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The Korean Bell Garden at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens is the perfect location for Korean family photos for those interested in representing their family heritage in images. I learned about this traditional Korean garden from the Carnithan-Choi family who suggested it for their debut photo session with me. Check out their story and photos below.

Family of four sit together on a wooden bridge at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA.

How We Met

Jennifer and Michael’s two daughters, Stella and Maggie both attend school with my son, Sasha. This year, they were the winning bidders on the photo session package I donated for the school auction. The couple had professional photos taken when the girls were both younger. However, it had been a while ago—which is why they bid on the package.

Mother hugs her young daughter from behind in a field of wildflowers and grass at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.

The Session

We met at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, with the intent of setting the scene within the traditional Korean Bell Garden. Developed in 2007, it’s the first Korean Bell Garden in a public garden within the US. That’s a pretty significant feat, I’d say. 

Sisters sit together on sidewalk at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens during this fall family photo session.

The day of the session was an absolutely gorgeous fall day. The weather was perfect and the garden was filled with visitors (and even other photographers!) all taking advantage of the last few temperate days of fall. It certainly made for a lovely afternoon, wandering around the grounds and gave us the chance to explore several different backgrounds to capture in the images.

Little girl sits on a wooden fence during a Korean family photo shoot at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.

For those of you who haven’t been there, the Korean Bell Garden is an open space without much shade. Luckily, we were able to find a nice spot in a nearby meadow from which you could see the bell in the distance. It made a terrific part of the landscape in the background, with the girls in the foreground. I love how we incorporated it into the picture without being in the harsh direct light. Don’t you?

Dad of Korean heritage embraces two young daughters with a backdrop of the Korean Bell Garden at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.

The Selection

The family chose the beautiful image of the girls embracing, which truly signifies the special bond they share together. It will be showcased in a large gallery wrap that’s going to be a statement piece in their family room.

 Two young sisters hug during a family photo shoot to honor their Korean heritage at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.

I’m so pleased they’ll have a lasting record of the unique relationships they’ve built with each other at this moment in their lives, as well as embracing their Korean descent in the images.

Little girl stands by flower bush for Korean family photo session at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA.

Father and daughter of Korean heritage hug for a family photo in a field of wild grass at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.

Julie Kubal family portraits Washington D.C.About the Photographer and Author:

Julie Kubal is a child and family portrait artist and photographer serving Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. She is passionate about creating warm and meaningful artwork through modern portraits and lifestyle photography at a location of your choice!