: 

baby's first steps, your oldest's missing front tooth, siblings who have formed a new bond, or simply the love and care you put into your everyday life at home together.

INCLUDES

20 minutes

$205

High res gallery ready-to-share jpeg images, retouched to reflect my portfolio

Appx 25+ photos included

Please note a minimal travel fee may apply to addresses outside of Washington, DC. Email me in advance to coordinate.

Melanie, Tyson & Chester welcome newborn Harriet! In-home newborn portraits

Precious little nose, eyes, mouth, and fingers! Harriet is adorable and only one week old! The magnolia trees are in bloom and Chester is running around while their sleepy dog lounges on the couch next to mama and Harriet. What a fun afternoon for a photographer!

Jessica & Chris :: Little Jameson is going to be a big brother!!

I’ve had the immense honor of photographing this beautiful couple since their engagement in 2013, and now they are expecting their second child! I couldn’t be happier for them, or more excited to continue photographing their love and happiness as a growing family.