Brooklyn Engagement Session: Best Borough for Photos

Best Places for Brooklyn Engagement Session Photos

1. DUMBO

DUMBO, or Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass, is a neighborhood in Brooklyn. The namesake vantage point is located on Washington Street. Here, you can get a really cool view of the Empire State Building centered underneath one of the stanchions of the Manhattan Bridge. The view is spectacular, going across the East River into Manhattan.

One of the more popular locations for New York engagement photos, DUMBO is easily accessible. You could grab a subway from Grand Central, for example, and get off at the York Street stop. There’s plenty of parking available on the surrounding streets (but you know how that goes in the city).

An engagement shoot at DUMBO is bound to make your wedding journey memorable. It’s definitely one of my favorite spots as a wedding photographer, having been there a couple of times to take pictures.

2. Jane’s Carousel

Engagement photos in Brooklyn wouldn’t be complete without visiting Jane’s Carousel with your photographer. This location, which is actually in the DUMBO neighborhood, is particularly unique for your New York engagement photo shoot. Certainly, it’s not everyday that you come across a fully functional carousel in a city!

The carousel has 48 horses on it and was created in 1922 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. If you want to up the fun during your engagement session, then be sure to actually go for a ride. Jane’s is open six days a week and only costs $2 to get on.

While you probably knew this already, it’s worth pointing out… Just like other areas of NYC that you’ll explore, you’ll have to wait your turn to capture photos at this attraction. Lots of people visit Jane’s Carousel, so work with your photographer to time your shoot here well.

3. Any of Brooklyn’s great restaurant or bars

According to Time Out New York, Brooklyn’s restaurant scene “is one of the finest in the world.” This is only fitting, seeing as how all of NYC is known as a haven for foodies. In my opinion, incorporating food and drinks into your Brooklyn engagement session is a beautiful idea.

Empire Stores, right near Jane’s Carousel and Bridge Park, is chock full of restaurants in Brooklyn. Conveniently, it even has public restrooms available if you decide to change your outfit for a different look during your engagement session.

I always tell my couples that a happy stomach makes for a great engagement photoshoot. And while you’re out there looking for the perfect place to grab a bite with your photographer, you’ll likely find interesting spots for photos along the way.

Other Brooklyn Engagement Session Location Options

Brooklyn is its own little world! There are plenty of other things to do and places to see in his beautiful borough, such as Prospect Park and Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Engagement Photos at Grand Central Terminal

You might recognize the couple in the engagement photos you’re seeing in this post from their Middletown CT wedding. When I met Melissa and Joe for their shoot, we actually got started their engagement photos at Grand Central Terminal before heading to DUMBO.

Historic New York Location for Engagement Photos

Grand Central Terminal opened to the public for use in 1913. It’s one of the busiest locations in NYC, with 750,000 visitors everyday. To a wedding photographer, of course, it’s just plain beautiful. The architecture and artwork adoring this building serve as a great backdrop for which to capture your engagement photos!