One of the coolest things about being a Washington, DC wedding photographer is the unique opportunity to photograph engagement and portrait sessions at the iconic cherry blossoms. I’ve been capturing weddings in the district for over a decade, so I’m no stranger to the gauntlet that is peak bloom — I pride myself on thriving under the pressure! What I love so much about it is getting to see the full span of the bloom… each phase has it’s own distinct look. 

When we are a few days prior to peak bloom, you’ll find the Tidal Basin especially empty. The trees are still coming to their full potential but in photographs? You’d never know! During peak bloom, you’ll find the trees at their fullest but also the Tidal Basin at its fullest… it’s a bit of a trade off! The cherry blossom trees look absolutely stunning, but the crowds tend to limit the areas available for shooting. After peak bloom, you’ll still find elevated crowds, but no where near the extent as a few days before. The petals are slowly falling off, which makes for a beautiful sight on the ground as now both the skies and the sidewalks are covered in delicate, pink petals. The hardest part is you just never know exactly when any of this will occur! Peak bloom has hit from mid-March through mid-April and everything in between! The trees only bloom about 10 days, but winds and rain can heavily impact that so you have to be watching the weather like hawk!

The last of these three phases (that I’ve completely made up from my own experiences!) is where I met Melina and Teddy for their cherry blossom engagement session. We caught the sun rising over the water before heading over to the Jefferson for a few additional photos!