National Zoo Engagement Session | Washington, DC | Megan and Marisa

Sitting on a bench at the National Zoo for engagement photos | Washington, DC Zoo Engagement

One of Megan and Marisa’s favorite things to do is visit the National Zoo, so that’s where we went for their engagement photos! It had honestly been years since I last visited the zoo, and it was so fun to explore it with a couple of regulars. The National Zoo is MASSIVE compared to my hometown zoo, and I definitely would have been navigating around with my paper map if I didn’t have two tour guides with me!

Marisa and Megan’s love for animals extends beyond their zoo membership - they are also cat moms to two special needs kitties. Everyone who adopts rescue animals has a special place in my heart, but especially those who take on the extra responsibility of animals with disabilities!

At our initial consultation, these two warned me that they weren’t totally comfortable in front of the camera and they never take pictures. “We don’t even take selfies together.” But Megan and Marisa were super cute together through the entire engagement session - it probably helped that we were hanging out in their favorite place! They were total naturals in front of the camera, even if they didn’t know that about themselves going in.

Smithsonian National Zoo underwater mural near the Visitor Center | Engagement session at the zoo in Washington, DC
Candid engagement photos at the DC zoo | Same sex DC engagement photography
Animal mural at the National Zoo
Engaged couple cuddling during their fall engagement session
Giving her fiancee a kiss on the cheek during engagement pictures at the Smithsonian National Zoo in DC
Looking at the elephants at the Washington DC zoo | Fun engagement pictures
Cute engagement pictures with two brides in Washington, DC
Smiling same sex couple during their engagement pictures at the National Zoo
Candid LGBT friendly engagement photographer in Washington, DC
Fun engagement pictures at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC

We knew it was very possible to go the whole afternoon without any animals coming up close to us. But this otter was not camera shy and wanted to be in a few pictures! And we totally lucked out that no other zoo guests were watching the otters at this moment, so I didn’t have to elbow any small children out of these adorable shots :)

Otter swims up to the glass to be a part of this fun engagement session at the National Zoo in Washington, DC | Same-sex engagement pictures in DC
Engaged couple watching the otters swim during their fun zoo engagement session
Otter swimming toward the glass at the National Zoo
Fun piggy back ride picture during engagement pictures in Washington DC
Smiling directly at the camera during engagement pictures at the zoo | Lesbian engagement photography in Washington, DC
Sea lion at the Smithsonian National Zoo
Same-sex engaged couple sitting by the sea lion exhibit at the National Zoo | Washington, DC same-sex photographer
Candid engagement photos with lesbian couple at the DC National Zoo
Engaged couple by the bright blue water in the sea lion exhibit at the zoo
National Zoo engagement pictures looking at the lemurs | Washington, DC Engagement Photo Ideas
Tiger in his enclosure at the National Zoo in Washington, DC
Candid picture of engaged couple smiling at each other in their favorite place, the National Zoo | Engagement photos with two women
Happy couple in front of the tiger exhibit at the Smithsonian National Zoo | Lesbian engagement photography in Washington, DC
Engagement picture in front of the carousel at the zoo | Washington DC Engagement Photographer
Couple hugging in the bamboo forest at the National Zoo in Washington, DC
Maned wolf walking through it’s enclosure at the zoo | Washington DC National Zoo

So it didn’t get as close to us as the otter, but the maned wolf came close enough to at least get in frame with Marisa and Megan!

Engaged couple looking at the maned wolf at the National Zoo | DC Engagement Photographer
Zebra eating grass at the National Zoo
Engaged couple in front of the zebra at the National Zoo | Same sex engagement photography in Washington, DC
Candid photo of engaged couple laughing in Washington, DC engagement session
Two engagement rings | Engagement photos with two brides in DC
Couple kissing at the end of their engagement session at the National Zoo | LGBT engagement photographer in Washington, DC

These two have a fun weekend in the woods planned for their wedding at Lydia Mountain Lodge next year, and I can’t wait to celebrate with them!

EngagementsMegan ReiComment