Top 8 Engagement Photo Locations in New York

There is something about the city of New York, the ‘city that never sleeps’ from the glitz to glamor, it is a heaven’s playground for every photographer. With the spark of excitement amidst the towering skyline, gleaming lights, the pristine Hudson River quietly flowing by, the engagement session locations near New York City are crammed full to the brim. The hustle-bustle of the city with amazing sights and experiences, in every corner, can be captured beautifully, to cherish for all the years to come. We have curated a list of the best engagement session locations in New York, that will breathe fresh air into your affordable wedding photography and engagement photography in your favorite city, which will make you fall in love with each other every time you look at it.

Central Park

What can be synonymous with New York City’s vibe better than the most iconic location of this city? The backyard of every city dweller - Central Park is a lush open retreat that offers the glistening cityscape in the background. Announce your love to the one that is fluttering inside you and making you smile a little more these days, in the heart of NYC! Filled with monuments, foliages of every hue, water bodies, and quaint little bridges, this space is a delight to our New York engagement photographers and affordable New York wedding photographers. You can pose with balloons and flowers against the archaic concrete backgrounds, or blow bubbles from the bubble wand and create engagement portraits that look like sheer masterpieces. A paragon on its own, this park’s landscape architecture captivates everyone, every single time they visit it. You can take a walk with your love, hand in hand, in the long trails surrounded by the towering trees, or pose in front of the iconic fountains, or sit on the benches by the lake, as the photo ops remain endless here. The pristine green grounds or the geometric shaped red brick grounds look amazing with colorful engagement session props like brightly colored placards or balloons matching with your outfits and engagement theme. Talking about wardrobe, this engagement space gives you the liberty to choose your own wardrobe, i.e. whether you want to flaunt your pretty pastels or want a formal outlook for the Central Park engagement session. Since different spaces around the park are themed differently, thus, with each background, different outfits can spark their own magic. 

Website: https://www.centralparknyc.org/

Address: Manhattan, New York City, United States

Fees or Permits: Admission is free. You have to apply for an official permit with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment.

Coney Island

Can you two relate your life with a funfair at the moment? Are you two at your highest point in life where things look dreamy like the ride in a giant roller coaster in slo-mo? Always fancied a love story like Allie and Noah’s from ‘The Notebook’, where they go to a carnival with dreamy lights, the big giant wheel and the treats on the boardwalk that tells a tale like no other? Coney Island is the place where dreamers come together and celebrate life. With spinning thrills, warm lights, and sugary treats, this place looks like a dream come true for New York engagement photographers to capture the true spirit of your love story. This place was originally built in honor of American popular culture by the Atlantic Ocean, right in the heart of NYC. Coney Island was the hub of dime museums, burlesque, circus sideshows, vaudeville, and many other visual and performing art forms, and these still reflect to this day. So, while posing for your Coney Island engagement session, bring out your prettiest floral dress or the tropical shirt you have been forever saving for this day. You can indulge in a guilt-free eating spree, or go on a fun ride or even kiss in front of the fun rides to get the best of candid engagement photography with a dash of vintage feels. 

Website: https://www.coneyisland.com/

Address: 302 Sea Breeze Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224, USA

Fees or Permits: The admission fee is $17.95. A permit is needed for professional new york photography inside the park.

Fort Tryon Park

Another one from the signature locations, the Big Apple offers breathtaking views of the Hudson River and Palisades. The stunning art pieces at the Fort Tryon Park in the backdrop of this space are considered timeless and speak volumes for New York engagement photography and affordable wedding photography. Thank heavens for Dr. John D. Rockefeller, who started acquiring private parcels as early as 1917, visioned to build this park for the public with the majestic views of the river and palisades. The stone architecture looks grand in Fort Tryon Park engagement photos that breathe the air of royalty into them. The 8-mile long pathways and pristine lawns of Heather Garden provide breathtaking views of the cityscape. The lush landscape with bright colored trees, that blossoms throughout the year, makes the entire space look postcard-ready. The old-world charm of this space is unmissable with the stone-laid paths and walls in the background with enormous wrought-iron gates. The dimly lit stone hallways look scintillating during the evening hours and the surrounding green foliage makes it no less than a wonderland. Most couples opt for formal wear to match with the grandeur around the place and if you are considering matching your engagement session outfits, then you should definitely opt for light-colored formal wear. You can bring in your pooch in the designated areas for your NY engagement photography session, but remember to keep it leashed.  

Website: https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/fort-tryon-park

Address: Riverside, Dr To Broadway, New York, NY 10040, United States

Fees or Permits: Admission is free. You have to apply for an official permit with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment.

Metropolitan Museum of Arts

Did you ever fancy how it would be to meet your love in an art gallery, where both of you crossed paths for the first time while admiring a piece of art? For the lovers of art and timeless things, the Metropolitan Museum of Arts can be a tiny piece of heaven and a dream getaway. This 150-year old art gallery takes you through 5000 years of timeline through art and heritage from around the world. With priceless arts and artifacts in every corner, MET can cast a  magic spell in engagement session ideas. It is one of the world’s greatest art centers. The grand architecture speaks regality and grandeur of MET and teleports you back in time along with featuring stunning photo ops in every angle. Formal attire suits best for a Metropolitan Museum of Arts engagement session, especially bright-toned wardrobe looks amazing against the muted-toned and dim backdrops and gives a feeling of glory and grandeur. 

Website: https://www.metmuseum.org/

Address: 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 1002

Fees or Permits: Admission fees for this place is $25 for adults. For a photography permit, you can email a detailed request to [email protected].

Old Westbury Gardens

Fan of the old and gothic architecture that tells a tale from the never-never land? Welcome to Old Westbury Gardens, which is a historical landmark and popular engagement session locations near New York. This 60-year old enchanting place is a private estate that belongs to Peggie Phipps Boegner, which entails a rich history and culture in all its glory. The timeless paintings, furnishing, decorative art pieces, and the historical interior is well-preserved. The 200-acre garden with stone pathways makes it a royal dream-come-true destination to celebrate love. The spellbinding beauty features the carefully preserved Collyweston slate roof and terra cotta cornice of Westbury House, which is a delight for Old Westbury Gardens engagement photos and budget wedding photos. Take your engagement props like a bubble wand or brightly colored balloons and placards that stand out in the pictures. The place offers flexibility in choosing your wardrobe, i.e. both formal and casual attires look good, depending on the type of engagement you want for yourself.  

Website: https://www.oldwestburygardens.org/

Address: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury, NY, 11568  

Fees or Permits: Admission to this place costs $12 for adults. You can download the wedding photography permit request form from the website and request an engagement photoshoot. 

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Delve into the spirit of NYC’s one of the top hotspots that come with a host of spots with natural beauty and architectural brilliance. The Brooklyn Bridge Park is another special New York engagement photography and budget wedding photography location. This waterfront features an expansive view of the Manhattan skyline with unmatched natural vistas. With tons of backdrops and candid moods, this New York engagement session location features the gorgeous tree-lined pathways, rustic pedestrian bridges, and historical elements. The thoughtful landscaping details are soothing to one’s vision and remind you of the city’s intricate nuances. Pebble Beach’s waterside is another stunning location, especially for silhouette photography during sunsets when the sky blends into thousand hues of tangerine. The textures and elements of this location make it a dreamy and most popular spot for Brooklyn Bridge Park engagement session. Always loved to flaunt your high-street fashion wardrobe? Well, you might have hit a jackpot with this engagement location that syncs seamlessly with your fashion trends!

Website: https://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/

Address: 334 Furman St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Fees or Permits: The entry is free. You can apply for an E-Permit prior to the photo shoot on the website.

Greenwich Point

Just a short drive away from the bustling NYC, Greenwich Point is located in a little peninsula that remains beautiful throughout the year. Be it the snow-covered grounds in winter, or the fresh and green land during summer, this all-seasons friendly engagement session destination is a sheer beauty. The gorgeous and intricately detailed beach of this place looks like a dream during the spring and autumn seasons. You can take your blanket and picnic basket to the golden sandy beach and look at the pristine water for hours or pose against the rustic house on-site with red brick walls that adds special elements to your special occasion. The blue waters of the bay are scintillating and rocks with crinkly texture look like a deep contrast against the deep blue skies and waters. You can also take a walk in the trails to enjoy the abundance of nature, in the gently winding lanes and tall grasses. You can wear casuals for your Greenwich Point engagement session, that can match with the captivating vistas. You can choose the colorful boats or the white-washed wooden bridges or the pier fencing for backdrops as each of the backgrounds adds a sense of uniqueness to every frame. Long Island’s beautiful skyline looks amazing during the sunset hours as the sun reflects off the water and creates a golden hue in the entire area.

Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwich_Point

Address: 5 Tods Driftway, Old Greenwich, CT 06870

Fees or Permits: Single Entry Beach Pass is $7. No permit is required for photography.

Grand Central Terminal

The crown jewel of New York City, The Grand Central Terminal is an iconic beauty and lasting legacy-making a perfect destination to declare the love of your life in front of the city dwellers. This place is the beating heart of the city with thousands of people commuting every day, trying to get somewhere along with, being a shopping, cultural and dining hub. The vaulted ceilings mimic the sky and the clock in the middle reminds people of the historic world-famous landmark’s grandeur. You can choose the timings when there will be a lesser crowd to get amazing portraits. The arched windows and expansive hall are great for portrait photography with the hustle-bustle blurring in the background. The stunning chandelier is another great photo op that creates a golden glow on engagement photos at Grand Central Terminal.  The grand and gorgeous stairways remind you of the legacy this place holds and to match with the vibe, you can flaunt in whatever wardrobe you want to carry on your special day as this place gives you the flexibility in choosing your attire. 

Website: https://www.grandcentralterminal.com/

Address: 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, United States

Fees or Permits: Admission is free. For photography, you need to call in a week’s notice for the permit.

Please note that permits and fees are subject to change. Please confirm the policies with the location before planning your session.

Lily & Lime offers stunningly affordable wedding photographers for couples engaged and wedding planning. We'd love to document this special time in your life!