Being able to shoot in New York City is one of my favorite parts of having this job.
Obviously, a lot of influencers and bloggers want to come to New York to take photos, so I thought it would be fun to put together a list of my favorite spots to shoot around the city.
Central Park
This is a no brainer. Obviously. Central Park is QUINTESSENTIAL New York, and you can get A LOT done in the park when it comes to shooting multiple looks. My biggest advice is to shoot as early as possible if you’re looking to have no people in your photos.
Gapstow Bridge This is my favorite Central Park location because it has one of my favorite places as the backdrop – The Plaza Hotel. You can find the Gapstow Bridge at 62nd Street.
Bow Bridge This bridge is a bit more crowded, so it can be tricky to shoot here at times. You can find Bow Bridge at 74th Street.
Bethesda Terrace I always love the mood at Bethesda Terrace. There’s always 99% You have a few options – you can go between the structures, actually in them, or on the stairs surrounding them (pictured below). You can find the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain at 72nd Street.
The Plaza Hotel
Now that you know just how much I love The Plaza, it’s fair to say that I love shooting any kind of angle with it. A few tips when you’re shooting at The Plaza:
- Be sneaky when you’re shooting near the entrances to the residences…the security guards aren’t too fond of photo taking.
- If you plan on shooting multiple looks, you can take the escalators down (enter at either from 58th or 59th Streets) and change in the public restrooms.
Top Of The Rock
I obviously recommend this location TO EVERYONE. I mean, you really couldn’t get any more iconic than this. Obviously the biggest tip is to make sure you purchase your tickets ahead of time. Whenever Allie and I shoot here, we are typically THE first people in line. Once you get in, we skip past the photo, history of the building, etc. This allows us to immediately head up to the observation deck and start taking photos without anyone in them.
Upper East Side & Park Avenue
If you want either a classic or old school New York City vibe, then make the journey towards the east side. When Allie came across this townhouse with the stairs, we knew we NEEDED to shoot there. You could pretty much turn down any street on the Upper East Side and find somewhere gorgeous to shoot. And then there’s Park Avenue. I definitely recommend coming here to shoot during the Spring. The flowers are so gorgeous and it’s fun to see what colors they pick each year.
Iconic New York Locations
Much like the photo below, there are just CLASSIC New York City locations that are a must. During the holidays, I knew I wanted to shoot at Radio City. I’ve been coming to Radio City since I was a kid (to see the Rockettes, to watch my sister graduate college, etc.), and I love how it’s decorated around the holidays. Obviously, early mornings on the weekend work BEST when you want to shoot here. Since it’s located in Midtown, during the week is tough while everyone is commuting to work.
Another location I love/hate to shoot at? Times Square. I know, I know. WOOF. Especially when you live in New York City. Unfortunately, I work in Times Square, so I can never really escape it. So why not come in on the weekends to shoot? (Sarcasm, obviously.) If you want to REALLY call me crazy, sometimes I step out to shoot during lunch or meet Allie after work to shoot. YUP, in the very middle of it all. It’s fun to show the chaotic state of Times Square in photos (see last image).
And there it is! My guide to New York City locations to shoot at for Midtown and Uptown. I’ll be back tomorrow with my Midtown and Downtown location guide. What’s your favorite location here?
