Lincoln Memorial Engagement Photos | Jon + Molly

Mantas Kubilinskas

Jun 25, 2017

2 min read

Updated: 10 hours ago

Jon and Molly’s Lincoln Memorial engagement photos grew from something they already enjoyed together: Frisbee. Both are professional players, so movement felt natural from the start. Their 17-image gallery moves between playful moments on the lawn and quieter portraits beside the memorial’s columns and nearby paths.

When Jon and Molly told me they played Frisbee professionally, it gave us a familiar activity to build around. They did not need a long list of poses. The disc, the movement, and the pauses between throws gave them real moments to react to. I let that play out, then offered simple direction for a few closer portraits.

The Frisbee made the session feel like them

Jon and Molly playing with a frisbee on the National Mall in front of the Lincoln Memorial during their engagement session.

Woman lifting a person in a blue shirt on a tree-lined path.

Woman in a floral dress holding a flying disc on grass.

Black-and-white photograph of a person turning toward a flying disc.

Woman holding a flying disc with a second person across the lawn.

A shared activity can make the first minutes of an engagement session easier. Jon and Molly already knew how to move together, so the photographs could follow their interaction instead of asking them to perform for the camera. We balanced the energetic frames with quieter portraits, keeping the couple—not the activity—at the center of the story.

The Lincoln Memorial in the story

Black-and-white photograph of two people raising their hands toward each other.

Woman turning with outstretched arms near a columned stone building.

Two people walking hand in hand across a lawn beside a road.

Black-and-white photograph of two people facing each other on grass near a columned building.

Overhead view of two people embracing on grass.

Two people running hand in hand across a lawn.

The memorial’s pale stone columns and the nearby open lawn give the gallery both scale and intimacy. The sequence moves between the landmark, tree-lined paths, playful frames, and close portraits. Keeping the session to a compact route also leaves more time to settle into each moment.

Planning Lincoln Memorial engagement photos

Start with one or two things you want the photographs to feel like. If you share an activity, bring it into the session in a simple way, then leave room for portraits without it. Choose clothes and shoes you can move in, keep the route manageable, and allow time to walk between spots.

Before bringing a Frisbee or arranging a hired session, check the National Park Service filming and photography guidance for the National Mall. NPS distinguishes ordinary visitor photography from activity beyond general visitor use. If the guidance does not answer your question, contact the permit office before the session.

Black-and-white portrait of two people embracing.

High-angle view of two people close together beside a tree trunk.

Close view of two people’s boots and a floral skirt on grass.

Black-and-white close portrait of two people touching foreheads.

Two people raising their joined hands on a lawn.

Black-and-white photograph of two people walking beside a road.

Questions about this session

Where did Jon and Molly take their engagement photos?

Their session took place at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, with portraits on nearby lawns and paths. The 17-photo gallery also shows the memorial’s stone columns.

Why did Jon and Molly use a Frisbee during their session?

Both Jon and Molly are professional Frisbee players. The shared activity gave them a natural way to move, interact, and react during the session.

Do I need to know how to pose for engagement photos?

No. A familiar activity can give you something to focus on. I offer simple direction, then make room for movement and conversation.

Can I bring a Frisbee to a Lincoln Memorial photo session?

Check the National Park Service’s current filming and photography guidance before the session. It distinguishes ordinary visitor photography from photography beyond normal visitor use; contact the permit office if your activity or setup is unclear.

Browse more engagement photography, or contact Mantas to talk about your plans.

Photographed by Mantas Kubilinskas.