Iconic engagement photos in Downtown New York

Downtown Manhattan, especially the historic Financial District, has some incredibly photogenic spots. So incredible that you often have to share the space with hundreds of other people. Despite the dense population they attract, these NYC gems are wonderful for portrait sessions. That’s why it’s important to know the right time to go to beat the crowds ;)

The Brooklyn Bridge

Arguably the most instagram’able bridge in the world, this scenic 30 min walk between Manhattan and Brooklyn is always crowded with pedestrians, joggers, bikers, and tourists from all over the world. Couples dream of getting the bridge to themselves for a photoshoot. The reality is that unless you go at the break of dawn on a cold day with a photographer who captures moments effectively, you are guaranteed to have other people in your shots. But when you make it work, the results are magic (especially experiencing sunrise from the bridge).

Marissa and Louis full heartedly braved the biting cold of a December morning to get these stunning photos done. They had the intimacy they wanted in one of the most beautiful and crowded places in New York.

If you prefer seeing the iconic Brooklyn Bridge as your backdrop, or want to skip the ridiculous crowds mentioned earlier, check out my favorite neighborhood in downtown Manhattan:

South Street Seaport

The South Street Seaport is composed of several piers bordering the East River along with cute cobbled stone streets, allowing for a wide variety of interesting spots to take photos. Lindsay and Chris chose to do a sunrise session for their engagement photos, but you can go here anytime as it doesn’t get nearly as crowded as on the bridge and is only a 10 min walk away!

Another 10 min walk away is the next and final place on our list (and my personal favorite):

The Oculus

occulus-engagement-photos-photoshoot-new-york-nyc

Ever since this World Trade Center site opened to the public a few years back, it has become a major tourist destination because of its architectural magnificence. In addition to spectators, there are thousands of daily commuters as the Oculus is one of the biggest transit hubs of New York City. It is also the Westfield mall, connected by a long hallway to the Brookfield mall. Needless to say, this place is ALWAYS crowded.


The best time to go is ironically on the weekend, or anytime that’s not during traffic hours. Even then, you need to keep moving to catch specific backdrops free of people. During their session, Pavlina and Yuxiao learned how to balance moments of stillness with dynamic shifts, which is quite symbolic of relationships!

Ready for your own NYC engagement photos? Get in touch and let’s start planning your dream session!

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