Brooklyn Heights is one of the best places in the city for engagement and wedding photos that feature Manhattan in the background. You get skyline, texture, architecture, and water—all within a few walkable blocks. These are the locations I return to again and again, especially when we need strong images in a short timeframe.
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
Running along Columbia Heights between Orange Street and Remsen Street, the Promenade gives you one of the clearest and widest views of Lower Manhattan.
You’re elevated above the highway and waterfront, which keeps the composition clean and uncluttered. I tend to favor the north end, near the entrance by Clark Street, where the skyline feels a bit sharper and fewer trees block the view. If you’re shooting early in the day, the light is soft and directional, especially in the fall and spring when the sun sits lower in the sky.
It’s also wide enough to fit large group shots without feeling crowded. Even on overcast days, the space’s openness lends the portraits a bright, cinematic feel.
Montague Terrace
Just around the corner from the Montague Street entrance to the Promenade, this quiet residential block curves gently along the edge of the neighborhood. It’s lined with prewar apartment buildings, classic brownstones, and wrought-iron fences, and it feels like a side street that hasn’t changed much in decades.
From certain angles, you can still catch skyline views peeking through the trees. The light here is filtered and calm, especially in the early afternoon. I often use this spot for first looks or prep portraits when a couple is getting ready nearby, since it feels tucked away but still connects easily to the Promenade and the nearby fruit streets.
Squibb Park Bridge
Squibb Park Bridge begins at the bottom of Squibb Park, right off Middagh Street, and zigzags down toward Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. It’s made of wood and steel, slightly elevated, and gives a dynamic view of both the Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge.
The open slats in the bridge allow light through in interesting patterns, and the structure itself creates leading lines that work well for full-length portraits.
The bridge has a slight bounce, so it’s not ideal for long posing sessions, but it’s great for movement-based shots or walking photos that need a more urban edge. On clear days, the light reflects off the buildings across the river, filling the frame with a soft, ambient glow.
Pier 1 at Brooklyn Bridge Park
If you walk down from the Promenade, Pier 1 is directly accessible via Squibb Park Bridge or Old Fulton Street. It’s technically outside the bounds of Brooklyn Heights, but it’s less than a five-minute walk and gives you the closest unobstructed waterfront views of Manhattan.
I like to shoot near the northern edge of the pier, where the view lines up with One World Trade and the ferry boats pass by in the background. The path curves along the edge of the East River, allowing you to frame portraits with water, the skyline, and the sky in one shot. Because it’s open and reflective, Pier 1 works well in both bright sun and overcast weather. It’s one of the more flexible locations if you’re looking to squeeze in multiple angles quickly.
Middagh Street and Columbia Heights
This corner of Brooklyn Heights has a little bit of everything—historic facades, old trees, and views down toward the river. It’s quieter than the main promenade but still close enough to walk to or from the portraits.
The stoops and fences on Middagh Street have a lot of character without feeling overly styled, and the western-facing side streets give you soft backlight in the afternoon. I’ve used this area often when couples are getting married at Plymouth Church or getting ready nearby and want a mix of street-level portraits and skyline in a short loop.
The Fruit Streets (Pineapple, Orange, Cranberry)
These three blocks—Pineapple Street, Orange Street, and Cranberry Street—run perpendicular to Columbia Heights and end at the Promenade. They’re named after fruit, yes, and they’re some of the most walkable and charming streets in the area.
The architecture varies from block to block, with rowhouses, ivy-covered walls, and iron fences all packed into a few hundred feet. These streets don’t give you full skyline views on their own, but they’re excellent transitional spaces to walk through en route to the Promenade.
You can shoot clean, intimate portraits on the sidewalk, then turn the corner for something broader and more iconic. Cranberry Street, in particular, has a great rhythm of light and shadow in the early evening.
In conclusion
Each of these spots is within a 5–10 minute walk of the others, which makes Brooklyn Heights an ideal location for couples who want a range of looks in a short amount of time.
Whether you’re working around unpredictable weather, a tight schedule, or want a session that feels both personal and iconic, this part of the city delivers!