Washington, D.C. is abuzz with tourists flocking to see our famous cherry blossoms. But as a D.C. wedding photographer, I have come to really appreciate the clean glow of a winter engagement session on the National Mall. You can more easily get America’s most beautiful monuments all to yourself! And Nick and Lauren are proof that with a little style and lots of love, winter Lincoln Memorial engagement photos are the new envy of the city.

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I get a ton of inquiries for National Mall portrait sessions. So naturally, I answer a lot of questions about the logistics of a photos session at one of America’s top tourist attractions. The key to stunning photos at the Lincoln Memorial? Starting at sunrise!

Lauren and Nick did not bat an eye at the early start time. Kevin and I arrived before the sun was fully up to scope our spot and sip down some hot Starbucks to warm up. It was a chilly morning, but the more the sun creeped, the temperature got milder. We met Lauren and Nick and they were bright eyed and ready to rock!

We started their winter Lincoln Memorial engagement session using the warm sunrise glow to our advantage. But the sun moves quickly, and so did we! Taking turns with a few other photographers and their clients, we eventually made it up to the iconic columns of the Lincoln Memorial. These were some of the sweetest moments as we got to know Nick and Lauren better while shooting in absolutely stunning light!

Getting to Know the Couple

We learned that Nick was from New York while Lauren was raised right here in Northern Virginia. During the couple’s outfit change, Kevin noticed something on the Lincoln Memorial. New York and Virginia were side by side in the roof’s inscriptions! Of course that meant we had to grab a shot of this bride and groom sitting underneath their home states.

(We then noticed that New Jersey and Georgia are also side by side, on the front of the monument! Those are mine and Kevin’s home states! Guess we were meant to work together with Lauren and Nick after all!)

Lauren’s Special Halo Engagement Ring

If that wasn’t cute enough, just wait until you see Lauren’s ring. The main diamond was Nick’s grandmother’s, and Lauren’s dad is a jeweler. He helped Nick pick out the perfect setting for his daughter’s engagement ring, the very same day he gave Nick his blessing. Talk about a good dad looking out 😉

Overall, these two were an absolute joy to capture. Best friends for 8 years and together for 5, you could feel the excitement radiating off of them for their big day soon to come. I’m so excited to capture their wedding day this year!

I hope you love their images and start giving a winter Lincoln Memorial engagement session another thought. It truly was a sweet and beautiful experience, wind chill and all!

I photographed this engagement session as an associate for Willow Britt Studios! I am a proud associate of WBS and would love to chat with you about capturing your engagement and wedding if you’re a fan of film-inspired wedding photography.

Or if you love my work AND my editing style, see more of my work under my own brand, Emily Nicole Photography, here:

• Alexis & Wesley’s Old Town Alexandria Elopement | Northern VA Wedding Photographer
• Nick & Caroline’s Peak Fall Foliage Engagement Session at Jones Point Park | Virginia Wedding Photographer
• Calvin & Alexandra’s Glowy Constitution Gardens Engagement Session | Washington, D.C. Wedding Photographer
• Andrew & Lauren’s National Gallery of Art Engagement Session | DC Wedding Photographer
• David & Selby’s Smithsonian Castle Engagement Session | DC Wedding Photographer