I’m going to share something slightly controversial: Spring is my favorite time of year to photograph! As a Northern Virginia photographer I’m lucky enough for spring to emerge in the middle of March. While I know that everyone loves fall colors, photographing family portraits in the Washington DC area in the spring is magical.

Also, because Leesburg is right around near DC, cherry blossoms in my backyard. If you’re planning a family portrait session and want to skip the crowds, there’s no shortage of locations to capture spring’s colors.

Here are a few of my favorite places as a Northern Virginia portrait photographer to take photos of your family :

Morven Park

Morven Park an ideal location in Northern Virginia for your family photos. With lush Magnolia trees, rows of evergreens, crape myrtles and formal garden grounds, this park boosts year round color for photos. It’s especially beautiful in the spring.

Burnside Farms

Welcome to the Netherlands…or so it would appear from your family photos! Washington DC photographers flock to this spot in early April for the rows upon rows of tulips that make this Northern Virginia location in Haymarket a showstopper for family portraits.

Bon Air Rose Garden Park

A little secluded spot that local Northern Virginia photographers love, Bon Air is located just outside Washington, DC in Arlington. In addition to the showy roses, which bloom mid-spring through the fall, there is also a butterfly garden with beautiful spring florals, perfect for outdoor family portraits in Virginia.

Meadowlark Gardens

Meadowlark Gardens is the perfect place to take a stroll under raining cherry blossom petals while skip the hoards of DC photographers all crowding around the Basin. In addition to the blossoms, the expansive gardens have multiple ponds, bridges, gazebos and groves to photograph your family with. It is located in Northern Virginia in Vienna.

Iwo Jima Memorial

Want the magic of the portraits with DC monuments but want to avoid crowds and traffic? Then look no further than the Iwo Jima Memorial in Northern Virginia. Located directly across the Potomac, this expansive park is alive with spring colors and also offers a fabulous view of the DC Monument and Lincoln Memorial, perfect for your iconic DC family portraits.

Your Home

Sometimes you needn’t look further than your own backyard for beautiful spring color for your spring portraits!

In conclusion, spring color is all around Northern Virginia, making it the picture perfect backdrop for your spring family portrait session.