Alexa & Evan’s cool crisp sunrise cherry blossom engagement session was quite possibly the highlight of my year. The DC Cherry Blossoms are a sight to behold. Hundreds of thousands of visitors travel from all over to see these gorgeous blooms that appear only a few weeks of the year. And even the peak of season is only about a week long. So when Alexa told me she wanted to fly me to DC for their engagement session, I was beyond thrilled!

A sunrise session during the blossom season is a must. With thousands of visitors, the Tidal Basin becomes a sea of people. So waking up at 4 AM (3 my time!) is quite the challenge! We arrived at the basin in the pitch black of night. The monuments are still glowing – lit up by their spotlights in the dark hours. DC at night is absolutely gorgeous!

One of our greatest challenges (besides being up at 4am) was the weather. The night before the basin had a bad storm, knocking off several of the fresh blooms – a gut-wrenching thing to happen in a delicate floral season. Luckily some of the trees were able to withstand the storms and blooms remained but many blooms scattered the grounds, wet from the heavy rains. The rain was scattered in the forecast. Clouds and cold greeted us at the sunrise – not ideal for a sunrise moment as the light was softer and more dull than I would like. However, about an hour after sunrise as the morning progressed, the sun broke through. Finally the glow I was looking for. And I bet you can guess which part of the session this glow showed up for 😉

Just off the footpath at the sound end of the basin, right next to the busiest street, I asked Alexa and Evan if they’d stand on the other side of the fence under the trees in the light I had spotted. Absolute Perfection. It was the glowing light I dreamed of seeing pouring through the blossoms and was exactly what I was looking for!

Following these, we headed to the Jefferson memorial to take a few pictures in the grand columns. It was absolutely one of my all time favorite sessions to date. I only wish I could go back to the blossoms again! To top it all off, Alexa and Evan are the sweetest, most gracious people I have ever met. My great uncle, a Vietnam veteran, traveled with me. At the end of our session, they surprised him with a gift! My heart melted right then, and ever since I cannot be more thankful that they shared something so special to someone I love so dearly!