WINTER

IS FOR SNOW FALLING, COZY DETAILS, AND HOLIDAY DECOR.

Snowfall is never a guarantee but when it coincides with an event, it is magical (provided everyone arrives safely on time!). Even without a white blanket, winter’s bareness can offer a striking backdrop for photos. If you dream in plaid or velvet, winter is your spirit season. Cozy details like blankets, candles, and lanterns make the most sense in colder months and up the romance.

The holiday season adds extra sparkle to everything. “There’s no doubt that getting married in Annapolis (particularly at the Naval Academy Chapel) in December, is special. Two beautiful Christmas trees with thousands of glittering lights flank the altar, and dozens of crimson poinsettias add to the grandeur of the Chapel. Additional wreaths, swaths of magnolia branches throughout the center of the Academy, and the decorated Zimmerman Bandstand give the couple's photographer endless locations to capture both the happy couple and the joy of the season.” —Shelley

O’Neill, Annapolis Events

Fall

IS FOR S’MORES, FIRE PITS, AND PICTUREPERFECT FOLIAGE.

On a crisp fall evening, everyone wants to sit around a fire. At the Wylder Hotel, guests can enjoy a waterfront, wood-fired sauna as well as late-night bonfires. “Between the cooler weather perfect for our amenities and the boat traffic slowing to mostly waterman, it’s just so relaxing and intimate around here.” —Alyssa

Gunderson

Fall flavors are ripe for customization, from a DIY candy apple bar to custom marshmallows and gourmet s’mores (we’re pro-Reese’s instead of Hershey’s chocolate). This time of year, entrees lean heartier, too, with less seafood and more comfort classics.

For a photographer, autumn’s best attribute is its leaves. “Nothing beats the fair air after a summer of sweating in the sun, or before a long winter of cold and gray. Gold, orange, and yellow foliage make for more magical backdrops compared to simple summer-green, and add warmth to a bridal portrait or the background of an outdoor ceremony. Golden hour often arrives at the end of the ceremony this time of year, which means that we can capture more dramatic natural lighting conditions for family photos rather than directly beneath a high sun. Photographing weddings this time of year rarely feels like work at all!”

—Michael Busada and Nick Woodall