Fall is, without a doubt, the most active season for a wedding photographer in the Washington, DC area. Our weekends book over a year in advance as we are often shooting wedding after wedding and even find ourselves with many double headers! Additionally, clients enjoy having their engagement session scheduled this time of year due to the beautiful colors of the changing leaves and cooler temperatures. But, this is unfortunately a sentiment held by many! And not just my clients, but every photographer’s clients! So popular shooting locations are literally overflowing with photographers, couples, and families all trying to get their images taken during the burst of fall color. This forces us, being a respectful bunch, to wait our turn for the best light and location to avoid having mobs of people in the background. 

While I’ll be the first to admit fall provides an absolutely stunning background, there is so much beauty to be found in the other three seasons as well. I wanted to highlight the gorgeous features offered by spring, summer, and winter.

Spring |
Spring is probably the second most popular season to get your engagement session done because it is the sister of fall — except instead of colorful leaves, we have a rainbow of flowers to work with! And truly, it’s just flowers because trees and plants are blooming as well. Think daffodils, tulips, cherry blossoms, wisteria; all of those beautiful purples, pinks and yellows will absolutely fill your images with life.
With spring comes soft creams and pastels for outfit choices which photography beautifully and are the perfect complement to nature’s colors. Cooler weather still lingers, so you don’t have to worry about being too hot or too cold — it’s the perfect season for bringing your four legged friend; they’ve been cooped up all winter and are ready to get outside, just like you!

 

Summer |
Summer is the essence life in nature — colors are vibrant as everything has completely matured by this points. Trees are full and green; grasses are tall and lush. And while other times of year are hit or miss with the weather (it could be 50 degrees in October or 80 degrees, you just never know!) you certainly don’t have to worry about being cold in the summer; wear your favorite sundress for your session! I think it’s safe to say most people feel at their best in summer — you’ve got a hint of a tan fro being outdoors and worked on your body for the beach, so this is a perfect opportunity to show it off! 
One thing a lot of people worry about in summer is, “am I going to be too warm?”, which is a valid question with a simple solution… sunrise! The earth cools down overnight so if we shoot early in the morning as the sun starts to come up, we don’t have to worry about overbearing heat. Sunrise is actually beneficial in summer for another reason — summer storms tend to roll in in the evening, so you have a greater chance of needing to reschedule! You can read all about my love of sunrise sessions here. 

Winter |  
Due to the chilly weather, winter is normally the least popular month for engagement sessions but there are some of the most fun ideas to take advantage of this time of year! Most wouldn’t think of it, but if you’re shooting in the early morning, there is often frost on the ground which creates this beautiful, soft sparkle on your images. And if you do a little research, you can find areas that are decorated for the holidays so we could incorporate those twinkling lights into your session as well. I know Old Town Alexandria has a gorgeous display that time of year. 
And I love a good jacket during an engagement session — pair that with a cute hat and gloves and you have an adorable outfit! We can always lose the jacket for a few shots too :) If you do plan to do a winter engagement session, I highly recommend bring a cup of coffee or hot chocolate (which also doubles as a cute prop!) and some hot hands to stick in your pockets and shoes!

I know that fall will still be a favorite by many, and that is totally understandable! If you’re heart is set on that colorful season, I recommended planning with your photographer several months in advance to get on their calendar as it fills up quickly. And, if possible, be open to sunrise as you’ll be able to avoid the crazy crowds much easier!