DC Engagement Photographer
I'm Jenna Leigh — and engagement sessions are honestly some of my favorite work. There's no timeline pressure, no family formal list, no vendor coordination. It's just the two of you in a great location, getting comfortable in front of a camera before the wedding day.
In 16+ years of wedding photography across the country — and deep roots in the DMV market — I've found that couples who do engagement sessions almost always feel more relaxed on their wedding day. You've already done this. You already know how it goes. That ease shows up in every frame.
Featured in Washingtonian Magazine ·
Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame
16+ Years · 350+ Weddings
An engagement session means showing up on your wedding day already knowing what is feels like to be photographed together
Vibrant, true-to-life engagement photography for DC couples who want images that look exactly like the city felt on the day you said yes.
Washington DC Engagements
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
"Jenna captured our day beautifully, every photo feels natural, heartfelt, and full of joy."
Stefanie & Warren
Beyond the expected
Jefferson Memorial
The Jefferson Memorial is one of the most striking portrait locations in the city — the neoclassical dome, the Tidal Basin reflection, the open sky. Golden hour here is genuinely spectacular, and the scale of the architecture gives every frame a sense of place that's unmistakably DC.
Beyond the expected
National Arboretum
The National Arboretum is one of DC's best-kept secrets for engagement sessions — 446 acres of gardens, meadows, and the iconic Capitol Columns rising out of an open field. It photographs completely differently from the monument corridor and gives couples something unexpected and genuinely beautiful.
Beyond the expected
DC Cherry Blossoms
For two weeks every spring, the Tidal Basin becomes one of the most photographed places on earth. Pink blossoms, the Jefferson Memorial, and the water reflection — there's nothing else like it in the city. Timing and crowds require planning, but when conditions align, the images speak for themselves.
FAQ
Q: When should we do our engagement session?
A: Most couples schedule 3–6 months before the wedding — early enough to use photos for save-the-dates, late enough that it feels timely. Spring and fall are the most popular times in DC, so if you want cherry blossoms or fall foliage, book early.
Q: How long is a typical DC engagement session?
A: Most sessions run 1–2 hours. That's enough time to work two locations and get a variety of looks without it feeling like a marathon. I'll recommend a timeline based on your locations and the light.
Q: What should we wear?
A: Wear something you actually feel good in — not necessarily formal, just intentional. Coordinating without matching tends to photograph well. Avoid very busy patterns. I'm happy to give recommendations based on your specific locations when we connect.
Q: What does "vibrant and true-to-life" mean for waterfront and bay venues specifically?
A: The Chesapeake Bay region has extraordinary natural light — the water reflections, the open sky, the golden hour over the bay. My style captures that light accurately and fully rather than fading or muting it. Your venue looks like your venue, with all the color and atmosphere that made you choose it.
Q: Do you include engagement sessions in your wedding packages?
A: Some packages include an engagement session and some don't — it depends on which collection you book. Either way, engagement sessions are available as a standalone add-on if not included in your package.
Q: What happens to the photos?
A: You'll receive a sneak peek within 24–48 hours, with your full gallery of edited high-resolution images delivered within 2 weeks. The gallery is downloadable and shareable, and you'll have personal print rights to use the images however you'd like.
Washington DC Engagement Photography
Let's Tell your story
Tell me where you're thinking, when you're getting married, and what you're hoping for. I'll take it from there.
Serving Washington DC · National Mall · Georgetown · Dupont Circle · Navy Yard · Capitol Hill · Logan Circle · Kalorama · and throughout the District · also serving Northern Virginia · Maryland · and Annapolis & the Eastern Shore