Fall Sunrise Portraits at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC

Picture this: 14-year-old Kali at an all-girls school in New York, and 16-year-old Zach at the all-boys school across town. They meet at a joint school dance, full of awkward teen energy and the promise of something more. If you’re imagining a love story straight out of a teen rom-com, you’re not wrong—because Kali and Zach’s story could easily be a movie script.

Fast forward to 2019. Kali and Zach had tied the knot, thinking they were about to begin their happily ever after—just months before the entire world would be thrown into chaos. In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, locking everything down, forcing people to reconsider everything from their careers to their relationships to their general outlook on life.

For Kali, a nurse at the time, the pandemic brought a wave of uncertainty with her career. As the world shifted, so did her passion for the work that had once been her calling. After some reflection, she made the bold decision to go back to school, a choice that would ultimately lead them to a fresh chapter in their lives. This decision not only shaped Kali’s future but brought the couple to Washington, DC—where they began a new adventure together.

Now, five years after their wedding, Kali and Zach are celebrating more than just a milestone anniversary. They’re celebrating resilience, love, and all the unexpected turns life has taken. And what better way to mark their anniversary than by commemorating the occasion with photos at some of DC’s most iconic monuments? But, like any great love story, it’s one that proves that if they can survive the highs and lows, they can handle anything that comes their way.

A beautiful sunrise anniversary session this fall at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC.