Scheduling a winter family session in the DMV can be quite the roller coaster! We had to reschedule this family session TWICE due to snow, sleet, icy rain, or some combination of the above! If you look closely, you can even see patches of thawing ice in the background. 😉 Thankfully the sun warmed up the scene, as did the gorgeous smiles of the Leong family!
Carissa and Jeremy are former DC plants who recently moved to Rockville to plant a church (New Covenant Baptist Church – fun fact, you can see little Joanna looking up on the homepage photo!). I connected with Carissa through a mutual friend and was delighted to discover that she and Jeremy met at Ithaca College. It’s not everyday that I can tell “Ithaca is Gorges” jokes and not sound completely crazy! 😉 I thoroughly enjoyed bonding over our shared experience of the harsh winters and magnificent natural beauty of upstate New York.
Wintertime can look pretty barren in the DMV, but Brookside Gardens is one of those dependable photo locations that looks gorgeous in any season! I had so much fun walking through the gardens with Carissa, Jeremy, and Joanna and introducing them to my favorite photo spots, like the wooden bridge by the Japanese Tea House and the lush foresty paths by the Rain Garden. Joanna was a little hesitant about taking photos at first, but with the help of some Goldfish crackers, she warmed up to the camera and gave me the most adorable expressions! At the end of the session, I stole Carissa and Jeremy away for a few couple portraits, and I’m so glad I did. I can’t count the number of times parents have told me that the last time they’ve had “nice” photos taken of just the two of them, was at their wedding! My goal is to change that, one family at a time! 🙂
Enjoy~!
<3,
Jocelyn
Jocelyn Bravo is a DMV family photographer who specializes in creating joyful and luminous images for families and couples. She is based in Alexandria, VA and loves working with clients all across Virginia, DC, and Maryland.