The Best Locations For Maternity Sessions | Washington DC

Are you wondering about the best locations for maternity sessions? Well I’m here to help you out! When deciding if it’s worth it to venture into the great outdoors, (and heat) to capture a glamorous, epic and legendary portrait to celebrate your pregnancy, the number one question that comes to mind is: What are the best locations for portraits? Depending on where you live there may be different landscapes that can be the backdrop to your next amazing photo! Although I live in the Washington DC metropolitan area, I love to travel and take photos in many different landscapes! I recently traveled to Europe and had my photos taken in Santorini! I offer travel sessions as a service for clients! This Fall I get to take my talents to the desert and I couldn’t be more excited! I will be offering sessions in the Phoenix, Arizona area!

There are some obvious landscapes that make beautiful portraits that will be listed in this blog post and then there are others that may not have been obvious to you! We’re going to talk about what it’s like to use the beach as well as local gardens, monuments and event venues as locations for your maternity session locations!

Beaches

Everyone loves a picturesque sky, white sands and ocean waves, right? It’s my job to used that and create a magical memory that connects mothers with the Earth! Even images of a couple posing while standing on the rocks leading to the ocean creates a powerful image! The best times to do photos at the beach is at sunrise or sunset. It’s important for your photographer to have time to scout the location to find a perfectly secluded spot.

Gardens

Gardens can provide amazing backdrops for photos and typically are endless options! The US Botanical Gardens is a gorgeous location for photos! I have created beautiful maternity portraits at The Swan House and The Atlanta Botanical Gardens, which both require permits. Public and private gardens are great locations for maternity sessions. You may also have amenities like greenhouses, water features and lots of architectural features. If you want to have florals, greenery, and a calm type of environment for your maternity photos, then definitely consider a garden for your session. There are rules to using these locations, which can be researched online or learned through your photographer. Permits may be required.

Venues and Well Known Sights

Because of the city that I live in, I have access to major US monuments including the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial! These monuments are very popular locations and are easily the most instagrammable locations in Washington DC!
Some of the most underutilized locations are paid venues. One of the greatest benefits of having a paid venue for photo sessions is that it can be much less populated! I have held sessions at the US National Arboretum which offers gorgeous locations for photos! USNA has been one of the best maternity session locations I have used in the Washington DC area.
Oftentimes there is an allotted time span that you can be on the premises, so be sure to read the fine print.

Waterfronts

While not everyone has access to the beach, you may have access to a waterfront locations that provides a picturesque background for your maternity photos. These waterfront locations may also have other areas such as piers, cliffs, rocks and architectural features that will provide variety for your session! Gorgeous locations for photos can include marinas.

Need to Know

What you need to know about having on location sessions is that the weather will be a factor in the day! You will have to change clothes in a pop up tent OR in your car. There’s also the great outdoors! These are the options unless you are at a location that has a public bathroom. Bringing water, snacks and items to manage sweat are essential. You will need to bring flat shoes that are comfortable for walking, even if you plan to pose in your Louboutin heels for the photo! Do you want to learn more about how to find the perfect location? Contact me today!