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Location, Location, Location!
If You have a favorite place you’d like us to add, please do submit it to: sara@sararoney.com! Thanks!
ALL MARYLAND
Fell’s Point (Baltimore)
Baltimore Harbor
Cylburn Arboretum (http://cylburn.org)
ROCKVILLE / BETHESDA AREA
Brookside Gardens (beautiful landscaping and gardens!!!) – $60 fee to shoot there if booked a week or more in advance…$90 if less.
DC Metro Station / Union Station (for a cityscape feel)
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Glenview Mansion (historic gorgeous home, with beautiful gardens, stone archway,etc!)
DC AREA(s) -includes Rockville & Bethesda
National Arboretum (Beautiful forests, paths, fields, columns, flowers, etc!)
Lyndon B. Johnson Memorial Grove (pretty bridge over river, greenery during winter, tall trees, & beautiful english ivy)
Botanical Gardens (Great indoor option for rainy days or winter)
Hillwood Gardens ($15/admission: fyi)
Lake Artmesia (natural ponds, wooded area, field)
Meridian Hill Park (Gorgeous fountains, stone structures, and gardens) Downside: hard parking.
Theodore Roosevelt Island (pathways, water, forests, flowers, bridge)
Signers Island (beautiful peaceful pond with willow trees, ducks, and the Washington Monument behind it all)
GEORGETOWN
Old Stone House (historic home with beautiful stone, staircase, etc…quiet little adorable nook garden, with beautiful trees, clearing, and walkways.)
Tudor Place (a large garden with a pond, beautiful bushes, and walkways)
Montrose Park (in the heart of downtown Georgetown, gorgeous forest and bridges and park!)
Marriott, Woodley Park (Connecticut Avenue, DC) –still investigating this one. 😉
Smithsonian Castle Garden (reflects the cultural influences of the museum and architectures) includes the Enid A Haupt Garden
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens (water lilies, lotus flowers, beautiful water gardens with super green grass! GORGEOUS LOCATION! And it’s free!)
National Building Museum (great hallways with tunnel effects, architecture, historic and private rooms with huge doors and windows, such a neat place to explore with a camera and a subject or two!)
ARLINGTON
Long Bridge Park (Pentagon City) could be an interesting idea. There’s some nice walkways and picnic areas plus nice views of the DC monuments. (nature vibe, clean, city in the background)
Iwo Jima is always a winner.
Bluemont Park just off Wilson Blvd. would be good too, especially this time of year!
Crystal city Water park
Lubber Run Community Center (has nice walkways, playground, green grass, cool old tree, etc.) 300 N Park Drive, Arlington VA
(example of a session we did: https://www.roneyfield.com/
ALEXANDRIA
Green Spring Gardens (nice place for a picnic…open grass, gazebo, creek with bridge, old stone wall, some water, botanical gardens!!!) our most shot-at spot! My favorite spot ♥
Ben Brenman Park, Alexandria
Huntley Meadows Park (beautiful wetlands, forest, walkways, trails, wildlife–great walking planks and grassy forest areas!)
Carlyle House (Downtown Alexandria)
Downtown Alexandria (cute side streets that are tree lined: such as Pitt, Fairfax, etc… lots of alleys, Jones Point Park which is down near the WW Bridge, and the Wilkes St. Tunnel)
Oldetown Alexandria / Waterfront / Docks (great location for shooting! River, bridges, decks, trees, cobblestone walkways, lamp-posts, etc.)
Mount Vernon (Alexandria)–FYI: There’s a small park admission fee, but TOTALLY worth it! (Old trees, gardens, next to the water and all!-GORGEOUS!)
Riverside Park (right on way to Mount Vernon, has picnic tables, but in the fall it’s gorgeous with the trees, and the river is right next to it!)
Collingwood Picnic Area (right next to river on way to Mount Vernon, but less crowded usually…smaller area, right next to River)
NOVA
FAIRFAX / BURKE
Burke Lake Park, Burke VA (beautiful lake and woods to take photos! We’ve done many portraits there.)
Algonkian Park (Sterling) Beautiful riverside spot…picnic area, large trees to sit on, fields…
Seven Oaks Lavender Farm, Catlett VA (GORGEOUS farm, best time for lavender blooming: Late Spring-Mid-June-ish)
Mt. Vernon Community School TRAIN CABOOSE! (hard to find, but it’s right in the school lot)
Clifton (Hemlock Overlook) + train tracks area
TYSONS / VIENNA
Riverbend Park / Great Falls (TYONS)
Scotts Run (ruins, hiking, waterfalls that are perfect for mermaid or swim shoots, etc!)
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (small fee to get in and shoot there, but you have to get in before they max out on Photographers)
CENTREVILLE / CHANTILLY / MANASSAS AREAS
Cabell’s Mill & Walney Pond @ Eleanor C. Roosevelt Park (Centreville) Historic old stone house, stone walls, green grass and fields!
Merrimac Farm / Wildlife (Dumfries) 302 acres of wetlands, forest, and wildlife!
Warrenton: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.americantrails.org%2Fnationalrecreationtrails%2FtrailNRT%2FWarrenton-Branch-Greenway-VA.html&h=2AQFAUJjc
Manassas Battlefield (Manassas) – historic porch with rocking chairs, fences, fields, forest!
Mason Neck State Park (there’s a small fee to get in: $10 per car)
LOUDOUN COUNTY
Idalee Park (Leesburg) Beautiful gardens, big red barn, fences, trees…fields!
Claude Moore Park Visitor Center
Morven Park (gorgeous OLD trees, Magnolias, fountain, and gorgeous old hedges, and in the fall the trees are beautiful!)
Bluemont Vineyards, Bluemont VA
Dirt Farm Brewery, Bluemont VA (more space to work with, GORGEOUS mountain views, etc!)
FREDERICKSBURG VA AREA
Alum Springs Park – 99 Greenbrier Drive, Fredericksburg – trails, scenic views and picnicking
Chatham Manor (Historic mansion and grounds – free after 5:30pm) $200 fee to shoot/day!
Belvedeer Plantation
Downtown Fredericksburg / Train-station area / River
Christmas Tree Farms (all around the area)
Abandoned Renaissance Fairgrounds – This is on Rte 3 East (Kings Highway) by Sherwood Forest
Canal Path – Downtown Fredericksburg – 1.8 miles of pathway along the canal –also right across from a great river-shooting location!
Dixon Park – 1300 Dixon Street – A Fredericksburg park with trails, playground, nature preserve, athletic fields and an outdoor swimming pool
Old Mill Park – Caroline Street, Fredericksburg – playground, outdoor grills, picnic shelters, soccer fields and a river front view.
Motts Run Reservoir – River Road, Fredericksburg – 860 acres of nature await in this Fredericksburg park…hiking trails, picnic area, docks, woods!
Fairview Beach / Colonial Beach
Birthplace of George Washington National Monument
Sneads Farm (they also have a small Christmas Tree Farm, as well as horses, barns, swings, peach tree blossoms in spring, etc.) $20 / session fee, and $5 per person over 2 years old. (this is required with this venue)
Kelly’s Ford (Even has an Equestrian Center!)
Lake Anna State Park – 6800 Lawyers Rd, Spotsylvania – Three shelters available for rent, 13 miles of hiking trails, fishing pond, play area for the children, boat ramp, swimming beach, picnicking, bathhouse and more
Loriella Park – Leavells Road, Spotsylvania – picnic area, hiking trail, four tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields, swimming pool
SHENANDOAH / MOUNTAINS AREA!
Sky Meadows State Park, Delaplane VA
CULPEPER / SYRIA
Sunnybrook Gospel Chapel, Syria VA (One of my FAVORITE PLACES, with mountains behind you! –Only bad thing: no cellphone signal…but easy to find!)
Mountain Run Lake Park (16115 J B Carpenter Jr. Drive, Culpeper VA 22701)
Downtown (historic)
Train Station, Downtown Culpeper
FREDERICKSBURG VA AREA
Alum Springs Park – 99 Greenbrier Drive, Fredericksburg – trails, scenic views and picnicking
Chatham Manor (Historic mansion and grounds – free after 5:30pm) $200 fee to shoot/day!
Belvedeer Plantation
Downtown Fredericksburg / Train-station area / River
Christmas Tree Farms (all around the area)
Abandoned Renaissance Fairgrounds – This is on Rte 3 East (Kings Highway) by Sherwood Forest
Canal Path – Downtown Fredericksburg – 1.8 miles of pathway along the canal –also right across from a great river-shooting location!
Dixon Park – 1300 Dixon Street – A Fredericksburg park with trails, playground, nature preserve, athletic fields and an outdoor swimming pool
Old Mill Park – Caroline Street, Fredericksburg – playground, outdoor grills, picnic shelters, soccer fields and a river front view.
Motts Run Reservoir – River Road, Fredericksburg – 860 acres of nature await in this Fredericksburg park…hiking trails, picnic area, docks, woods!
Fairview Beach / Colonial Beach
Birthplace of George Washington National Monument
Sneads Farm (they also have a small Christmas Tree Farm, as well as horses, barns, swings, peach tree blossoms in spring, etc.) $20 / session fee, and $5 per person over 2 years old. (this is required with this venue)
Kelly’s Ford (Even has an Equestrian Center!)
Lake Anna State Park – 6800 Lawyers Rd, Spotsylvania – Three shelters available for rent, 13 miles of hiking trails, fishing pond, play area for the children, boat ramp, swimming beach, picnicking, bathhouse and more
Loriella Park – Leavells Road, Spotsylvania – picnic area, hiking trail, four tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields, swimming pool
CHARLOTTSVILLE
Bellair Farm (they have amazing red clover fields in the spring!!!!)
Train Station, Downtown
Trump Vineyards
UVA grounds and gardens
Carter Mountain (orchards)
The Market of Grelen (has a greenhouse, gardens, mountains in background, etc!)
Monticello Trail (no fee!) mountains, trees, trails, etc!
Local parks like Walnut Creek, Ivy Creek and Chris Greene Lake are great choices!
RICHMOND
Maymont Park (weekday sessions are best, since weekends tend to be crazy)
Painted steps at Virginia History Museum! (also see here!)
Libby Hill Park, Richmond —also the Old Carriage Door Near this park! amazing location for photos!!!
Lavender Fields Farm, Glenn Allen, VA
Maymont Park & Gardens ($50 per 2-hour session admission fee applies)
Belle Isle (historic place on river, with beautiful rocks & trails..FYI: State Park: Small entrance fee –$4-5 per car)
Meadow Farm Museum, Glenn Allen, VA
Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens (unless you want to be sneaky, they charge $150 for 1.5 hr session)
Dogwood dell
Browns Isle
Crump Park (a great spot to go if you want the feel of country / rural)
Pocahontas State Park
ABANDONED PLACES TO HAVE FUN WITH
43608 Ryan Corner Place, Ashburn VA www.xydexx.com/modernruins/img/ash_01.jpg
FAVORITE CHRISTMAS TREE FARMS FOR HOLIDAY PORTRAITS:
Willow Oak Farm, Woodford VA
Belmont Christmas Tree Farm, Spotsylvania VA
Sneads Farm, Fredericksburg VA
Evergreen Acres, Nokesville VA
BEST HOTELS / B&B’s FOR BOUDOIR PHOTOS!
Hotel Rouge (DC)
Swann House (Dupont Circle, DC)
Morrison House (Alexandria VA)
Lavender Heights B&B (Fredericksburg, VA)
Shirlington is a nice place to photograph as well.