I am a Wedding and Engagement Photographer based in Long Island and NYC. This is a collection of engagement photos that I have taken in various parts of Long Island and NYC and even destinations such as Miami and Iceland.
There are many beautiful locations to have your engagement photos taken in Long Island and NYC. One of my favorite locations in NYC include Central Park. There are so many picturesque backdrops for your engagement photos in Central Park. There is Bethesda Fountain and Bethesda Terrace which are both near the lake and the Loeb Boathouse. Bethesda Terrace is know for it's architecture both on the inside and outside. There are plenty of little spots in and around the Terrace for your photos that include the stairs, the arches and the columns. It also offers opportunities to create some unique and dramatic portraits depending on the time of the day and the lighting. Next is Bow Bridge which tends to be busy with passerby's walking across the bridge and stopping to take their selfies. A few steps after crossing Bow Bridge there is a lovely little picturesque spot by the lake with trees, and includes the lake and buildings in your background. Other nearby spots include the Mall of Trees which is a lovely strip lined with trees and plenty of artists and vendors selling their art. If you walk down the mall for about 15 minutes you will then be near the 5th Avenue side which also provides beautiful views of the lake and the Manhattan buildings in the background. Two spots not to miss in this area are Cat Rock which provides one of the most prettiest backdrops of Manhattan's buildings and Gapstow Bridge.
Other areas in NYC that are also nice for engagement photos are the High Line and SoHO. These locations are perfect if you are looking for a mix of urban and garden landscapes in your photos.
If you decide to have your photos taken at a Queens location there are several parks that will work well for your photos. Two of my favorite parks include Flushing Meadows Park and Kissena Park. At Flushing Meadows there is the iconic Worlds Fair globe which many love taking photos with along with lots of trees, little gardens of floors and a gazebo only steps away. Another park for consideration is Long Island City Piers which offers stunning backdrops of the Manhattan skyline. The only caveat when choosing this location is that it is advisable to get a permit if you want to have professional photos taken. Security guards will drive by from time to time checking for this if they see that you are having a professional photoshoot.
If you are looking for great Brooklyn locations to have your engagement photos taken, I recommend Brooklyn Bridge Park, Coney Island or Prospect Park. Much like Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park offers many photo opportunities, all only steps away from each other. It is one of my favorite locations in Brooklyn for any type of photo session. It offers stunning backdrops of Manhattan, Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge. It is located by the water and it includes a small park if you are looking for greens or trees in your photos. Right outside the park are the urban streets of Dumbo which provides an urban background for your photos. Coney Island is a fun location for your engagement photo session during the warmer months as you are near the beach. Here you can take your photos along the boardwalk by the amusement park and if you are so inclined, the beach. You may also consider taking some photos at the iconic Nathans.
Now onto Long Island. There are many beautiful places to have your engagement photos taken but many of the parks will require a photography permit in order to have your photos taken by a professional photographer. If you decide to have your photos taken at a location that requires a photography permit you will need to obtain and pay for the permit yourself. It is advisable that you double check with any location that you are considering if you need a permit.
Locations such as Old Westbury Gardens, Planting Fields Arboretum, Vanderbilt Museum all require a permit for professional photography.
At this time some of my favorite locations in Long Island for engagement photos that do not require a permit are Roslyn Park, Morgan Memorial Park in Glen Cove, Sunken Meadow, Robert Moses Park or Long Beach.
From time to time I get commissioned for engagement photos in South Florida and other parts of the country and world including Iceland. I have been doing destination photography work for quite some time and I love traveling for photography commissions. I visit South Florida several times a year so I would be more than happy to photograph a session for you if you are considering a destination shoot.
If you are considering an engagement photo session and want to learn more please fill out my Contact Information Page