Well, talk about the excuses to go and photograph cherry blossoms with a couple in love! Vicky and Jason’s wedding will take place at amazing Crystal Plaza in Livingston, NJ; however, they live in DC. They really wanted their engagement photos taken during cherry blossom season so your servant NJ wedding photographer headed to Washington, DC to some sunrise adventures :). It wasn’t very difficult to convince me to go down. We met at sunrise but despite the early time there were thousands of people already waiting to capture this beautiful time and cherry blossoms gorgeousness! We had an amazing time and I was able to capture enough frames without people in the foreground and background though. I felt super accomplished when I looked at the photos and the amazing freshness of cherry blossoms made me love the photos! And Vicky and Jason were just trooppers and withstood the cold (almost freezing) temperatures and looked simply fabulous ♥!

I am super excited to be a part of their wedding!

So here’s how our engagement session went. We met at Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial right before sunrise. From Vicky’s research it looked like it’s going to be best for the cherry blossom photos in all DC. But Vicky wasn’t the only one who did the research. Thousands of other people did too :). When we met, there were tripods set up literally every yard and all photographers were waiting for an amazing view. And let me tell you! We did get the amazing view of Washington Memorial with cherry blossoms. And below is a few photos that we got right before the sun rose.

Crystal Plaza Wedding by NJ Wedding PhotographerAnd here are a few photos that I was able to get with an off camera flash. It always create a fun and different effect and I very much love these photos.Washington DC Engagement Session by NJ Wedding PhotographersPhiladelphia Engagement Session by NJ Wedding PhotographersCherry Blossoms Engagement Session by NJ Wedding PhotographerCrystal Plaza Wedding Photo by NJ Wedding PhotographersAnd look at this amazingly gorgeous cherry tree branch covered in blooms!Philly Engagement Photos by NJ Wedding PhotographerCrystal Plaza Photos by NJ Wedding Photographer

And here is another fun view of Washington Memorial right before the sun appeared. And this kissing love birds give this photo a wonderful romantic twist.Washington DC Engagement Session by New Jersey Wedding PhotographerAnd here I am using cherry blossoms as a framing element for my lovely couple!Cherry Blossoms Engagement Session by New Jersey Wedding Photographers

I adore the simplicity of this photo with this gorgeous diamond engagement ring and cherry blossoms!Crystal Plaza Wedding Photos by New Jersey Wedding PhotographerCrystal Plaza Photos by New Jersey Wedding PhotographersCrystal Plaza Wedding by South Jersey Wedding PhotographerVicky and Jason were so great and they even agreed to sit down on a very cold ground! But I am so glad that they did because it created a wonderful relaxed and fresh look in their engagement photos.Washington DC Engagement Session by South Jersey Wedding PhotographersIt was very interesting to me that there were no fences anywhere near Franklin D Roosevent Memorial.  I was a little nervous when I walked backwards because I didn’t want to fall into water with my camera, but it really made great for photos.Cherry Blossom Engagement Session by South Jersey Wedding PhotographerPhiladelphia Engagement Session by South Jersey Wedding PhotographersCherry Blossoms Engagement Session by South Jersey Wedding Photographer

This tree looks so good too! I was able to use it as a framing element and draw more attention to Vicky and Jason.Crystal Plaza Wedding Photos by South Jersey Wedding PhotographersPhilly Engagement Photos by South Jersey Wedding PhotographerCrystal Plaza Photos by South Jersey Wedding PhotographerCrystal Plaza Wedding by Philadelphia Wedding PhotographerWashington DC Engagement Session by Philadelphia Wedding PhotographerLook at these two people in love!!!Cherry Blossom Engagement Session by Philadelphia Wedding PhotographersPhiladelphia Engagement Session by Philadelphia Wedding PhotographerHere are the photos when the sun actually rose and we were able to incorporate it into photos. I simply love how the sun was perfect in these photos and I wad able to use cherry flowers as a frame for my lovely couple.Crystal Plaza Wedding Photos by Philadelphia Wedding PhotographerCrystal Plaza Photos by Philadelphia Wedding PhotographersCherry Blossom Engagement Session by Philly Wedding PhotographerCrystal Plaza Wedding by LBI Wedding PhotographerWashington DC Engagement Session by LBI Wedding PhotographerCherry Blossom Engagement Session by LBI Wedding PhotographersPhiladelphia Engagement Session by LBI Wedding PhotographerAnd it was cold! Very cold! So once I took a moment to set my light, Vicky went for a hug to warm up a little in Jason’s arms. I thought it was so genuine and cute and photo definitely captured that.Crystal Plaza Wedding Photos by LBI Wedding PhotographerPhilly Engagement Photos by LBI Wedding PhotographersCrystal Plaza Wedding by Cherry Hill Wedding PhotographerCherry Blossom Engagement Session by Cherry Hill Wedding PhotographerCrystal Plaza Wedding Photos by Cherry Hill Wedding PhotographersAnd Vicky’s engagement ring was simply perfection with one large diamond, 2 smaller diamonds on the sides and LOTS of tiny diamonds all about the big ones. And cherry blossoms were a perfect companion for this beauty! Crystal Plaza Photos by Cherry Hill Wedding PhotographerCrystal Plaza Wedding by Cape May Wedding PhotographerWe were able to get to a spot where we were able to incorporate Thomas Jefferson Memorial in the background. The look of these photos will be a mix of romance and history for sure :).Washington DC Engagement Session by Cape May Wedding PhotographerPhiladelphia Engagement Session by Cape May Wedding PhotographerCherry Blossoms Engagement Session by Cape May Wedding PhotographersCrystal Plaza Wedding Photos by Cape May Wedding PhotographerCrystal Plaza Wedding by Avalon Wedding PhotographerWashington DC Engagement Session by Avalon Wedding PhotographersCherry Blossom Engagement Session by Avalon Wedding PhotographerCherry Blossoms Engagement Session by Avalon Wedding PhotographerPhilly Engagement Photos by Avalon Wedding PhotographerWashington DC Engagement Session by Point Pleasant Wedding PhotographerCherry Blossom Engagement Session by Point Pleasant Wedding PhotographersPhiladelphia Engagement Session by Point Pleasant Wedding PhotographerCherry Blossoms Engagement Session by Point Pleasant Wedding PhotographersCrystal Plaza Wedding Photos by Point Pleasant Wedding PhotographerPhilly Engagement Photos by Point Pleasant Wedding PhotographersCrystal Plaza Photos by Point Pleasant Wedding PhotographersCrystal Plaza Wedding by Vineland Wedding PhotographerWashington DC Engagement Session by Vineland Wedding PhotographersCherry Blossom Engagement Session by Vineland Wedding PhotographerPhiladelphia Engagement Session by Vineland Wedding PhotographersEverything was so perfect about his session even though there were so many imperfect things about it. Vicky’s fuchsia dress matched cherry blossoms very well, her milky cardigan matched Jason’s khakis wonderfully. The weather was cold but they were tough. Tons of people were there but we were able to get enough moments that were not interrupted. So here is the imperfect perfect engagement session. Cherry Blossoms Engagement Session by Vineland Wedding Photographer

 

———–

All images are copyrighted to Yana Shellman – fun, sweet, energetic photographer serving as a South Jersey and Philadelphia Wedding Photographer. She adores photography that shows natural and loving relationship of people. Clear instruction, genuine laughter, and long-lasting sweet memories is what you will get with Yana as your wedding photographer.

http://www.yanashellmanphotography.com

———–

If you have questions or would like Yana to record your special event, please drop Yana a note at yana@yanashellman.com or contact her through the contact form.