A Trip to Washington DC
When I first connected with Julianna + Chris, I was so ecstatic to meet them. They are immediately rays of sunshine and have the sweetest chemistry. While living in DC at the time, they are deeply connected to NYC and that’s how they found me! Despite not having been to DC yet, I was up for the adventure and Julianna + Chris were more than happy to show me around and have me capture their love there.
Honestly, I was surprised just how easy it is to get to DC from New York. A quick hop over to Moynihan Hall and about 3 hours on the train later, I found myself in a beautiful new place ready to explore! I couldn’t wait to meet up with J and C for their ceremony and portraits. Pro-Tip: If you’re looking to visit DC, book your train in advance and you can get a round-trip ticket for about $50!
A Rooftop Ceremony in Full Sunlight
Chris and Julianna wanted a simplistic but elegant and family-focused intimate wedding day. On the rooftop of Chris’ apartment, Julianna’s brother officiated their ceremony with a relaxed and funny vibe. In the full sun of the day and a historic DC backdrop, they said “I do.” Now maybe you’ve heard talk about how challenging hard sun can be, but with a trick or two you can use it to your advantage! In this case, the light colored tile on the rooftop served as a “reflector.” It created a special glow of light bouncing back up on Julianna + Chris and offset the contrast of shadows created by backlit sun. With that gleaming sun, the simple and elegant vision that Julianna and Chris wanted came to life.
Amongst popping the champagne, family toasts and congratulatory hugs, we captured their story. We even popped downstairs to their apartment making their marriage official by signing their marriage certificate. Then with their family they shared a cake made by the bride herself; beautiful orange infused layers of cake topped with chocolate ganache. I was in HEAVEN when they offered me a piece. It was a magical afternoon and it was about to get even more fun!
A Stroll Through DC’s Stylish Landmarks
Moving on to portraits – we first went to the National Gallery of Art. We created pure elegant magic there with columns of marble and ornately grand staircases. Taking a more cinematic approach, I used prompt style direction to create lots of movement. Equally important to the stylish candor, Julianna and Chris wanted to capture the allure of DC. By including landmarks in the background and popping over to the Library of Congress, we defintely highlighted the city’s charm. Known for its Art Deco and Beaux-Arts architectural styles, we took full advantage of the Library of Congress’ beauty. With sun filtering through windows to form ornate patterns across them, we had no need for artificial lighting and no lack of inspiration for creative shots.
It was so much fun to create these cinematic portraits in such beautiful locations! But it’s important to note that while both allow photography there are still rules you have to be respectful of. The NGA let us in without issue (aside from the bouquet, no florals allowed!) however, at the Library we did have to go through security so remember to ask them to check your film separately if you have it with you!
My couple trusted my editorial style could tell their story in the way they envisioned their wedding day in photos. If you’re looking inspiration for a chic and intimate day, check out this Untermeyer Gardens Elopement!
