This couple lives in DUMBO, which is the best place to shoot an engagement session. We did it in August at golden hour, walked their neighborhood, and came back with about four sessions worth of variety in one evening.
Why DUMBO is the most versatile place in New York for this
I have thought about this a lot, and I can’t think of a location that gives you more range in a smaller area.
The Manhattan skyline across the water. Cobblestone streets. Greenery in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Brickwork on every warehouse. Two bridges, and one of them frames the Empire State Building if you stand in the right spot on Washington Street. You can walk four minutes and be somewhere that looks nothing like where you just were.
Most locations give you one look, and you’re done. DUMBO gives you dozens.
About the crowds
It is always crowded. That is the first thing people ask about, and it is the thing I worry about least.
If you wait, DUMBO rewards you. People move. A group clears out of the archway on Washington Street, and there are eleven seconds before the next one arrives, and eleven seconds is plenty. I can work around people, shoot through them, use them, or wait them out. The neighborhood is busy because it is worth being in, and that energy is part of what the photographs end up looking like.
What I would not do is go at noon on a Saturday in October and expect the archway to yourself. Timing solves most of it.
August, golden hour
DUMBO faces west toward Manhattan, so the last hour of light comes across the water directly at you. On the cobblestones it goes long and warm, and the brick lights up.
August gives you a late sunset, which means you can start at a civilized hour and still have the light. It also means the light lasts long enough to move between locations without racing it.
Where we went
The cobblestone streets, the Manhattan Bridge framing on Washington Street, Brooklyn Bridge Park for the skyline and the green, the warehouse brick, and the waterfront.
Everyone knows the Washington Street shot. It is famous for a reason, and I will take it if you want it. But the streets behind it and the piers below it are where the rest of the session lives, and those frames are the ones that look like nobody else’s.
If you want the full map of what is available down there, I wrote a very long guide to DUMBO photo locations.
Shooting where you actually live
This is the part I want couples to hear.
These two live in the neighborhood. We were on their streets, past the places they walk by every day. That is different from picking a location because it photographs well, and it comes through in the images. They were comfortable because they were home.
If you live in DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, or anywhere else, start there before you look at lists. More on that in my engagement session page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DUMBO good for engagement photos?
It is probably the most versatile location in New York for a session. Skyline, water, cobblestones, greenery, brick, and two bridges within a few blocks of each other.
What time of day should we shoot in DUMBO?
The last ninety minutes before sunset. DUMBO faces west across the water toward Manhattan, so evening light comes at you rather than behind you.
Is DUMBO too crowded for an engagement session?
It is crowded, and it still works. People move constantly, and gaps open up if you are willing to wait for them. Weekday evenings and early mornings are quieter than weekend afternoons.
Do we need a permit for engagement photos in DUMBO?
You do not!
What are the best spots in DUMBO for engagement photos?
Washington Street for the Manhattan Bridge arch. The cobblestone side streets. Brooklyn Bridge Park piers for skyline and water. The warehouse brick along Water and Front. Jane’s Carousel. Pebble Beach for the bridges together.
What should we wear for a DUMBO session?
Shoes you can walk cobblestones in. Beyond that, colors that work against brick and grey stone. Longer answer here.
How long does a DUMBO engagement session take?
An hour or two, which in DUMBO covers a lot of ground because everything is close together.
What is the best time of year?
Every season works. Summer gives you long light and late sunsets. Fall brings color into Brooklyn Bridge Park. Winter clears the air and sharpens the skyline. Spring gives you cherry blossoms in the park.
Can we do a DUMBO session if we do not live in Brooklyn?
Yes, and plenty of couples do. It is one of the easiest neighborhoods in the city to shoot if you are visiting, because everything is within walking distance.
If you want to shoot in DUMBO
Get in touch and tell me whether you live there or you are coming to it. Both work, and they produce different sessions.
