We've captured breathtaking moments at some of the most enchanting sites across New Jersey, Long Island, and Brooklyn.
These captivating landscapes serve as the backdrop for extraordinary wedding and engagement photographs, creating timeless memories that reflect the beauty of each location.
Snug Harbor Botanical Gardens, Staten Island
Our preferred setting in Staten Island. Its charm lies in the exquisite Tuscan Garden, a charming mini castle, a picturesque vine arch, and historic buildings. Many of our most awe-inspiring photos were crafted here. Professional photography permits are $150 for two hours in the gardens and grounds, or $350 for two hours with access to the Chinese Scholar's Garden included, one of the most unique backdrops in New York. Note the Chinese Scholar's Garden permit has blackout days early in the week, so confirm current availability with Snug Harbor before you plan your date.
DUMBO, Brooklyn
For a more urban atmosphere with a captivating view of the city, DUMBO is ideal, nestled between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. No permit fee is required, but parking can be challenging and the area is often bustling with tourists.
Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn
One of the most iconic backdrops in New York: the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan skyline, and the waterfront all in one session. The permit rules here trip a lot of couples up. Engagement and wedding photos need no permit and no fee only if your group is under 20 people and the photographer uses strictly handheld equipment. The moment light stands or tripods come out, like the off-camera flash setups behind my award-winning night portraits, a park permit is required, and those are issued for weekdays only, applied for at least two business days ahead, with fees invoiced by the park. Drones are banned entirely. In plain terms: a natural-light session here is free any day, and a dramatic lit session needs a weekday date and a permit. When we plan your session, I'll tell you exactly which one your vision calls for and handle the logistics.
Central Park, New York City
An abundance of picturesque spots, from the lush greenery of the Ramble to the charming Bow Bridge and the iconic Bethesda Terrace. Whether you envision a romantic stroll along tree-lined pathways or an intimate moment by the water, Central Park offers timeless beauty and rare charm.
Planting Fields Arboretum, Long Island
One of my favorites in Oyster Bay, featuring stunning gardens and historical buildings. In summer, a flower arch looks great for engagement photos. Permits are $100 for engagement, family, and sweet 16 sessions, and $250 for wedding photography. The Camellia Greenhouse is a separate $250 permit, extremely limited, and must be approved in advance by the park. Sessions are capped at 90 minutes, there's an $8 vehicle fee in season, and as of 2026 the Piet Oudolf Garden is off limits for photography, with the Rose Arbor permitted instead. Knowing these rules ahead of time is part of my job, so your session time never gets wasted.
Sands Point Preserve, Long Island
The former Guggenheim estate in Port Washington combines Gold Coast grandeur with natural beauty: the castle-like Hempstead House and Castle Gould, expansive lawns, wooded trails, and shoreline views of the Long Island Sound. Few locations give you old-world architecture and waterfront in a single session, which is why your gallery never looks repetitive here.
A permit is required for all professional photography. Outdoor sessions are $350 for two hours. Indoor sessions inside historic Hempstead House, my personal favorite, are $450 for two hours and include a third hour outdoors on the grounds. Both include limited parking, outdoor locations are approved ahead of time, and reservations open three weeks in advance. Well worth the investment.
Princeton University, New Jersey
Known for stunning architecture, with many historical buildings covered in beautiful vines. No photo permit is required, but it's a hot spot for photographers, tourists, and students. The best time to visit is during the summer before vacation ends.
Liberty State Park, New Jersey
For those in Hoboken or Jersey City, Liberty State Park offers breathtaking views of the NYC skyline. There's no permit fee for handheld photography, but a permit is required once a tripod or lighting stand is involved. Here's the catch most couples don't see coming: the park is almost entirely open sun with little shade, so getting flattering light usually means bringing a light stand, and that means a permit. It's still a cost-effective location, just plan for the permit if you want portraits that stand up to the skyline behind you.
Locations charging a permit fee do so for valid reasons, and the benefits are worthwhile. Permit fees, rules, and regulations are set by each location and can change at any time, so always confirm current requirements directly with the venue before your session. Once you book your session, don't hesitate to reach out for help choosing the perfect spot, and I'll make sure we're working with the latest information.
Frequently Asked
Do I need a permit for engagement or wedding photos in a park?
It depends entirely on the location and, often, on the equipment. Snug Harbor in Staten Island charges $150 for two hours, or $350 with the Chinese Scholar’s Garden included. Planting Fields in Oyster Bay is $100 for engagement sessions and $250 for wedding photography. Sands Point Preserve requires a permit for all professional photography — $350 outdoors, $450 indoors at Hempstead House. DUMBO, Central Park, and Princeton require no permit at all.
Why does Brooklyn Bridge Park require a permit for some sessions but not others?
It comes down to equipment. Engagement and wedding photos need no permit and no fee only if your group is under 20 people and the photographer uses strictly handheld gear. The moment light stands or tripods come out — which is what the dramatic lit night portraits require — a park permit is needed, and those are issued for weekdays only, applied for at least two business days ahead. In plain terms: a natural-light session is free any day; a dramatic lit session needs a weekday date and a permit. Drones are banned entirely.
What is the best photo location in Staten Island?
Snug Harbor Botanical Gardens, without much competition. Its charm is in the exquisite Tuscan Garden, a mini castle, a picturesque vine arch, and the historic buildings — many of my most awe-inspiring photos were made there. Worth noting: the Chinese Scholar’s Garden permit has blackout days early in the week, so confirm current availability with Snug Harbor before you plan your date.
Are there time limits on photo sessions at these locations?
Several have them. Planting Fields caps sessions at 90 minutes and adds an $8 vehicle fee in season. Sands Point Preserve permits run two hours outdoors, or two hours indoors at Hempstead House plus a third hour on the grounds, with reservations opening three weeks in advance. Snug Harbor permits are two-hour blocks. Knowing these before we plan is part of my job, so your session time never gets wasted.
Is Liberty State Park a good spot for portraits?
It offers breathtaking NYC skyline views and is very convenient if you’re in Hoboken or Jersey City. Here’s the catch most couples don’t see coming: the park is almost entirely open sun with little shade, so getting flattering light usually means bringing a light stand — and that means a permit. There’s no fee for handheld photography, but plan for the permit if you want portraits that stand up to the skyline behind you.
Have any location rules changed recently?
Yes — and this is exactly why I confirm current requirements before every session. As of 2026, the Piet Oudolf Garden at Planting Fields is off limits for photography, with the Rose Arbor permitted instead. The Camellia Greenhouse there is a separate $250 permit, extremely limited, and must be approved in advance. Permit fees, rules, and regulations are set by each location and can change at any time.