Tips for Cherry Blossom Portraits this Spring in the DMV

Spring is one of my favorite times of year as a photographer, especially in the DMV. In the springtime, we get Cherry Blossoms and it’s one of my favorite times to capture family portraits. Since they’re very popular for families in the area, I thought it would be fun to share some tips for cherry blossom portraits this spring!

Timing is Everything!  

Time to get science nerdy, some cherry trees blossom earlier than others! The dates range from the end of March to the end of April. The Yoshino Cherry Trees blossoms, which are famously known in DC at the Tidal basin, bloom earlier than Kwanza Cherry Trees, which come weeks later. The Yoshino have the soft white and pink, depending on the timeline. The Kwanza tend to bloom longer and have a brighter pink hue. Obviously, that can make the timing a bit tricky! I have to mention that in this session, we had plum blossoms.

Additionally, some cherry blossoms bloom longer than others.  The timing can be tricky as they can literally bloom overnight even with closed buds. I had a spot by my old house where I checked it everyday to see for a session. The buds were closed shut and the next day everything popped. Wind is the enemy, too. That’s why peak season can easily be 2 weeks or just 4-5 days. Personally, I don’t mind the end of the season because the blossoms remind me of snow and the ground is covered in lovely blossoms! 

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Find the Perfect Locations! 

If you are dreaming and envisioning a session in DC with cherries, I highly recommend booking early so you can process the Photography Permit. Be aware… It gets very crowded and having a sunrise session will lessen the crowd, but other photographers will be there with families and couples.  It definitely won’t be a private experience. There are a few other spots around DC that will be less popular, including the National Arboretum, The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the Smithsonian Gardens. All three do require permits, too. 

If you’re open to somewhere outside of DC, I have some great little spots around Howard County MD that I recommend! They’re much smaller patches, but they’re simply gorgeous! 

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Be Flexible! 

Sessions may have to be pushed up earlier or later, depending on bloom. This is a super common occurrence among area photographers, so don’t be alarmed if that happens to you! It is best to have your outfits picked out 2 weeks prior. Try to make sure everything is ready in case your session gets pushed up. 

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Trust the vision.  

Trust your photographer. If you arrive and the grove seems smaller than you thought, don’t panic! You’d be surprised at what a few cherry trees could bring to your images. Someone might think you were in a field of trees but in reality, it was just a few. I actually love this experience more because it forces me to get creative and work with my clients in a different way! 

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Shout out to my fellow blossom lover and photographer friend, Liz with Liz Vienes Photography. I won’t reveal the number of times we did a drive-by at this location to see if these Plum Cherry Blossoms were ready.