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Favorite Places

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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)

favoriteplacesSTARGlenview 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!)

favoriteplacesSTARLyndon 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)

favoriteplacesSTAR

Hillwood Gardens  ($15/admission: fyi)

Lake Artmesia (natural ponds, wooded area, field)

favoriteplacesSTARMeridian 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

favoriteplacesSTAR  Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens  (water lilies, lotus flowers, beautiful water gardens with super green grass!  GORGEOUS LOCATION!  And it’s free!)

favoriteplacesSTAR 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

Hendry House

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

favoriteplacesSTARLubber 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/thakuri-family-portraits

 

 ALEXANDRIA

favoriteplacesSTARGreen 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!)

favoriteplacesSTAR 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)

favoriteplacesSTAR Oldetown Alexandria / Waterfront / Docks  (great location for shooting!  River, bridges, decks, trees, cobblestone walkways, lamp-posts, etc.)

favoriteplacesSTAR 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

favoriteplacesSTAR 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…

favoriteplacesSTAR 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!)

favoriteplacesSTARMeadowlark 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

 

favoriteplacesSTAR 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

favoriteplacesSTAR Manassas Battlefield (Manassas) – historic porch with rocking chairs, fences, fields, forest!

favoriteplacesSTARMason Neck State Park (there’s a small fee to get in:  $10 per car)

 

 LOUDOUN COUNTY

favoriteplacesSTAR 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

 

favoriteplacesSTAR 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

favoriteplacesSTAR 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

favoriteplacesSTAR 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

favoriteplacesSTAR Old Mill Park – Caroline Street, Fredericksburg – playground, outdoor grills, picnic shelters, soccer fields and a river front view.

favoriteplacesSTAR 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

favoriteplacesSTAR Birthplace of George Washington National Monument

favoriteplacesSTARSneads 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

favoriteplacesSTARSunnybrook 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)

favoriteplacesSTARTrain Station, Downtown Culpeper

 

 

 

FREDERICKSBURG VA  AREA

 

favoriteplacesSTAR 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

favoriteplacesSTAR 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

favoriteplacesSTAR 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

favoriteplacesSTAR Old Mill Park – Caroline Street, Fredericksburg – playground, outdoor grills, picnic shelters, soccer fields and a river front view.

favoriteplacesSTAR 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

favoriteplacesSTAR Birthplace of George Washington National Monument

favoriteplacesSTARSneads 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!!!!)

favoriteplacesSTARTrain 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

 

Joseph Bryan Park

Maymont Park (weekday sessions are best, since weekends tend to be crazy)

Painted steps at Virginia History Museum!  (also see here!)

favoriteplacesSTAR Libby Hill Park, Richmond  —also the Old Carriage Door Near this park!  amazing location for photos!!!

Lavender Fields Farm, Glenn Allen, VA

favoriteplacesSTAR Maymont Park & Gardens  ($50 per 2-hour session admission fee applies)

Deep Run Park

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:

favoriteplacesSTAR 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)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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