Old Westbury Gardens on Long Island’s North Shore is one of the most photographically rich estates I work at. Two hundred acres, an English-style mansion built in 1906, a walled garden, a rose garden, a reflective pond with weeping willows, a thatched cottage, and the kind of manicured grandeur that photographs differently in every season.
Prime Photography Locations Within Old Westbury Gardens
Old Westbury Gardens offers a variety of captivating locations that provide exquisite backdrops for any photography, from formal wedding shoots to casual garden strolls. Each area within the gardens has been designed with aesthetic elegance and photographic potential in mind, making Old Westbury a favored destination for amateur and professional photographers alike. Here is a detailed exploration of some of the most picturesque spots at Old Westbury Gardens, highlighting this historic estate’s natural beauty and architectural charm.
The Walled Garden
The Walled Garden is a beautifully enclosed space known for its vibrant floral displays and meticulously designed hedges. The garden’s structure creates a unique, secluded environment that exudes tranquility and privacy, making it an ideal setting for serene garden photography. The symmetry of the hedges and the riot of colors from the seasonal blooms provide a stunning contrast and a multitude of angles for capturing striking images.
The Rose Garden
A highlight of Old Westbury Gardens, the Rose Garden bursts into a spectacle of colors during the late spring and early summer months. Home to an extensive variety of roses, the garden becomes a canvas of reds, pinks, yellows, and whites, each type of rose adding its unique character to the tapestry. Photographers particularly favor this garden for its vibrant hues and delicate rose-petal details, perfect for close-up shots or broader scenic compositions.
The Pond
This expansive water body is a reflective paradise, mirroring the vast skies and the greenery surrounding it. The tranquility of The Pond, enhanced by the graceful weeping willows along its banks, makes it a prime spot for landscape and wildlife photography. Photographers can capture the symmetry in the reflections in the water, adding a peaceful and almost surreal quality to their images.
The South Lawn
The South Lawn serves as a grand stage with the majestic backdrop of the Old Westbury mansion. This expansive space allows photographers to play with scale and perspective, capturing the estate’s grandeur in a single frame. It is a popular location for wedding and event photography, where the sweeping views and elegant setting enhance the celebratory mood.
The Thatched Cottage
Tucked away within the gardens, the Thatched Cottage offers a delightful contrast to the more formal spaces around the estate. Its quaint, rustic charm and thatched roof nestled among lush greenery make it a picturesque spot for intimate shots. The cottage is perfect for those seeking a more whimsical storybook setting in their photos, providing a backdrop that seems to tell its own tale.
Note: all commercial, portrait, and wedding photography at Old Westbury Gardens requires a permit arranged in advance. Plan for this early.
If you are planning a session here, I would love to hear about it.
