Comments on: Washington DC: Engagement Pictures | Sunrise over the National Mall

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 05:41:48 +0000

Not sure why this is just showing up now but I just saw your comment, I’ll be in DC around the weekend of April 9 doing engagement session, let me know if you’re still interested.

By: Daniel Robertson

Daniel Robertson — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:44:06 +0000

Interested in someone taking our engagement photos. Please let me know if you’re available anytime soon. 202-423-0368

By: Astami T

Astami T — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:02:22 +0000

Absolutely amazing shots. Really just spectacular!

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:16:12 +0000

You need a permit regardless of when you shoot at the national mall. We showed up without a permit and inspite of the early hour there were guards everywhere. The ones at the Lincoln Memorial asked if what we were doing was a “commercial” photo shoot and we told them we were not. They were fine with us shooting as long as there were no tripods involved and we weren’t reselling the images. The guard at the Jefferson Memorial was not understanding at all and threatened multiple times to take my cameras and arrest us. Whether he could have or would I do not know and was not willing to try and find out. Ultimately what it boils down to is chance… you COULD end up shooting at one of the monuments in DC with no problem and then be unable to shoot at another one. Or maybe you could shoot at all of them without a problem, I think during the day when it’s really crowded you’re probably a lot less likely to draw attention because of the crowds but if you’re counting on getting the shots then the only way to ensure this is by getting a permit.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:58:40 +0000

So you had to get a permit to take this pictures? No one was even around? OR just during the day?

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:54:00 +0000

Unfortunately I think you’re right, if you are a bride or groom and you are going down to the National Mall for pictures of any kind you don’t want to leave it up to chance, try and get the permit so you KNOW you can get the shots you want!

By: Peter

Peter — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:04:02 +0000

Permits are essential, expensive and have a somewhat lengthy application process. Sadly, many photographers and couples without them have been run off these sites by gun-toting Park Service police. For better or worse, NPS and everybody else wants a fee whenever someone gets married.

By: Joseph Kang

Joseph Kang — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:58:24 +0000

These are great Ben – what a perfect sunrise and a great idea to beat all the crowds – fantastic! It was great seeing this past weekend!

By: catholicgauzette

catholicgauzette — Sun, 31 May 2009 00:14:59 +0000

The Park Service Link you have is for Fire Island National Seashore. The National Mall portion of the NPS website lists information on permits (http://www.nps.gov/nama/planyourvisit/permits.htm) but does not state specifically for which reason(s) you need to obtain one. The site does state: “The permit system is intended to help assure, to the extent possible, that the multitude of activities that may be taking place on any given day will not conflict with each other or with general visitor activities.” As you were not conflicting with other general visitor activities, I don’t see why you would need a permit, in my humble opinion.

Love the photos! They are gorgeous.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 06 May 2009 01:44:43 +0000

Ben, your photos are so beautiful! What an eye … and, of course, I know from previous experience how much fun you are to work with!!!