It is not lost on me how incredibly fortunate and lucky I am to have been invited to the White House this week, to share space with the First Lady, and to walk through rooms bursting with our nation’s rich history.
I know this isn’t the same as being able to bring you with me (I wish!) but I’d love to share some of my favorite pictures from my visit. If you click the “download” link below each one, you’ll be able to download a hi-res/non-watermarked version of that photo that’s suitable for printing up to an 8×10. These are free for your personal use. I just ask that you don’t sell them or use them to create anything for sale or any marketing materials. Please do not edit or crop, and if you re-share online, please link back to me.
Details on camera settings and lenses at the bottom of the post.
The view of the Kennedy Garden and the National Monument from the East Colonnade.
Look closely to the bottom right of the screen and you can see the presidential doggies Bo and Sunny out to play. I also love that I caught a couple men mid-handshake in front of the portico.
A sign in the White House Garden.
No caption needed. #flawless
This was the first bookshelf I walked up to in the White House Library and I found it to be quite symbolic and hopeful. It’s my favorite picture.
Another amazing collection of books representing so much of what our country is about and has endured was directly to the right.
The White House library in cloudy morning light.
A sconce in the White House library.
A portrait of Nancy Reagan in one of the halls… can’t remember which one.
Portrait of John F. Kennedy in the Cross Halls.
Looking into the Red Room.
Portrait of Dolley Madison over the fireplace in the Red Room.
Looking out of the Red Room into the Cross Halls at a portrait of Ronald Reagan.
Looking up at the chandelier in the Red Room.
A bouquet of flowers in the green room.
A French vase on the fireplace mantle in the Blue Room.
A clock on the fireplace mantle in the Blue Room.
The seat of a blue & gold chair in the Blue Room.
There was never a doubt in my mind that I would bring my “fancy” camera (Canon 6d), though I wondered what lens I should bring. Ultimately, I’m glad I left my most used lens- the Sigma 35 1.4– at home and opted to bring my 40 mm 2.8 pancake lens so that I’d also have enough room to bring my 85 1.8. The pictures from within the parlor rooms were all shot with my pancake lens (oh, how I love that lens for traveling), but when we got to our table, I switched to my 85.
It was the perfect focal length for pictures that felt up-close. It also didn’t hurt that I happened to land at a table at the front of the room. I used this lens for the outdoor pictures, too.
If I’m never invited back to the White House again, at least I’ll always have these pictures. I treasure them so much! I plan to print copies of them for each of the kids, and will store them in their memory boxes.
To view and download the entire gallery, click here.
You can find all the settings I used and which lens in the slideshow at the bottom of the post (you won’t be able to see that if you’re viewing this from my app, unfortunately).
