The John F. Kennedy Center is a stunning location for a portrait session and it certainly didn’t disappoint after Evelyn and Trung’s session a couple of weeks ago! We had a marvelous time exploring the grounds of the iconic Washington DC spot, including the classic red carpeted lobby, beautiful and lush terraces, and new Reach center with a pedestrian bridge over to the Potomac River. Evelyn and Trung were troopers as we wandered all around the buildings on the property, chasing the perfect golden light from the clear sunset and soaking in every bit of the fall greenery surrounding us on every side.

Evelyn wore a beautiful white coat to complement her formal dress to create an outfit that was both totally appropriate for the formality the Kennedy Center tends to evoke while still being comfortable in the crisp fall air. Thankfully it was warm enough outside that we were able to shed a layer, though, and enjoy the last bits of warm sunshine from the day to capture some of my absolute favorite engagement photos I’ve taken yet. Evelyn and Trung claimed to be a little uncomfortable in front of the camera but my goodness you wouldn’t know it from these stunning photos!

After the more formal photos, Evelyn and Trung changed into their Boston University hoodies as a nod to where they met and developed their relationship. It was such a cute way to make their more casual, comfy photos meaningfully tie into the story of their relationship which is what engagement photos should be all about! We also did the photos down by the Potomac River thanks to the new pedestrian bridge that has been built between it and the Kennedy Center which was extra fitting since these two used to take walks by the river together when they were at Boston University. It was so sweet to be able to share in that memory with them and preserve it in a slightly unexpected way.

If you haven’t had a chance to visit the Reach wing of the Kennedy Center, I absolutely recommend it. It’s a gorgeous, modern addition to the Center and I had so much fun exploring it with Evelyn and Trung. I easily could have kept our session going for another hour if we’d had the light to keep going (and, honestly, the energy – exploring that whole campus can be exhausting especially before dinner)! I hadn’t been able to see the new developments before our session and it’s full of beautiful art, a clean and crisp design, an intricate layout that offers plenty of room for exploration, and of course the incredibly handy pedestrian bridge. Between the classic Kennedy Center building, the sleek Reach wing, and the easy access to the river and its surrounding foliage and views, the Kennedy Center is now quite a diverse and beautiful location for portrait sessions. And the cherry on top – the staff is incredibly friendly, and the Center doesn’t require any sort of permit fee or special permission to photograph there as of now, unlike most of the rest of Washington, DC’s iconic locations! I can’t wait to return again as soon as I can!