There is no shortage of amazing portrait locations throughout Northern Virginia for every setting. The area is full of historical buildings, urban development, beautiful gardens and trails, fun new developing cities… it’s easy to be overwhelmed by options! One of my go-to recommendations for portrait sessions in Northern Virginia is Old Town Alexandria because it checks off so many boxes, all attainable within a normal single photo session. The Potomac River docks, the Torpedo Factory Art Center, the historic homes with cobblestone streets, the blooms in Waterfront Park, and the fun bright yellow wall at Big Wheel Bikes… with always more to explore and ever-changing looks based on the seasons, it’s can be as romantic, as fun, as classic, or as out-of-the-box as you make it. Looking for more examples of full sessions we’ve done at Old Town Alexandria? Check out:

• Olivia and Victor’s Dreamy Vintage-Inspired Engagement Session

• Kristen and Andrew’s Early Summer Engagement Session

• Marissa and Michael’s Ford’s Landing Engagement Session

• Sara and Matthew’s Bright Summer Engagement Session

• Kianna and Sean’s St. Mary’s Basilica Wedding

• Katherine and Alexander’s Romantic Spring Engagement Session

• Nathalie and Nick’s Fun and Floral Spring Maternity Session

The Docks and Potomac River

Despite being probably the busiest single area of Old Town Alexandria, it can be easy to get great portraits full of movement by the water. The breeze from over the river ensures you get movement in loose hair and clothing to add a fun element to otherwise static portraits. The sun reflecting off the water brightens the entire area, making it easy to get flattering, beautiful images. You can walk along the docks themselves, passing by the boats of various sizes and shapes. Stand along the boardwalk and capture the water behind you, and walk along the riverfront extending down through and past Waterfront Park where there’s less of a crowd but still great views of the Potomac River (and the National Harbor on the other side).

Torpedo Factory Art Center

Next to the riverfront and boardwalk is the Torpedo Factory Art Center. What was once a munitions plant now functions as a fun and busy place to spark creativity with artists’ studios and artwork on display. Bonus points if you choose to host your wedding reception here, as the Torpedo Factory also hosts events! While I wouldn’t recommend expecting to do a full portrait session inside the Torpedo Factory due to its less-ideal lighting situation and small size, it’s a great location to sprinkle into your session and take a break from the elements if it’s particularly warm or cool outside.

Waterfront Park

Having recently completed some major renovations, Waterfront Park is now a bustling spot that still manages to feel a little peaceful thanks to all the blooms inside. Take a stroll along the paths to enjoy the flower beds, shrubbery, and blooming trees. It’s especially beautiful in the springtime when there are trees weeping with beautiful pink blossoms. Even better – this park is just steps away from the Torpedo Factory and the docks so you don’t have to go far to get a little bit extra nature in your session. The park has also started featuring rotating art installations in the square, so if you’re lucky you may encounter something perfect to incorporate into your session (like the session below in front of a large sign that reads “I Love You”)!

Historic Buildings

Of course, everyone knows that Old Town Alexandria is known for its historical significance and that includes historic buildings dating back to the days when the Founding Fathers frequented its storefronts and pubs. It doesn’t have to be a crowded stroll down King Street to fully experience the quaint historic nature of Old Town Alexandria – every side street for blocks all around is full of cute houses in various colors and styles. It can be fun just to wander hand in hand down the sidewalk, pointing out houses that you could imagine yourself living in if you had been here two hundred years ago.

Posh Storefronts

King Street is known for its fun boutiques and general shopping appeal. Some segments of town have a more modern look that lends itself to a posh, sophisticated style. This area is relatively small but you can get a great variety of shots, walking along the sidewalk, posed in the buttery golden light along the street, leaning against storefront walls. It’s a great way to start your session in more formal attire, and the evening golden hour light in this area of King Street is stunning!

Cobblestone Street

Pretty much all of Old Town Alexandria has been repaved since the construction of the buildings that line the streets, but one little stretch of road parallel to King Street is covered in stones and makes for such interesting pictures! While it is an active street and everyone has to be careful and aware of their surroundings, it is an area close to the waterfront and therefore not harboring a lot of traffic – mostly just cars hoping for a good parking spot near the waterfront.

Ice Cream at Pop’s

Looking for something to do during your session to add a little extra fun? Do you have a sweet tooth you want to satisfy while we’re out and about? A classic spot on King Street is Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Co. which serves up tons of flavors of delicious homemade ice cream! Pick out flavors together and share some in one of the cozy window seats or walking along King Street for a fun twist for your session.

Blooms Around Town

One of my favorite methods of searching for spots to stop for photos during a session is to search for blooms and Old Town Alexandria is full of them all the time! The streets are lined with planters and trees, so year-round there’s always somewhere in view with pretty flowers, colorful leaves, blooming tree branches… Even in the wintertime, there are Christmas decorations around so you never run out of places to pause. All of the color makes this one of the most romantic photo session locations in Northern Virginia.

The Courthouse Square

Along King Street just southwest of the Market Square, there is an enclosed, all-brick square that serves as the facade of the Alexandria Circuit Court. This square has a timeless feel to it, and feels both grand and intimate when it’s just a couple sharing a dance or sweet moment in the middle. Of course, please be respectful of the space – it is an actively used court building, which means that during normal court hours it may be busy with people going about their business. The space is also quite dark because it’s enclosed and blocks much of the sun (especially during the golden hour when the sun is at its lowest) so bear in mind that your photos here may be more grainy than elsewhere with more access to sun.

That Yellow Wall

Looking for a modern pop for your photos? This bright yellow brick wall at Big Wheel Bikes will certainly do the trick! No matter the season, and no matter what you wear, this fun statement wall is a fun addition to your set of locations. It’s steps away from Waterfront Park and the cobblestone street, but such an urban twist that you don’t find otherwise in Old Town Alexandria. It’s a go-to spot for me because it’s a blank canvas but with a twist!

Carlyle House

One of the prettiest historic houses in Old Town Alexandria is Carlyle House, just southeast of the Market Square. With a beautifully maintained gray stone construction and a soft-toned blue door, the house looks so dreamy and bridal – perfect for an engagement session! An important note is that the grounds require a portrait photography permit which (as of Feb 2023) costs $25 for a 2 hour session. Well worth the price to explore the gardens around the back! That said, I wasn’t aware of the site requiring a permit when I photographed my clients’ engagement session in Old Town Alexandria and we took a handful of photos just by the front door without seeing any staff members or being told we needed a permit. For more than just a couple photos out front, however, we would definitely expect to obtain a permit to explore more of the property.

Ford’s Landing

When you think of a portrait session in Old Town Alexandria, you usually think of some of the spots we’ve highlighted above, as they’re along or close to King Street. But just a couple minutes of walking south brings you to quaint little Ford’s Landing, a park and residential area that has so much charm without the major crowds! There’s a wide variety of settings just within this little region alone, from the cool waterfront park to vibrant and floral residential streets. It’s a great alternative if you like the charm of the docks and Waterfront Park, but want to beat the crowds. The morning sunrise light is especially gorgeous here!