When K&E started chatting with me about their engagement session, they had a vision in mind. We chatted about and decided the only place that would perfectly encapsulate the vibe they were going for was The National Portrait Gallery in DC. 

And wow did it not disappoint. 

Nestled into DC, as part of the Smithsonian, this historic place is honestly just GORGEOUS for an engagement session. Somehow a perfect blend of greenery, historic architecture and modern nods.

And let’s have a moment for K&E. They understood the assignment when it came to what to wear to their DC engagement session. They wanted it to be editorial without too much of a dramatic flair. The bride-to-be wore a long fitted white sleeveless dress, with a sheer overlay. My favorite part of her outfit was the white stole. It added that elevated nod without overpowering the environment, ya know? Add in her kitten heels and chic gold jewelry?? Chef’s kiss. She looks amazing.

And the groom chose a sleek black suit with patent leather shoes to compliment his partner. He provided such a good anchor point in every image where your eye is so easily drawn to them, even though we were surrounded by art and beauty. 

In a nutshell, they dressed perfectly for a day of photos at The National Portrait Gallery.

We started off our session in the atrium, surrounded by all the greenery. I loved the versatility this added to their final gallery. The towering green trees and stone walkways were beautiful, and K&E looked so relaxed as we wandered through them. 

I always try to keep posing at a minimal during your engagement session. I mean, of course I’m going to give you prompts and ideas… and I’ll fix your hair when it flies in your face or remind you to take off your apple watch… but mostly I want my couples to feel like they’re on a date. 

Take your engagement photos as a time to really unplug from the wedding planning process and just bask in the “oh my god we’re getting married!!!” feeling.

Being engaged is such a short season of life, you deserve to really enjoy the hell outta it. 

After we finished taking photos in the atrium, we moved indoors to the National Portrait Gallery. 

When I tell you there are endless opportunities for photos in there, I mean ENDLESS. 

We wandered around for a long time, finding so many fun spots for photos. The gallery was fairly quiet this day, so we really got to explore and create seamlessly. 

One thing to note about the National Portrait Gallery: you do not need a permit. (YAY).

This makes photographing here really easy. Their main role is that my camera has to be handheld, which is how I photograph anyway! 

If you’re thinking about your engagement photos and dreaming of something that is quintessential DC, take this as your sign to consider the National Portrait Gallery. There is something so enticing and magical about the historic architecture and the beautiful art. 

And if you need a photographer, you know where to find me!