Financial District Engagement Photos

It was a pleasure to work with Annabelle and Nate on their Financial District engagement photos!  While normally thought of as a tourist destination, the spot proved to be the perfect shoot location with the recently built pavilion overlooking the East River.  We then took a walk over to Stone Street for a few shots, and finally headed to Battery Park near the World Trade Center.  The weather was great, and the shoot ended with cocktails on their roof deck.  Let’s get all the details in today’s blog post!

Financial District Engagement Photos –
Where To Go

Most people don’t venture down past 14th Street unless they are headed over to another borough.  But if you do make the trip, you will be rewarded with a section of town that is not only chock full of New York City history, but also some stunning views of the waterfront.  For Annabelle and Nate, it was an easy decision to choose this part of town as they live in the area.  If you are likewise considering Financial District engagement photos, I would break it down into these main areas:

Brooklyn Bridge – I would actually start your shoot underneath the Brooklyn Bridge.  Everyone who has seen the classic Woody Allen film, Manhattan, knows the romantic shot of the couple on the bench under the bridge.  The bench was brought in the by the movie crew, but you can get your best — and closest — views of the bridge under the FDR.

Pier 15 East River Esplanade – This is a magnificent spot for photos.  First, you have great views of the Brooklyn skyline.  But if you turnaround, you can get an equally great view of the Financial District skyscrapers.  For Anna and Nate, this was the perfect opportunity to show off their dancing moves.

South Street Seaport – Walking along South Street you will find an abundance of backgrounds.  You have everything from industrial grit and graffiti, to cobblestone streets and old seaworthy buildings around Old Slip that have been here since the Revolutionary War.  The shops may come and go, but you have plenty of options.

Stone Street – This is a quaint street that has been designated only for pedestrians.  There is plenty of charm, and other diners.  As such, make sure you prepare for crowds and avoid this area after 5:00 p.m.  Happy hour can get pretty rowdy.

Staten Island Ferry Terminal – Staten Island holds a special place in my heart, as this is the first borough I stayed in when I came to NYC.  A trip on the ferry is a lovely way to see the Statue of Liberty and shouldn’t be missed.

Battery Park – There isn’t much in the way of shade over here, so avoid the area around high noon.  That said, the park has lovely planted areas and a great view of the waterfront.

Wagner Park and South Cove – As you walk further along Battery Park, you come to these two parks.  Both are lovely, and again, there are plenty of waterfront views.  South Cove in particular is a great little slice of woodlands within the city.  I love taking photos here.

Wall Street – I would avoid Wall Street just because of the number of tourists.  That said, a skyscraper view or two would be perfectly appropriate for a photo shoot in this area.

The Oculus – Finally, the latest draw to the area is the Oculus at the Fulton Street subway stop.  You technically can’t take photos inside without a permit, but what’s the harm in asking forgiveness rather than permission?

For more details about photo opportunities in the downtown area, check out this article, ‘City Hall Wedding Portrait Locations.’

Want to see what happened after their engagement session?  Check out all the details of Annabelle and Nate’s beautiful Harvard Club wedding in this link.

Interested in scheduling your own Financial District engagement photos?  Drop me a line and let’s talk about setting up a shoot.

If you would like to see more images from my portfolio, then please visit my website — KellyWilliamsPhotographer.com